WHEN CHRISTMAS IS HARD

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love all holidays and Christmas has always been placed at the very top of that list. Until four years ago.

In the early hours of Christmas morning 2019, my phone rang, waking me from my sleep. A phone call at this hour is never good. I saw my mom's name flash across the screen and said a sleepy, "Hello?" She uttered two words that have forever changed my life. "It's Papa." I jumped from bed screaming, waking the household. We raced to my grandparents home and when we arrived, I jumped from the car before my husband even stopped. As I ran inside, my dad met me at the door and with unfallen tears pooling in his eyes, he shook his head.

Life has not been the same. Since that sorrowful day, we also lost my Mamaw two years ago. She passed on Halloween, and while I do not celebrate Halloween in any way, it was just one more holiday that "stole" my grandparents from me. My grandparents were my best friends, my biggest cheerleaders, and my strongest prayer warriors. Losing them has been one of the absolute hardest things of my life.

To continue reading, please join me at Woman to Woman Ministries. Click HERE.

HOLY PALS

When our kids were little, over twenty years ago, we got our kids brand new pajamas for Christmas. On a whim, we allowed them to open one gift on Christmas Eve and the wrapped pajamas happened to be what they opened. Our kids loved their new, colorful pajamas and excitedly made their plans to wear them to bed that night.

We decided that year that we would make this a new tradition. Every year since we have wrapped brand new pajamas and gifted them to our kids, and now grandkids, on Christmas Eve. Every year my husband says, "There are no pajamas this year." And every year they know they are still getting them. Such a simple, yet fun tradition.

Last year I found a company that has elevated the Christmas pajamas to a whole new level. Holy Pals offers pajamas that let you wrap your family in the Word of God.

George and Jen, founders of Holy Pals, were tucking their son into bed one night when he said, "Imagine if my pajamas had David & Goliath all over them, wouldn't that be cool?" They immediately knew they wanted to make this happen and Holy Pals was born.

Holy Pals pajamas have Bible stories printed on them. Stories like the birth of Jesus, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lion's den, Jonah and the whale, Queen Esther, and more. On the sleeve of each pair of pajamas is the Scripture reference for that Bible story. Imagine dressing your child for bed while reading the Bible story that is printed on their pajamas. What a wonderful way to send your child off to sleep at night!

Their pajamas are 100% premium cotton making them not only great quality, but also super soft and cozy. Even after a wash, they hold their shape and still look great.

Holy Pals partners with The Littlest Lamb Orphanage. So when you buy a pair of Holy Pals pajamas, they give a pair to a child in need.

Our family loves Holy Pal pajamas and you will too. Shop Holy Pals HERE and be sure to use code JENIFER10 for 10% off your order.

FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS TO KEEP CHRISTMAS ABOUT JESUS

Every year we utter the mantra "Jesus is the reason for the season!" Every year we start out with grand plans to truly keep Christ as the very focal point of our holiday. And every year we fall short.

Busyness quickly takes over. There are cookies to bake, gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, decorations to put up, parties to attend, outfits to plan, cocoa to drink, movies to watch, music to sing to, meals to prepare, snow angels to make, and more. None of these things in and of themselves are bad. They are precious memories we are making even. Yet, they are not the reason we have this day to celebrate.

We know that Jesus is reason, we know that this day is for us to remember and honor our King that came to this earth to live, suffer greatly, die, and rise again. All for us. But how can we truly keep Christ at the center?

Here are five practical ways to help you and your family keep your focus on Jesus this holiday season.

Be okay with saying no. Maybe that means no to too many parties. Maybe it means no to too many gifts under the tree or too extravagant of gifts. It can be easy to get caught up in "yes" when we should be saying no a little more often. Become okay with letting the answer be no for a better yes. Yes to family. Yes to rest. Yes to focusing on Jesus.

Purposely pause each day. Each day pause as a family to reflect on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Maybe at breakfast or at dinner. Maybe in the car on the way to school or at bedtime. Whenever it is, pause and reflect. Say a prayer together giving thanks for Jesus. Another fun way to do this is to use your nativity! Put the baby Jesus away for now; then each day take Joseph and Mary and have them travel to another room in the house. You can even have a family member act out an innkeeper saying there is no room. Then, on Christmas before you begin your festivities, Joseph and Mary can arrive at the stable where you bring out baby Jesus. This interactive way of pausing will bring the story to life for your little ones.

Watch a movie about the true meaning. Christmas movies are so much fun! I love snuggling in with a fuzzy blanket and cocoa as I watch a Christmas movie. Along with your fun movies, be sure to watch at least one movie about the true meaning of Christmas. A couple options are The Nativity Story and The Star. Great American Pureflix also offers a wide range of faith based Christmas movies that will point your family to Jesus.

Read the story of the birth of Jesus. At least one time this holiday season, read the story of Jesus' birth. Our kids used to love to sit by the tree and read Christmas books. There is just something so fun about sitting under the lights of the tree and reading about the holiday. You could keep a basket of books at your tree and each night before bed read one together as a family. Make sure you offer books that are about Jesus and keep a Bible in the basket to read the story straight from God's Word.

Wrap your family in the Word of God. Over twenty years ago we began a tradition with our kids that we still to this day celebrate: Christmas jammies. Last year we found a company that is more than snowmen and Santa hats and we love it. Holy Pals offers Christmas jammies with meaning. Each pair of pajamas shares the story of Jesus birth with beautiful prints and even has the Scripture reference tagged right onto the pajamas. Holy Pals pajamas are super soft and cozy, made with great quality and care. What better way to pause and reflect as you help your child get ready for bed and what a precious reminder on Christmas morning that the day is about more than opening gifts. When shopping at Holy Pals, use code JENIFER10 for 10% off!

What are other practical ways you keep Christmas about Christ?

SHOULD I OBSERVE ADVENT?

I grew up in a Christian home where we celebrated the true meaning of Christmas every year. However, I never knew what Advent really meant. Naively, I thought Advent was observed by a specific religion. Seven or so years ago I was seeing the word Advent and the phrase Advent study all over social media, so I decided to do some research and see what it really was about.

Simply put, Advent means expectantly waiting. We are expectantly waiting on the birth of our Savior. 

What is Advent

Advent is a period of waiting. It helps us to remember and celebrate the first coming of Jesus, His birth, and anticipate His second coming. Advent lasts the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. The Advent season is a beautiful time of focusing on the arrival of Jesus Christ. Observing Advent isn't specific to a religion or group of people. Advent is for all!

Should I observe Advent

While observing Advent is a personal choice, I believe it is good for Christians to do so. Why wouldn't we want to celebrate and anticipate Jesus!?  I love everything about Christmas. But it can get so busy and so commercialized, Advent helps us to shift our focus back to Jesus and slow down and enjoy the holiday. Advent also helps us to deepen our relationship with Jesus.

Advent can also be done as a family. This is a wonderful way to help your family grow closer to each other as everyone also grows closer to Jesus.

How should I observe Advent

Advent begins November 28th this year and will end on Christmas Eve. To observe Advent, you can do an Advent study. There are so many great Advent studies!  Advent studies will go through Scripture and help us dig deep into different aspects of Christmas and faith. Advent studies can be done in addition to any Bible study or devotional you are already doing or in place of for the time of observation.

Many people also light Advent candles. I've done this a few years, but not every year. Advent wreathes and candles come with four candles. Each Sunday of Advent you light one candle and say a prayer. This is a simple practice of putting extra thought and prayer into Advent each week. (Some wreathes offer five candles, one for Christmas Day too.)

The first candle, first Sunday, represents hope. The second candle, second Sunday, represents love. The third candle, third Sunday, represents peace. And the final candle, final Sunday before Christmas, represents joy. You can light your candle at a family dinner, family devotion time, or whenever works best for you on that Sunday.

What I am doing this year and my favorite Advent studies

This year I am doing the Cultivate What Matters Advent Write the Word Journal. I absolutely love Write the Word journals! The Advent WTW comes as a gift set with a beautful keepsake box, your journal, conversation card set, Scripture verse card set, stickers, an ornament, and a cute mug. To order the Advent Write the Word Journal gift set, click HERE.

I am also doing Candace Cameron Bure's Bring On the Merry: 25 Days of Great Joy for Christmas. Candace is known as the queen of Christmas! Her new Christmas devotional is a beautiful book perfect for the holiday season. You'll find devotions, thought provoking questions, and more. To pick up Bring on the Merry, click HERE. Use code FRIEND for 25% off!

I will also be using the Advent wreath and candles from Dayspring. It comes with a beautiful wreath and all four candles. To check it out, click HERE. Use code FRIEND for 25% off!

Other Advent studies I've done through the years and love are:

Advent: The Story of Christmas by Sherri Gragg - on sale for $11.25 with code FRIEND

Keeping Our Hearts Focused One Christmas by Courtney Joseph - a downloadable pdf

The Daily Grace Co's Waiting for the Savior - on sale for only $10!

The She Reads Truth 2021 Advent Study Book

Observing Advent is a personal decision. One that, should you choose to observe it, can be a great blessing in your faith journey.

Discussion:
Have you observed Advent before?
What is your favorite Advent study?

ILLUSTRATED FAITH ADVENT

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love every single thing about it. Some of my favorite days are days the kids and I bake cookies, make hot cocoa, and snuggle in with a Christmas movie.

Up until four or five years ago, I had no idea what Advent really was. While I grew up in a Christian family who loved Christmas and celebrated the true meaning of the day, Advent was foreign to me. When I finally did research on what it really means, I started to get excited to celebrate Advent. It has become one of my very favorite things to do at Christmas time.

This month's Illustrated Faith kit is all about Advent. In fact, that is what the kit is called! This Advent is such a fun kit and is going to be the perfect addition to the holiday. In the Advent kit, Shanna Noel, creator of Illustrated Faith, and her friend Ali invite us to join them with eight devotionals (one every three days) to read and reflect during the season of Advent. Then, there are fun tools in the kit to help you illustrate what you've read and reflected on. Shanna says, "Grab some hot cocoa and your Bible and let's rejoice in this season together!"

The devotions include:
1 - Promise
2 - Covenant
3 - Anticipation
4 - Prophecy
5 - Expectation
6 - Royalty
7 - Light
8 - Fellowship

The color scheme and abundance of hot cocoa make this kit so much fun. I can't wait to add each piece to my Bible, journal and even my agenda planner.

Each kit includes:
1 clear stamp collection
1 roll of washi tape
1 thank you card from Shanna
1 package of paper pieces (13 pieces)
2 sheets of translucent stickers
8 advent devotional cards

Advent begins Sunday, December 3rd and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is perfect to do in your daily quiet time or as an additional time in the Word later on in the day.

My favorite thing is to do Advent as a family. Get each of your kids a spiral notebook, you can find them for around $0.25 at Walmart. Read the devotion together and talk about it. Then share your Advent kit supplies. Encourage your kids to write out something from the devotion that really meant something to them or a prayer, then have them illustrate their entry with the stickers, stamps, washi and paper pieces. It's going to be so fun to see what each person creates in their entry! I cannot wait for December 3rd to begin Advent with my family.

To pick up your Advent kit, click the image below. *PLUS use code FRIDAY17 and get 30% off the kit, making it only $13.99! That's a great deal!

*Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. Links on this page may be affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using the affiliate links.