Meanwhile Back at the Manger

Oh my, am I late with this news! If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or even Twitter, you should have heard the news about my picture book. It was released on November 18! But if your only source of news on Brenda Covert, Author & Editor is from my blog, you're hearing the news after Christmas. So sorry to have neglected blogging. I've had a death in the family, feeling all the feelings. 

I had my book launch at The Shoppes Off Trade in November and read my book from Santa's throne! How fun was that? So much fun! My publisher, Ambassador International, kept me going with promotional graphics, and I did a few podcast interviews and blog interviews. So other blogs shared the details of my debut Christmas picture book, but my own blog was neglected. That certainly wasn't the plan!

And incidentally, my book has been available locally at The Shoppes Off Trade in Greer and at Crossway Christian Supply in Easley, as well as online at Amazon, B&N, Walmart, BAM, and possibly others. And of course on Ambassador International's website! Hardcovers sold out, but the paperback version seems to be plentiful. I still have both in stock at home, intending to sell them in local Christmas markets, but this just wasn't the year to pursue those opportunities considering the family tragedy and being overly emotional this month. 

As sales slow down now, my next hope is for reviews. The more reviews a book has on Amazon, the more likely Amazon will suggest the book to people looking for similar books. If you had extra time and wanted to bless me a bit more, you might copy and paste your review to other book sites: Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Books-a-Million, and Goodreads. Reviews are like gold for any author, but especially a first-time author!

Thanks for your support, and here's wishing you a happy New Year!

 

10 Joyful Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas - plus a bonus

A meaningful, memory-making list to center your holiday season on what matters most.

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A friend once asked me to write a column on how to keep more Christ in Christmas. I loved the idea then—and I love it even more now.

With each passing year, I’ve added new traditions that help our family focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Today I’m sharing 10 Christ-centered traditions we practice during the season. Whether you adopt one or try them all, I hope they’ll bring deeper meaning and joy to your celebrations.

Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear your favorite ways to make Christmas about Christ!

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1. 🕯 Observe Advent with a Heart-Prep Focus

One year, my church introduced me to the Advent wreath—four candles lit on the four Sundays before Christmas and one on Christmas Eve. I eventually found a ceramic version I love, though the traditional greenery is beautiful too.

Advent reminds us to prepare—not just our homes, but our hearts—to welcome the Christ child.

🔗 More on Advent from Rev. Mark D. Roberts

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2. 🎁 Hang a Stocking for Jesus

We hang a special stocking just for Jesus. All month, we drop spare change (and sometimes bills) into it. On the Sunday before Christmas, we quietly give that money as a gift to Him.

⚠️ Tip: Use a sturdy stocking and a strong hanger! Ours once fell—coin-heavy and proud—off the mantle with a bang!

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3. ❤️ Give Like the Wise Men

Just as the magi brought gifts to Jesus, we find someone in need and give generously. Options include:

• Picking a name off a Giving Tree
• Donating to a missionary
• Filling a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child
• Gifting anonymously with another family

Even with a tight budget, giving something—together—teaches that Christmas is about love, not lists.

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4. ✨ Display a Nativity Scene (or Three)

My childhood nativity now sits in our home, and setting it up still fills me with awe. We also have:

• A kid-friendly wooden set
• A delicate glass version
• Miniature ones as ornaments

Some families hide the baby Jesus until Christmas morning, or let the wise men “travel” through the house. Choose what works for you—and let it anchor your home in the real story.

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5. 🐪 Visit a Live Nativity or Walk Through                Bethlehem 

Few things bring the story to life like a walk-through Bethlehem. Some are basic where you can walk up and see the characters, some include petting zoos or hot cocoa and donut holes, and some are full-blown villages! We’ve stood in line to sign the census and received free "coins" to spend, chatted with vendors whispering about the Messiah, dodged roaming Roman guards, and quietly entered the stable to find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Unforgettable.

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6. 🎄 Decorate with Meaningful Ornaments 

Among our candy canes and snowmen are nativity ornaments, angels (given to me by my mom mostly but some Hallmark as well) and handmade beaded crosses. These tiny decorations speak big truths from the branches of our tree.

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7. 📺 Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas

It never fails: Linus steps forward, recites Luke 2, and something in my heart melts. A cartoon that boldly proclaims the Gospel? Yes, please. Every year.

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8. 💌 Send Christ-Centered Christmas Cards

Whether you choose cards with Scripture, a peaceful scene, or just a thoughtful note about your faith—your cards can encourage and uplift those who receive them.

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9. 🕯 Attend a Candlelight Service (or Create One at Home)

Nothing beats a candlelit Christmas Eve service. But if your church doesn’t offer one, light a few candles at home and gather your family for a short devotion. It’s a beautiful, quiet moment to reflect.

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10. 🎂 Bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus

Who doesn’t love birthday cake? Make one for Jesus, light a candle, and sing. Or, as we did one year, make cupcakes with a candle on every one of them. 

Kids adore this tradition, and it beautifully reminds them that Christmas is a birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Jesus!

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BONUS! Read Christmas Picture Books from Different Perspectives

After you read the story of Jesus’ birth in the Bible, try reading picture books featuring the nativity story. Enjoy the beautiful illustrations and stories written from the perspective of the innkeeper, a shepherd, an angel, or even a donkey. Authors have gotten creative over the years, and these stories help children (and adults!) experience the wonder of Christmas in fresh ways.

Newsflash! This is the perfect place to announce that my debut picture book, Meanwhile Back at the Manger, will be available this fall through my publisher, Ambassador International! This version of the birth of Jesus is written from the POV of the stable boy, whose stable is where the holy family spends the night—but Thomas has abandoned his post for a night of fishing. What’s happening back at the manger? Will Thomas ever know what he is missing?

What Are Your Christ-Centered Traditions?

These are just a few ways my family brings Christ into the center of Christmas. Maybe you do something totally different. I’d love to know about it!

🎄 Drop your favorite traditions in the comments and share the joy!

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#KeepChristInChristmas #FaithAndFamily #JesusIsTheReason #FamilyTraditions #MeaningfulChristmas #ChristmasTips #ChristmasinJuly #ChristmasPlanning

3 Steps to Get Ready for Your Best Christmas

 

Christmas is a magical time of year, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful if you wait until the last minute to get ready. That’s why I’ve always advised friends and colleagues to get an early start! By getting a head start, you can enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday season. Here are three practical things you can do early to ensure that you enjoy your best Christmas!

1. Plan Your Holiday Budget

You can reduce holiday stress by planning your budget in advance. Start by listing all potential expenses, including gifts, decorations, holiday meals, and travel. This will help you set a realistic budget and avoid overspending.

• Create a Gift List: Write down everyone you plan to give gifts to and set a spending limit for each person. This will help you keep track of your expenses and avoid last-minute splurges.
• Track Your Spending: Use budgeting apps or a simple spreadsheet to monitor your expenses as you go. This can help you stay within your budget and make adjustments as needed. I have a free Holiday Spending Worksheet to share if you leave your request in the comments!

2. Start Gift Shopping Now

Gift shopping can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of Christmas preparation, so getting an early start can make a huge difference. As an added bonus, you’ll escape the crowds shopping in December. If you shop online, shopping early ensures gifts arriving in plenty of time. No more IOU’s for Christmas!

• Make a List: Outline what you plan to buy for each person. Consider their interests and hobbies to find thoughtful gifts.
• Shop Sales and Discounts: Take advantage of early holiday sales and special promotions to find great deals. Many retailers offer discounts well before the holiday season, so keep watch for them!

Starting your gift shopping early not only helps you avoid the last-minute rush but also allows you to find more meaningful and budget-friendly presents.

3. Prepare Your Home for the Festivities

Getting your home ready for Christmas early can make the season more enjoyable and less stressful. This includes decorating, organizing, and planning your holiday gatherings.

• Decorate Early: Put up your Christmas decorations in early December (or the day after Thanksgiving) to fully enjoy them throughout the season. I had a friend who had multiple trees for her house; she started decorating the beginning of November to avoid decorating burnout in December!
• Organize Holiday Supplies: Gather and check your holiday supplies, such as wrapping paper, ribbons, and greeting cards. This will prevent last-minute trips to the store and ensure you're fully prepared. In the coming year, consider shopping clearance sales after the holidays to stock up on your supplies!
• Plan Your Menu: If you're hosting holiday meals or taking dishes to other events, start planning your menu and creating a shopping list. This gives you ample time to try new recipes or adjust your plans based on dietary needs.

Starting your Christmas preparations early can transform the holiday season from a stressful time into a joyful one. By planning your budget, shopping for gifts, and getting your home ready, you’ll set the stage for a relaxing and festive Christmas. So, take a deep breath, get organized, and enjoy your best Christmas!

Publishing News!

 

The blog readers are the last to know! I apologize for not posting this video sooner. I've had technical difficulties. But better late than never, right? Here's my big news!

Good News Is Coming!

I was about to make a premature announcement! Luckily a friend of mine stopped me from getting ahead of myself. So stay tuned! Pre-Christmas news coming later this week! Yay!
 

Meet Jasmine Jingletoes, an Elf for Hire!

Jasmine Jingletoes, at your service!

Meet Jasmine Jingletoes, a spunky, lovable elf who lives to spread Christmas cheer! On Thursday she sang in a Christmas recital. Before her performance, a little boy saw her. He pointed and with great excitement said, "It's an elf! It's an elf!" He asked to see her color-changing hat. He touched her jingle boots and hugged her leg. He asked if she would go to the North Pole and bring back a giant candy cane for him. She was tickled to pieces at his response to her! His big sister said he loves elves more than Santa. (Shhhh! Don't tell the big man!)

Jasmine Jingletoes Is So Excited: Christmas is coming!

Last year Jasmine sang and read stories for school children's Christmas parties. She joined one class for snack time and visited with them. All admired her elf suit and especially those curly-toed jingle boots! 

This year Miss Jingletoes is going virtual! She spreads Christmas cheer with songs, games, stories, and/or conversation. She has both pre-recorded and live options available. Think of the fun your child or a group of children can have interacting with one of Santa's elves!

Btw, Jasmine is my daughter. (I'm the lucky mom of an elf!) You can email her or contact me for more information.

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Is Coming! How Do You Feel?

 For many years as a single parent, my answer was B. I was crazy for Christmas, loved every bit of it, but I wore myself out trying to do and see it all and make it magical for my kids. It took a lot of research and experimentation before I figured out how to have the best Christmas every year. Now I live by my Covert Christmas method of advance planning! Be looking for more info on that coming soon! 

A Surprise for General Gingerbread... and Me!

I'm pleased to report that I entered one of my short, children's Christmas stories in a contest and won an honorable mention blog badge and a $5 Amazon e-gift card, plus a personal message. The judges enjoyed my story very much, and it would have been a finalist, I'm told, if I'd followed the guidelines more closely.

The story was to be about a treat. My story features a main character who IS a treat, but there were no edible treats within my storyline. It was my way of distinguishing my story from scores of others that were entered in the contest.

Sometimes thinking outside the box pays off, but this time it kept me from a bigger payoff. However, I'm happy with what I received, especially the feedback. Feedback is not often given these days, as some writers tend to react negatively to even constructive criticism, but it's so valuable! Accept or reject it, but appreciate the offer, that's my advice to you.

I hope you've enjoyed the Christmas season and are ready to embrace the New Year. 2020, here we come!

Christmas with Babies

Some people say Christmas is for kids. I would argue that it's for all ages. After all, Jesus came to be the Savior of the world, and that's not a story just for children! 

At the same time, kids add an extra sparkle, and I know this from experience since last Christmas was my first as a grandma!

 Have you ever seen such a big smile on a baby?

Of course, once there is a baby in the family, everyone wants their turn with the child to enjoy holiday festivities. So, you have to make plans in advance. Last year I got the whole family for Thanksgiving dinner, so Christmas Day went to the other side of the family. We celebrated Christmas 2 days early and then drove together  to enjoy a holiday lights display on Christmas Eve.

This year I won't have just one grandchild, I'll have two! My son's wife is expecting their 2nd daughter on my son's December birthday. Won't that be exciting?

Juggle our usual holiday fun and volunteer work, such as helping at Breakfast with Santa (here she is as an elf with Santa), with family visits with the babies and hopefully teaching my elder granddaughter how to make a Christmas craft, my daughter and I are sure to declare this the best Christmas yet.

So much fun is in my future! Making plans in advance (all year round) always helps make the occasion merry and bright.

Will you be doing any advance planning this year? Have you started (or finished) your gift shopping yet? Remember, planning is what prevents Christmas chaos. You want to relax and enjoy the season. So if you haven't yet, get started now. You'll be glad you did!

True Story, Christmas Eve 2018

TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY: On Christmas Eve as I drove my family (my son, his wife, their baby girl, and also my daughter—who had been in a head-on collision that morning) to see a big holiday lights display, we passed a soup kitchen. My focus was on the road, so I didn't glance at the parking lot, but my son and daughter-in-love did, and they thought they saw a baby's carseat. I could hear them discussing it in the backseat but pretended I didn't. It had been a long, stressful day, and we had places to be and things to do before I could fall onto the couch to sleep (to be closer to my daughter, should she need me). My normally Pollyanna optimistic self said there was no baby in that carseat, and if there was (which I felt sure there wasn't), God would send someone else along to find it. He wouldn't put that on me. Not now.

Finally, my daughter-in-law Hope spoke louder. "Can you hear what we're talking about?"

Sigh. "Yes." Pause. "Were there any cars in the parking lot?"

The pair took turns speaking. "No. Can we go back?" "I'd really feel better if we go look." "What if there is a baby? It could get hypothermia before anyone finds it." "Why would there be a carseat there?" "We need to check it out." "I'm going to worry until we know for sure."

SIGH. Okay, so I turned the car around and drove back to the soup kitchen. Hope leapt out of the car and ran to the carseat...which was empty. A donation, maybe?

I love that my son and his wife both have big, compassionate hearts. That even as tired new parents, they won't turn a blind eye to a possible need. That there is room in their inn for an unexpected baby, should one arrive on Christmas Eve. Maybe when I grow up, I will be more like them. 

My granddaughter, awestruck by all the lights

Confession: I'm a Past Member of the Christmas Peekers Club

Years ago as I browsed the racks at a thrift store, I found a red sweatshirt that proclaimed the wearer as a member of the Christmas Peekers Club. I laughed out loud...and bought it. (I still have it!) You see, as a child I could find hidden gifts without even trying. As a young adult, I could accurately guess what was in a wrapped gift by the size, shape, and weight of the box. And as a mom, I stumbled over gifts that I didn’t mean to see before young hands eagerly held them out to me. Peeking, whether intentional or not, seems to be my superpower.

So, the burning question is How do you thwart a present peeker? As an expert peeker, I can tell you not to leave your list lying around...in a drawer, jewelry chest, or purse, where a snoop might find it. (I found Mom’s list in her jewelry box one day when my only plan was to admire her brooches and rings. See? Superpower!)

1. Disguise gifts by putting them inside different containers. For example, once during my teen years, Mom put all my gifts inside puzzle boxes and gift-wrapped them. I knew they were puzzles by the shape of the boxes and the sound of puzzle pieces rattling around when I shook those boxes. Let me tell you, I was not a happy camper, and when I started opening them on Christmas Eve (as was my family’s tradition) and found used puzzles, I was doubly upset and confused. That’s when Mom told me to take the lids off to see what was inside, and that’s when I found my real presents! Mom got me good that year! You might pack gifts into tins and include a jingle bell or marble to rattle around and confuse the recipient.
2. Wrapped gifts are harder to peek into than gifts tucked into gift bags. Wrapped gifts that are tagged with a number instead of a name prevent the snooper from figuring out which gifts are his or hers.
3. Keep gifts in a secure area. That may be a locked file cabinet, the trunk of your car (if your kids are too young to snoop there), or inside a box labeled as something boring—think “90s Tax Papers” kind of boring. Gifts hidden in a closet, a dresser drawer, or under a quilt in the shower may be found (those are places I found Christmas gifts)! My secure area is a metal filing cabinet in my home office, a room where I spend much of my day. The best secure areas are those that you can easily monitor. Attics and basements aren’t the best choices if you are rarely in those locations yourself. Peekers love having privacy while they are snooping. My favorite time to hunt for hidden presents was while my mom was cooking, because I could search the master bedroom without fear of getting caught! 

A long time ago I learned that peeking at presents presented problems. First, I lost the thrill of surprise. Knowing in advance what my gifts were, made opening them less fun. Then, I gained the stress of needing to act the right level of surprised so that no one realized I had peeked. There was also the stress of not letting my discoveries slip before Christmas. I forgot myself one year as I helped Mom wrap my brother’s presents and said something about another of his gifts that she had not yet brought to the table. How did I know about that other gift? My red-faced, stammered lie, that I was just guessing, didn’t fool Mom.

So, while it’s fun to pretend to be a detective and hunt for hidden presents, it’s not fun to get caught—or to worry about getting caught after the fact—and it’s not fun to face the holiday with no surprises. It’s also not fun to disappoint loved ones who wanted their gifts to be a surprise. Do your best to thwart the peekers in your house. If you’re the peeker, withdraw your membership to the Christmas Peekers Club. Join me on the Surprise Side and enjoy the holidays!

Joining the Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge Questions  volume 254

A group of bloggers does “hodgepodge questions” every Wednesday, 

and I decided to join the fun for a change of pace! 

1. Describe love using all five senses.  

Love looks like a gift, shiny and exciting and new. You open it, and the aroma of home-cooked meals wafts out, and when you lift it from the tissue paper, it wraps a child’s warm, soft arms around your neck, and you hear laughter, tears, and soft sighs all at once. You press your lips to it and taste ... chocolate dipped strawberries. Okay, that last one may be a cliché, but love makes life rich and sweet like that Valentine treat!

2. February is Canned Food Month. What’s your favorite food that comes straight from a can?
Cherry Pie Filling! The perfect topping for cheesecake, and you can’t have cherry delight without it.

3. A principal in a UK school recently sent home a letter to parents requesting they (the parents!) dress appropriately when escorting their children to/from school (basically saying please don’t wear your pajamas) You can read the letter here. It’s gotten a lot of publicity, both positive and negative. Your thoughts? And do/did you ever make the school run (or hit Starbucks, Walmart, etc) in your pjs?
Noooooooooo! But I will admit to driving my daughter to work in my pajamas, before sunrise, because I was going right back to bed when I returned home. I did worry about what would happen if I had car trouble and had to look under the hood of my car in my flannel Coca-Cola pj’s on the side of the road.

4. Crew neck, V-neck, turtleneck, scoop neck...which is most prevalent in your wardrobe?
V-neck. It may be the most flattering neckline there is and makes a nice frame for a pretty necklace.

5. I read here recently a list of four things to avoid so you wake up happier. They were late night snacks, hitting the snooze button, social media just before bed/upon waking, checking emails. Are you guilty of any of these behaviors? Which on that list do you need to work harder at avoiding?
Oops. But not going to work at avoiding any of that. I don't generally wake up unhappy unless I had a bad dream.

Me and my brother in my favorite house

6. Share something you remember about a house you lived in as a child? Of all the homes you lived in as a child, which did you love best? 
I remember five houses. The white 2-story house with a big front porch was my favorite. I was ages 4-6 when my family lived there. After hearing the story of Mary Poppins, I took a little umbrella out onto the porch and jumped off. I did not fly. What a disappointment. A few years later, I took an umbrella outside during a strong wind. I didn’t fly then, either. And that was the end of that poor mangled umbrella and my dream of flying like Mary Poppins.

7. Your favorite movie based on a true story? 
Hmmm. Not a big fan of true story movies. I’m more of a Princess Bride/Willy Wonka kinda gal. But I did see and enjoy The Blind Side.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
You know what’s completely unfair? It’s how you lose an entire segment of your life when you end up divorced. Everyone else can reminisce and share any part of their life to their heart’s content, but the divorced individual is told to “move on,” and there seems to be an unspoken rule that to share or even just occasionally think about any experience you had during the time when you were married is unacceptable. How can it be right that 20 years’ worth of experiences have to be buried and forgotten for me to be healthy? I don’t think denying that those 20 years existed is healthy at all. They’re a part of what made me the woman I am today. What do you think of that?

And that’s the not-Christmasy hodgepodge for today! Gotta post it while it’s still Wednesday! Thanks for your comments!

New Life for Old Cards

Ideas for Christmas Crafters

Continuing the topic of Christmas cards from Jan. 2, 2016, I’d like to share this link to a blog post by Southern Savers full of recycling ideas for Christmas cards. Repurposing Christmas & Greeting Cards

One idea that was not included is an ornament craft my mother used to make when I was a child. I found the directions and template for that project here at ChristmasCards4Less: Card Ball Ornament 

This is a craft project you can do during these snowy winter months (if you live in the northern hemisphere), and children can help cut, fold, and glue. Each ornament is made of 60 (sixty) circles cut from cards.

If you can’t bear to cut up greeting cards you received from family and friends but still want to tackle this project, visit thrift stores looking for already low-priced cards now at reduced clearance prices. Those won’t have sentimental ties, and you can cut and create to your heart’s content for very little expense!

Save your finished project(s) in a cardboard or plastic bin, labeled clearly, so you find them in perfect condition next December, ready to display!

Counting the Cost of Christmas Cards

On a 3-dimensional, metal, card tree with a star on top, I display Christmas cards as I receive them. I’ve done so since my children, now adults, were small.

This year when my son arrived for Christmas Eve dinner, he glanced at my card tree and then did a double-take. 

“What’s with your card tree?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“There are hardly any cards on it,” he  pointed out. “I remember when it used to be filled on all three sides.”

“People don’t seem to be sending cards this year,” I told him, “or else they’re waiting to receive a card before they send a card.” I went on to tell him that I sent mine out the week before Christmas, and two of the cards on the tree were from my mom, who forgot she had sent the first one and so sent the second one.  Those two cards were the first of the season to arrive in my mailbox.

I’ve seen Facebook posts where folks have confessed that the near-fifty-cent price of stamps has forced them to forego mailing Christmas cards. Not knowing what kind of mailing list these friends have, I can’t say how much they would have spent had they sent cards. I bought 40 stamps in November and sent 32 cards a month later. So, it only cost me $15.68 to put some holiday cheer in the mailboxes of 32 friends and relatives. ... What’s that? ... You say I forgot to add the cost of the cards themselves? No, I didn’t. 

You see, I never shop for Christmas cards in November or December. I think ahead. I buy them after Christmas when stores are selling them at a 75% discount. I seek them out in thrift stores, which incidentally also have 50-75% off already low prices after Christmas. I can get an unused pack of cards for as little as 25-50 cents then! I bought cards off ebay one year when I wanted to have a vintage theme. If you or someone in your immediate family is artsy, you might craft your own cards and envelopes. One summer I painted tree cards and made envelopes out of the previous year's leftover gift wrap. No matter where the cards come from, I prepare in advance and then keep the cards where they are easy to find when the time comes to continue my Christmas card tradition.

Buy/make your cards soon, and come next Christmas, your only expense will be the stamp. Is 49¢ too high a price to pay to deliver holiday cheer to a loved one? If so, you might consider sending Christmas postcards for 35¢ a stamp.

And remember, to receive cards, you need to send cards. Not everyone will reciprocate (I send cards to a few people who never send me a card in return but who I’m sure appreciate being remembered). Hopefully enough will so that you can display festive cards on your mantel, a shelf, desk, card tree, or card wreath. 

When counting the cost of Christmas cards, remember to consider what is lost if you cut them out of your traditions. Plan ahead, and you (and your loved ones) won’t have to miss out!

Extending the thankfulness of Thanksgiving through the Holiday Season

As we share what we’re thankful for on this Thanksgiving, let’s extend that thankfulness through the Christmas season. If you have children, discuss what each of you is thankful for each day. Bring up the idea of thank you notes. If you haven’t taught them yet to send thank you notes for their gifts, make this the year you do!

As an adult, I still write thank you notes for Christmas gifts given from long distance, although I’ll confess to the rare occasion of putting it off so long that I’ve forgotten who gave me what. The lesson there is this: Don’t procrastinate! 

Anyway, Mom always thanks me for writing a thank you letter. I write them because I was taught and trained to write them as a child. I taught my children as well. I know my adult daughter still writes them each Christmas and birthday.

Giving thanks for what you’ve received is common (or maybe uncommon) courtesy. And in these modern times, an e-mail or private message can stand in for a handwritten (or typed) note sent by snail mail. But one way you could make saying thanks fun is to create thank you postcards! Walgreens is just one company you can create and order photo postcards from. You could also print out 4x6 photos and create the postcard effect on the back and mail them that way. Kids like postcards (especially the teeny-tiny writing space)! 

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to end at the close of Thanksgiving Day. By being intentional, you can carry the spirit of Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day and beyond.

OH MY WORD!

I forgot to post my one word for 2015! Tragic, isn’t it? There are just 11 months of the year left in which to be mindful of my word.

It was a struggle to choose a word for the year. In 2013, I chose Joy, and then life proceeded to wring the joy out of me. I chose Intentional for 2014, and so many unintentional things happened that I began to wonder whose life I was living, as it couldn’t possibly be my own!

This year, I’ve made a choice that I don’t think can jinx me. My one word for 2015 is Reflect. 

Reflect is a word with more than one meaning. It can mean to consider, ponder, or daydream, and it can mean to shine or mirror. As a writer, I’m quite fond of daydreams, and thinking seems to come naturally to me (most of the time). As a Christian, I hope I reflect the light of Jesus in a dark world.

This year I will deliberately reflect on my life, my choices, and my relationships. I will also, to the best of my ability, reflect God’s love and grace. A year of reflection — it should be a great year! What’s your one word for 2015?

The Fruits of Advance Planning: My Christmas in Pictures

Look at me! I’m a big kid at Christmas! (Dollywood)

Happy New Year! Did you have a good Christmas or, like many people on Facebook, did you insist on not beginning your Christmas preparations until after Thanksgiving, then spent the month of December moaning about the stress of cleaning, cooking, shopping, decorating, and how you didn’t have time to do everything that you wanted to do? The purpose of this blog is to encourage you to plan ahead so you can enjoy Christmas and all the season has to offer! I hope you see the value in planning a little each month. It’s worth it! (And really, how much time preparing for Thanksgiving does one need? Certainly not an entire month! You can give thanks and finalize plans for Christmas at the same time!)

I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my Illinois family, and I had a great December, even if I was late typing up my newsletter and getting the cards in the mail. Extenuating circumstances aside, suffice it to say that the month came close to meeting my expectations. I had made time to cook, decorate, volunteer for several charitable activities, attend parties, watch Christmas movies, see light displays, and even visited Dollywood for extra holiday cheer! (And in case you are wondering, I managed to do my paywork throughout the month as well!)

To demonstrate how advance planning frees up time for fun, I’m going to list my holiday activities in the order they occurred. Honestly, this was the best December yet!

1. Christmas Gift Plate Painting Party

2. Dickens of a Christmas street event

3. Angel Tree group activity: dinner and shopping (no photo)

4. Gingerbread House Decorating Party
(in my case, it was a Rice Krispie house)

5. Christmas Craft Volunteers at Children’s Event

6. Watched a Christmas parade from a chilly street corner on an otherwise sunny Sunday

7. Dressed in red for a writers group Christmas party

8. Enjoyed a Christmas Dinner Show by these performers

9. Christmas Party with Fun Photos

10. Christmas Drop-in followed by fun photos in the nearby decorated park

11. Participated in a retirement center’s Christmas program (no photo)

12. Enjoyed Christmas lights display with friends

13. Enjoyed Bethlehem Revisited (a walk-through nativity, no photo)

14. Cookie Exchange Party

15. Christmas in Dollywood! (shown in the 50s section of the park)

16. Strolled through a Festival of Trees display

17. Christmas Eve service at church with my daughter and son

18. Christmas Morning, fun photo time!

It’s me as the Elf on the Shelf!

Family Christmas Day Chili Dinner

A note about Christmas meals: in the past, I have made monkeybread for breakfast and a feast for dinner. I have spent more time in the kitchen than I liked. If you miss out on Christmas fun and relaxation with your family because you are cooking for an army, find ways to reduce your workload. You might ask everyone who is coming to dinner to bring a dish. You might switch to slow cooker meals. You might choose to start a new traditional breakfast or dinner.

For me, I discovered frozen monkeybread at the grocery store a few years ago. Two minutes in the microwave, and it’s ready to eat! I no longer make my own monkeybread. Now I have time to open stockings and watch the Disney Christmas program with the kids.

I used to try to replicate the feasts of my childhood: turkey, ham, green bean casserole, potatoes, cranberry salad, rolls, and desserts. Sometimes other things like deviled eggs or mac 'n cheese made it to the table as well. After all that work (combined with a late night gift-wrapping session), I was ready to sleep the rest of the day away! Now I wrap gifts earlier, often as soon as I have them, to avoid staying up late on Christmas Eve. And to make sure I spend as much time with my young adult kids as possible on Christmas, I gave up the feast. This year I made slow cooker Christmas chili served with shredded cheese on top. It’s a family favorite, and it’s easy. For dessert, we had cookies from the cookie exchange, plus the fudge and holly leaf candy I had made earlier. Maybe everything wasn’t perfect this season (sorry if your card arrived after Christmas!), but perfection is overrated anyway. 

So how was your Christmas? What did you enjoy, and what would you like to change for Christmas 2015? Have you shopped the clearance racks? I already have my cards for 2015 and a two-tier Christmas tray for the coming holiday’s candies!

It's a Little Late to Be "Early"

My Christmas newsletter template blog post is getting lots of hits, and yes, now is the right time to put the finishing touches on your newsletter so that you can start sending them with your Christmas cards early in December (thus giving the recipient time to put a card in the mail for you)!

Otherwise, this week of Thanksgiving is not the ideal time to prepare “in advance” for Christmas because you are probably preparing for guests for a Thanksgiving feast or for travel to a feast. Or you may be planning your Black Friday shopping strategies!

I have no new tips for preparing early for Christmas. I hope you’re ready to enjoy all the festivities in the coming month! Whether you have already begun to decorate or you are saving the work till December (or till after Thanksgiving dinner), you might want to check out this past post on creating a Christmas Memory Tree. A video is included!

Happy holidays! (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve and Day)

Christmas Is the Perfect Time for ... a Mystery Party!

I’m a lifelong lover of mysteries, having fallen in love with them as a child when I discovered the Trixie Belden mystery series. I read Nancy Drew as well, but I preferred Trixie’s family, friends, and frequent horseback riding. My grownup tastes lean heavily toward humorous murder mysteries and cozies.

Once I grew up and moved to the South, I discovered Agatha’s A Taste of Mystery, a comedy murder mystery dinner theater in Atlanta. I enjoyed three different interactive murder mystery dinners there. One was hippy-themed, and my then-husband (whose birthday we were celebrating) was given a part and turned out to be one of a pair of killers called Gemini! Now, that was some tie-dyed fun!

I went on to host several murder-mystery dinner parties in our home, and then two Christmases ago I hosted a Christmas-themed mystery dinner where the mystery was not a whodunit murder but rather a who-stole-it mystery. The eight of us had a rollicking good time (although that particular mystery was an unsolvable letdown; I didn’t know this in advance of purchase, but this particular mystery package required the hostess to leave the room, pretend to receive a phone call, and then return to the party to explain away the mystery; the game offered no clues to lead up to the surprise ending.)

Your mystery dinner party or tea party guests may surprise you by diving into their parts with gusto. Even quiet people get caught up in the fun and play their parts with fun and determination!

Back in the old days (the 1980s–90s), mystery parties came in a box kit that included a character booklet for each guest with clues to share and clues to hide unless asked directly, invitations, dinner-theme plans, and more. Now you can go online and download most mysteries after payment. Everything you need for your party will be included—including recipe ideas. Some mysteries offer a script for the characters to read, while others just provide clues doled out to each guest/character, allowing guests to converse as they would like. Most parties are for mixed groups, but you can find some written especially for women’s groups. And while many call for 6-8 characters, some party kits include more characters. Decide what kind of party and how many people you want, and go from there!

The theme of many of the Christmas dinner party mysteries is “Who Killed Santa Claus?” HO-hum. You have to look carefully to find something different! And soon there may be one more non-Santa mystery option, as I am creating my own Christmas mystery party. In fact, I plan to test it on several groups this December! I’m so excited!!! So enjoy what’s available but check back here for news of a new Christmas-themed mystery party coming soon!

One website that sells a variety of mystery party kits and includes ideas for decorations, food, and games is Merri Mysteries. Check them out if you’re still not sure a mystery is the best Christmas party you could plan this year.