There’s an empty space in my Christmas tree. It’s not a cute, minimalist kind of empty space. It’s the kind of space that yawns at me with its undecorated nakedness. I keep it empty though, because emptiness is what Christmas is all about. Surprised by that last statement? I was too when the Lord prompted me to embrace…
Category: Stay Present Christmas
Why Did Jesus Come?
“Why did Jesus come?” I asked our kids on the drive to church yesterday. Our son took a long time to arrive at his answer. Eventually he responded, “because he wasn’t there.” His simple, straight-forward conclusion has profoundly impacted me and left me pondering all day. Jesus. Wasn’t. There. There was no access to grace,…
3 Executive Decisions This Momma Made for the Holidays This Year
In a century where holidays are hijacked by outrageous spending and overpriced tradition expectations…. I just want to love my family. I began to notice where my Christmas to-do list no longer lined up with love. Time to change things up! For Thanksgiving, that meant I learned to mosey. For this first week of December,…
One Good Reason You Should Hurry More (#AdultsNeedChristmas)
Christmas time is here! Between parties and packing, shopping and wrapping, we have a bunch of rushing to do. Even our carols are characterized by words like “busy” and “bustle” (which means “to move in an energetic or noisy manner,” in case you were wondering). There was a bustling at the first Christmas too. But this expedited…
What Adults Need at Christmas: A Heart for the Lost
This morning I sat cuddled on my couch with cocoa and Christmas cookies, reading my Christmas devotional book. I was practicing stillness, making room for Jesus in a full day. I had to turn off White Christmas and ignore the gifts that needed to be wrapped. I had to silence my inner to-do list and just…
Make Room: #AdultsNeedChristmas
This week, I was talking with a young woman from our local college. With finals and end-of-semester projects looming overhead, my friend is stressed. Add to that an inconsiderate roommate situation, which left her sleeping in her dorm-room hallway one night. My heart ached for her. What she needed was solace. Peace. Rest. All the things I have…
Adults Need Christmas: How to Rediscover Wonder this Season
Does it feel like we just did this? I feel like we just finished Christmas of 2014. I found my Christmas to-do list like it never left my coat pocket. And I jumped right back into the routine of checking off each item. Now that my kids are old enough to enjoy it, I have focused…
My favorite Christmas Song Discoveries of 2014
I love Christmas music. This year I realized that singing Christmas songs before Thanksgiving isn’t a bad idea. After all, we are celebrating the birth of our Savior! Singing about it only enhances our worship of him. This year I made a playlist of all my old favorite Christmas songs from my childhood. My memories are…
How to THRIVE in your 1st Year of Marriage: Christmas Expectations
The year I was engaged to Shane, I was so excited to be married. Everyone told us “the first year is the hardest.” Well, I was anxious to prove them wrong. The first year passed, and it ROCKED! (Take that, naysayers!) But then the second year passed, and the third…. and I realized that what…