Happy Friday again! This is the last Friday before Christmas. Eek! Has anyone else’s December gone by at warp speed? Since everyone is super busy, I’ll try to keep this short and sweet, as short and sweet as my long-winded self can.
ONE.
Choosing Joy.
There is a blog post brewing about this topic, but I just want to say that choosing joy is a choice you have to continually make, especially when there are so many things that can send you over the edge, especially when you’re in a busy season like we’re in right now. I’m loving this pledge that my favorite radio station, KSBJ, has started. Here’s the pledge: “I choose joy. If I lose it, I will choose it. I choose joy.” I say it all the time now. It really does make me calm and at peace. Hopefully it will help you, too!
TWO.
Instagram Highlights.
These few pictures kind of sum our week: Michael’s Christmas party was a blast, Charlotte has been turning into such a big girl, and donuts and sweets have been indulged galore. This season has already been a good one.
THREE.
Christmas Pajama Lounging.
It’s no secret we love our pajamas. And for the past two years, I have loved Crystal Faye’s monogrammed holiday ones. I even scooped up a pair for myself. This past week, we’ve been in them quite a bit. Charlotte also found her Raggedy Ann doll that she’s had since she was a baby, and I’m so glad she has a new “friend.” I had completely forgotten about that doll, but when we were playing in her room the other day, she opened her toy chest, and there she was. I think she loved her even more because they had matching pants. Charlotte loves coordinating outfits? I must be doing something right. Ha!
FOUR.
Charlotte’s First Christmas Party.
I was so excited to attend Charlotte’s first school Christmas party this week, and it was just too cute for words. Her teachers go above and beyond for her and her classmates, and we love them to pieces. Charlotte talks about school all the time, and it’s no surprise why.
These handmade gifts definitely made my heart swell. I’ve been wanting to do something with her handprint or footprint, so this MisleTOES plate was the best! I’m just not that crafty, but I sure am glad her teachers are. The candy cane she painted and the poem it came with was also a winner. Here’s what the candy cane poem says:
It’s just a little Christmas treat,
but also (did you know?)
it represents our Savior
born so long ago.
The shape is like a “J”
to symbolize His name.
The white is for His life,
holy, without blame.
And the stripe of red
is for His blood
so pure and freely given
that we might spend eternity
with our Lord in heaven!
I just love that candy cane meaning. I’ll be sharing that every year when I give Charlotte candy canes from now on.
But Charlotte dressed up as Mary in the manger? Put a fork in me, I am done. I almost cried when I saw this gift. The best.
FIVE.
The Meaning Behind the 12 Days of Christmas.
image can be purchased here
images can be purchased here
I have always loved “The 12 Days of Christmas.” I even sing it to Charlotte at night. Last year, I fell in love with Lindsay Letters’ prints of each day. She had given them as free downloads last Christmas, but this year they are for sale. I also love Jessica Garvin’s chalkboard print of the lyrics. But now these 12 Days have even more meaning to me. They symbolize something great. At the Advent by Candlelight event I went to, I found out that these 12 days had a story behind them. Each item represents something of religious significance, and each gift was designed to help young Christians learn their faith. This is what I learned:
The “partridge in a pair tree” was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God.
The “two turtle doves” were the Old and New testaments – another gift from God.
The “three French hens” were faith, hope, and love – the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).
The “four calling birds” were the four Gospels which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The “five golden rings” were the first five books of the Bible also called the “Books of Moses.”
The “six geese a laying” were the six days of creation.
The “seven swans of a swimming” were the “seven gifts of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Romans 12, Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
The “eight maids a milking” were the eight beatitudes.
The “nine ladies dancing” were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The “ten lords a leaping” were the Ten Commandments.
The “eleven pipers piping” were the eleven faithful disciples.
The “twelve drummers drumming” were the twelve points of the Apostles’ Creed.
Fun, huh? I always love when things mean just a little bit more than I originally thought.
And that’s it for today! We have Santa to meet, a Christmas dinner party to attend, and lights to see at the zoo this weekend. Have a festive, merry, and bright weekend, friend!
P.S. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ShowUsYourChristmas on Instagram. I love scrolling through and looking at everyone’s festivities. ;)
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Love your little blip about choosing Joy, it’s so true… I think a lot of times people think that joy is circumstantial and it’s not, it’s absolutely a choice, a choice I make every single day.
I love all of Charlotte’s MDO crafts! I can’t wait to put Scarlett in preschool for things like that! :) I may even take her to the pottery painting place here to do the mistletoe’s plate! So fun!
Thanks, T! It’s true. I had found myself getting really grouchy lately because of all the many things on my “to-do list” and I just had to stop myself. Check yo’ self before you wreck yourself is also my mantra. Lol. Aren’t those crafts fun? Those are the types of things I always want to do, but I’ll let the school handle it. ;) Hope you can take Scarlett! If not, I’m sure there is something crafty to do for the next holiday. Woohoo!
Loving the mantra about choosing joy, it is so hard in this busy season to feel stressed or not good enough (regarding presents) so it is so important to take some time out to realise the joys of not just the season but life.
Isn’t it great? I think I’m paraphrasing it, but you get the gist. ;) Finding joy and choosing it is what it’s all about! Happy weekend!
LOVE that choosing joy mantra. SO perfect. I was actually just telling my husband the other day that I think teachers of small children NEED to be super crafty. Like I’m pretty sure it’s a prerequisite.
Thanks, Morgan! I love it, too! And yes, thank the Lord for the crafty teachers. :) They are just too awesome. I have zero craftiness in me, which is why I taught high school. Lol. Have a great weekend!
Oh my goodness, that photo of her in the manger! What a sweetheart! And I love the joy mantra! I need that tattooed across my forehead these days.
Me too! And you know this picture will be one I’ll save forever and ever, Amen. Lol. Have a great weekend, friend!