A Bible Reading Plan for Little Ones {Christ's Incarnation}

Advent is a wonderful time to get into the Word of God with our little people! There is so much Christmas buzz all around them. I know my kids are being inundated with Christmas music, Santa, and many of the materialistic aspects of the modern holiday. So much more the important then to inundate them with Scripture.

The Incarnation of Christ is remarkable. That God Himself would put on flesh, empty Himself, and come to earth to serve and to save sinners is an indescribable gift of grace.

Our familiarity with the story tends to complacency. I hope that this plan is a help to you and your children as you seek to refocus on Christ's coming into the world. The selected passages include the entire Christmas story, Old Testament prophecies of Christ's Incarnation, and the broader Gospel implications of the Christmas story.

Themes to discuss with your kids: What Christ came to accomplish. What the Gift of Jesus says about God the Father {His love! compassion! generosity!}. Who Christ is {Son of God. Word become Flesh. Immanuel- God with us.}.

Merry Christmas friends! You can grab your copy here.

If you like this plan, I think you would like my new ebook! It's called Read the Bible to Your Kids: A Year of Simple Plans to get into the Word Together. 

I've created 13 topical, month long plans with passages from both the Old and New Testament. The passages are short {for short attention spans!}, and the PDF file can easily be printed off for you to check off boxes as you read.

It's a great, simple solution for families who want to build Word-centered homes. You can find out what people are saying about it, the topics the plans cover, and download your copy for only $4.99 right here.

Merry Christmas!

For the past three years, I've had the best of intentions. I really really want to, even mean to, send Christmas cards. But alas, the proper time to design, order, and mail said cards comes and goes before I know it- and here I am, another year in which I've failed to follow through. Please hold me to it- next year, I WILL do Christmas cards!

In lieu of a Christmas card, please accept my family's best wishes for a very very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:6

Photos by Aly Martin Photography. 

Mary Didn't Get to "Nest"

This Christmas I've had Mary on my mind a bit more than usual.

I gave birth only two months ago, and I can't help remembering all of the preparations, and nesting, and freezer cooking, and laundry... and on and on, that I happily poured out in expectation of little E's birth.

I had this frantic urge to make everything "just so." It feels good to bring order, to exert our control when life and babies and motherhood can otherwise be so chaotic.

Not so with Mary.

At the end of her long nine months- nine months of typical pregnancy discomforts, sneers and gossip over her unique situation, and what I can only assume was a roller coaster of spiritual and emotional highs and lows- she gets onto a donkey {ouch!}, rides to Bethlehem {double ouch!}, and gives birth in a barn {afterbirth in the hay?! no thank you!}.

I'm just going to venture out on a limb here and take a wild guess that no woman's ideal birth plan includes a barn.

Before having children, I marveled at Christ's humble entry to the world. What Divine condescension! And I marvel at it still.

But now- now that I've experienced the agonies of unmedicated childbirth, endured the trials of the postpartum body, and lived through many a sleepless night- now I can't help but contemplate Mary's situation in a brand new light.

The sacrifice was real. Mary humbly gave up her reputation with a "let it be to me according to your word" {Luke 1}, and nine months later gave up all of her worldly comforts and experienced the fears and pains of labor without family, homeless, in the cold and filth of an inn keeper's stable.

Does it really matter if my birth was an unpleasant experience? Do I really need to have the perfect nursery, the perfect layette, a neat and tidy perfect life, to offer my newborn and to content myself?

The answer should be obvious.

How much better to emulate Mary's contented, meek, and obedient spirit. "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" {Luke 2:19}. How much better to submit myself to whatever God brings into my life- financial difficulties, family conflicts, a not-so-perfect Christmas. To simply trust and obey Him, to attempt joy and to learn and grow however I can in whatever circumstances He's placed me in.

Obviously, Mary is not the most important part of the Christmas story. The God-Man coming to earth as a baby, living a sinless life, and growing up to die on a cross and redeem a people for Himself, completely triumphs over the sacrifices of one fallen woman.

But thinking about her this holiday season has quieted my heart and brought some much needed perspective, for which I am grateful.

An Irish Christmas

I love Christmas in Ireland because it is much slower than its American counterpart. Businesses remain closed longer, and even the day after Christmas is considered an official holiday {St. Stephen's Day}.

Niall's family typically has a big shindig Christmas Eve night at his sister's house, including a big dinner and the opening of presents. Yesterday we simply enjoyed a huge breakfast at noon, and then a big dinner around 8 p.m. My kids were troopers, eating dinner 2 and 1/2 hours after their normal time, and going to be 2 hours late. Here are a few pictures to give you the flavor of the day.

W looked so cute in his reindeer pajamas. The kids didn't get dressed all day, because, well... because it was Christmas. So there. 

 Breakfast was taken in the gallery/sun room. We were thanking the Lord that it was such a beautiful day- a rare sunny one for this normally rainy Island. We ate rashers {Irish bacon- slightly meatier}, sausages, black and white puddings {think larger sausage, with far different seasonings}, fried potatoes, and French toast {my American contribution, per my Father-in-Law's request}.

 The puppies were drooling outside, just watching the splendid Christmas morning feast. Poor puppies!

W has a new love affair with ketchup. Here he is happily gnawing on his rasher. Yum!

Since the weather was so fine, after the babies went down for a nap {and this mama had snagged a power nap as well}, we went for a stroll. It's nice for Niall and I to get a little one on one time while we're here.

On the beach together. I could not believe how warm it was, considering Christmas in Pennsylvania is such a cold affair!!

After watching Christmas specials on T.V, more cousins arriving, having a dance party with the guitar {Uncle Paul and the kids}, and knitting up a storm {me}, a fine Christmas dinner was served. Turkey, ham, gravy, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, brussel sprouts with peppers, broccoli and cauliflower, and cranberry sauce. After all the kids had been tucked in, adults enjoyed chocolate biscuits, a Christmas pudding with custard, and Christmas cake for dessert.

S just happened to have a sweater in her suitcase similar to the one her baby cousin was wearing. So I suited her up for a picture- a ten minute break from pajamas before I put her back into them for bed. My brother-in-law got a picture with his much nicer camera that I'm sure is better quality... alas, I don't yet have a copy. This is just going to have to suffice.

Today we are laying low again, eating leftovers and snuggling on couches. Hope that you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!!!

5 Homemade Stocking Stuffers for the Kids

Is your Christmas budget feeling tightly stretched? Are you sick of all the little toys, gadgets, and other paraphernalia that comes with having small children? Worried about how many new toys you're going to have to find a place for after grandparents, aunts and uncles have finished buying for your kids? Yeah, me too.

Good news: I have five ideas for your children's stockings that are easy to make, extremely inexpensive, and all around useful {read: not just clutter}. Many of the required supplies might already be hanging out around your house. Just spend one evening watching a Christmas movie with your husband and crafting {after you tuck in the kids}, and voila! Stockings, done.

Crayons. Collect broken crayons from your kid's art supplies and peel off the wrappers. Sort by color. Place crayons into a clean tin can. Fill a pot with several inches of water and bring to a boil. Hold tin can in hot water with tongs. When melted, pour the wax into ice cube trays, old film canisters, or cookie cutters. After a layer of wax cools and hardens, you can add more layers with different colors for a rainbow effect. These are so fun for kids to use, and it feels good to use up supplies that would otherwise go to waste!

Play Dough. There are many easy to whip up homemade play dough recipes out there. At the top of my "to try" list is this candy cane version {it looks so festive in the little mason jars!}, but gingerbread is running a close second.

Headbands and Hair Bows. My first foray into the tantalizing but terrifying world of crafting, these adorable flowers are EASY {which is so what this gal with two left thumbs needs}. Make them using old t-shirts or fabric scraps, and glue a little bead or jewel into the center if you so desire. Then simply attach to a hair clip or headband.

Felt Boards. My daughter S {three years old} loves playing with felt pieces. They effectively keep her quietly and happily occupied during brother's nap, in the doctor's waiting room, and at church. While she's received store bought boards, she also loves the Mr. Potato Head that I made for her. The sky's the limit here, but other felt board/quiet book page ideas you could try include human anatomy, fish pond, Christmas tree{just make a smaller, page size version}, faces, snowman, or pizza. Roll it up, tie a ribbon around it, and stick it right into their stockings.

Picture Books. Have any unloved board books lying around? Give them new life with magazine cuttings and contact paper. My one year old loves looking at books with faces, so I'm making him a book using colorful pictures of other children. Or pick a theme like Frozen, Cinderella, Christmas time, your child's favorite color or animal, dinosaurs, you name it. You could even use family photos to make a mini-scrapbook safe for little hands. Just cut or print out a handful of pictures related to your theme, glue them to the pages of your board book, and cover with clear contact paper {which you can purchase at Wal-Mart very inexpensively}.

That's my little list of ideas. What homemade gifts do your children love?

A Few Good Resources on Christmas

Photo By Joshua Davis

From time to time I thought it would be fun to pass along lists of resources I've benefited from on various topics. Today's topic is: Christmas!

Preparing for the Holidays:

If you missed them, you might want to check out my series on preparing early for Christmas! While we're definitely long past the "early" mark, I've organized all of the prep steps you need to take for a stress-free holiday into small baby steps, so it might still be helpful! 

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas @ Money Saving Mom. Excellent series on adding to your gift budget, could be used year round for families in need of a little extra cash.

10 Days to Finding the Perfect Gift @ Creative Savings Blog. Lot's of great ideas for all of the different people in your life!

For a Christ-Centered Christmas:

Our Advent Tree @ Desiring Virtue. A lovely way to "redeem" your Christmas tree, making it not only a nostalgic family tradition, but a meaningful and Christ-centered one. Really, all of Jessalyn's posts on Advent are beautiful, meaningful, insightful and practical. Highly recommended!

Practical Ways to Reach Out to Others During the Holidays @ Passionate Homemaking. Great inroads for sharing Christ with the lost at Christmas.


I can't say I've read many books on or about Christmas, so I feel like there are gaping holes in this post! What books and resources have you enjoyed as you prepare for Christmas?

Blessing Your Husband This Christmas

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I am extremely excited today, because my first post as a monthly contributor for A Biblical Marriage has gone live ;)! Pop on over to this new and wonderful resource for couples seeking to form Christ-centered unions and check it out, if you haven't already!

Today I'm talking about ways you can bless your spouse at this busy (yet wonderful) time of year. Things like planning ahead, keeping things simple, and choosing contentment... you'll have to click on over here to read the rest.

You also might be interested to know that A Biblical Marriage is giving away a free ebook, 25 Days to Christmas: Family Oriented Ways to Focus on Christ to all email subscribers.

Head on over to check it out!

What special things do you do to encourage your husband around the holidays?

HAPPY Holidays- Your No Stress, Ready to Bless, Early Christmas Prep, Wrap-up

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You've pressed on, you've endured, and hopefully you are sitting at the end of this series with the majority of your Christmas preparations completed and tucked under your belt. Nice work! Doesn't it feel amazing?!?!

Or perhaps you've dabbled in these posts, meant to keep up, accomplished a few tasks, but feel you've fallen too far behind. Banish such fears from your mind, friend! Remember the goal (at least mine) was to finish your Christmas prep before Thanksgiving. You still have a little over two weeks to reach that goal!

I'm not going to lie- I haven't finished all of the projects myself. I had company that stayed for three weeks, an unplanned root canal that required three trips to a dentist's office 45 minutes away, and a teething baby that kept me up many nights. Trust me- I understand that sometimes we aren't able to stay on top of things the way we'd like to!

I am methodically working my way down the list though, and am on target for still meeting my goal.

Wherever you are at today, be encouraged, and press on. Whatever you are able to accomplish ahead of time will make your holiday season that much less stressful. Whatever you've completed, you are that much more on top of things than you were, say, last year ;).

My desire is that this series encouraged you to get things done, stop fretting, and to really soak up and enjoy this special season of celebrating Christ's birth. At the end of the day, that's what its all about.

So keep pressing on- go out and pick up those last few (or maybe more) Christmas presents, organize your home, wrap and decorate. Enjoy time with your family and friends, delicious food, that first snow fall.

Here is the entire list of posts for you to go back over and peruse. Pick up where you left off, or even feel free to start at the beginning if you're just joining us. Thanks for reading!

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu
Holiday Food- A Timetable 
Holiday Food- Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up 
Holiday Schedule- Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule- Plan and Chart
Your Holiday Cleaning Plan
Decking the Halls!
Tying Up Loose Ends-Wrapping 
Tying Up Loose Ends- Stuffing and Stamping Cards

Tying Up Loose Ends: Stuffing and Stamping Cards (Day 15)

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This is it folks: the penultimate post in our "No Stress, Ready to Bless, Early Christmas Prep" series. We're finishing up all of the last little tidbits, and today our tidbit is Christmas cards! I know that some of you don't even bother with cards- if so, just ignore and relax ;)!

If you've been following along with our daily assignments, you should have already made the list of people you are sending cards to, collected all necessary addresses and filed them in a neat document, and scheduled a photo session (if you are sending picture cards).

Do you have the cards yet? We still haven't had our photo appointment, so I am personally cardless for the moment. Within the next week, purchase the correct number of cards needed. Get your envelopes and stamps so you are ready to roll!

Natasha shared in an earlier comment that although she usually has her cards ready to go in plenty of time, she often forgets to send them. I've been contemplating possible solutions for this problem, and here's what I've come up with:

• Leave the cards in a conspicuous place- next to your front door, on an end table, or neatly stacked on your desk. If you're afraid of losing them in a pile of clutter, this might be a sign that it is time for you to declutter and organize ;). 
• Make a note on your calendar- set the specific date that you plan to mail your cards and write it on your calendar. That way when you see the note on the appropriate date, you will remember to toss them in the mail!
•  If you're sure all else will fail, just send them immediately- its better early than never ;). The folks on your list will appreciate hearing from you whenever you send them, whether its before Thanksgiving or after New Years. 

Today's Assignment: Gather your card supplies together (cards, envelopes, stamps, and a wet sponge to help seal). Sit down for one or two evenings this week, pop on Christmas music or a Christmas movie, and make yourself a cup of hot coco. Make your time spent stuffing and stamping envelopes a pleasant and festive experience!

Have you missed our other early Christmas prep posts? Catch up on them here:

Photo Credit

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu
Holiday Food- A Timetable 
Holiday Food- Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up 
Holiday Schedule- Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule- Plan and Chart
Your Holiday Cleaning Plan
Decking the Halls!
Tying Up Loose Ends-Wrapping 

Tying Up Loose Ends: Wrapping (Day 14)

Photo Credit

I have a confession to make: I am probably the worst present wrapper in the world. My mother and sister, both artists, wrap in a perfectly symmetrical and lovely fashion, complete with hand curled ribbons and stunning homemade labels on top.

My wrapping jobs are full of creases, lumps, and tears. Seriously atrocious.

Today there is good news for lousy wrappers like me: since we've been working so hard at prepping for Christmas early, there is plenty of time to wrap those presents right!

I might even try for fancier wrapping this time around, since 1) I have plenty of time to fix any catastrophes and 2) Pinterest is so inspiring and all ;). In fact, you guessed it- I've even made a pinboard of gift wrapping ideas for your inspiration!

If you've been tracking with us, there is a good chance that you already have several gifts purchased or made and ready to go. If you haven't been tracking with us, there is still plenty of time to catch up and be done with plenty of time to spare. C'mon and get to it ;)!

Today's Assignment: Get your wrapping paper, ribbons, labels, tape and scissors out, and start wrapping! With plenty of time until Christmas, you could spend 15 minutes tonight, and maybe spread several more 15 minute sessions out over the weeks to come. Make a plan and timetable for wrapping all of your gifts, and then follow through. You can do it!

Check out the other posts in this series if you've missed them for more early Christmas prep inspiration!

Photo Credit

Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart
Your Holiday Cleaning Plan
Decking the Halls!

Decking the Halls! (Day 13)

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The beauty of getting all of your Christmas shopping, planning, and card sending done early is that your time is free to enjoy some of the more nostalgic Christmas festivities. Like decorating!

Every year of my childhood, Black Friday was spent not in crazy shopping, but in crazy decorating at my parent's house! As little girls my sisters and I delighted in that day.

Mom would put on her classic Bing Crosby Christmas CD. We started the day early with cleaning- but we didn't mind and did it quickly in anticipation of the fun to come! Then all of the boxes came out. We played with our Christmas tree ornaments and nativity sets, and perused Christmas story collection books while Mom hung garlands and wreaths.

Even today the memories are precious :). I follow my Mom's routine and decorate the day after Thanksgiving. My hope is that little S (and whatever siblings the Lord provides) will grow up with the same sweet memories of evergreen, holiday tunes, and twinkling lights. Sigh...

Here are a few thoughts to inspire and assist you as you think through Christmas decor:

• If it isn't fun for you, its okay to skip it entirely or seriously simplify!
• If your collection of Christmas decorations is in short supply, stock up after Christmas for next year and enjoy the super sales! My mom was able to purchase tree skirts, gorgeous ornament sets, and tree stars for me and each of my sisters future homes this way.
• There are countless ways to decorate your home all by yourself- with little cost or effort involved! Check out my "Merry Christmas" pinboard- I've been collecting lots of ideas to inspire you!

Today's Assignment: Just for fun, dream up your perfectly enchanting vision of home decorated for the Holidays. What aspects of this vision can you turn into reality without spending too much time or money? Pick a day to decorate. If you are crafty, start making a few decorations from my pinboard, magazines, or other online sources. Have fun! 

Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Photo Credit

 Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart
Your Holiday Cleaning Plan

Your Holiday Cleaning Plan (Day 12)

Company is coming. You feel the need to impress your mother-in-law, accommodate a ghastly amount of family members, and have a relatively organized linen closet. With all of the other stresses and demands brought along with the holidays, lets not forget about cleaning!

What is a tired and busy woman to do?

First, let's take a tip from Fly Lady and shelve perfectionism. Perfect is for the birds- not for people with children, full-time jobs, or laundry to do and mouths to feed. If you dream of inviting visitors into an enchanting, fairy-tale-picturesque and pristine home, do yourself a favor now and forget about it. Be realistic- a tidy, welcoming, and festively decorated home is possible (unless your circumstances are particularly difficult, in which case, just ignore me). A perfect home is not.

Get into a cleaning routine. If you don't already have one, I highly recommend developing a regular cleaning routine. Right now in our home Friday is my cleaning day. I scrub the bathroom, vacuum the high traffic areas, and mop my linoleum floors. It is so nice to start the weekend with my husband and babe in a clean house :).

My weaker points are tasks like vacuuming side rooms and dusting- these things don't get quite as dirty, and are rarely seen by outsiders... but unfortunately, still need to be done. My goal for today's assignment is to develop a routine that includes these neglected areas!

If you're looking for cleaning schedule inspiration, these are a few resources I commend to your attention:

Fly Lady- This former "messy" helps you organize your life from top to bottom in her 31 Baby Steps. Each day she gives a special cleaning mission, and each week she focuses in on a different "zone" of your home (master bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Very helpful!

Cleaning Your Home in 30 Minutes Per Day- Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking shares her plan of attack for keeping a relatively orderly home (with three littles!). I think I will be adopting her proposed plan- it includes both tasks that need to be done weekly, and rotates the tasks that need to be done less frequently. Very sensible and practical!

15 Minutes of Cleaning A Day- Becky at Organizing Made Fun shares the routine that kept her house clean and her sanity intact when her kids were little little. Very useful!

The Case for Once a Month Cleaning- Jamie of Simple Homeschool shares how once a month deep cleaning works for her as a homeschool mom! She doesn't use this system any longer, but it worked great for a certain season in her life. Perhaps it will work for you?

Make a Master List. While you can't have a perfect home, there may be some legitimate special tasks you need to accomplish before all of the holiday craziness fun hits. Like decluttering your guest bedroom that doubles as the place you pile everything that doesn't have a place :). Or paring down the toys your kids no longer play with to make room for new gifts.

Go through your home and make a list of the jobs you'd really like to get done before Christmas or company arrives. Depending on your number of tasks, you might have to do one a week or one a day until your deadline. Spread the tasks out evenly over the next month and a half.

Today's Assignment: Develop a cleaning routine if you don't have one already. Try it out over the next couple of weeks, and if it isn't working for you, find another that does. Schedules should serve you, so if a particular plan doesn't work with your life, go with one that does! Walk around your house and make your "master list" of projects to be done before the holidays. Plan a day to do each task, mark it on your calendar, and follow through!

Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Photo Credit

Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down to Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful
Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart

Linked with: Growing Home .

Holiday Schedule: Plan and Chart (Day 11)

Photo by Emma.Kate

If you're tracking along with us, you've determined your scheduled priorities for a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. To ensure that you follow through, get there on time, and avoid he stress of unpreparedness, you must now write your selected activities on your calendar!

I highly recommend investing in a large family calendar that can be hung in a central location of your home. Year round, any and all events can be boldly recorded for all to see and remember!

At this point in the year, it's a little late to purchase a 2012 calendar if you don't already have one. But there are tons of printable calendars available around the web. Google it and find one you like (here are a few to get you started: eprintable calendars, printable 2012 calendars, free calendar). Then record every event you plan on attending- concerts, special church services, family gatherings, etc.

As the events roll around, you can prepare for them in a leisurely fashion. Cookies baked the day before the swap, meal prepared long before company arrives, gifts wrapped and by the door, ready for Grandma's house.

Maybe there are a few occasions you plan on participating in which don't yet have a scheduled date. No sweat! Write the name of the event on a post-it note and stick it on the month of December in your calendar. It is your reminder to mark it down as soon as you know the official date.

Today's Assignment: Find out the dates and times of the programs, parties, and other holiday events you will be attending this year. Write them in ink on your calendar. Make notes next to the events on what you need to bring (cookies? an appetizer? a gift?) so that you can have your act together long before the date arrives!

Photo by Ali Edwards

Don't Miss a Post in this Series!

Introduction
Gifting: Your Plan of Attack
Gifting: Think Outside the Box
Gifting: To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards: Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards: Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards: I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food: The Menu
Holiday Food: A Timetable
Holiday Food: Let's Get Down To Baking
Playing Christmas Keep Up
Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful

Holiday Schedule: Keep it Simple, Keep it Meaningful (Day 10)

Photo Credit

Over the past several weeks, we've discussed many different tips and tricks, all designed to set you up for a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas season. You could do all of the early preparation in the world, but if you miss this one key factor, it won't make a bit of a difference.

Are you ready for it?

For a peaceful Christmas, keep things simple. You cannot do everything. You cannot be everywhere. You cannot gift everyone. Acknowledge this. Embrace it. Allow yourself to rest in it. You cannot do it all, and that is 100% okay. This is especially important when it comes to scheduling your family for various holiday events and activities.

A sure fire way to feel burnt-out, rushed, and stressed is to plan on attending three gatherings Christmas day. Or to sign up for every activity available to you- cookie swaps, school and work parties, caroling, the Church and school plays, concerts, etc.

Early on, you are going to have to sit down as a family and make some tough decisions. What is non-negotiable? What good things will you say "no" to in order to experience the best? Here are a few things to consider for help in the decision making process:

What is Christmas really about? As Christians, we are celebrating the birth of God's Son. Do the gatherings and events you plan on attending reflect this important truth? Would your children look at the activities you're involved in and understand what it is really all about, or are you sending mixed messages (over emphasizing the material and secular)?

What do you want your children to remember? Do you want them to remember crazy rushing and frantic parents? Family feuding and "give me, give me" present greed? Or would you rather them have warm feelings of sweet family gatherings, beautiful music and Bible stories, driving around together to look at Christmas lights? Think about your favorite Christmas memories from your childhood. How can you recreate those good times for your little ones?

What is most important at the end of the day? While your neighbor might be miffed that you were unable to attend her annual bake-off, several years down the road it probably won't make a difference. Seeing family members you haven't been able to meet up with in years, donating gifts to projects like Operation Christmas child, and attending your church's Christmas Eve service, on the other hand, can have a more lasting impact. Your priorities may be vastly different then mine. No matter- determine what they are, and ensure that your schedule is conducive to the most important things.

Today's Assignment: Meet up with your spouse, and even include your children, to discuss what is most important to everybody this year. Explain that as a family you are only able to do so much, but it is important to make time for the events that matter most to individual members. Make a list of your priorities, leaving plenty of free space on your calendar for rest and down time.

Playing Christmas Keep Up (Day 10)

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Over the past three weeks I've given you many little assignments. Even if you are keeping up faithfully, I am certain you still have a decent amount of holiday prep left to do. Take this weekend to continue hammering away- buying and making gifts, finishing up your Christmas mailing list and addresses.

In case if you've lost track, here is a list of all the assignments so far (for your convenience, to check off as you finish):

1. Make a list of everyone you will be gifting this Christmas.
2. Make a budget for holiday gifts.
3. Sign up for any rewards programs applicable to you. Check out Money Saving Mom's series for the month of October "31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas."
4. Make a note on your gift list next to each name if you plan to make or buy their gift.
5. If you decide to make gifts, check out my pinboard for inspiration :). Test run your ideas, start making your gifts.
6. Make a plan for this year's Christmas cards. If you are going to need to schedule a photo session, go ahead and call the studio.
7. Make a list of everyone you will be sending a Christmas card to.
8. Collect the addresses of everyone you are sending a card to, and type them up into a neat document. Save the document and set it up to print on labels. Keep it for every future mailing you send out!
9. If you are hosting this year: Plan a holiday meal that will be fun for you to make. Write out your meal plan and corresponding shopping list.
10. If you are going to someone's home for the holidays: Call the person who will be cooking for you and ask how you can contribute to the meal!
11.  If you will be cooking for the holidays: make your meal timetable.
12. Make your list of who and what you are baking for, what baked goods you will be making, and how much of each kind you will need. Pick a couple of dates out on your calendar and set them aside as baking days!

That's it for now! Have a productive and delightful weekend, and tune in next week for our discussion on keeping Christmas peaceful, simple, and rich with meaning.

How are you doing on your early prep? What has been the most helpful part of this series for you so far? 

Holiday Food- Let's Get Down To Baking (Day 9)

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Can I just tell you that I love baking??? Seriously, nothing done in the kitchen thrills my soul so much as baking. It doesn't matter what- muffins, bagels, cookies, biscotti- I just love to bake. I'm hoping that some of you share my enthusiasm! Maybe I love it the best because I like eating it so much ;). Even if you don't enjoy the work itself, I am sure that 99% of you at least love to eat it!

Whether you love to or would rather not, oftentimes the Holidays call for a little extra baking. By planning it out now, I am going to make things nice and easy for you. Either you will have more time to relax and relish the joys of baking, or you can hurry it up and be in and out of the kitchen lickety-split. Totally up to you.

First, ask how many people and events you will be baking for this year. Is there an annual cookie exchange that you plan on attending? Do you plan on passing plates of goodies to neighbors and friends? Write down everyone and thing you will be preparing goods for. In my case, I plan to give cookies to a few close family friends, and people at church. I'd also like to have an assortment of delicacies on hand for visitors who pop in. And finally, each year my church plates up assorted cookies for the men in the halfway house next door. I plan on participating, so that will require 7 dozen or so from me.

Second, decide what kinds of cookies/candies you will be making. Depending on how large your list of people and events is, you could need anywhere from 4-8 types of treats. I personally like to select a few tried and true favorites, well also giving several new and exciting recipes I see (online or in magazines) a whirl. My classics include my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe, peanut butter blossoms, puppy chow (some people call this muddy buddies, chex cereal with peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar), and peppermint spritz (this is the time of year I love to pull out my Pampered Chef cookie press!). I still have to poke around for inspiration on new kinds, but that is the fun part :).

Can you make ahead and freeze any of them? This is where you're going to save yourself some stress. I plan on making my Grandma's cut outs a month in advance, and freezing them without icing. Then I will pull them out as needed and enjoy the relaxing fun of decorating them, maybe with a friend or two. I can also make ahead and freeze my peppermint spritz and peanut butter blossoms.

When will you need your baked goods? Mark each goody-required event clearly on your calendar. Keep track of the dates and what exactly you plan on bringing (what kinds and how much).

When will you make them? Plan a date and set it in ink on your calendar for baking ahead, and another for baking closer to the events. Keep them set in stone, and don't schedule anything else on these days. By planning a specific day and leaving it totally free, you will give yourself the time and margin to accomplish what you need to, sans stress.

Today's Assignment: Make your list of who and what you are baking for, what baked goods you will be making, and how much of each kind you will need. Pick a couple of dates out on your calendar and set them aside as baking days!

What are your favorite things to bake for the holidays? Please share recipes and ideas in the comments! Let the mouth-watering begin ;). 

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 Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting-Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu
Holiday Food- A Timetable

Holiday Food- A Timetable (day 8)

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Last year I made my first attempt at cooking Thanksgiving dinner. My family was in town to meet S, so even though the Holiday was a couple of weeks away, we thought we'd enjoy a mini early celebration while we were together.

The day before our intended feast, somehow the turkey came up. "You have it thawing already, right Rachel?" My mom asked.

"No. Should I?"

"Turkeys take a week to thaw! I guess we won't be having any with our dinner."

Oops. Because of my failure to research and plan ahead, we ended up eating chicken instead of turkey. I learned it the hard way- planning your timetable is key when cooking a successful holiday meal.

Here are a few things to consider as you plan the timetable for your dinner preparations:

Is there anything I can make ahead and freeze? Pies, cookies, dinner rolls and some casseroles can be made weeks in advance and frozen. Check your list, mark these items, and plan a date to make them (sometime before holiday stress kicks in!).

What do I need to buy and when can I go shopping? Some ingredients can be purchased weeks ahead, others only a few days. Make your shopping list (by referencing your meal plan), and mark perishables and non-perishables. Plan your shopping trips accordingly. Make sure to give yourself extra time windows in case if you forget something!

What prep can I do the day before to make the holiday itself less crazy? Chop your veggies, peel potatoes, put together casseroles (so they are ready to throw in the oven the next day) and salads. Whatever can be done ahead, do ahead!

What can only be done the day of? List these items and write down how long they take to make and at what time you will need to start them.

After you've considered these important factors, make a written or typed time table. Every item on your menu will go on this list somewhere. Here is an example:

One Month in Advance: Bake cookies, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pies, freeze.
Two Weeks in Advance: Purchase turkey, canned cranberry sauce, and non-perishable casserole ingredients.
One Week in Advance: Pull turkey out of the freezer to thaw.
Three Days Before: Make final shopping trip. 
The Day Before: Pull pies, rolls, and cookies out of the freezer to thaw. Cut and peel potatoes, stick in pot for boiling, cover with water, and leave on stove top ready to go. Chop and put together ingredients for green bean casserole. Prepare stuffing and appetizers. Set the table.
The Day Of: Start turkey at 10 a.m. Throw casserole in the oven at 1 p.m. Start potatoes boiling at 1:05 p.m. Cook green vegetables. Line cookies on trays, put food in serving dishes with spoons, have dinner ready to go by 2 p.m.

It is theoretical and was quickly thrown together, but hopefully my little example gives you the general idea.

Today's Assignment: Sit down and make your meal timetable. Don't worry about finishing or perfecting it today, just sketch out the basic framework to give yourself direction.

By setting a well-laid timetable and following it through to the end, you are bound to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas day more freely and easily!

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Other Posts in this Series:
Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number
Holiday Food- The Menu

Linked With: Raising Homemakers, and Women Living Well.

Holiday Food- The Menu (Day 7)

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I don't know about you, but one of my favorite parts of the holidays is the food. Turkey with mashed potatoes, delicious vegetables and casseroles, cranberry sauce, and all of the sublime desserts: pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, fudge, and candies.

If you are not responsible for cooking any holiday meals this year, please feel free to tune out today and tomorrow. Use the time to catch up on your Christmas cards and gift making/buying.

Perhaps you are going to someone else's home for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Why not give them a call this week and ask what you can bring? An extra side dish, loaf of bread, or dessert can greatly bless a busy cook!

If you are cooking a big meal or two, I want to keep you ten steps ahead of the pack by planning it out now :). Whether you are cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner (or both!), a big meal requires thoughtful planning.

The big question is, of course, what are you making?

We are going to celebrate Thanksgiving at a friend's house, but Christmas dinner is on me. I am super excited that we will be entertaining my husband's parents, sister, brother-in-law, and brother-in-law's mother from Ireland (and Spain!) this year.

Extra company makes me extra anxious to impress. I want to serve up an all-American Christmas experience that will delight all.

Now is the time to consult pinboards and foodie blogs :). My husband and I have really enjoyed watching Christmas cooking shows with famous chefs (like Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson) in the past for inspiration.

You can likely find Christmas episodes from whatever cooks inspire you somewhere online, or via Netflix or Amazon Prime. I love watching them because they are usually filmed in the chef's home, so you see their families and festive Christmas decor. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit, while making your mouth water ;).

This is the framework I plan to hang my meal plan on. As I find recipes that I want to incorporate, I will fill the corresponding slot:

• Appetizers (optional, but nice if people have a long wait before dinner. 2-3 would be a good number)
• Main dish (Turkey, Ham, etc.)
• One green vegetable (brussel sprouts? asparagus? broccoli? Don't just serve them plain, get creative!)
• Potatoes (mashed? boiled? roasted?)
• Bread
• A casserole (green bean? sweet potato? cheesy potato? stuffing?)
• Cranberry Sauce (or something else fruity and sweet as a condiment)
• At least one dessert (pumpkin pie is a must in this house! I'm thinking I'd like to make chocolate mint truffles too, and have a variety of Christmas cookies available)
• Beverages (you can keep it simple- water, milk, soda, coffee, tea- or make a fancy punch or offer sparkling cider)

Today's Assignment: Get yourself inspired! Watch a cooking show or two, consult Pinterest, dust off that cookbook you've been meaning to explore. Plan a meal that will be fun for you to make. Write out your meal plan and corresponding shopping list. Tuck them away for future reference (make sure they don't get lost before the holiday meal!).

Not cooking? Call the person who will be cooking for you and ask how you can contribute to the meal!

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Looking to get ready for Christmas early this year? Be sure to check out the other posts in this series if you've missed them!

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking It Twice
Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number

Linked With: Growing Home, and Time Warp Wife.

Christmas Cards- I've Got Your Number (Day 6)

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If you're tracking with our "No Stress, Ready to Bless, Early Christmas Prep Guide," then you should have already 1) decided what you're doing for this year's Christmas cards, and 2) compiled a numbered list of the names you'll be sending cards to (so that you'll know exactly how many you need).

Now comes my least favorite part. Bleh. It's a good thing we're tackling it in October, not December, huh? ;)

Collecting addresses! Ta da!

I know- not my favorite either.

This year, however, is going to be different. Because this year (if you haven't done it already!) you are going to put all of your necessary addresses into one neat and tidy document on your computer, and you are going to save it, so that next year you won't have to collect. You can just click a button and print out all of your labels.

How exciting! Are you excited??? Because I sure am!

Anytime in the future that you have to send out a mass mailing, you can just refer to your "Mailing List" document. Easy peasy!

Today's Assignment: Enough chatter, its time to get cracking. Pull out your address book, get your mom on the phone line (for obscure relatives addresses), and facebook message all of your buddies whose addresses you are missing. Make sure to find the address of everyone from your numbered list (so that you can actually follow through and send them out!). This might take you longer than 15 minutes. Actually, it definitely will (if you don't already have a saved mailing list document). That's okay- just spend 15 minutes on it each day from now until Saturday.

Money Saver: Instead of mailing, why not hand out your cards to local friends and family? We make a point of doing this each year, especially with church members! So much simpler :).

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Other Posts in this Series:

Introduction
Gifting- Your Plan of Attack
Gifting- Think Outside the Box
Gifting- To Make or Purchase?
Christmas Cards- Your Plan of Attack
Christmas Cards- Making Your List and Checking it Twice