Only 27 Shopping Days Until Christmas!

I received an email from Northwestern Christian Bookstore announcing to me that there are only 27 shopping days until Christmas. Every other year, I would be FREAKING out right now and wondering which way was up. Thankfully we have simplified the holidays quite a bit in several different ways. First, I pick up presents throughout the year so I am not having to do everything in December. Second, I do not pressure myself to send out a Christmas card to every single person I have in my address book. While ideally I would like to get a Christmas letter out, I don't pressure myself to do it. Sometimes we send out a New Year's letter. :-) It isn't so much about the timing, but just communicated our love with everyone. Third, I DO NOT feel guilty if I do not make any Christmas goodies. There are always plenty at get togethers or there are always store bought ones!!! Fourth, if I do make Christmas goodies, I plan for what I can handle. Do I want a HUGE mess and a lot of time commitment, or do I want quick and simple with minimal clean-up involved. Finally, the biggest thing that has helped me with the holidays this year is FlyLady. For more information, please visit her website at www.flylady.net.

With only 27 shopping days left until Christmas, let me remind you that I can help with your gift giving needs. I love putting together gift baskets. We can make a themed gift basket (coffee, chocolate, beauty, you name it, I can probably do it). I can put together gift baskets with or without Mary Kay goodies inside. Call me 763-565-0606 or email me at gulland@wh-link.net to discuss further. I love forward to being of service this holiday season and helping to bring a smile to your loved ones face!

Picture-Perfect Holiday

While David was enjoying an episode of Tom & Jerry this morning on the WB, I was reading the December 2006 issue of the Focus on the Family magazine we receive. If you want to receive one, visit www.family.org. There were four articles that really resonated with me. One of them talked about whether or not our joy during the holidays was dependent on a picture-perfect holiday. I don't know about you, but I grew up as a perfectionist. Over the years, God has given me freedom in this area of my life. While the ugly perfectionist tries to rear its ugly head at times, I have learned how to let go and simply enjoy my everyday life (to quote Joyce Meyer).

Our focus this Christmas season should be on the reason for the season which is Jesus. You may not have the finances to purchase everyone the gifts you would like to or you have been very busy with work, so you claim you do not have much Christmas spirit. However, what we need to do is focus on Jesus. Jesus came to give us peace, joy, and eternal life. Jesus has many names. Some of them come from Isaiah 9:6 Amplified Bible, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace."

The role that Jesus plays in our lives is something to be thankful about. Christmas is not about how many gifts you receive or give, how beautiful your house is decorated, how many Christmas cards you sent out, or making all the wonderful Christmas cookies. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior. We need to slow down and appreciate the season and what God has done for us.

I don't know about you, but without God I would be miserable. The last week Ed, David, and I realized how much the Lord has blessed us. We may not live in the biggest house on the block, but we have a roof over our heads. We may not be eating steak and seafood every night for dinner, but we have more than enough food that we can eat until we are full and even have friends over. We may not have the most expensive car on the lot, but we have a car we love and one that gets us where we need to go. We have family and friends whom we love very much and get to see quite often. God has abundantly provided for us in our lives on a daily basis!!!

This year I encourage you to get your eyes off the materialistic aspect that has taken over Christmas in the United States and focus on the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, either email me at gulland@wh-link.net for more information or visit www.freshmanna.org.