The Masterpiece Mom

How a Stuffy Nose Helped Me Fully Understand the Love of Christ

by Leave a Comment

Whenever my 3 year-old Emmy has even the slightest of stuffy noses, she’ll stir several times in the night thrashing and crying out in her sleep. No matter what we do to clear her nose (nasal aspirator, essential oils, blowing her nose), it doesn’t stay that way for long and she cannot seem to get a handle on breathing through her mouth while her nose is out of commission.

We always know we’re in for it for a couple nights in a row when this happens. She’ll cry out repeatedly trying to breathe through her nose, and gets mad as a hornet because she can’t. She becomes completely irrational and can’t be settled — as 3 year-olds often do.

One night right before Easter, I sat with her on the couch late into the night comforting and rocking her, praying her nasal passages would clear up so she could rest. She drifted off to sleep again as this thought came to mind,

“I wish I could trade places with her for the night.”

I was willing to suffer a little while, so she could sleep comfortably. If only that were possible.

In that moment, hopelessly worn-out from the extended mom hours that night, the Holy Spirit immediately brought Jesus to mind. Jesus willingly suffered much more than a stuffy nose for His children to be able to enter into His rest. (Hebrews 4) In that moment, I knew His heart for us.

I experienced a teensy bit of His love for His children in my love for my spirited little Miss and desire to see her whole and at peace.

That mama-love you display so faithfully, desiring that your child be well, be whole, and able to rest mirrors that of our Savior. So if you ever get the notion that you’re not enough, or are failing in a million different ways — remember this: you love and desire good things for your child like Jesus does for his. That doesn’t sound like failing — it sounds like a human mother doing what God created her to do.

In This Together (Parenting as Teammates, Not Opponents)

by 2 Comments

When asked how I do it all as a mom of a big family, my answer is always the same:

“Well, I have an amazing husband. We’re a really good team.” 

That is the 100% truth. Sometimes I wonder what the person asking the question means by the word “all.” Are they assuming I do more than I actually do? Or maybe they’re simply observing the fact that I’m keeping eight kids alive and am managing to feed them somehow. A feat in itself!

I couldn’t possibly take full credit for the good (or the bad) one might see when they look at how our family functions, or at least how it appears on the outside.

I don’t do it all alone. Far from it. One half of a parenting team was not meant to do the work of both parents.

In an imperfect world wrought with the pain of sin and death, sometimes single parenting becomes a reality. In this instance, and for these purposes, I’m speaking of the partnership of parenting as a married couple.

……

How does one create and sustain an environment in the home where two parents are working as one unit toward a common goal without completely losing it? As we all know, it’s NOT EASY to parent our children well and create a thriving and loving marriage at the same time. It can be crazy-hard.

Here are a few things we’ve learned in our fifteen years as parents. Most, if not all, of these points were learned the hard way. Through the years, we’ve been impatient with each other and our kids. We’ve placed lots of expectations on each other and our kids. We’ve had to reverse bad habits, hold our tongues while opening our ears, and let Christ renew our minds so we could better relate to each other and our kids as we walk this road together.

I imagine if you’re still reading this, you want to love your spouse and family well. And to do that, we all need to put in the work.

……

1.  Raise this family together. – You made the family together, now it’s time to raise the family together. Men have work to do in life. Women have work to do in life. Neither reality exempts one parent or another from the work of intentional parenting. Serve each other and your children as Christ loved and served us. His love was sacrificial and purposeful, with a commitment to see it through to the end. We were made to do this together. As a team.

2.  Make a Plan. –  How do you know where you’re going and what your goals are if you don’t discuss them? Sit down and talk about what God wants for you as a couple and for your family, and the traits you’d like your family to possess. It sounds so simple, but the results of actually talking it out can make a profound difference.

3.  Grace. Lots of grace. – Both parents bring strengths to the team. Both parents bring weaknesses to the team. Don’t dwell on the differences or weaknesses, but rather let Christ use your strengths to build up your marriage and family unit for His glory. Give the same kind of grace to each other as you would like to receive when your faults are showing. Because they will show. How would you like this to be handled by your spouse? Whatever your answer, act in that way when your spouse’s weaknesses make an appearance. Grace. It’s a beautiful thing.

4.  Sin isn’t the worst thing that can happen. Though your unwillingness to admit it might be. It’s no secret that we all sin. Let’s stop trying to cover it up by justifying and coddling it. Sin is an everyday occurrence, but we must handle it correctly if we want any kind of relationship with our spouse and children. Admit your failure before Christ and your family, ask for forgiveness, and draw near to Him while choosing a better way. Show your kids this process from time to time as well. They will only benefit from witnessing your humility and desire to make things right.

5.  Friendly and loving interaction. – This one is the hardest when you’re tired. All parents are tired. So this is difficult for all of us. Choosing friendly and loving interactions might be the very thing that pushes your marriage from dry to dynamic. Though it takes a lot of self-control and intentionality — kind words, warm smiles, and forgiving attitudes are an integral part of a thriving marriage. Ask any spouse who feels the sting of an icy husband or wife on a regular basis, and they’d say a little kindness and a smile would go a long way in improving the relationship.

6. Opponents make enemies. Teammates get somewhere together. I’ve never seen two opponents accomplish anything together because they’re always heading in opposite directions. Are we working against each other in our parenting? Always challenging the other person’s actions and ideas, trying to “beat” them with our own? Or are we working side-by-side our spouse toward a common goal?

7. Selfish actions and attitudes will sink the boat. – As you can see, what I’ve shared isn’t really about parenting at all. It’s about selflessly loving each other, so you can be on the same team so you can parent well. Selfishness is at the root of most every unhealthy marriage. So if you want your relationship (and your family) to head in a different direction? Seek the Lord, and take an inventory of all the ways you’re contributing to the selfish parent fund, and see what you and Jesus can do about it.

 

In which of these areas would you most like to see improvement in your marriage and parenting partnership?

We’re in this together! We’re praying for your marriages and for you as a parenting team. Let us know how we can pray!

How to Liven Up Your Home Without Redecorating

by Leave a Comment

 

I’m not the type who has boxes full of seasonal decor up in my attic (other than Christmastime, of course). I just love to move things around a bit and sometimes spend a few dollars to make things feel fresh again as the seasons come and go.

I like my main living space to match what’s going on outside. If it’s fall, I love my space to feel cozy and warm. In winter, I love plenty of light. In spring, it’s color I love. And in summer, I’m all about fresh and fun.

Based on my own style of “get it cheap and get it cute”, and how I love to use what I already have, here are some ways I’ve found to make my home feel fresh again for nearly nothing.

1. Use books to decorate. 

There isn’t a room in our home that isn’t packed full of books. We’re big fans. Books serve many functions. Other than the reading of said books, I adore decorating with them. Whether I’m leaning a book against a wall on a shelf, strategically placing a small stack in a certain color, or putting them out based on the season they pertain to. I’m crazy about using books as a centerpiece for my decorating.

2. Shop your own house. 

I’m not sure if I learned this in one particular place or not, but for years I’ve been moving things around from room to room giving framed pictures, baskets, candleholders, pillows, furniture, and lamps new life. Try it — you’ll like it.

3. Buy inexpensive items that make a big statement. 

A few months ago I bought two pennant banners made from thick brown craft paper for $1 each. Right now they’re making a fun and light-hearted statement in my living and dining spaces. Houseplants are also an inexpensive and beautiful way to bring in some color (if you can manage to keep them happy and alive too.) Have I ever mentioned my love affair with washi tape? Cheap and fun. Go ahead and tape something to the wall!

4.  Bring the outdoors in. 

I make it a point to try and use whatever rocks, branches, pinecones, and flowers (dead or alive) my kids bring in from the outside. Pinecones made a great “wreath” at the base of a glass votive candle holder and pussy willow branches are gorgeous placed in a jar atop a stack of books!

5. Spruce up your throw pillows. 

Changing out throw pillow covers can make a huge impact. Several times over the years, I’ve sewn my own pillow covers to change things up. I use pillows I already have, thrifted pillows, or pillows that are crazy ugly but are so cheap on clearance I can’t help but cover them with a print I love. If you can sew a couple straight lines, you can make your own throw pillow covers. Tip: I line my covers with fusible fleece, found in the interfacing section at the fabric store. It irons onto the inside and makes your covers look like they came on the pillow. No more floppy cases.

6. Collect fun and timeless pieces that will work for any season. 

My favorite pieces in my living room are ones that have either been handed down to me, I’ve gotten for free, or I’ve paid $26 or less for. One is a dresser that has been in my family since before I was born (which now holds homeschooling books and supplies.) Another is a stump my husband lovingly chopped down, peeled, sanded, and dried out for me to use as an end table or seat. One is a magazine rack that was refurbished and painted a fabulously distressed apple red I paid $26 for. Another is a round antique end table with a small drawer given to me by a family member. And the last is a wooden bench I scored at a yard sale for $10. Your living spaces don’t have to be filled with expensive items or furniture. The more nostalgia, the better the deal, and the most versatility is my top reason for keeping things around my home.

7.  Treat yourself to fresh flowers. 

Sigh. I’m crazy about fresh flowers. My kitchen island is happiest when a vase of cut flowers adorns it. I treat myself to a bunch every couple months, and my husband brings them home every few months when my day has been especially trying. We both speak this love language of mine. It’s a pretty and inexpensive way to liven up any space. I’m also not against artificial flowers. In January, after putting away all the Christmas goodies, I snagged a few bunches of fake flowers in hopes of displaying some pops of color that would last because winter wasn’t going away anytime soon and this girl needed something colorful to look at.

 

Decorating Inspiration:

The Nesting Place – I love Myquillyn’s mantra: It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. 

Country Living Magazine – Finally! A magazine that speaks my decorating language.

French Country Cottage on Instagram

HGTV’s Fixer Upper – I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t adore Joanna Gaines and her style.

 

Do you have a decorating style or tip you’d like to share? We’re all ears. 

Come say hello and see more of Amanda’s home and family life over on Instagram!

Why Our Kids Need to Do Hard Things

by 1 Comment

I don’t believe any of us would really want to leave our kids unprepared for the challenges ahead in adulthood. We want what’s best for them. Truly we do. 

But sometimes we do our parenting thing without giving a thought to how our actions right now will play out in their adult years.

Sometimes we coddle and cater to these children God entrusted to us — wanting so badly for them to have this pleasant and lovely childhood, that we never teach our kids how to really live. Because really living sometimes involves doing hard things. “Sometimes” meaning a lot of the time.

Our kids don’t need every battle fought for them.

They don’t need us to make excuses for them.

They don’t always need to be rescued.

They don’t need to sit out of the hard work.

And they won’t benefit from having parents who dismiss the learning experience living with consequences will bring them.

Adults can attest to the fact that living with the effects of our actions is a very real part of adult life. We also know the stakes are higher as we age.

Your kids and my kids will benefit from helping with chores, learning to cook, fighting some of their own battles, sharing rooms with siblings, and loving people who are having a hard time. They also gain from earning privileges, saving money, having responsibilities, and failing at things they set out to do.

Never once have I witnessed a child benefit from having an easy world, void of consequences, handed to them.

Instead of letting them escape the repercussion of their choices, our kids need us to walk beside them as they face them — lovingly, graciously, and without condemnation. And that, my friends is where the hard work lies for us.

 

Related reading: Your Kid, 10 Years Later

So You’re Drowning as a Mom, Now What?

by 2 Comments

In the last fifteen years, I can pinpoint several specific seasons of motherhood where I was absolutely drowning.

I’m not talking about a string of bad days where everything seemed to go wrong. I’m talking about weeks, months, or possibly even years of struggle upon struggle. During these times, I’m tense, stressed, depressed, complain-y, moody, and an all-around grump with the unusual sense that the glass is perpetually half-empty. It is during these times I know I can’t continue down the current path.

Nope. Nuh uh. No way.

Something had to give or the mama of the house was going to completely FLIP. OUT.

If you’ve felt this way about your mothering, or you’re in this sort of season currently, I’m sorry. It’s a hard place to be.

A fellow mom I’ve known since she was a young teen recently contacted me in this exact position. She was overwhelmed and at the end of her rope. I clung to her words. They made perfect sense to me. I heard her cry for help through the words typed out in a Facebook message. I knew right where she was, because I’ve been there. Her words were so familiar. Her heart beat with a love for her children, and desire to do things differently, resulting in joyful mothering. Isn’t that what we all desire?

Some fun. Some peace. Some love, and some sanity thrown in for good measure?

Meeting and talking with my friend spurred on some of my own thoughts —  what sort of things have helped the hard seasons settle back into normal-ish routine and healthy thought patterns where I didn’t feel like running away or sending everyone off to Grandma’s for a year week?

I’ve narrowed it down to a few questions I’ve learned to ask myself when times are exceedingly tough.

1. What feels impossible right now?

Whenever I feel overloaded and burdened, it helps for me to actually put pen to paper and list everything that feels too difficult. Last year I wrote about it right HERE. Just getting it all out of my mind and in front of me in a notebook helps me see that, yeah, my load is lot to bear. It helps me understand that I’m not crazy or wimpy. It also helps me navigate conversations with Jeremy. I’m less ramble-y and more to the point when I’ve untangled the knots and figured out exactly what is making me so stressed. I’m also less likely to melt into a puddle of tears because I’ve already faced everything that feels hard, so the inevitable conversation I’ll have with my husband isn’t the first time I’ve faced it. Husbands appreciate this. Well, at least mine does. Just last night I made a list of all the difficult decisions we’re needing to make in the next few months. My list is ten items deep. I did this all before having a husband/wife chat about it. It helps. It truly does.

2. What seems to help alleviate the struggles?

So now that you’ve figured out your struggles, is there anything that actually helps alleviate some of the stress you’re feeling? Like, maybe you’ve realized that the stress you feel about your chronically messy house is actually helped when you’ve set the timer for 10 minutes before bed in the past and the whole family tidies the place up. Maybe the few months you spent in therapy for yourself really made a difference two years ago. It may be time to revisit that. If you’ve found something that alleviates the stress, jot it down. Maybe it’s the writer in me, but writing things down and seeing them right there on paper makes a big difference. Sometimes we need to stop and remember what has helped, because sometimes we give up new habits too soon.

3. Are there habits I’m clinging to that are draining the life out of my family and I?

Speaking of habits — some are life-giving, some are life-draining. Are there habits you’re engaging in that are sucking the life out of you and your family? Are you spending too much time on social media? Are you spending precious time thinking negative thoughts about yourself and others? Are you allowing your kids to run mealtime and bedtime? At times we get stuck in the way we’ve always done it, and get lost in thinking our current method is the only solution. I’ve seen moms completely lose their junk trying to make each child happy at a meal. “Oh, you don’t like the green beans and grilled cheese I made, my precious little lamb? Here’s some chips and hotdogs instead. You don’t LIKE THAT EITHER?” (Stomps away, or yells, or worse — makes them something else.) Maybe we’ll stop losing our junk if we drop the draining habits. There is another way. Are we clinging to habits that are life-giving or life-draining?

A wise mentor gave me some stellar advice recently when I spoke to her about a struggle I was having on a certain day of the week. She urged me to reorient my mind by making a new routine for that day — to break the unhealthy emotional cycle I was in by changing some of my actions. Do you know what? It’s working.

Let’s stop and consider how our methods are affecting ourselves and our families. And you guessed it! Write them down and consider letting a brand-new habit replace the most draining thing on your list. Baby steps. And if you get brave, and one of those new life-giving habits becomes routine? Tackle the second-most draining next, and so on.

4. Am I finding ways to feed my soul?

Ah, yes. We really do need to take care of ourselves. Are we communing with God through prayer and scripture reading/study? Are we handing burdens over to Jesus? After all, we weren’t meant to carry them. He’s waiting, ready to help.

Are we communicating with and making time for friends? Are we taking time to be “us”? I’m not talking elaborate days or weekends away from our families (though those are fun too!), I’m talking the everyday action of doing something we enjoy. Maybe it’s a date with Netflix after the kids are in bed. Maybe it’s reading or a daily phone call to someone you love. Maybe it’s a bath or painting your toenails. Maybe it’s conversation or a game with your spouse. Whatever feeds your soul, do more of that. Perhaps making a list of all the things we love to do would serve as a reminder to take care of us. More writing, I know. 

 

Some of us are in the midst of difficult times that are not solved by changing habits or writing things down. I feel you. But maybe some of what I’ve shared will help even a little bit. And for that I’m grateful.

Do you need prayer? Let us know in the comments, or email us: info(at)themasterpiecemom.com

We’d be honored to pray for you. 

When We Wish It Wasn’t This Hard

by 4 Comments

I’ve often heard women say, “It shouldn’t be this hard.” I’ve often heard myself say the same.

Maybe I’m making it too hard. Maybe it really IS hard, and I’m not handling it well. Either way, let me share something with you that may or may not feel comforting.

It’s guaranteed to be hard.

In John 16:33, Jesus was speaking to His disciples about the times to come. He would be going away for a bit, but then they’d see Him again. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus sets a guarantee with those words that life will be troublesome at times. Possibly at more times than we’d care for. And to a greater degree than we ever thought possible.

In my mothering journey, the same kiddos keep doing the same wrong things day after day, year after year, with no end in sight. And I’m tired.

In my trust journey, the same fears and worries keep bubbling to the surface even though I’ve set them in Jesus’ ever-capable hands. I keep yanking them back, unintentionally mulling them over again and again, as if thinking about them and getting emotional about them will lessen their reality. And it doesn’t.

In my journey of following Jesus, I’ve set it in my heart to do whatever He asks of me. I’ve followed Him anywhere He led. And the heartbreak has been greater than I’d ever imagined it could be.

It can be difficult to make sense of it all.

We are not guaranteed a trouble-free life just because we follow Christ. We are guaranteed that He will be with us, leaving His peace for us. His presence and peace becomes the guarantee. Oh. Yes. We can’t do without that.

I would rather the troubles stay, than to be without His peace and presence as I navigate life.

After all, Jesus says their “grief will turn to joy.” (John 16:20) The hard times are not permanent. But how will they leave? When?

Our grief will turn to joy in His time. In His way. Keep trusting, keep hoping, keep laying those burdens down at His feet. Keep taking the next step He gives you to take.

“Take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

How Our Imperfection Is Helping Our Daughters (and Sons)

by 2 Comments

 

“You’re not the best mom, but you’re a pretty good one.” 

Her twinkly brown eyes danced as she said it, and her missing front teeth made her all the more endearing as we sat on the couch together that regular Tuesday afternoon. I grabbed her and tickled her until that infectious giggle of hers came out.

I knew what she meant. She thinks I’m a great mom, but she knows I’m not perfect.

And that’s exactly what I’d like her to know about me.

I want her to see that her mama loves her to the moon and back, but she’s not flawless. I want her to know when she’s a mom and messes up, feels emotional, collapses in exhaustion, or is just plain sad — that she’s normal. 

She’s seen her mom in all of those states, and I’m not ashamed of it.

When we show our humanness, our children benefit. Especially our girl children. The ones who may one day become mothers themselves.

They need to see our frailty. They need to see our dependence on Christ. They need to see that we hurt, reach our limit, and struggle with everyday life. Because we all do. Every last one of us.

And we can’t forget our sons. If all they see is a false perfect mama, if and when they become a father, they may believe wrongly that the mother of their own children is abnormal if she cannot “handle” life and mothering like their own mother appeared to.

Ouch. We don’t want that, now do we?

Authentic. Loving. Christ-seeking. Intentional. That’s the kind of mother our kids need. Perfection doesn’t make the list.

So I’m not the best mom, but I am a pretty good one. And so are you.

When Your Real Life Isn’t Changing with the New Year

by 5 Comments

I adore the start of a new year. Though, of course, it’s just figurative. Nothing truly changes except the four numbers on the end of the date. But I love it anyways.

Unless you’re in a great minority, chances are,  your life is still the same as it was on December 31st. There are still bills to be paid. Relationships to navigate. Adult-ish duties to be taken care of like work, housework, cooking, and child-rearing.

While I love a fresh start (and a new wall calendar), I prefer the start of summer over all that comes with the arrival of January 1st. Summer releases me from all I find mundane. Routine. Schedules. Driving to and from activities for the older kids and school for one of the kids.

You see, my personality finds me allergic to sameness. You too? Especially when that sameness includes a hefty dose of hardship. 2015 was the most difficult year of my life. Hands-down. Even counting my parents’ divorce when I was a girl.

So I was ready to move on when midnight on the 31st rolled around and Jeremy planted a kiss on my lips to celebrate. But the hard season didn’t magically disappear when the clock rolled past twelve. It’s still the same.

What do we do when our circumstances are still the same when all we want is some newness? What do we do when life is still hard in this season and the change we’re hoping for hasn’t yet come?

The simple answer is we change our outlook on it.

Hard seasons are a bridge to a new and better season. Better yet, we see and draw closer to the Lord in hard times. That is, if we decide to. So if we decide to see our challenges as a bridge rather than a pit, we’ll be better for it. And with Christ, the victor, right at our side, we’re in good company.

These days, I’m choosing to journey on this bridge with my chin held high and my heart set on Christ and the victory that was already won up ahead.

So maybe the start of this new year won’t see a change in our life circumstances, but maybe the new year will see a change in us.

The Chill Mom’s Christmas Creed

by 6 Comments

As we enter the week leading up to Christmas, I thought I’d share the list of things I’m reminding myself of this year. Because, well, Christmas is a beautiful, joyous, and lovely time of year as we celebrate the Savior who came to us as a baby to deliver us from sin and death. Beautiful, joyous, lovely. Yes.

And then there’s us. Sometimes we — well, we complicate things. We have expectations, frustrations, and expert perfectionistic ability at times.

We laugh and agree, because we know ourselves so well. We freak out a little at Christmastime. But we don’t want to. Truly, we don’t. So this year, can we make an agreement before God and each other to be chill moms? To be flexible, loving, and centered? Let’s.

 

 

— I will not allow my ideals of perfection to mean more to me than the people placed in my life. No perfect outfit, home, meal, or gift can take the place of a loving gesture and the feeling of being loved.

— I will not stress about houseguests or what I will feed them. I will relax and enjoy the time spent engaging, rather than arranging.

— I will refrain from feeling like a failure because I haven’t made enough “memories” with my children. In the end, who we were to our kids will be more important that what we did.

— There will only be Christmas crafts and baking if said activities are mutually enjoyable to the participants rather than a horrific activity to be endured. If you hate baking and crafts? By all means, step away from the rolling pin and the construction paper.

— This year, I will let go of my perfectly laid plans, and roll. with. the. punches.

— I will give more smiles than disapproving looks.

— I will not spend more than I can. I will get creative, rather than burdened by debt and stress.

— I will remember that advent devotionals and calendars are A way to celebrate the coming of Jesus, but they are not THE way.

— I will be gracious to my in-laws and extended family. I will not be a pushover, but I will be kind.

— Miss Flexible will be my name. No naps for little ones? No worries. The dinner is now cold? Doesn’t phase me. Uncle Pete laughs so loud, he wakes the baby (again)? It’s just one day, we remind ourselves. No inconvenience is worth a strained relationship. Let’s be flexible.

— I will not compare myself or my family to the glowing teeth models on the Christmas cards arriving in my mailbox. Christmas cards are not a requirement, nor are they fodder knocking yourself or your people.

— I will not present a faux view of my family this Christmas. We will be us.

— I will not make tradition a god. I will check my heart before I check off a box.

— My home is not a museum. I will not go nuts about the decor. After all, it’s just a tree inside a house. Think about that for a second. Strange. (Oh, but isn’t it divine to sit by the tree late at night when all are in bed? Glory.)

— I will not freak out about gifts. I will not buy junk just to buy someone something. I will not be picky about the wrapping paper. I will not go crazy with gift fairness, nor will I place expectations on my people. I will receive gifts graciously, and teach my children to do the same.

— I will be thankful for all that I have. And mostly for Jesus who came.

— Together with my family, we will find a way to remove the focus from our family’s wants and wishes, and find a way to give to someone in need.

— Mostly, I will center my hope and my joy on Jesus. He came. He lives. He’s coming again! Praise Him.

 

 

 

Click HERE to join The Masterpiece Mom Facebook community and click right HERE to join our email list to receive blog posts and podcast episodes direct to your inbox when they’re released!

Favorites of the Season

by 2 Comments

Christmastime is upon us, and Anne-Renee and I along with our families are so happy about that.

In Alaska, it’s our darkest time of the year. And when we say dark, we mean dark. But it’s also the coziest, and makes for the perfect time to hunker down, quiet our hearts, and celebrate Christ’s coming as a baby.

One thing I love about our state, is that businesses, homes, and city streets are decked with twinkle lights long before Christmas. You could say it’s our way of coping with the lack of light and bringing a little light into the dark world around. It’s a picture of what we, as believers in Christ, are to the world — light.

As we move further into the Christmas season, we thought we’d take a moment and share a few of our favorite things as we seek to bring the light of Christ into our homes, hearts, and world.

Music:  The two of us girls love our music. Christmas music especially. I’m known to play a festive song or two in the middle of summer, and start listening full-fledged in the Fall. I can’t stop. It’s such a sacred sound to my ears. My current favorite albums include: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole, That’s Christmas to Me by Pentatonix. Along with a zillion other albums and holiday stations on Pandora. Right now, Anne-Renee is crazy about Christmas by Michael Bublé, Noel by Josh Groban, and Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan.

If you listen to the newest episode of the podcast which we’ll release this coming Friday, you’ll hear our favorite and not-so-favorite songs of the season! And probably laugh a little too.

Treats:  Let’s talk food for a second. The Christmas season brings the yummiest treats, doesn’t it? We don’t bake much around our house. Only because I’ll eat IT ALL. By myself. Seriously. So I keep the treat-making to a minimum. But we do enjoy the gifted treats bestowed on us and making a few to share. Top of the list is Mock Almond Roca. Hallelujah. Amen. The angels did sing.

Anne-Renee loves peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes this time of year. You too? Num. And when her family is in the mood for a holiday treat, they love Molasses Crinkles, a recipe popular in her extended family. Here’s to all things peppermint, eggnog, and sugar cookie-ish with loads of frosting in this season.

Books:  Lastly, we wanted to share the books we enjoy this time of year.

A few years ago, we began to celebrate advent together as a family. We didn’t celebrate advent when I was a kid, so this was a new concept. One of my favorite things to do is to read an advent devotional late at night in a darkened room lit only by the Christmas tree. Bliss. My favorites are The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp and this year, I’m excited to be following along with Make Room, a devotional written by a collective of writers gathered by Naptime Diaries. I was super excited this last fall to find out my work would be featured as one of the days’ readings! It’s my first time having my written work in print — it’s so fun to see! Plus, the devotional is lovely and the words are even lovelier. The print copy is sold out — bummer! But never fear, you can get your digital copy right here, viewed like a magazine on an iPad or laptop.

I also love all Christmas-themed children’s books. Namely Christmas in the Big Woods, A Little House Christmas Treasury, Bear Stays Up For Christmas, and The Crippled Lamb. In a year-round sort of way, I love how the Jesus Storybook Bible tells the story of Christ, as it weaves through all of Scripture. So good. Every adult and every child should have their hands on this one.

In Anne-Renee’s home, they love Nancy and Plum, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Gift of the Magi, and God Gave Us Christmas. Ooh. Those are good ones too.

Then there are those books we’d both recommend. For advent, both of our families have thoroughly enjoyed Christmas is About Jesus by our friend Mukkove Johnson (great for younger kiddos), and Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp (great for older kids). Both bring families together in a beautiful way during the advent season as we grow and worship Jesus together.

 

Merry Advent season to you and yours!

.