Why Does Advent Matter?

  Our Elf is not on the shelf this year. She's happily resting on a ladder propped against the tree. She'll stay there with her little sideways grin until we pack all the stuff up until next year.  (Unless, that is, our fifteen-year-old decides she wants to use the elf to torment her daddy  at some point this month.) I've got two Advent calendars and a little chalkboard to count down the days set out. But, let's be real here, it's only December 3 and I'm already behind. As much ... [Read More]

Advent Ideas and 2 Gifts You Should Give Yourself

December 1, 2015. Wow. This morning as I was having my quiet time, I realized this year has truly flown by. It feels like just yesterday I was sharing the 31 Verses to Pray for Your Marriage. We've got a busy week ahead, as I'm sure many of you can relate. Yesterday, in the email I sent out to all those who have subscribed {I really need a good name for you sweet friends who are getting my emails ... any ideas??} I shared five ways I'm seeking to abide during this busy holiday season.  I've ... [Read More]

50 Gifts for Teenage Girls {$50 and Under}

For the record, in my experience,  the best gift for a teenage girl is, almost always, a gift card. Because no matter what you pick out—even if you buy it at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve from the last minute additions to her "this is all I want for Christmas" 20-page list of approved gifts—it will be wrong. :) Even so, there must be gifts under the tree, right? And so, we moms will do our best to find the perfect surprises for Christmas morning ... and, there's a pretty good chance we'll ... [Read More]

When Movies Bring Hope {Review of “The Good Lie”}

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the movies. White Christmas is my favorite ... but I have a special fondness for The Muppets' Christmas Carol and The Holiday as well. I love a great story — especially one filled with hope and redemption. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year but for many it is not the joyful celebration my family shares. In Alabama, 22% of adults live below the poverty line. {source} 1 out of 6 people in America faces hunger. {source} On any given night, ... [Read More]

For Your Weekend … Christmas is almost here!

Christmas is almost here. Can you believe it? I'm still wrapping presents and we even have a few gifts left to purchase. But we're almost done. And I suppose that's good since our family celebrations begin Monday. I've read some wonderful posts over the past few weeks about preparing your heart for Christmas and I wanted to share them with you. It's so easy to be distracted by all that needs to be done and miss the one needful thing.  I journaled about my struggle with this very thing ... [Read More]

What I Wore … and ideas for fancy Christmas party outfits

Let's see, so far this December we've talked about thinning eyelashes {and other issues those of us over 40 may be facing} and nail care. I've also shared some favorite books and a few things I wore this month. And I invited you to peek at our holiday decorations. Today I'm hosing my Bible study group for a Christmas party. And so I thought I'd show you what you could expect if you were to come by my house during the holidays. Here is what I'm wearing for our little get together ... [Read More]