christmas

Christmas organizer

Christmas Organizer w/Printables Our gift to You!

Christmas Organizer w/Printables Our gift to You! 1001 971 Mona Corwin

I can almost hear the cry in the streets as women woke up this morning and realized it’s 15 days until Christmas! And then I realized I was one of them. YIKES!

Frustration and panic was starting to settle in along with the guilt and the stress. Until I shouted… “NOT THIS YEAR”! It was time for me to give myself a good talking to..and this is what I said.

1.Take a deep breath
I know this sounds trivial but really your shoulders are starting to look like they are part of your ears. We need to deep breath more is moves the blood around and lets face it your turning pale just thinking of all you have to do.

2. Take a media fast
Stay off the news or other information that will add to what’s all ready a ton of stuff in your head. Now is not the time to figure out global warming or how to set your New Years Resolution.

3. Drop the Guilt and try this
Here’s the reality you aren’t going to get everything on Pinterest done this year. So do NOT let guilt and discourgement settle in. Choose a different thought process.

Instead be a forward thinker. Create a Pinterest board right now that’s called “Next Year”. You’re going to see the best Pinterest has to offer during this time. And your friends will have stuff at their next party that you adore. DO NOT try to add them to your already long list for this Christmas. Instead add it to the Next Year List.

Pinterest isn’t a bad place. It’s a great helper. We are the ones that have to find the balance between it helping us and overwhelming ourselves.

4. Get organized with an organizer
It won’t take that much time and it will save you tones in the long run. I have used a Christmas Organizer Notebook for years and I’m telling you it is so worth it.

This year I had our amazing Balanced MomLife team member Ali Lyons create some pretty pages for me. And I want to share them with you for free. Merry Christmas Lil Mumma.

Christmas Organizer free printable download

So get a cup of coffee, print off these pages and pop them in a folder or just staple the thing together (we’re looking for effective not gorgeous right?)

I know the kids might be screaming and the dryer dinging that its done, but lil mumma you got to get those thousands of details out of your brain and on paper so you can focus. The best things in life aren’t things… but we got to get things done!

5.Everyday ask yourself these questions
*What am I grateful for today?
*What is essential today?
*What can I do if I have time?
*What can be put on the next year list?

6.Time for a reality check
Realize this is only a season. It is not a reflection on character or your ability to be a great wife and mom. It’s a holiday. It’s suppose to be happy and cheery. So drop everything at some point in each day and spend time with God, Your man and your darling kids. These are the memory makers. Quiet in front of the tree with a book or The Jesus Advent Tree. Kisses with you man after every little one is asleep. God created celebrations for us to remember. Remember all the things in life that are precious especially His Son.

I’m talking to myself today as well as you lil Mumma. I’m not going to panic when I look at the calendar countdown today and I don’t want you to panic either. Instead I’m going take that deep breath and focus and enjoy the wonders of the Christmas… after I print off my own pretty organizer sheets.

Merry Christmas Lil Mumma.

Christmas Organizer free printable download

Advent activities

Fun Advent Activities for Kids Keep Jesus Center Stage (Meredith Butler)

Fun Advent Activities for Kids Keep Jesus Center Stage (Meredith Butler) 1920 2560 Mona Corwin

Our guest blogger today is Meredith Butler. She is wife to Cory Butler, Youth Minister at Heights Baptist Church and mom to 4-year-old Liam.

Meredith is among the growing number of women who are choosing to take their job as stay-at-home mom to a professional level. She does this by creating a home environment that nourishes her marriage and her son.

Wondering what she does to keep Jesus in Christmas? We did too. So we asked her. We loved the answer so much we are sharing it with you!

Meredith’s Christmas Tradition

On December 1st I gather Liam up into my lap and read the entire Christmas story from one of the many Christmas books we own. It’s good for everyone to remember the whole story. It helps us get right to the point of wonder and awe as we focus on the real reason for the season, Jesus and his birth.

After we finish the doorbell mysteriously rings (it’s really my husband Cory hiding) As Liam and I open the door we find a package wrapped in brown paper with Liam’s name on it.

Upon opening the package Liam discovers 2 figurines, Mary and Joseph. A letter is also tucked in the box. The letter explains that Joseph and Mary need our help to get to Bethlehem and the stable that was under our tree. Jesus is about to be born and they need to hurry.

Over the next 25 days Mary & Joseph traveled all over our house.

Each morning Liam would have fun finding how far they had gone on their journey during the night.

He would start at the place where he had last seen them. There he would find only a note or a scripture (from the Advent Reading Plan link below) from them to Liam. He then would have to discover how far they had gotten during the night. When he found their new resting spot we would write them a note to encourage them on their journey.

Each night we grab our Jesus Story Book Bible and look up what Joseph and Mary had left for us to read. And so it goes for 24 days.

On Christmas Eve we refresh the Christmas story into our hearts by watching “The Very First Noel”. It is an animated Christmas movie that captures the journey of the 3 wise men on their adventures quest to find the newborn King. We all go to bed excited and expecting Jesus.

The fun is completed on Christmas morning as Liam finds Mary and Joseph under our tree and Baby JESUS has arrived! He is there in the manager. Mary and Joseph made it in time and the world will never be the same again!

What’s your family tradition? Share it with us in the comment section below.

Advent Reading Plan

http://adrielbooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/jesus-storybook-advent.pdf

“The Very First Noel” Video

 http://www.amazon.com/Very-First-Noel-Voice-Griffith/dp/B000JMKKI6

 

Jesus Advent Tree SWEEPSTAKES!!!

Jesus Advent Tree SWEEPSTAKES!!! 720 479 Mona Corwin

WIN a JESUS ADVENT TREE! This is a 25-day interactive family devotional that counts down the days til Christmas! It’s all about Jesus and the Jesus Advent Tree helps you keep HIM at the center of your table all season.

Enter here and share with a friend!

Top 4 Memory Makers that Keep Jesus in Your Family’s Christmas

Top 4 Memory Makers that Keep Jesus in Your Family’s Christmas 2256 1504 Mona Corwin

Have you said it yet? You know… “This Christmas is going to be different. This year we will NOT rush. We will not overbook, overspend or over commit. This Christmas we WILL keep Jesus at the center!” I know I say it too. Then Black Friday hits and the rush is on. The season flies…

https://momslikeus.org/top-4-memory-makers-that-keep-jesus-in-your-familys-christmas/
Mona Corwin, Creator of the MomsLikeUs Academy, Podcast and Community