Tag: Christmas

Nov 21, 2033

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

December! I absolutely love Christmas. The twinkling lights and festive decorations bring so much joy. It’s a time to reflect on the incredible act of God sending His only son to Earth to save mankind. Christmas, for me, is a season of hope and love.

The Christmas Appeal Book Review

I recently finished reading “The Christmas Appeal” by Janice Hallett over the weekend, having received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for a book review.

This marked my first experience with Janice Hallett’s work, and I am eager to explore more of her writing.

“The Christmas Appeal” is a novella and serves as the sequel to “The Appeal.”

For those seeking a unique and easy read, “The Christmas Appeal” might be just what you’re looking for—it’s not your typical Christmas story.

Upon commencing this novella, the narrative positions you as a reader in the role of a paralegal, meticulously reviewing all the documents related to the case.

Initially, I found this approach confusing, as most novels and novellas do not adopt such a style. However, once I became accustomed to the setup, I thoroughly enjoyed the novella.

The unconventional setup threw me for a loop initially. As a reader, I am accustomed to the traditional narration structure, and this novella deviates significantly from that. A heads-up about this unique approach would have been appreciated. Nevertheless, once I adapted to the structure, I appreciated the characters, dialogue, and the immersive experience of pretending to be a paralegal while reading.

This was a fun and entertaining read, and I enjoyed the mystery trying to figure out who killed Santa and why. I loved searching for the clues, and the conflict between the characters and their motivations that kept me engaged.

I highly recommend reading ‘The Christmas Appeal,’ especially for readers who love mysteries. You’re in for an enjoyable time deciphering the clues and attempting to unravel the mystery of who killed Santa.

“The Christmas Appeal” is available in e-book, audiobook, and hardback formats.

Early Christmas Decorations: A Personal Perspective on the Great Holiday Debate

Towards the end of October and the beginning of November, a great debate returns to Facebook: when is the proper time to decorate for Christmas?

In the United States, we have three major holidays on our calendars:

October: Halloween

November: Thanksgiving

December: Christmas

Traditionally, people would wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. However, over the last few decades, our schedules have become busier, and it often feels like Christmas arrives in the blink of an eye right after Thanksgiving.

I decorate early because I love Christmas lights, and when Daylight Saving Time ends, it gets dark by 5 pm. In late autumn, some days lack sunshine. My schedule can be hectic and busy, and dealing with my health can be unpredictable. For me, it’s best to have my decorations up so I can enjoy them.

One common argument I hear is that one can’t be thankful with Christmas decorations up, but that’s not necessarily true. I love Christmas. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that November is a time to count my blessings and be thankful for what the Lord has given me out of His love and mercy.

As Thanksgiving approaches, and I reflect on God’s goodness by taking time to count my blessings, it prepares my heart, soul, and spirit for Christmas. Having my Christmas decorations serves as a reminder that the hope of my salvation was given to me at the cross.

 

 

When do decorate for Christmas? Let me know in the comments.

 

 

 

Prompt’s August 27, 2023

What’s your favorite recipe?

If you guess it? You are correct chocolate chip cookies!

I love to make cookies during the Christmas time. It was and still is my family’s tradition.

As a child, I would leave homemade chocolate chip cookies that my mother made for Santa. Then later my dad would eat the cookies! 😂 after I went to bed.

When I make cookies it takes me back to my childhood and now, I create new memories by sharing my cookies with friends and family. It’s not Christmas until my cookies are made.

Dec 19, 2022

My goal is to enjoy Christmas and not get stressed out from the chaos of clutter. That is my plan.

Christmas Chaos…

My goal is to enjoy Christmas and not get stressed out from the chaos of clutter. That is my plan.

Christmas chaos is all the stress from extra activities that can produce chaos. Falling behind in routines and having clutter to build very quickly in hot zones, this time of year that can be overwhelming.

This time of year there are a lot more activities, like people getting together, holiday parties, and other events I find that create Christmas chaos. For me, it’s procrastinating on chores I need to get done to keep my home clean and organized.

This year I’m trying something new, I am prioritizing the kitchen by keeping it clean and free of clutter to the best of my ability. So I’m making sure the hot zones like the kitchen table don’t have massive clutter buildup of junk mail and bills. And the other items that need to be put back in their designated place.

My task on my list is keeping up with the dishes. I don’t want a huge pile of dirty dishes on Christmas Eve to wash. So it is my main priority this week is to keep my dirty dishes from piling up.

What are you doing to avoid the Christmas Chaos this year?

I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment below,

Merry Christmas!