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simplify the season

0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Emmanuel Grapevine Wreath Ornament

This impressionistic ornament helps us remember that God came to be with us as Emmanuel. You may want to supervise your children when they make this ornament, as it does use hot glue or tacky glue.   Emmanuel Grapevine Wreath Ornament SUPPLIES: Small grapevine wreath (available at Michaels and Hobby Lobby) White felt, cut to approximately 5 inches by 2 inches Hot glue or tacky glue Wood bead Yellow chenille stem, cut to approximately 3 inches White craft foam, cut…

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0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Cinnamon Stick Cross Craft

This simple craft reminds us of the true reason for the season and makes a lovely Christmas ornament that kids can easily make using cinnamon sticks and wired garland.   Cinnamon Stick Cross Ornament Craft:   SUPPLIES: 2 cinnamon sticks Wired gold garland (available at Dollar Tree) Wooden gold star (available at Hobby Lobby) Glue Ornament hook INSTRUCTIONS: Place the two cinnamon sticks in a cross pattern and wind the garland around the cinnamon sticks in a figure-8 pattern to…

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1 In Christmas - Simplify The Season/ Homemaking/ Motherhood

Simple Crafts to Entertain Children During The Holidays

It is hard to believe that the Christmas season is here already. The older I get, the faster the months go by! Although to be fair, I did just have my 7th baby in November, so that month was a blur! We are just starting to get back into a routine now, but it is still slow going. I am soaking up all the baby snuggles I can get! With the holiday season here already, many people are feeling the…

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0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Simplify The Holiday Season

It is hard to believe, but our Simplify The Season Holiday Party has come to an end! Is it just me or did November fly by? November was a hectic month for me and my family. We moved at the beginning of the month and I had our 7th baby in the middle of the month. These posts in our Holiday Party truly blessed me during a trying season in my life! I have a feeling I will be going…

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0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Simple Tips To Make The Most Of Your Baby’s First Christmas

Christmas is a magical time of the year, and a baby’s first Christmas makes the season even more special. Instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, use these tips to be intentional, simplify, and truly enjoy your baby’s first Christmas.   Don’t overschedule   Parties, programs, and friends are all vying for your attention during the Christmas season. But listen to me closely: it’s okay to say no.   There will be things that…

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0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Our Family Tradition For a No-Cook Christmas

It’s 5 a.m.  on Christmas morning and your little cherubs come racing into your bedroom, their tiny faces full of excitement. They jump into bed, and in the loudest whisper they can muster say “Mommy… wake up, Mommy! It’s Christmas, Mommy! Can we go open presents, Mommy? Mommy, are you awake Mommy?” If you’re lucky, this only happens to you a couple times a year. If you’re like me, though, this is your morning… every morning. Lol, but hey, it’s…

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5 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

How To Celebrate Christmas During Tough Times

  As someone who finds Christmas as the only redeemable aspect of the awful season of winter, I am honestly anticipating the most wonderful time of the year with a little bit of backseat dread in my heart. For the past 5 months, my family has been living out of boxes in our home.  Back in April, we had a soot puffback in our house from our oil burner.  As a result, we had to pack up and empty out…

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1 In Uncategorized

My Favorite Christmas Eve Tradition

My husband and I both grew up in families that had the tradition of re-enacting the nativity on Christmas Eve. This has become a treasured memory for both of us, and we look forward to it every year.  As we have attended these devotionals over the years, I have noticed some things that have made these re-enactments more meaningful.   A Script. We usually read directly from the Bible, and I’ve found that the most engaging re-enactments happened when everyone…

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0 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Simple Touches To Invoke The Magic Of The Holidays

  “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” — Hamilton Wright Mabie   The holidays can be a stressful time for any of us. We want to make it as special as possible for our loved ones and sometimes we run ourselves ragged doing so. It doesn’t help that media tends to overwhelm us with images of a “perfect” holiday – happy families, lush houses dripping with a richness of decorations, expensive gifts.…

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1 In Christmas - Simplify The Season

Drop the Expectations this Holiday Season and Treasure the Reason for the Season

On Thanksgiving we sit around a table with family and friends, eat way too much delicious food, and think about all the blessings in our lives. It’s honestly one of my favorite holidays, because we slow down enough to truly enjoy what’s around us, to recognize all the good things in our lives. And then we wake up the next day, in a Christmas-minded frenzy that continues until December 25th. Black Friday shopping sales. Perfecting cookie recipes for that upcoming…

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