READ GOD'S WORD EVERY MORNING

Starting my day with God's Word seems obvious, but sometimes gets left out. I need to hear from God & speak to God each day so I am strengthened and ready to be the mom He wants me to be. At breakfast, we have family devotions and can start our kids? day on the right foot as well. Each of the kids know they are to read their Bible when they wake up. Of course, some need a little more reminding than others.

DON'T DO EVERY ACTIVITY THAT COMES ALONG

Although evident, it took me a couple of years to learn this lesson. In reality, my husband helped me lessen the activity in our lives during the holiday season.

In the past, I wanted our kids to experience everything available during this season. What was actually happening was I began to harbor stress that would usually explode around Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. (I'm sure none of you have ever experienced this.

WHICH ACTIVITIES DO I CHOOSE

What works for us is to pick only 1 or at most 2 Christmas activities or gatherings to attend outside our home. The others we do at home. This is one of the best stress reducers and I am not "forcing" my husband to go to one more Christmas activity every week. He's still working all day to provide for our family. Instead of being tired and grouchy, he is much happier going to fewer activities and enjoying the company of his relatives and friends.

We enjoy having others in our home, so we capitalize on this. Our children help us clean & cook, so our work is reduced and I am not stressed when our guests arrive.

HAPPINESS IN YOUR HOME

I will always have more activities for us to do than we have time for. This past Thanksgiving weekend I decided which activities will wait until next year.

REMEMBER: YOU CAN'T DO EVERY THING, EVERY YEAR.

I try to select activities that help my children to think of others, instead of themselves during Christmas. What we have done in the past is raise money for a missionary family. My kids would take orders for loaves of pumpkin bread and cookies. After baking and delivering them to their waiting customers, they would pay me back for the materials used. The rest of the money is used to buy games and toys that can be used by the needy.

This season we will have other kids over to bake cookies so their moms can do some Christmas shopping, uninterrupted. A Christmas card stamping party for younger kids would be a great idea for an activity. I'm still thinking it over how that will work.

I have some other ideas that are included in Celebrate Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Celebration Ideas

MAKE CHRISTMAS YOUR SCHOOL

For those of you who homeschool, lessen some of the formal academics and enjoy these times. As we bake, shop and prepare for Christ's birthday, we are also doing math and writing and reading with these activities.

We still read out loud each morning and then proceed to a Christmas project or craft. The crafts may involve simple handiwork or other quiet projects.

DO YOU FEEL A TREMENDOUS NERVOUS STRAIN DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS? Stop and take a moment right now and prioritize all the activities you and your family want to do. Pick only 1 or 2 activities that the entire family can enjoy and pass on the rest.

Its a wonderful experience having your family at home. Invite another over to roast marshmallows and have fun with the fellowship. And don't forget, keep your eyes and hearts focused on the Child Jesus. Without His love for mankind, you won't be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8