One Winner, still time to enter two times

Last Monday's winner didn't leave good contact info, so I selected another name: Stacie, a follower is now the winner. We pick more book winners on the 14 and 21. Still time to enter.

The Word Quilters hope you are finding time to cherish the season and even relax a bit. On page 151 in our book, we give tips for taking breaks, our blog address, and ask any of our book readers to let us know how they have used any tips in the book. We heard from MOPS' leaders about how A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts helped them out in a pinch. Their story:


Hi Trish,



I hope you are doing well. Remember me from last year's Christmas Tea


in Upper Sandusky? Debbie and I were just talking about how it was


just a year ago that we held that...and how that day was so magical! Thank


you again for being a part of it.




A neat thing happened, yesterday was our Christmas MOPS meeting. We


were all set to have a friend, and pastor from Columbus, come up to


speak for our meeting. At the last minute she canceled, and I scrambled


and prayed to come up with something to fill her time. I came into my office


and opened up your Christmas book, to look for some ideas. So...I ended


up having each of my steering members read a page out of it, the stories


about the origins of different Christmas traditions, it was perfect! And,


to me it was like celebrating the anniversary of our Christmas Tea. So


I felt like I needed to thank you again!




I hope you and your family have a very Healthy and Blessed Christmas!




Jill

(Photo: Book signing, Abilene, TX, left to right, Leslie Wilson (co-author), Judy Bowyer (contributor of story "The First Christmas Without Santa"), Cathy Messecar (co-author)

SOCF makes the Perfect Gift

Melinda Schmidt (Midday Connection) sent this beautiful photo to me. She is giving away copies of SOCF as Christmas gifts and tied them up with a beautiful ornament. It does make a great gift to share...

Stress Less--Plan Your Holiday and Work Your Plan

This year we will have our home full of children and grandchildren but the biggest kid of all will be my husband. Like any kid, he can come up with all sorts of ideas for things to do, places to go, and people to see. As Christmas approaches, the list seems to grow longer--right in relationship to my stress level.

To keep the peace of the holidays intact, I try to put a rein on expectations. We discuss what we want to do for the Christmas season and then decide what is truly feasible without overloading our calendar and making ourselves crazy with a schedule that is impossible to keep up with.

The important thing is to work the plan. Once it is in place, and someone wants to add more, be sure to weigh the importance of the addition and negotiate what will be cut from the plan to insert the new activity. Make it a rule to not add unless you subtract. If you don't, you will find yourself exhausted by the time you sit down to make those New Year Resolutions.

More Joy and Less Stress

Christmas celebrations and selecting gifts can be stressful, so I offer a few things to create a bit of joy in your home.
Cook ahead for the Christmas feast, by preparing side dishes the day before.
I feed the song birds in our yard with extra seeds during this cold season and they come a flyin' in.
Play your family's favorite holiday movie while company is here, not so they sit and watch it, but just as a fun background entertainment. The idea is that people will pause as they walk around and laugh at a funny scene that they've viewed many times before. For us, the movie is A Christmas Story.
Write plenty of Christmas cards, even to folks who don't send you one. Sometimes your card could be a spark of joy for the recipient.
Can you find the time to visit a homebound person? I aim to visit my two older buddies who no longer drive. They don't want or expect gifts, just some friendly conversation.
I am sure many of you readers have super ways to add joy and subtract stress from the holidays and I will read your comments with anticipation, and remember:
!!!!!   Leave a comment here for chance to win a copy of our Christmas book   !!!!!

Mrs. Santa Claus by Brenda Nixon

In September, Lifetime Entertainment selected me as "Mom of the Week." What an honor to have my bio and pic on their website, and to receive many kudos from friends and colleagues around the country.
The same month, I learned my parenting book, The Birth to Five Book, won the Good Parenting Seal.
Now, if it were possible to be awarded the title of Mrs. Santa Claus I'd want to emulate her jubiliant spirit (but not her girth). I'd want to spread happiness, cheer and homemade cookies around my neighborhood, relieve small hurts, help people survive the economy, and make it a most memorable Christmas. Yes, I'd practice Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men (and women).
Wait a minute . . . I don't have to be awarded a title to do most of that. Neither do you. We all can value the best in ourselves and practice the joyful, giving spirit of Christmas.
And in speaking of giving, my birthday is Saturday (December 12). hint hint

Hey, leave your comment and be entered for a drawing of a FREE COPY of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts! Anyone who comments to a post this week & next will have opportunity to win a free book. If you already have one, give the freebie as a Christmas Gift. I recently gave an autographed copy as a December wedding gift.


Happy Holidays!
Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Peace From Within - By Trish Berg

I have been there. I have gone to a family dinner or event with angst in my heart, defensive and at the ready to attack someone, anyone, who said something inappropriate or hurtful to me or anyone in my immediate family.

Yes, I have been there. And let me tell you it is not a nice place to be.

When you enter a family event or dinner with that kind of angst and anger, you are bound to explode at someone or let the anger build up inside so you blow up at your own family later.

I love my family, but people are people, and we are all different, so there are bound o be challenges...

And though my family has not changed, I have. I can not control those around me, I can control myself.

I can change my heart.

For example....I have some family members who never, and I mean never, ask me about my life. My teaching or writing, or anything going on in my life. I used to let that hurt my feelings. No longer.

I have made the decision to be free of that angst by recognizing that my self worth does not come from what others say about me or to me. No pat on the back or ego boost from words will make me any more than what I am.

My self worth comes from God, from striving to be what He wants me to be. Period.

So, how does that make me peaceful and joyful at family events?

Simple. I realize that I am not there to get my ego stroked. I am there to BE WHAT OTHERS NEED ME TO BE.

I am there for them. For Jesus. For Jesus to use me anyway He wants to bless others and point them towards His love.

And though that may sound idealistic, it is rather practical. Here are five ways you can find peace and joy from within at your next family event, just in time for Christmas.

5 Ways To Find Peace From Within At Family Events

1. EXPECT NOTHING - Enter the event with the expectation that no one will ask you about your life. Let go of that expectation. Do not set yourself up for disappointment.

2. MAKE IT ABOUT THEM - Make your time at this event about others, not about you. Ask others about their lives, their jobs, their hobbies, their interests. Make all of your conversations outwardly focused on the people you are talking to, and bless them with your interest.

3. PRAY - Pray before you go to the event that God can use you to bless those you come in contact with. Pray for God's peace and guidance, that He give you the words He wants you to use.

4. TIME IT - Set a time limit to stay at the event, and stick to it. Speak to your spouse ahead of time and decide how long you will be at the event. We will go to your mom's from 6 pm until 11 pm, and then we will head home. Having a time frame will allow you to be in the moment and know when you will head home.

5. KEEP IT SIMPLE - Keep your conversations simple and surface related. Don't dig deep into current events, politics or faith. A family event is not the right time to dig deep into any hot topic area, and doing so may set you up for an argument or uncomfortable conversation. So, go with several light hearted topics in mind, keep it simple and fun.

Book Give-Away

Become a follower of this blog or leave a comment to be entered into drawing for a copy of our Christmas book. Awaiting address from this weeks' winner, then will announce her name. Enter for the drawing on Monday the 14th. One more after that on Dec. 21. Merry Christmas. Merry December.