You might say that I have lost my mind if I said that I have a stress free Christmas. Well, my sanity is still intact and we have had several Christmases that were stress-free in the past. I would like to tell you about the things I've learned to help reduce the stress during the Yuletide season. AFTER WAKING IN THE MORNING, READ GOD?S WORD EVERY I start by reading God's Word every day. Hearing from God & speaking to Him each day is a great boost for me and it strengthens and preps me to be the mom He wants me to be. During breakfast, we start our family devotions and begin our children's day on the right track as well. Each of my children understand that they are to read their Bible after waking. There are times that some of the kids need a little more reminding. DON?T DO EVERY ACTIVITY THAT POPS UP This seems quite evident, but it took me a decade to apply this. Actually, my marvelous husband helped me learn how to minimize the activity in our lives during the Christmas season. In the past, I wanted our kids to experience everything available during this season. What was actually happening was I began to harbor stress that would usually explode around Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. (I?m sure none of you have ever experienced this. WHICH ACTIVITIES DO I CHOOSE What works for our family is to choose 1 or 2 Christmas activities to attend outside our home. Anything else we do is done in our home. One of the best ways this reduces stress is that I am not ?persuading? my husband to attend one more Christmas activity each week. He still spends all day working to provide for our family. Consequently, he is much happier going to a few activities and enjoying our family & friends at home. Having other people in our home gives us a lot of satisfaction, so we capitalize on this. With cooking and cleaning done by the children, our work is lessened and I am not feeling stressed when our visitors arrive. ENJOY YOUR HOME I always more activities for our family than we ever have time for. In our Thanksgiving weekend I decided which activities can be postponed until next Christmas season. REMEMBER: YOU CAN?T DO EVERY THING, EVERY YEAR. I try to select activities that inspire my children to do something for others, instead of only thinking of themselves during the holiday season. One of the things we used to do is charity work by raising money for a missionary family. The kids would take orders for pumpkin bread loaves and chocolate chip cookies. After making and delivering them to their customers, they would pay me back for the ingredients and supplies used. The remaining money was their profit, which was used to buy useful gifts for a missionary family. This season we will have other kids over to bake cookies so their moms can do some Christmas shopping, uninterrupted. A Christmas card stamping party for younger kids would be a great idea for an activity. I?m still thinking it over how that will work. I have some other ideas that are included in Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Celebration Ideas. MAKE CHRISTMAS YOUR SCHOOL For those of you who homeschool, lessen some of the formal academics and enjoy these times. As we bake, shop and prepare for Christ?s birthday, we are also doing math and writing and reading with these activities. At our house, we still read aloud each morning and then work on a Christmas project. This may include handwork type crafts or other quiet projects. DO YOU FEEL STRESSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS? Take a moment right now and prioritize all the activities available to your family. Choose only 1 or 2 activities that the entire family can enjoy and pass on the rest. Being at home with your family is enjoyable. Invite another family over to roast marshmallows and mingle with them. At the center of this Christmas activity, keep your hearts tuned to Jesus Christ. Without His love for us, we would not be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Visiting a Christmas Tree Shop to buy a Christmas Tree is a family tradition in most American households. A Christmas Tree Shop will often contain a variety of cut trees. A Christmas Tree Shop is normally stocked with trees in many shapes from short and fat to tall and skinny. The shops can be run by local groups of people, greenhouses, or even larger businesses who will then service the entire area.

Christmas Tree Shops will often open up in November for those who want to do some early decorating. Other popular times that they open is the first of November, which the day after Thanksgiving, the first of December, or a few weeks before Christmas. More on Visiting a Christmas tree shop

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It's that time of year, again, and Christmas is fast approaching. For most families, the holiday season is the busiest time of the year. It's the time of year for parties and celebrations, family gatherings and school pageants, and of course, shopping and wrapping. But despite all the activity, all the running around, and all the nights with too-little sleep, it's the time of year in which many families, especially those with small children, find the most joy. By adding a little bit of safety planning to the holiday calendar, families can also make sure that Christmastime is a safe time for all. For instance, just about everyone knows by now, or should, about the precautions which must be followed, when a Christmas tree is present in the home. Artificial trees these days look totally real, and modern Christmas lights are generally cool and safe. But fire isn't the only danger to little ones, when it comes to the Christmas tree. Most children are fascinated by and drawn to the colors and shapes of the ornaments, hanging from the tree. Parents need to teach their children that ornaments are not to be grabbed and pulled, or they could pull the tree right over on top of them. Ideally, ornaments should be hung high enough to be out of childrens' reach. Some families with young children even set trees on platforms or sturdy tables, high enough to be beyond the grasp of little hands. The use of strands of light to decorate is a common holiday practice in most homes. Parents should take care to keep power strips and extra electrical cords up, off of the floor. Light strands should be turned off, except when parents can be in the same room with children, to monitor their activity. Many families love to decorate their homes with live holiday plants, during the Christmas season. But, did you know that many of the most familiar holiday plants contain substances that are poisonous, when swallowed? When little children are present, it's best to use realistic-looking artificial plants as decorations. It's never rude to ask, before attending a holiday party or family gathering, away from home, if the hosts have a house in which it's safe for children to roam, freely. If not, then parents have the choice between keeping a very short leash on their little ones, which may not be pleasant for anyone, or letting their children spend the time at a friend's house or with a babysitter, instead. In order to keep the Christmas holidays special and joyful, a little safety planning and observation can go a long way.

It has become a common practice to send friends and family an electronic card for their birthday or a holiday, including Christmas. And it is easy to see that there are numerous good reasons for doing so. The price of Christmas greeting cards and stamps have risen to a level that makes sending Christmas cards an expensive hobby. These days everybody has access to a computer, so anyone can receive a card for Christmas. The Christmas e-cards have become very sophisticated, with great animation. Something that is not possible at that level with a Christmas post card. Another advantage of the email christmas card is the fact that you do not have to worry about the timely arrival of your card at its destination. Even friends and family that live far away can receive your card practically instantaneous.

Why is it, than, that there is still a large population, that will not send email Christmas cards, even if they have no problem sending email cards during the rest of the year? It seems that tradition plays an important role here. Christmas cards, by tradition, are displayed during the holiday season and make for a very festive picture. Furthermore, if the receiver looks at your card, chances are that it will bring back memories and it will make them think of you. And this is something we all appreciate at the end of the year. It makes for the special Christmas atmosphere.

What do you think? Do you prefer a Christmas post card, or is an Christmas e-card just as good for you. Share your opinions. Fill out the comment form and let others know what you think.

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The fir tree was a Pagan symbol for winter. They had the habit of decorating the trees. 1,000 year ago, St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of Pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut the oak tree. To everyones amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. This believe was past on from generation to generation and in the 16th century the fir tree was brought into the home at Christmas time and decorated. The Christmas tree tradition has begon.

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The holiday season always seems like a whirlwind of shopping, parties, pageants, and family gatherings, a month or two of furious, but joyful, activity, leading up to Christmas and the New Year celebration. By the time it's all over, most of us need a breather, a bit of time to relax and reflect and renew. No matter how wonderful the holidays have been, by January many families experience a kind of celebration withdrawal. Most of us naturally miss the lights and the music and the fellowship of the holiday season, and the gray winter days of the next few months just seem to emphasize the fact that the wonderful feelings of Christmas are over, for nearly another year. But the feelings generated by the season leading to Christmas need not vanish completely, for the calendar, beyond December. Though Santa Claus's visit is the high point of the holiday season for families with children, there are many other aspects of these days that can be kept fresh and alive, throughout the year. Those donations of clothes and toys and food we worked so hard to make during the holiday season can, and should, be repeated throughout the rest of the year. Most charities, which take in the bulk of their donations just before Christmas, find themselves scrambling to meet their goals during the rest of the winter. Many families find that the new toys of Christmas have replaced old favorites, in their childrens' hearts, and are able to gather last year's toys and drop them at their local donation centers. Kids grow out of their clothing so fast that most families have boxes full of gently-worn clothes, which are perfect for donation. The preparation and delivery of donated goods can be an all-day family project, capped by a movie or a trip to the pizza parlor, to celebrate making someone else's days a bit more special. Besides donation, volunteering together can be a rewarding way for a family to liven up the winter, after Christmas. Families who find themselves longing for the feelings that permeate their lives during the holidays can rekindle that spirit, year-round. Working together to make others' lives a little better isn't just a generous exercise, it's also a wonderful way for a family to keep Christmas alive. The calendar shouldn't be the only way to measure the spirit of Christmas.

When most parents face the holiday season, they imagine themselves busily shopping, cooking, cleaning for guest visits, and of course, doing whatever is necessary to make their childrens' Christmas special. Adults are so used to being busy and stressed, during the holidays, that they forget that their kids may want to be a part of all the preparations, too. But even as they plan their strategy for surviving the busiest time of year, most parents forget to actively include their children in the preparations that make the holiday events what they are. Kids want to be contributing family members, and help out, in whatever ways they can. Parents need to remember to include their children in all aspects of their holiday activities. Christmas shopping is one activity parents often try to avoid with children, especially young children. Too much frenzy, too much traffic, too many people. But kids can learn valuable lessons by Christmas shopping with their parents. Like, the fact that we often help Santa Claus, by giving gifts to other family members. Kids can learn, during Christmas shopping trips, the relationship between giving and loving, especially among family members. By observing Mom or Dad, as they shop for the family, children can discover the joy of finding gifts with real meaning, gifts that will make a statement about love. Then, having learned that lesson, when a child has spent time and effort considering and choosing the perfect gifts for Mom and Dad, there's even more to look forward to on Christmas morning, than what Santa left under the tree. Kids can be a great help, during the holidays, when it's time to decorate the family home. They love the sights and the smells and the dazzling displays that all the decorations can provide. And children love to place their own stamp on the decorations and make some of the decorating decisions, whether it's choosing where to hang a strand of lights, or making paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling. Children need to feel the sense of family closeness and belonging that's part of the magic of Christmas. Participating, with the family, in the activities of the holiday season, even the preparation for those activities, enhances every child's enjoyment of this special time of year.

According to legend, Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

A beautiful festive occasion, filled with fun and fervor, Christmas is that time of the year, which perhaps all of us await with eagerness. Amongst others, the onset of the festive season is marked by a huge rush for the long-awaited Christmas shopping.

Shopping for Christmas might include buying new stuff for the house, clothes for children or yourself or just buying that ideal Christmas gift  personalized for your loved ones.

The Right Gift!

There are a plenty of things you need to keep in mind when choosing a Christmas gift for your loved ones. The most important thing you should know is the personal tastes and choices of those you wish to gift. You can even think of something, which they might have wanted to buy for long, but just did not for whatever reason.

A Christmas gift for a loved one can also be something that you have made personally at home. You could bake a tray of cookies or make a nice decorative Christmas cake for the children. Such a personalized Christmas gift surely has its own charm.

A Christmas gift can also be something that can be kept as a memento of the occasion. Something like a handkerchief with the date and year embroidered on it will make a good Christmas gift for your fiancée or partner.

In addition, a Christmas gift for elders should be something that they will be able to use in their daily lives. This could include a sturdy and smart walking stick, a good book or even a pack of their favorite homemade goodies, which they will surely relish.

Get the Gift!

Once you have made a clear list of what you want for each of your friends, relatives and others, its time to select the source of the gifts. There are special stores and outlets that deal with Christmas gifts man like, Christmas gift kids like and naturally Christmas gifts women like. You can simply walk-in and purchase these gifts off-the self. As an alternative, many of these stores also get you a made-to-order Christmas gift, which you can order as per your personal requirements.

Besides, nowadays there are a plenty of websites on the internet that deal with such specialized Christmas gifts and baskets. There are online stores that provide special hampers and packages, which you can order right from your computer.

Lastly, one of the most important things to ensure is that you package the Christmas gift nicely. You can avail of professional services that deal with this. Otherwise, you can also do the packaging at home using decorative theme-based baskets, wrapping papers, ribbons and bows.

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There are many different Christmas recipes that you can use at Christmas time. For most people who celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is characterized by gathering of family and friends, feasting and giving gifts to each other. Christmas would be incomplete without the mention of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas cakes, cookies, puddings, other Christmas goodies and cards.

 Christmas recipe planning should be done with the precision and advance preparation of a military operation, so that the cook will enjoy it too. All the extra items that are needed for any Christmas recipes should be thought of well ahead of time. It is a good idea that you sit down and choose your Christmas recipes for the cake, puddings and meat, and then list all the ingredients that you will need for each of them. A good plan would be to start doing this in November.

At the beginning of December, decide on what meat you are going to buy and find out how much it will cost-at least this way you’ve made a start. Whether you are eating turkey or ham, any Christmas recipes just wouldn’t be complete without all the trimmings.

Whether the Christmas recipes are designed to be eaten formally at the table or buffet style-try to focus on foods such as roasts or casseroles. These may take a while to cook, but won’t need your constant attention in the kitchen. Whoever does the Christmas catering must also be able to enjoy themselves with everyone else, without having to spend too much time in the kitchen.

Buffets are a great way to manage feeding a crowd. Get as much done with your Christmas recipes as you can the day before-focus on foods that can be eaten at room temperature. It will save you a lot of time and work. Cover the food and remove it just before people go up to eat. When your guests walk through the door on Christmas day let the smells of all those Christmas recipes hit them. Keep a pot of mulled apple cider on the stove so the first thing that you can smell is a delightful mixture of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

Make extra large batches of items like spiced nuts, salad dressing or gingerbread in advance. The Christmas cake and most puddings should be made a month beforehand. If you’re not sure what to give them for dessert-solve the dilemma by asking your guests to bring a batch of their favorite Christmas deserts. Your guests can then show off their best Christmas recipes and everyone will enjoy the variety.

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