Merry Christmas! {25 Days Link Up}

You can link up your Christmas related post.

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

What is Christmas all about? {25 Days of Christmas

At Christmas time, it can be so easy to get caught up in the commercialism of it all. 

Like Charlie Brown, it can have us upset and wondering what Christmas is all about. 

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

^{Luke 2:1-21}

Now, you can link up your own Christmas related post.

This link up only has ONE post:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

Nativity {25 Days Link Up}

One day, when I have the complete Willow Tree Angel Nativity and a mantle, I will decorate it like this.

You can buy this subway art here.

I recently discovered that they have a Little People Nativity. I want this when I have children.

This is the nativity that I currently have. I knew I wanted to work on getting the Willow Tree Angel Nativity, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one. 

There are many beautiful nativities out there. Do you have one as part of your Christmas decorations?

 ^"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 

Link up your Christmas related post.

This link up has only ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

Cans for Comments Update {25 Days Link Up}

I recently participated in a wonderful give away called Cans for Comments.

I have a hard time passing up an opportunity to help others.

THANK YOU to everyone who commented, followed, linked up, and shared my post that day. I appreciate your help greatly!

Before I update you on my donation, I have to get something off my chest.

I was a little disappointed with the response I got.

This post required nothing from you other than a comment. I had actually originally planned to say each comment would earn a can. Then, I thought that might be a lot so I backed down to every 5 comments equaling a can. I was wrong.

If I had only donated the cans as stated in my blog (every 5 comments=1 can, every new follower=1 can, and every link up = 1 can), I would have only donated 7 cans.

I don't understand why the number of views of that post was about triple the number of comments. I don't understand why people can take hours to enter all the great Christmas giveaways going on right now, but can't take a minute to write a comment to help others. I understand that you can't always donate to every great cause, but this didn't require you to donate anything. You just needed to leave a comment. It was so simple.

Everyone wants to band together and help the victims in Newtown, CT and I think that's WONDERFUL. I will even tell you about 2 great ways to help that I recently found and am participating in: A bracelet to help the victims and Drawn Together. I'm not against helping this community. BUT...there are people we can help every day. There is suffering around the world every day. (I recently guest posted for The Life of Faith on the topic of helping people all year long.)

If you've read my blog for a while, you know of my heart for helping others. It's the main reason I grew my blog in the first place. So, I guess it's hard for me when others don't share that passion.

Anyway...moving on....

I didn't want to just donate 7 cans, so I made it a nice even 10.

I am donating them to my hometown church's food bank.

I hope that it will help make someone's Christmas a little brighter.

What does your family do to help others during the Christmas season?

Link up your Christmas related post.
This link up only has ONE rule:
1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

Christmas Traditions {25 Days Link Up}

Please tell me I'm not the only one who is naturally drawn to people who have the same name as me. If I see someone named Megan, I instantly feel connected to them. Weird, I know.

Anyway...today I want you to meet a fellow Megan. She blogs over at Simply, Megan. We have several things in common besides our name- like the fact that we both live in NC and have husbands with health issues. 

Today, Megan takes over my blog to spread her Christmas cheer.

***
 

Hi I’m Megan and I blog over at Simply Megan!!! Megan asked me to write a post that was Christmas related so I figured I would write about our traditions.

Growing up we always did things a certain way when it came to Christmas.  It was only 4 of us for Christmas (my parents, my brother & I) no other family around.  My mom was and still is very set in her routine.

Christmas Eve consists of a visit to my old next door neighbor, Granna & Papa (Papa passed away two years ago this past August), and bringing them a Swedish tea ring that my mom makes every year (she started doing that for them when we still lived next to them.  I enjoy visiting with Granna every year on Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately that is about the only time I get to see her.  I cannot wait to see her this year since I missed our visit last year while in the ER with my husband CJ.  For Christmas Eve dinner we do a traditional Polish meal consisting of Pierogi, Kielbasa, and now ham for those family members that have married in (my husband & sister-in-law).  My mom makes the pierogi from scratch on Christmas Eve.   This is something that she had on Christmas Eve growing up and her sisters also make for their families as well.  After dinner we all open one present and it is ALWAYS pajamas!!! Growing up we used to rag on my mom about knowing what our present was but the one year my pj’s didn’t fit I was HEARTBROKEN I didn’t have new pj’s to wear for Christmas morning!! As we have gotten older my parents have also started doing lottery tickets we all get one scratch off and then one powerball or mega millions ticket.  I think the most any of us have won is $2 and that is over the 5 years we’ve been doing it!!!!

Christmas morning means opening presents at our home with the boys first thing in the morning.  Then we get ready and head to my parents for the day.  We start with breakfast.  Chipped beef for the “originals” and then French toast and bacon for my kids, my husband, and my sister-in-law.  Once we have breakfast cleaned up we head into the living room with Christmas music playing to start opening presents.  We go around in a circle one at a time opening presents.  The whole process takes about 2 hours.  We just take our time and enjoy watching the boy’s faces light up.  Once all of the presents are opened mom starts prepping some snacks for lunch and then we get dinner going.  We do all of the same stuff we do for Thanksgiving for dinner on Christmas night.  My husband’s family comes over for dinner and then we do presents with them afterwards.  It makes life a little easier on the boys to not have to travel all day going from house to house.  My grandparents join us every once in a while.  It tends to be a spur of the moment thing with them.

I am so ready for Christmas next week, just for it to be here.  I am nowhere close to being done shopping!!!

***

Now, it's your turn to link up your Christmas related post.

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

The Easiest Christmas Cookies Ever {25 Days Link Up}

I found Angi's blog though a blog hop when her blog was called Backroads and Microphones. That name caught my attention and I'm glad I started following along. 

Now, her blog is called Into the Forest Dim, and I've learned many things about Angi-like the fact that she's a grammar nazi, has a strong dislike for celebrity gossip, enjoys crocheting, and she lives in Sitka, Alaska (the place where The Proposal was supposed to take place, but it wasn't actually filmed there).

Today Angi is sharing an easy Christmas recipe.

***
 

-->

The Easiest Christmas Cookies You’ll Ever Make

If you’re anything like me, December is a ridiculously busy month. There are multiple holiday parties you’re required to attend, presents to buy, Christmas cards to write, family to visit, packages to mail, decorations to put out…and the last thing you probably have time for is baking a ton of treats.

I adore holiday baking. The chocolate peppermint bark, the cranberry bread, the pumpkin coffee cake, the cookies…oh, the cookies. Unfortunately, cookies are one of the more time consuming baking projects. Especially if you’re doing drop cookies and only able to bake a dozen at a time!

Thankfully, a couple years ago, I figured out the solution to baking a quick batch of holiday cookies.

CHEAT.

This recipe makes fancy cookies so fast, so efficiently, so easily, you’ll have plenty of time leftover to do what we all REALLY want to do at Christmastime…sit by the lit-up Christmas tree with a cup of tea, Christmas music on the iPod, a ball of yarn in your lap and a crochet hook in your hand. Oh, that’s just me?

Chocolate Peppermint Dipped Sugar Cookies

·      pre-made sugar cookie dough

·      bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

·      peppermint candy canes, crushed

·       

I’m serious, you cannot mess this recipe up. All you do is bake the cookies according to the package directions, then when they’re baked and cooled, melt your bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips either in a double boiler, or in a glass bowl over the top of a pot of boiling water (or a microwave, I guess). Make sure it’s completely melted and smooth, then remove from the heat and one by one, dunk your cookies halfway into the chocolate.

Tap off the extra, and lay the cookies out on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Immediately sprinkle the chocolate-dipped side of the cookies with your crushed candy canes.

Put the sheet of cookies into the freezer for 15-20 minutes to set the chocolate, then you can take them out and put them on the fanciest schmanciest plate you own.

The year I made these, I swear I had people asking how much time did you spend in the kitchen!!?!??

They’re delicious, they’re pretty, they’re festive, and they definitely don’t taste like store-bought cookies. Now go impress some people with your baking skillz.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

***

Now it's your turn to link up your Christmas related post.

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

 

We 3 Friends of a Small Town Girl {25 Days Link Up}

I LOVE pictures! I spend way too much time looking through old pictures. They can be funny. They can also bring back great memories. Christmas is one time of the year where you're sure to have plenty of pictures.

Check these ladies out in all their Christmas glory:

Sarah
Blog//Twitter//Facebook

Kindra
Blog//Pinterest


Kim
Blog//Twitter//Pinterest

I also love Christmas and think it's so fun to learn about different people's experiences with Christmas.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Sarah: Start watching Christmas movies RIGHT after Thanksgiving. I don't watch any of it before that.
Kindra: We all go to both sets of Grandparents (one on Christmas eve & the other on Christmas day) and on Christmas eve we always read the true Christmas story.
Kim: Definitely getting a Christmas tree each year. My parents didn't hop on the artificial tree wagon until about two or three years ago, so we always had a real tree growing up. It was so much fun to go to the tree farm and wander around forever trying to find the "perfect" one...me and my siblings always fought about whose tree was going to win. Spoiler alert: none of us ever won. Mom always won.
 
What is the most memorable Christmas gift you've ever been given?
Sarah: The unexpected gifts are always memorable. Last year my mentor gave me two beautiful coffee mugs with some hot cocoa packets. It touched me b/c I wasn't expecting it and the mugs were gorgeous!
Kindra: I got a log cabin doll house one year from my grandparents. I still have it to this day.
Kim: Definitely the year I got a bike. I remember coming home from church and it was just there in the living room - Santa came early that year!

What is your favorite Christmas movie and why?
Sarah: I have a lot, but I have to say that ELF is by far my favorite. It's the first one I watch after Thanksgiving. I like this movie b/c it's fun for all ages and is just good quality humor!
Kindra: I don’t think that I have an absolute favorite Christmas movie but I always enjoy watching the original old “children” movies like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc. I also like watching the Hallmark Christmas movies.

Kim: actually have two! I absolutely LOVE the "real" version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but I'm also a sucker for the old black and white movie "The Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. I make sure to watch at least those two movies every year!

 

Part of loving Christmas is loving Christmas decor.

 

Sarah loves Christmas ornaments. Aren't these adorable?

 

Kindra loves to remember the true meaning of Christmas and hopes to one day have an ornament or decoration similar to this one.

 

Kim loves Christmas lights-on a Christmas tree, over a door, on the mantle-it doesn't matter. Something about twinkling lights in a dim room, just sets a Christmas mood.

These 3 ladies are 3 of my lovely sponsor and wonderful bloggy friends. You will not regret checking out their blogs and following along. 

If you only view one post on their blog, they ask that it be this one:

Sarah- Baby Blog Blues

Kindra- Who Am I

Kim- For Me

Now, it's your turn to share something Christmas related.

This link up has only ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my post.

 

 

 

TAG...I'm It! {25 Days Link Up}

I have to admit, I got REALLY excited when Kera from Nugget on a Budget "tagged" me in this fun Christmas game.

This was created by Lanaya from Raising Reagan. It's similar to when you win a blog award and then you nominate new people. Basically, when someone tags you, you answer their questions and then tag 5 new people. It's a great way to learn how other people celebrate Christmas. 

You can read Kera's post here or Lanaya's here.

Here are the questions I have to answer:

1. What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family? 

The thing that makes Christmas a special holiday to me and my family is celebrating the birth of Jesus. As a Christian, Christmas holds a special meaning in that our Savior came to the world to live as a human. My favorite name of Jesus is Immanuel which means "God with us." Even to this day God is with us because of His son.

 2. Were you told the truth about Santa by your parents or did you find out another way? And...do you plan on lying to your kids when the time comes? 

I kind of got the age where I figured it out plus I had a lot of friends who weren't "believers" anymore. So, I finally just asked my mom about it. Afterwards, I still played along because I have a younger brother. I thought I was so cool because I was in on the secret.

Lee and I have discussed it and we don't currently have kids, but when we do we don't plan on lying to them about Santa. As I just stated, I believed in Santa and I have nothing against people who do it. I wasn't traumatized because my parents "lied" to me. It's just not something we want to do. I'm not against them knowing who Santa is, visiting Santa at the mall, reading Santa books, or watching Santa movies. That's part of the fun of Christmas. I just want them to view him as a character just like Mickey Mouse. The main reason we don't want to push Santa is because we don't want Christmas to be about presents. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the materialism of Christmas. We want to fight that and make Christmas more about Jesus, family, and giving for our kids.

3. Real tree or fake?

My family has always done fake trees. It's never bothered me that we had artificial trees although I think it would be fun to go to a real tree farm at some point in my life. Lee and I also do an artificial tree. Lee wanted to get a real tree, but because we are gone for a long time at Christmas visiting family, we didn't think having a real tree would be the best idea. 

 4. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or both?

When I was younger (and my dad's parents were still alive), we used to spend Christmas Eve with my dad's family and we'd exchange gifts. Then, Christmas morning was when we got present from Santa. Then we'd go to my mom's parents' house for lunch and spend Christmas afternoon with her family where we'd also exchange presents.
 

Now that I'm married, we alternate whose family we're with on Christmas day. We'll exchange presents a couple of days early with whichever family we don't spend Christmas with. Then, we open gifts on Christmas morning with the other family. If we're at my family's on Christmas, we still spend Christmas afternoon with my mom's side of the family. It's a little harder to get my dad's side of the family together these days because the family is so large, there's been family drama, and my dad's parents have passed away.

 

 

 5. What's your favorite Christmas movie to watch? Or favorite Christmas song?

I love watching Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both versions) and A Christmas Story. I also enjoy the Christmas classics like Frosty and Rudolph. 

My favorite fun Christmas Song is "Carol of the Bells." My favorite religious Christmas song is "O Holy Night."

I especially love Lea Michele's (from Glee) version. This girl can sing!

Okay, now it's my turn. 

I tag:

1. Jennifer from Part of That World

2. Kim from Living on a Latte and Prayer

3. Sarah from Loveee, Sarah

4. Ashley from Dancing with Ashley

5. Angi from Into the Forest Dim

If you're tagged, please let me know if you want to participate because if not...I'll tag someone else. 

Here are my questions:

1. Describe Christmas morning at your house when you were a child.

2. What's your most memorable Christmas gift?

3. Did you believe in Santa as a child? Are you (or do you plan on) using Santa with your own children?

4. What's your favorite holiday treat? Include a recipe if you'd like. :)

5. How will you spend Christmas day this year?

Have fun! Answer the questions and tag five more awesome bloggers. After you've done your post, come back here and leave me a comment with the link to it because I don't want to miss it! Instruct your tag-ees to do the same for you. Don't forget to link your post back to Raising Reagan.

  You can also link up your Christmas related post to help spread Christmas cheer. 

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

OFA: Message from the Brocks {25 Days Link Up}

Today was originally supposed to be the last day of selling ornaments, but due to some personal issues I had to quit selling about a week and half ago. 

Today, however, is the last day of weekly postings about adoption. In case you are new here or missed it, here's a recap of all the Ornaments for Adoption posts:

Meet the Brocks
Why Adoption? 
Adoption Challenge from Christie at Satisfaction Through Christ
Megan Shares her Heart from {All Things New} 
Adoption Links I Love
Kristen shares about God's Grace
Jan shares about 3 Beautiful Sides of Adoption 

Megan's Letter from The Mrs.
Tara Becomes a Mom from Overwhelmed by Joy
Where You Came From from Dawn's Disaster
Books 

I have to say that I am very happy with the way things went for my first year of doing Ornaments for Adoption. I thank you all for reading, commenting, praying, spreading the word, purchasing ornaments, guest posting, and everything else you did to make this possible. I am already thinking about how to make this bigger and better for next year.

In January, my husband and I plan to have dinner with the Brocks and give them the money that was made to help with their adoption. I will definitely be posting about that and give you the total then. 

I am very excited today to have a word from Libby Brock herself for the final day of Ornaments for Adoption 2012.

***

I can’t begin this post without first thanking Megan for her thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity.  Her burden to help others goes beyond a typical calling, and has been a blessing to our growing family.  Her servant spirit has touched the lives of people she may never meet on this side of heaven.  It does not seem sufficient to say that we are indebted to her for her precious charity. In actuality, Megan and I have never met.  We were strangers just a few months ago, but have been brought together through the common bond of adoption. 

Megan and I each have our own unique stories, but the beautiful thing about these stories is that they are wrapped and intertwined in the Gospel.  When we, any of us who have been transformed by Christ, tell our stories, we are telling the story of who God is.  The story that God has written in my life is not the one that I would have imagined, nor is it the one that I tried to plan for myself.  Though its a beautiful story, it is one that has been laced with heartache.

Despite the difficulties that we’ve faced through infertility, miscarriage, medical mysteries, and the weary waiting on our baby through adoption, there is at least one thing I’ve learned about heartache.  It is good.  Good in the way that failure is good, and change is good, and tribulation is good.  I’ve learned the hard way that heartache can come in the form of one of God’s greatest gifts.  It can be a useful tool.  Just like failure will teach us what not to do the next time, and change can be gut-wrenchingly scary but bring new joy, and tribulations make us stronger; heartache can push us to the edge of our faith.  It can devour us, pull us, berate us, and then remake us.  When we are finally standing on the other side of heartache, we can see how far we’ve come from the person that we use to be, to the person that we are now.

Obviously, none of us can skip to the end and sneak a peek of our story, or even get a glimpse of the end of this chapter for that matter; however I can humbly say I’ve learned to embrace this thing called heartache.  I can come before you now and say that the heartache of losing our first baby has made me stronger.  The heartache of anxiously waiting for our next child has tested my faith and strengthened it as well.  When our heart aches, God aches with us, so it is not something we should run from.  We have been given a promise that we will never be left alone.  {Deuteronomy 31:6}

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of our story.  Through Ornaments for Adoption, you will always be a part of this glorious journey.  I can’t wait for the day that I get to put Christmas ornaments on the tree with a little chubby toddler in footed pajamas, and get to tell them of our story.  The story of how so many strangers and friends alike came together to help bring our baby home.  Merry Christmas and God bless you all for your kindness, support, donations, and prayers.  

***

I think we all can relate to Libby's words. Even if you've never experienced infertility or miscarriages, you have experienced trials, difficulties, and heartache. Maybe you're even experiencing those things now. Please let her words encourage you as they've encouraged me.

Today, I would like to give you one last opportunity to help the Brock family. Maybe this is the first time you've heard about Ornaments for Adoption. Maybe you didn't have $10 to spend this Christmas. Maybe you weren't interested in purchasing an ornament. Whatever the reason, you can still help! I am adding a "Donate" button below where you can donate to the Brocks adoption. Every little bit helps! No gift is too small!

*In case the button doesn't work (and they often don't), you can use your Paypal account to send a donation to leehall123 {at} gmail {dot} com. If you have any questions about this, you can comment or message me at mdhall{at}gmail{dot}com.*

One last thing, as a way to say thank you, Libby has offered up a necklace from the jewelry she makes to be offered in a giveaway. 

 

This giveaway will end Friday. Please help me spread the word and let's continue to help the Brocks get closer and closer to expanding their family through adoption. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As if there's not enough going on, you can also link up for the 25 Days of Christmas.

There's only ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

A Few of My Favorite Things {25 Days Link Up}

A lot of people have been asking on their blogs about your favorite thing about Christmas. 

There are SO many things to love about Christmas time that it's hard to narrow it down to ONE thing. 

I love spending time with family. I love decorating. I love all the opportunities for giving and helping others.

Today, though, one of my favorite things that I want to share about is baking. At Christmas time you can bake, bake, bake without judgement. You bake things you don't bake at any other time of the year. Baking is one of my favorite things about Christmas and sometimes I get a little carried away.

Some of my favorite Christmas items to bake are:

1. Kiss cookies

(You can find the recipe and an old post about these here.)

 2. Chocolate covered peanut butter crackers

(You put peanut butter between two Ritz crackers and cover them in chocolate-simple!)
 

3. MandM Peanut Clusters
(I discovered these a few years ago and LOVE them. You can find the recipe here.)

4. Cookie cakes
(Lee loves cookie cake, so Christmas is a fun time to make them in Christmas shapes. I simply buy cookie dough and press it into a pan. Then, decorate.)

5. MandM Chocolate Pretzels
(I've never made these, but I want to this year. They are so yummy! The perfect combination of salty and sweet. You can find a recipe here.)


One of my favorite things all year long is bloggy friends. Some of mine are going to share with you their favorite thing about Christmas:

:Blog:

"My favorite thing to do at Christmas is watch all my favorite holiday movies. ELF is always first.

I also buy a big bag of mint and peppermint candy Hershey kisses and put them in my candy cane bowl. =)"

:Blog:

"My favorite thing to do so far at Christmas is getting together with family and giving out presents. I have a feeling my new favorite thing this year will be waking up and seeing Emma's face Christmas morning. She may not know what's going on this year, but I hope she still loves it as much as I am looking forward to it!"

:Blog:

"My favorite thing to do at Christmas is be with extended family and take the Beanie Babies out in the snow!  Christmas is about the only time of year I get to spend with the extended relatives.  Every other year, my dad's side of the family comes to their house.  The weekend after Christmas is spent with my mom's side of the family.  The Beanie Babies love to see their cousins and Uncle Joe (my brother).  It is so MERRY!  Even though the weather is something most would run from, I love this time of year!"

:Blog:
"My favorite thing at Christmas is Christmas music. I begin listening to it November 1st and keep going until after New Year's. I love singing Christmas carols, and blasting a little Bing Crosby on a cold winter day :) I get so excited when artists come out with Christmas CDs, even if they all pretty much have the same exact songs on them!"

:Blog:

"My favorite thing to do at Christmas...is EVERYTHING! But seriously, I love getting a chai tea and driving around looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve with my husband! My family and I used to do that every year when I was a kid and we're excited to pass the tradition on to our kids someday!"

:Blog:

"My favorite thing to do at Christmas time is to spend time with my family and friends. I love spending every Christmas Eve at my Grandparents house with my entire family. We open our stockings, eat a delicious Christmas dinner, and open our Christmas presents. It is a lovely family tradition that I look forward to every Christmas."

What about you? What's your favorite thing about Christmas?

 Have you written a Christmas related post?

Link it up.

There's only ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

When Christmas isn't Merry {25 Days Link Up}

I have been doing fun, upbeat Christmas related post for the past 14 days.

Today, I can't bring myself to post one of those fun, upbeat posts. I can't ignore what happened yesterday.

I don't have many words, but I think I should at least post a little something.

As a teacher, school shootings have always scared me. I never really heard about them happening in elementary schools until yesterday. It's always hard not to get wrapped up in thinking-what would I have done?

I can't imagine what this community and these families are going through. I know how traumatized the students at my school were by a tornado that went through their neighborhoods the spring before I started working there. These poor students in Connecticut will be haunted by this day for years. 

Those poor families are in my prayers as Christmas will never be the same for them again. Yes, those children had their whole life ahead of them, but so did those adults. No person, no matter how young or old, deserves to have their life taken from them too soon.

On a similar note, people will begin to attack the gunman. They will begin to question what could drive a person to do this. They will be looking for a place to lay blame. They will make hateful statements about him. I don't think that's the right way to go about things. Even though what he did was a tragic thing and there's no excuse for taking another's life, he was a human being. He has people who love him too. 

Instead of focusing our energy into hate, focus it on loving and helping those affected by this tragedy. 

This post is already listing ways that you can get involved.

Use this as an opportunity to remember that Christmas is not an easy time for everyone. For many people, this is a painful time of year. Maybe they lost a loved one this year who won't be with them this Christmas. Maybe they've battled infertility or miscarriage or stillbirths and they remember the child that should be with them this Christmas. Maybe they've recently divorced and their family does not feel whole this Christmas. Maybe it's been a tough year financially and they can't afford presents for their children. Whatever the reason, people are hurting.

I'd like to challenge you to reach out to those you may know who will have a difficult time this Christmas season. You can't take their pain away, but you can let them know that you care and you're there for them. 

I've read many people's post in the past several hours on the subject of the Connecticut tragedy. The words that really stuck out to me came from Kim at The K.O. Jewelry. She ended her post with the same words I'm going to end my post with. 

  We all need to learn to love more.

If you'd like to link up your Christmas related post, I simply ask that you link back to my blog.

JOY {25 Days Link Up}

We continue to get closer and closer to Christmas. I am very excited today to have a guest post from a bloggy friend, Christie from Satisfaction Through Christ. Right now, she's co-hosting a huge fashion giveaway link up that you should definitely check out. Christie has guest posted for me before. She was one of my first guest posts during Ornaments for Adoption. 

She has such an encouraging blog. She's always sharing fun stories of her beautiful daughter, her heart for adoption, and promoting great shops just to name a few things. You won't regret following along with her blog.

***

 

This season of lights, cookies, trees, carols, and everything in between can be overwhelming.  For us this year brings a bit of sorrow.  2012 was one of our hardest years -- sickness, death, and failed adoption, to name a few.

Christmas-time after a year like we've had can be tough.

But, it can also be joyous!

Joyous?

Yes!  Although we're missing loved ones and are reminded of all of the hardships that we've experienced this year, Christ has proved to be enough and that is worth joy!

This Christmas, we're choosing to rejoice in the gift of a baby.  A baby, fully human and fully God, that lived a perfect, sinless life.  A baby that would suffer and die to take away the sins of the world.

A baby that came to give me joy in sorrow.

On that first Christmas night, His "tiny heart started beating for mine" so that I might be saved, so that I might have joy when times get hard, and so that I might proclaim His name through it all!

I pray that each of you are resting in "the reason for the season", today!  I pray that no matter what you've been through this year, that you can reflect on His goodness despite it all!  Because in the end, He is enough!

Merry Christmas, friends!

***

Now I'd love to have you link up your Christmas related post.

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my post. You can use the button in the side bar if you wish. 

Cans for Comments {25 Days Link Up}

I saw this wonderful fund raising idea on my friend Kera's (Nugget on a Budget) blog. I have a hard time passing up an opportunity to help others. 

So, I'm going to do a one day participation. 

What is Cans for Comments?

Cans For Comments is a fundraiser to help support our local food banks during the high-need holiday and winter season. My job as a participant is to donate specific items based on how many comments and/or new followers I receive during the event's run time (which for me will be TODAY ONLY).

Kera is co-hosting and I would encourage you to check out her Cans for Comments post where you can find the link up. Go visit all the participants' blogs and comment or follow along. It's so simple and it's for a great cause!

What am I donating?

Every 5 comments = 1 can of food

Every new follower (GFC, Twitter, or Facebook) = 1 can of food

Every person who links up to the 25 Days of Christmas = 1 can of food

Where will I donate these items?

I will donate the cans of food to my church's food bank.

If you follow, please leave a comment and let me know where you're following. I won't count it if you don't tell me. So, by following and commenting about it, you're helping out double!

I also encourage you to spread the word. If you're tweeting use hashtag #cans4comments.

So, let's do something positive with our social media interactions. Comment, follow, link up, and spread the word!

You can also link up any Christmas related post today for the 25 Days of Christmas.

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my blog in your post.

{there's a button in the sidebar}

Fun Light Displays {25 Days Link Up}

One of these days I'm going to have a house and we're going to have an awesome light display. I love these light displays set to music. They're so much fun! 

Today, I thought I'd share some fun ones with you. 

Then, you can link up your own Christmas related post. 

This link up only has ONE rule:

1. Please link back to my post.

Christmas Style

It's Christmas and I Know It

Christmas Eve TSO

Ooooo...pretty {I think the swirly tree and voice of Josh Groban hypnotized me}

Now, it's your turn:

OFA: Books {25 Days Link Up}

Well, I am officially done selling ornaments. I had to cut the selling time short for some personal reasons, but I will continue to post about adoption this week and next week {you definitely want to be back for next week}. 

I look forward to posting in January and giving you the total. I greatly appreciate everyone's support throughout this experience and I'm already planning how to make it bigger and better next year.

I will continue to keep up the Ornaments for Adoption page where you can find all the posts from the whole time.

Today, I want to tell you about 2 great adoption related books I've recently read. These would make great Christmas gifts.

The first one is called Orphanology. Lee recommended this book because one of the authors is a professor of his at the seminary.
 

This book gives a lot of stories from people who either have experience in adoption or orphan care, including personal experiences from the authors themselves.

The book gives a brief description of how God's adoption of Christians is similar to adopting children. It also gives you an idea of the state of orphans around the world. Then, the book goes on to explain why Christians should be concerned with orphan care. The last several chapters give practical advice on how individuals, families, and churches can be involved in caring for orphans.

You don't have to adopt to help the fatherless. Adoption is just one way to help. All children in need are not even necessarily adoptable. The number of orphaned children is staggering. We all need to play a part in helping them.  

I love how this book gives very practical advice. I also love the personal stories that are shared.

The next book is Adopted for Life.




I'll admit this book is a bit of a hard read. The chapters are long and it goes more into the theology of adoption. It's worth it, though. I learned so much about my own Christianity from this book. 

This author shares some of his own experience with adoption and also really delves into what it means to be adopted into God's family. He also shares how adoption and orphan care can be a great picture of the Gospel to the world.

I love Russell Moore's blunt honesty in this book. He doesn't hold back.

Now, it's your turn to link up and share your Christmas related post.
(Even if it's only slightly related like mine.)
This link up only has ONE rule:
1. Please link back to my post.
(You can use the button in the side bar if you'd like.)

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer {25 Days Link Up}

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is.....

LINKING UP TO THE 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!!!

Oh yea...there's that too.

Which brings me to one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time-

ELF!

I have already seen it several times this year because ABC Family plays it several times a day.

It's easily one of the most quotable movies ever.

 

Buddy knows the way to my heart. He had me at "eat a whole roll of tollhouse cookie dough."

 

 

Sadly, this is often what I look like when I get all my favorite junk foods.

 

Those things have always creeped me out!

 

Who's never wanted to do this? Be honest...

 

 ...or this...

What about you, do you like Elf? What's your favorite quote from the movie?

Now, it's your turn to link up your Christmas related post. If you link up, that can earn you 10 entries in this giveaway.