"Prepare Him Room"

I hope you will visit the page I created to stay focused on a Joyful Holiday (even when life is far from perfect!)

I know many people (and all the stores) already have their Christmas decor out in force and are fully into the holiday mode.  I love this season.  But our home isn't there yet, and we will gradually put out the decorations as our schedules and energy levels allow.  The first thing I have to do, it clear out spaces previously filled with harvest decor and make space for our holiday gear.  It's certainly going to be a full and busy season.  Time is even more scarce when children move between homes, so I treasure what we have.

Even as the mantle and the home are prepared for the holiday, I want to prepare my heart.  Some questions I use, and you may want ask yourself this year:

- Is there room in my day for Christ to change my schedule?
- Will my attitude be frantic or settled?  
- What can I do to foster peace?
- How may I shift my focus to gratitude, even when there are painful times?
- Am I creating expectations that will lead to disappointment?
- What will be my measure of a 'good' holiday?

There is no end to the options of festive events, cute crafts and traditions that will compete for our attention. I will have to choose what gets my favor, I will have to be intentional with my Christmas.  Let's view this not as a limitation, but as a gift to select what matters over the noise.  I will have the courage to say no to budget busters and energy drains.

Most importantly, I'm making room for the true reason we celebrate.  Sometimes I seek the spectacular, but where I'm most moved is in the simple and the lovely.  Listen to the words of the carols, they are glorious.  Read with a child.  Show up for the chaotic school event.  Give with meaning.  Capture the memories.  Let Christ flow through each interaction and trust this season will hold gifts we didn't even know we wanted. It's time for a new standard.

What are ways you are preparing room for the true meaning of Christmas in your heart and home?  I'd love to hear!

What if My Only Aim for the Holiday Season is Peace?

Don't miss the page I created to stay focused on a Joyful Holiday (even when life is far from perfect!)

Every year, my tendency is to dream of grande holiday plans and romanticized ideas about how the season will unfold.  Then I start blocking out time on the calendar and getting a bit more realistic.  Quickly it becomes clear that I will not accomplish everything I hoped could be done. 

This year, I'm starting off by declaring that my goal for this holiday season is peace.  Peace with my family, my schedule, my finances, my savior and my own heart.  Yes, I'm still making lists and checking them twice.  I will likely be a bit ragged from all the hustle and bustle.  But most of all, I long for peace. 

Our world is so full of chaos and conflict that the need for peace is more tangible than ever.  Blended family carry the additional stress and angst of navigating emotionally charged days and holidays.  I've realized now that I can feel both joy and sadness together, and that is alright.

My hope and aim for the season of 2017 is for my heart peaceful, joyful & genuinely happy.  I'm praying the same for my children.  No guilt, no manipulation, no bitterness.  It's just not worth it.  There will be sad moments, yes.  There will be longing, it's always mixed into second-family life.  I will allow these feelings, but I won't allow them to dominate or control my holiday season, or that of my children and step children.  Already, they pay the brunt of the price for our shortcomings. 

Here's how I'm seeking peace:

• less on the calendar and more downtime
• real connections and one-on-one time with the individuals in my family
• spiritual renewal as we focus on the Advent of Christ 
• simple traditions 
• fostering family relationships
• sticking to a budget and celebrating what we already have
• prioritizing my marriage 
• making time for silliness and fun - these childhood days are waning.

Peace. I crave it and want to be intentional about seeking it.  How will you seek and prepare for peace this year? 

A New Standard for Good Day

This day did not unfold quite as I thought: nothing went wrong, everything just took longer than I planned, and I already planned with margin.  But at the end of the day, I kept feeling a nagging thought because I didn't get to exercise, something that is a priority for me and one the things I do for myself.  My inner dialogue was churning because I didn't get my "list" checked through.

It wasn't healthy, and borderlined on obsession, so I paused to ask God about my discomfort.  Almost immediately, he comforted me with the reminder that I had accomplished all that He required for that day.  This was a fresh message to me, as I find myself in an unusually busy season that I didn't quite anticipate.

"Did I complete all that God asks of me?"

When I evaluated my day according to this standard, I felt peace come over me and realized my priorities had, in fact, been right that day.  When I filter my to-do list through the question of what God's list is for me, that's where I find true fulfillment.  Did I seek Him throughout my day?  Did I care for my family well?  Did I communicate love to my husband and others?  Did I work diligently? Did I do what I am able and let go of the rest?

When the answer to these things is yes, then I can rest in the knowledge that I've accomplished what He has for me - even when my own goals aren't completed.  This readjustment brings me freedom and peace and I hope is reminder to you, as well.  We can't do it all, but let's do all with intention.