Are you overwhelmed with the thought of yet another holiday season? Do you desire a peaceful holiday season and yet purposefully Christ centered? How can you begin now to pray and plan how God might have you and your family invest in making this a profitable and God-glorifying time of the year?
It might seem a little early to start thinking of the upcoming holidays, but what better way to keep the holidays simple but through a little planning and foresight! I am looking forward to sharing a few ideas that I have been blessed with over the next few weeks in our Simple Living Series, but for now, I would like to kick it off with a little giveaway!
The 12 Week Holiday Planner for Christian Families by Sheri Graham (mother of five) is a great tool for any family desiring to keep the Christ-centered focus in the holidays without being overwhelmed. Filled with practical and useful charts, planner pages, the Jesse Tree Devotional and other useful information, you will be equipped to keep your light shining this season!
Sheri says, “My desire in putting together this eBook is to provide a tangible way for you to plan out your holidays so they are enjoyable, less stressful, and more filled with the things that really matter.”
This 146 page e-book includes:
*Weekly plans for the 12 weeks prior to Christmas
*”Sheri’s Tips”- tips to make your holidays meaningful, shared throughout the ebook
*Thanksgiving Ideas
*Christmas Craft, Gift, Decorations and Menu Ideas
*Memory Making Ideas for the Family
*Ideas for Baked Items to Share/Give Away
*Ideas for Meals to Freeze for Use during the busy weeks
*Supplies to stock up on ahead of time or when on sale
*Ideas for a Holiday Baking Schedule
*Kids’ Gift Idea List
PLUS!!! “The Glorious Coming: A Jesse Tree Celebration of Advent” – Jesse Tree devotionals which include devotionals, ornaments, and instructions to make your own Jesse Tree!
I am so thrilled to share this resource with you all and am finding it very helpful already as I start taking simple steps with the use of these materials for planning our purposeful Christ-centered holidays!
Click here to view more details!
To join in on the giveaway, please leave a comment below and feel free to share one idea you have found helpful for simplifying the holidays.
Giveaway ends: Tuesday, October 14th 5:00pm PST. Winner will be randomly draw Tuesday evening and announced next Wednesday.
This book looks fantastic! One simple thing we do is to make sure we take time each evening in December to stop and do some sort of Christmas devotional with the family. This takes the focus off of us and the fast-paced nature of what Christmas has become and places it back on Christ.
What a fun giveaway! I can’t think of ideas to simplify except buying gifts early. I’m expecting our first baby on Jan 10th, so I’d better be thinking ‘simple’ for the holidays and get started soon!
I have greatly enjoyed reading your blog over the last couple months.
Nathan and I have had two Christmases together as a married couple, and what blesses him is to have some time, at least a full day, to ourselves as a family right around Christmas, to unwind and relax together after (or before) all the bustle and activity of extended family celebrations.
As far as gifts, I love giving gifts to family and friends that either share our photos with them or help them get their photos into good albums through my Creative Memories business. They’re gifts that last a long time!
Your blog has been such an inspiration!
I usually try to do a creative present for close friends or immediate family members at Christmas. This year I have been making greeting cards and books with our photos on shutterfly.com. I am not good on the computer at all, but have been able to figure it out. It is so much fun to take pictures we have from vacations and think of sayings to go with them. For example, we have a picture of a squirrel from camping this year so I used that to say “We’re nuts about you!” and then you can add Happy Valentine’s Day or Happy Birthday, etc. I also used a picture of the Grand Canyon and said, “Happy birthday to another wonder of God’s creation!” I sometimes put a scripture verse that fits such as Psalm 139:14 on birthday cards on the opposite page. I am putting together 10 assorted cards in a box, 2 of each kind (birthday, wedding, sympathy, thank you, etc.). I am excited because it is such a useful gift, but creative as well. The more cards you order at once the cheaper it is. The cheapest is $1.49 per card if you order 101. I ordered it for all my friends and family at once to get the cheapest pricing. The photo books are very simple too. You can do a short one for $12.00. I made one for a family we went camping with this summer. It contains lots of different photos of our time together. I hope this helps!
What a great book! Please sign me up for the drawing!
We always choose an angel off of the Salvation Army tree and buy for a needy child. This year I’d love to sponsor a family, buy food for their Christmas dinner, etc. It’s so important to me for our kids to NOT think that the point of Christmas is Santa Claus (we do “santa” but they know it’s just us) and piles of gifts. We try to show the love of Christ all year long, but I find it challenging to counterbalance the materialistic messages coming from everyone at Christmastime. Thank you for doing this giveaway!
This is the first year in our marriage we are unable to be near family for the holidays… we moved to be near our parents two years ago and the Lord has led them to states far away from us since that time (He took my father to Heaven a year ago.) Even though my heart aches to miss them all, especially my sweet daddy, I am looking forward, in a strange way, to the chance to forge new traditions and begin to develop a Christ-centered family celebration for our two little girls. This book looks wonderful!
This book looks very helpful! Since the birth of my daughter, I’ve been doing alot of thinking about starting family holiday traditions, but I could really use some help with managing my time.
Thank you for this giveaway! This year, we have decided to do two things to “simplify”. I put that in quotes because we are actually doing more, but buying less. We are trying to have as much family here as possible. Some of our family spend Christmas alone, or just with the immediate. This year we have deicded to invite anyone who wishes to attend here, and to bring a covered dish so that the entire burden of cooking does not fall on me. The second thing we are doing is to only buy one toy per child. Also, the toy has to be a toy the child does something with, rather than the toy does something for the child. I think things will be much simpler this way!
I heard a great tip this morning while shopping. A lady said that her daughter only allows 3 gifts per child, since that is how many gifts that Jesus recieved. I think I will talk to my husband about that one.
Thankyou for the giveaway!
This looks great… I’m glad I happened upon your blog!
My tip is to try to view the holidays through the “what’s eternal” glasses. I used to do a lot of baking and goodie baskets but now that I have three small children I’ve had to cut-back on those things. We do bake some cookies but I want the bulk of celebrating to be around who Christ is and why He came. We enjoy having a small tree in our dining room where we place small ornaments that illustrate the names of Christ. The children love it and it is simple for mom and dad to do.
This looks like a great resource to extend what we already do.
Great post and thanks for the fun contest!
Putting Christ before consuming is only made more difficult for children by the Christmas items going into the stores in September. My son & I nearly fell over when right after school started we saw the first ones at Target. I kid you not.
This resource sounds like a great family tool. Thanks for the post & opportunity.
Wow! 85 entries! I think you hit a spot of interest. I know it is mine. I am very much into keeping life simple, especially during the holidays. I don’t handle stress well, so I have to do all I can to rid of it! There’s nothing more backwards than a stressful Christmas don’t you think? I don’t want my girls’ memories of Christmas to be that of a hectic season and a grumpy mom. Where’s Christ in that? I know each family is unique and has there own custom made ways of making Christmas holy and simple. We decline on a lot of Christmas outings. Not only to save time but also money. It’s expensive enough the way it is. My side of the family gets together on Christmas Eve, and my husbands on Christmas day so that we don’t have to be split on Christmas day. As far as gifts go, we had to draw the line somewhere, so I decided 3 gifts just like Jesus got. I also have heard a fun guide line that a friend of mine uses. A present you want, a present you need, a present to wear, and a present to read. That takes the guess work out of it. As far as extended families, fortunately my side draws names and my in-laws play a fun game every year with $10 gifts. I just want so badly for my girls not to get caught up in the gimme-gimme of the holidays. Instead I want them to find the joy in giving, as Christ did for us. There are sooooo many ways to show your kids that during the holidays. My girls love to go “shopping” when the Samartan’s Purse catalog comes in the mail. We give them a set amount and they circle all of there choices, just like a toy magazine. Only this way they’re not picking for themselves. It’s really a cool thing to see. Those are the memories that are going to stick. My mom custom made me and my 2 sister-in-laws our own Christmas organizer. From a calendar to a plastic zipper pouch in the front to hold pens, stamps, and receipts, to specific Christmas lists, to thank you check lists, to shopping lists, to card mailing lists, etc. etc,. It really has been a life saver. It’s all contained so it stays in my car during the shopping season so I have all the info I need right there all the time. As far as baking, I’ve cut waaaaaaaaaay back since having kids. I just don’t have the time and nobody’s waist line needs it. We all still manage to consume more goodies than we need!
) May you all enjoy a simple Christmas season filled with our Saviors pure joy!
At my aunt and uncle’s house we have the grab bag $10 (more like gag gifts) gift. Any gift $10 and under. EVERY year my aunt put a ketchup and mustard bottle in the mix of gifts. My aunt’s niece’s husband has received the same ketchup and mustard bottle for about 10 yrs running! It’s soooooo funny! We all roll our eyes, and know next year they will be back lol.
Most times it’s recycled “teacher gifts” my aunt’s side are all teachers. Altho most of them retired last year so that should put an ax in the teacher gifts lol. We still want to come home w/a useful gift!! (never seems to happen) most are so whacky, and would no purpose. I guess no one has realized that you CAN buy a $10 gift and it’s a nice one! Only my mom, sister, and I buy nice $10 gifts. Every year we say we need to change the rules!
What a great giveaway. Please enter me into the drawing also. A mom of seven children difintely needs simplying.
Thanks!!
I try to get as much done early as possible. I buy Christmas gifts throughout the year as I see them on sale.
The best tip I have for the holidays is assigning tasks to my husband. He wants to help, but doesn’t know where to start.
His list this year will look something like this:
1. by Nov 15th have outdoor lights hung (it gets very cold here by then)
2. purchase or make gifts for his dad and brothers as well as my dad
3. be ready the day after Thanksgiving to put up the tree
4. make a list of things he would like to do or eat this season and have it to me the weekend before Thanksgiving
5. help me keep on track
It may sound silly, but this helps us grow closer during the holidays rather than stressed and taking it out on each other.
Sounds like a great giveaway. The thing that helps me simplify the most is to plan, shop, prepare Christmas cards, and make crafts ahead of time. Then I have time to decorate and bake in December.
Every year I set a budget and stick very closely too it. I make the budget low, so that I have a bit of wiggle room. I’ve also quit giving store bought gifts to adults. Most of them have everything they want or need anyway. Children’s gifts are always a little bit trickier. I need some ideas there. Please include me in your giveaway.
The Jesse Tree has been a beautiful addition to our holiday celebrations. Looks like a lovely ebook, thank you.
Ooh, this is right up my alley! It seems like as I get older, and our family grows, I want to simplify the holidays a little more every year. This year, my siblings and I drew names, which will cut down on gift production.
We try to make as many gifts as possible during the holidays. We also focus on large gatherings of family to eat and just be together, instead of focusing on large gift-giving parties.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Good timing! I’ve been thinking a lot about the holiday’s and how to simplify them. Perfect! Thanks for the opportunity.
This sounds like a wonderful organizational tool – thank you for the giveaway!
A few years ago, we were really feeling like Christmas was losing it’s true meaning in our home. That year, we received a wonderful Christmas card that changed our hearts and helped us put Christ back where He belonged. The card was a simple card that had a note enclosed saying that someone had made a donation to Samaritan’s Purse in our name to help feed a baby for a week. I had never heard of this program, so I did some research and found out what it was all about. The very next year, instead of buying gifts for friends, parents, siblings and grandparents, we browsed through the Christmas Catalog as a family and decided which donation each person would appreciate. The gift cards were so well received that I nearly cried for joy!
Now, when the catalog comes my children drop what they are doing so they can “go shopping” for Christmas! They have even asked to use some of their personal money to “buy” something for their friends!
To find out more go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org
This sounds great! One of the things that makes a big difference in our Christmas is having an emphasis on the story of Jesus, and not on gifts. We do give gifts in moderation but don’t do Santa Claus. Also, we do photo cards of our family to send to friends and extended family. We live a long way from everyone else in our family, so they enjoy the pictures. It is usually not that expensive and keeps me from stressing over hand-making that many cards. And we, of course, enjoy a new photo for the living room every year!
Us too! Lots of out of state family. My husband has so many cousins, aunts, uncles etc. that would be VERY VERY VERY VERY expensive to get them a gift, so we do the letter, and photo card every year. It can be expensive as the family grows, but still cheaper than a gift gift lol. We just buy a few rolls of Christmas stamps, and go to town lol.
I love dressing the children up and having them around the Christmas tree. I even add the pets too! I have pictures from when me and my siblings went to see Santa as children (till we all got too old). Then started when we had our first baby. Our first Christmas photo was an ultrasound picture. Told MANY relatives that way.
I LOVE reading about how everyone does Christmas!
This sounds like such a great book!
One thing that we have heard of, but haven’t tried yet, is sending your family photo cards and newsletters during the summer instead of at Christmas time. This allows you to spend more time on the things that are less time consuming, as well as financial. We usually send out 100+ cards and that can get pricey.
What a great idea! I’m going to run that one by my husband. Thanks!
We love to use the crockpot for meals, especially during the holiday busyness. I also try to do one thing everyday from November 1 on to get ready for Christmas. It spreads things out over almost 2 months, instead of all at once.
I would love to be included! Living in tight quarters we did the Jesse Tree by painting a picture of a tree branch on butcher paper.
My husband and I like to keep things really simple during the holidays. We don’t exchange gifts with each other or any of our family or friends. We spend the money that we would have spent on Christmas presents by gifting a cow to families in Africa. We do this through http://www.heifer.org
I would love to win this book! Please count me in. =)
Hey Lindsay, that book sound really neat. Thanks for having this giveaway, how fun:) I’m really excited for the holiday season. This would be a neat resource to have.
What a great giveaway! I have found reducing the amount of gifts we give to family etc and to each of our children (we limit them to 3, good enough for Jesus good enough for us
you know gifts from the Wise Men).
And focusing on the truth of Christmas has really simplified our time and we love it!
Thanks for the chance to win
Blessings
Sue
marklovessue@numail.org
This idea is relaxing and fun. All gifts must be hand made. It is white elephant style by drawing numbers. The recipients must guess who made the gift. This is not an artistic family, so the gifts “really” look home made, but the laughs and stories continue year after year.
Wow! This is very cool…something I’ve been looking for and a great resource for us to use at our house church with the kiddos during the holiday season.
Lindsay this sounds like a sweet and thoughtful ebook. I would love to be included in this give-away.
This sounds wonderful.
joanna
I keep my presents for family to a minimum. Rather than buying a bunch of small things, I try to find 1-2 things they’ll enjoy. For friends, I make cookies, unless we’re really close and then I make them cookies and buy them 1 thing. I also don’t freak out about wrapping. I think decorating packages is awesome, but if it’s going to stress me out too much, I’ll just wrap it and stick a bow on it!
I would be very happy to be part of this give-away.
May God bless you and your family as you celebrate the Lord’s birth this Christmas.
This is a great giveaway! My Christmas tip is to get things done early. I like to be totally done with gifts by Thanksgiving. I also try to not go to the grocery store the week of Christmas. IT is crazy!
We save all year for Christmas. My boss gave me an idea. She does ALL her Christmas shopping the week BEFORE black Friday. So this year that is what I’m going to do. I have enlisted some friends into this, and we’re all going to chip in and get some babysitters and for one full week we are going to shop until we drop!
My children make their Christmas lists before I shop, and I take what they “want” vs what they need and get some of each. They may not get everything on their list, but they are thankful for what they do get.
Also, at my job we have a tree where we can pick a needy child’s name and buy them a gift. Every year, I pick a child’s name and age that correspond w/my child and their age. And we go shopping for that child. I also have my child write a letter to tuck into their gift, the younger ones I will write out and they will print their names, or scribble.
I’m working on our Christmas letter that will go into our Christmas cards. Soon we will get our children’s pictures done for the cards.
I LOVE decorating, so I starting the day after Thanksgiving. We start w/the tree, (artificial of course). Then everyday I do another room, including stairs, bathrooms etc. I LOVE decorating, it gets me into the mood, I can’t imagine not decorating to the nines.
I make sugar cookie dough before Thanksgiving, and freeze it. So when I’m ready I just thaw it out. My friends and I have a cookie swap every year. We make our favorite cookies and then have a cookie party and sample everyone’s cookies, and take a platter home.
Christmas Eve we spend at my aunt and uncle’s house. A tradition that goes back for as far as I remember. They’re Catholic so we end up going to Mass. I always wanted to go to midnight mass tho. Never did, probably never will. Usually we eat chicken scampi. Yummo! Christmas we have a turkey dinner w/all the fixings. I bake a birthday cake for Jesus, and that’s one of our desserts. The children love it. We have tons of family that drop by on Christmas, and we love it. Our door is always open. Usually there’s football or a movie on a tv somewhere. But just having family around and watching the children play is a wonderful thing! I LOVE Christmas!!
Please enter in me in the giveaway. What a great resource.
Several years ago, we sat down as a family and discussed Christmas and what it means to us. We decided to reduce the amount of spending considerably. Instead of tons of gift giving at Christmas, we do more on each persons birthday. This has reduced or Christmas spending a lot, plus helps us focus more on the true meaning of Christmas.
Wow, I would love to be included in this give-away. It sounds like an awesome resource!!!
What a great resource and thanks for the chance to win it! One way that I make things simple (in a way and I haven’t read everyones so not sure if others said this already) is I start putting together my Christmas card list now. I sell Stampin Up! and make all my Christmas cards so instead of waiting for Dec and being stressed I start in Oct and have it all done before Thanksgiving!
I would love to have this book! With a 3-yr.-old, 2-yr.-old and 9-month-old, it would be a help. Thanks for the chance!
Thanks so much! One thing I started last year to simplify Christmas is to do less decorating – just the “essentials” that helped our family focus on Christ. I got out our nativity sets, and decorated the tree, and only a few other things. I was more peaceful and less stressed by having less to do.
I’m enjoying your blog a lot, thanks!
I’d love to enter this contest. It seems the holidays always sneak up on us. This year we are doing better, though. We’ve already ordered the Christmas cards, and purchased a present or two.
My advice is to keep it really simple. WE have picked a couple of traditions that we love to do: going to the woods to chop down our own tree, adding one item to our Christmas “village”, etc. After that, we limit outside activities and keep gifts to a $200 or so budget.
The thing that used to make me crazy at Christmas was sending out gifts and cards to far-flung family (we have a lot!!). It was SO expensive, and so much work! Now I just send cards to people we actually KNOW and have a relationship with, and close family members and friends get our annual Christmas Book. We started this last year and it was a hit! My oldest daughter(6 yrs old) and I collabarate to write and illustrate a Christmas story, complete with a forward signed by the whole family. Then we get it printed for $6.00 a copy and mail it out in big envelopes. This year everyone wants to know when they’re getting their book! I plan to make this a tradition and everyone will soon have a collection of original stories!
That’s my two cents…
phebe
This sounds like a wonderful idea, please sign me up for the drawing One way I have simplified and trying to teach and live the true meaning of Christmas is the children get three presents for Christmas (doesn’t include stocking stuffers). They are nice presents, but Christ only received three and if we are truly keeping Christ in Christmas, I don’t feel we should get more than he did for his own birthday. The first Christmas I spent with my stepson (he at that time was the first and only child I had) I went OVERBOARD! By the time he finished unwrapping he was tired and bored (you can tell by the pictures). Then I realized, is it truly worth it? Yes, he got ALL he asked for, but how long did he actually play with it?
Hey there! Last year, I had a chart of everyone to buy for, what I had gotten them the previous year, and then what to get this year. There was also a column for price, shipping, and wrapping. This year we are bartering instead of giving gifts. Should be interesting!