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"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace...' Goodwill towards
men." - Luke 2:13-14
Visions of Christmas in Balance
Every year, as Christmas approaches, I often get a sense of foreboding form the people around me. Although Christmas can be a cause of stress for many, I must admit that all in all it is the most amazing,
loving, and magical time of the year for me. In this fast paced world, one often
loses sight of their inner child, and the real meaning of this Holiday season. So
this year I have decided to share with you stories, poems and quotes, which may help you and your family re-kindle your Christmas
Spirit.
Everyday, I will share with you some of my favourite excerpts from the book:
The Little Book of Christmas Joys. 432
things to do for yourself and others that just might make this the best Christmas ever. Written by H. Jackson Brown Jr. Rosemary Brown & Kathy Peel. Published by Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville,
Tenn. If you are able to implement one joy everyday from here to Christmas, your
heart and visions of Christmas will be transformed for a lifetime! To order books by H. Jackson Brown Jr. clic here
- Take a basket of Christmas goodies to a notoriously
grumpy neighbor.
- Buy a pair of red flannel pyjamas that you wear
only on Christmas Eve.
- Don`t schedule yourself too tightly during the
holidays. Before making an appointment, ask yourself: "Can this wait until after the Holidays?"
- Adopt a needy family for the holidays. Let members
of your family buy a present for the person closest to their own age.
- Fill your house with the holiday fragrance of cloves,
orange peel and cinnamon sticks simmering on the kitchen stove. (I did the latter today and
the house smelled wonderful. Its a must try! Kim)
- Don't despair if you are short of cash. Be
creative. Looking back, you'll discover that the Christmases when you had the least money were the ones that left you with
the best memories.
- Tie jingle bells on your kids shoelaces.
- Watch Its a Wonderful Life, Frosty
and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- End an evening with family and close friends by
forming a circle, holding hands, and singing a favorite carol.
- Enjoy Christmas music in your home, office and
car to keep the holiday spirit.
- When you are with a child and
see a blinking red light in the sky, ask him/her, "Do you think thats Rudolf?" (trust me it works I tried
it with my kids.)
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Some of My Favorite Christmas Joys
- Take a walk on a crisp winter`s night and enjoy your neighbor`s
Christmas lights.
- Bake Christmas cookies by yourself or with the kids.
Make sure your favorite Christmas music is on. Share your cookies with teachers, crossing gards or your neighbors. Make
sure to add the recipe.
- Write your Christmas cards by candlelight, using sparkled green
and red gel pens. Add Holiday stickers to the envelopes.
- Sleep under the Christmas tree with the lights on.
- Give a fancy cup with a sachet of hot chocolate, a chocolate
spoon and some marshmellows. Wrap it for a last minute comfort gift.
If you have any of your joys you want to share send me an e-mail. It would
be my pleasure to add it here. The more, the merrier!
Almost like stopping
and smelling the roses.
Last Saturday, my husband and
went to our friends daughters art show. It was a couple of miles away from our
home, and we followed the directions that were given to us. The invitation in
my purse said 7pm, we wanted to be there on time, however, we were lost! After
seeing a young man heading for his car, we stopped at his house and inquired about the address of our destination. He kindly pointed us in the right direction, which was, to our surprise, just down the road.
Yet, instead of
feeling frustrated because we were lost, I personally enjoyed seeing this new neighbourhood.
Almost every house was lit up with the most beautiful Christmas lights I have ever seen. This is one time that I was glad that we lost our way!
Pauline Lyons Stillman, Florida,
U.S.A.
Pauline,
I noticed that getting lost
in life is most often always a gift. On our way of finding whatever we are looking
for we come across the most wonderful things.
It is how one perceives a situation
that makes the biggest difference.
Joy to you
Kim
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