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?