When sending Christmas cards this year please consider sending a card to a recovering American soldier via this address:

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20307

How wonderful to have a chance to thank one of these brave people for his/her sacrifice for our country and liberties.  Thanks for considering being a part!

Linen-n-Things

Did you know that Linen-n-Things are going out of business nationwide? That means two things: Use up any gift cards you have and finish some shopping. They have Ginger Bread Houses and Cookies already made in a box for a fun family activity. You don't have to cook. Just bring them out and decorate. I have two boxes stashed away for a family night memory during the season. As of now they are 20% off. If you know of an item from there you have been waiting to get, this is the time to get it! Happy Shopping early!

Another fun Christmas book to read

Every year, I sit on the couch with my children and read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It is written by Barbara Robinson. We cuddle up together, and I read about a chapter a night. We laugh and remember, in a different way, what the true meaning of Christmas is. We've come to treasure this time, and I even took it with us last year when we went to NH in December. I keep thinking that this is the year that Samuel will tell me he's too old for it, but as a mother, I want to hold on to this little tradition as long as possible.

If you've never read it, I encourage you to do so. Here is a little information about what the book is about: "It focuses on the poorly-behaved children of the Herdman family, who discover the true meaning of Christmas through participation in a church play about the birth of Jesus."

Satisfication in Christ

Yesterday when I went into a store and had them wrap the Christmas gifts I purchased, I was wishing I had my appropriate Christmas tags in my notebook so that I could go ahead and correctly tag the gifts...instead of taping names with scrap paper onto them...so put some gift tags in your notebook...I am almost threw with my shopping for everyone but the children! I cannot decide where to draw the line on how much we spend on them this year...I LOVE giving gifts so this is always difficult for me...but I want children who are satisfied in Him not things...
"Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, Listen to Me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare" Isaiah 55:5 ....praying we all find satisfaction in Christ Alone during these holidays... Also, the book, Christmas Jars, by Jason Wright might be a possible book to read aloud to your family. I think the premise is that money is saved in a jar and is passed on to those in need...it might be a story that could go along with what our family is doing this Christmas as we try to help others...just wanted to let ya know! Happy Holidays!!!

A Few Christmas Thoughts

Merry Christmas! AM I really blogging? Okay, I have tried to put these tips onto the blog two other times, if this time doesn't make it, then you weren't meant to have the tips. They are not that profound anyway! I am just trying to encourage my friend by responding to her AWESOME Holiday blog!!!!!!!!!!! If these tips show up three times, I apologize.
1) Using cute ribbon, tie Christmas Cards on a Christmas tree each day they arrive. You can then pray for the families on the tree...and after taking them down...continue to pray for a few of them each day all year long by scrolling through them each morning during your quiet time.
2)Put out a holiday puzzle...I bought one on sale for half price after Christmas last year and can't wait for our family to sit by the fire and the tree and work it together. Isn't that why we are doing all of this?
3)Instead of saving entire catalogs, I buzz thru them daily and only keep the page I like with the gift idea I like circled. I put the name of who it would be appropriate for on it and I check to make sure there is a phone # or website address at the bottom of the page. Then I store it in my Christmas notebook. I am going to take a few of these to The Peanut Gallery tomorrow and make sure that they cannot order them before I go on-line...I really do feel it is important to shop locally if possible.
4)In response to Jennifer's question about something meaningful to have your kids do...I heard from Pete Newman (Kanakuk Kamps...go to their website!) that one idea was to give your child some money and have them find one person/organization to help over the holidays...I am going to try that this year. The International Justice Mission (IJM.org) is an organization to look into if you are seeking world justice...you probably will want to do something a little more hands on and locally tho for Christmas.

From Jennifer:  "Something I would like to do and would love to get ideas for is an activity/ies that my children could do over break that would serve the community, the church, the underprivileged . . . I am looking for something a little different and a little more involved than doing a Christmas Angel from the mall (although I do think that is a great thing).

Please post ideas/input in the comment section below.  

Also, do you have a question for our group? Send it to laurienewman@mac.com or post it in the comment section and it will be transfered as a post.