Finding Joy at Christmas Time

FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS TIME

with

FAMILY & FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

I love the feeling of Christmas! I love that there is so much kindness, thoughtfulness, caring, happiness, and joy during the Christmas Holidays.

How can we experience these feelings, so we can have the best Christmas ever? It’s as simple as looking to our Counselor and Light, Jesus Christ.

Here are some simple suggestions that will help you have a joyful and Merry Christmas.

alexandramontanaro

Finding Christmas Joy with Family

Albertfotofilms

Christmas time is a wonderful time to reconnect with family, near and far. So, get out your calendars, have a family gathering, and make plans to spend time together this holiday season.

Here are some ideas:

• Have a game night. With cookies and a hot chocolate bar.

• Discover your heritage. Research where your family name came from. Talk to aunts and uncles and grandparents. Get their stories of Christmases past. Assign someone to record and write these histories so you can pass them out as Christmas gifts. Cook a dinner or bake a treat from the country where your ancestors came from.

• Pile into the car and drive around town and look at all the beautiful Christmas lights. Take a neighbor who doesn’t get out much. Get donuts afterwards.

• Go through shelves and closets and cupboards and pantries and the garage and the shed. Gather gently used items that you can part with and donate them to local shelters and food banks and charities. Canned food, pots, pans, dishes, sports equipment, clothes, toys, coats, shoes, boots.

• Watch a Christmas movie together. With popcorn and candy canes.

• Bake something to take to neighbors. Use instant mixes for cookies or brownies or muffins, to simplify and use time effectively. No one will know.

• Help an elderly neighbor. Shovel the walk, put out ice melt, set up a Christmas tree, buy groceries for them, take a meal over, put a meal in their freezer, visit with them, read to them, take them to church, bring them to your home for dinner. Anything you do will be so appreciated.

• Are your Christmas decorations piling up and taking over the whole garage? Go through them and choose some to donate to charity. If it’s time to overhaul everything, get your family involved in choosing new Christmas decorations.

• Make a craft together. Felt stockings, marshmallow snowmen, beaded ornaments, gingerbread houses, paper snowflakes. Make some to give away to friends and neighbors.

• Have a gift-wrapping party. Divide up, no peeking, and help wrap each others’ Christmas presents. Make sure you have bowls of Christmas candies for each group.

Finding Christmas Joy as a Couple

Remember to take time as a couple during the holidays. Date nights and spending time talking and reconnecting will fill the Christmas Season with good times and good memories.

Here are some suggestions for strengthening your relationship as a couple, as you enjoy the holidays:

• Be all-in for the Christmas parties you choose to go to. Be supportive of each other’s work-related, family, and neighborhood gatherings and events.

• Schedule time for a movie night. Whether it’s a Christmas movie or an old black and white or the latest action movie, watch it together. Order a pizza, make milkshakes, turn off your phones, be in the moment.

• Bundle up and go for a walk together. Through a park, a neighborhood that’s all decked out with Christmas lights, a shopping district with Christmas in full force. Buy a treat from a street vendor or a restaurant owned by a local. It’s even better if it’s raining or snowing. Enjoy the adventure!

• Do Christmas shopping together. Plan this event, so you both have fun. Have a person in mind to shop for. List some gift ideas. Keep in mind your budget. Give yourselves a time limit. And end with a reward for yourselves. A Bavarian Pretzel or a frothy orange juice. Or, go back and get those earrings you really liked, and put them in your stocking!

• Take a photo together. When’s the last time you had a picture taken together? Prom? Your wedding? Whether it’s a selfie, a photo booth, or a professional photo session, it’s probably time for a photo. And it will be something that you will treasure forever!

Finding Christmas Joy with Friends & Neighbors

Ruth Georgiev

The Christmas Season is a great time to strengthen friendships and to get to know your neighbors better.

Try some of these suggestions:

• Send lunch to a friend, or someone who needs a friend.

• Send flowers to a neighbor.

• Loan out a favorite book.

• Babysit for new parents. They will love a break from new and challenging responsibilities!

• Babysit for a family in your neighborhood. They will love a chance to get some Christmas shopping done without children tagging along.

• Read to a child. Gather some Christmas books, and let them choose the story.

Finding Christmas Joy with a Grateful Heart

Christmas time gives us a chance to pause and reflect on our lives. And to be grateful for all the blessings that we have. Christmas is what we make it. So, let’s choose to have a joyful and Merry Christmas.

Here are some ways we can make this happen for ourselves:

• Smile at others.

• Be encouraging.

• Give compliments.

• Give fist bumps.

• Say “Merry Christmas” to everyone.

• Say “Thank you.”

• Send out friendly texts.

• Spend time in devotion. Read The Christmas Story in The New Testament.

• Pray for someone in need. Be specific. Talk to Heavenly Father, listen to His answers, then act.

• Join a Christmas Choir. If there isn’t one in your town, then put one together with friends, neighbors, and the people in your community. Go sing at local hospitals, recovery centers, senior centers, care facilities, schools for the disabled.

• Join a Christmas Orchestra. If your town doesn’t have one, then gather your musical friends and play Christmas Carols together. Go perform at local charity centers and retirement centers.

• Listen to uplifting Christmas Carols.

• Ask for help. Don’t do the hard things alone. Don’t get overwhelmed. For every giver, there is a receiver. Let someone bless your life.

• Show patience.

• Hug someone.

• Say nice things about people.

• Donate time or money, or both, to a local charity.

• Forgive someone.

• Let go of a grudge.

• Simplify your schedule.

• Show love.

Jonathan Taylor

I hope this Christmas Season fills you with joy and happiness. Follow Jesus Christ, The Light of The World, and your holidays will be merry and bright!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Crafting holiday wishes,

Marilee

And His name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6