Advent
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Ideas for an intentional and life-giving Advent 2020
Advent 2020 is almost upon us. I know many are really looking forward to Christmas this year as a way to bring joy into a hard year. I think it is more important than ever to consider how we will mark this season. This is our opportunity to set our intentions and milk all the joy and peace that is available, even if this season looks different than usual. I am re-releasing my free Advent Planner and Reflections ebook, updated with this year’s dates, to help you to plan what this season will look like for you. I have written about Advent many times before and shared many ideas and…
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Applying the “top three” approach to the holiday season
Confession time: I created a beautiful Advent planner that I’ve shared with all of you. I’ve spoken and written about getting intentional by planning for Advent and the Christmas season. I know how quickly the Christmas season hits and drowns out all good intention if you aren’t ready for it. And yet, I have still not made a plan for myself and my family for this year! Advent is only five days away now. I could choose to let overwhelm and the feeling of being behind take over. I could throw my hands in the air and succumb to the craziness of the season. OR I can take a few…
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Beating the busyness of this season with intention- free Advent planner resource
This week I shared some thoughts on how we can deal with this cycle of feeling busy every day but also feeling like we get nothing done over at the MOPS Australia blog. I find myself in that place often if I am not intentional with how I structure my days, what I focus on and what I choose to spend time on. I find this is especially true in the Christmas season. The demands on our time seem to reach a crescendo at this time of year. We are rushing here and there and yet we feel like we are always behind. The important things get lost in the…
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The longing for “with-ness” this festive season.
I sit in the stillness with the glow of Christmas lights and candles before me. The carols and fireworks still ring in my ears and in my heart. There is something about gathering with thousands of others to sing carols that marks Christmas and signals that the festive season is truly here. Gathering with family to share these moments has been a cherished annual tradition. What is it about events like this that draw such a crowd? What are we looking for? What is our heart cry at Christmas? It's more than the good music, fun activities and fireworks. We want to be with others. We want to know that…
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Pausing For Advent
Advent has officially begun for another year. In the midst of an overflowing brain and a full season, I am so thankful that I have given myself and my family the gift of simplicity. Advent is not meant to be a burden or something else to add to an already crowded to-do list. What is it about our human nature that draws us to make it that? A few days in and I already have a couple of favourite moments in my Advent days. The first is the pause in front of a lit candle. There is nothing fancy about my Advent wreath made out of bits and pieces I…
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How I will nourish my soul this Advent
It would be so easy to fill the Advent season with all the amazing holiday activities and brilliant resources available but end up missing the point entirely. Instead of feeling nourished and connected, our souls can end up being overwhelmed and wishing for it all to be over. With so many good opportunities, it can be really hard to find what is best for your soul in this particular time. What works one year may not work at all another year. I want to give you (and me) permission to keep it as simple as we need to, to say no to good things, to tweak and make any suggestions…
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One way I am savouring time with my daughter this Advent
As a parent, you have these moments of awareness of how quickly your child is growing up. Such a bittersweet mix of emotions! I am struck again by the urgent need to savour moments with this gorgeous girl. Those moments are our reminders that life is short and our priorities need to shift from the busyness and distraction we immerse ourselves into the treasure that is the fleeting time we have while our children are small. This has been top of my mind in thinking about Advent. This year feels so different and feels like it is the start of a transition into a different phase of parenting. Her interests…