Double Sided Tradition- How to Have a Merry Christmas When Your Child Has Food Allergies

guest

Christmas is work.  It is stress.  We usually take the whole month of December off in our homeschool just so I can handle the shopping, wrapping, decorating, and most of all: the baking.  My family’s favorites: Norwegian lefse, mocha truffles, peppermint bark, and sugar cookies delicately frosted with fine tips to resemble snowflakes.  We combat the stress by blasting loud Christmas music while we do it all.

This is the year is different.  It’s the first Christmas since we became aware of my 10 year old’s food issues connected with his auto-immune disease.

A Mom's Advent Pause

Kara Chupp

By the time you read this, December will be a reality.  And some of you will have presents wrapped, decorations up, and sugar cookies in the freezer.  Others of you will still have pumpkins and an inflatable turkey on your front porch.  Regardless, the official season of Advent will have already started because it starts in November this year, which always catches me a little off guard. 

I fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. 

When Christmas is Hard

Jennifer Deibel

"I'll be home for Christmas...you can count on me..."

The first line of the familiar tune wasn't even finished and the tears had sprung, unbidden. I reached over and pushed the skip button.

I just can't. Not today.

After years of pining to have a Christmas in America with family, we were finally here and able to do just that. So why was it still so hard?

Breathing Hope into the Heart of Your Child at Christmas

Breathing Hope into the Heart of Your Child at Christmas

Sally Clarkson

Lighting 5 candles, turning the lights low, switching the gas logs on high and bringing a tray of mugs overflowing with hot  chocolate and whip cream all came together in about 5 minutes. The last touch was the familiar Celtic Christmas album that  hummed gently through the room to bring the familiar comfort of a well-loved cd.

My young daughter had just experienced a devastating tragedy that had made her innocent heart fearful—a fatal shooting at our church during the Christmas season a few years ago had wrought  terror in our hearts. 

Motherhood, A Life-Long Labor of Love

Angie Tolpin

Just a few short months ago I was reflecting on the fact that I don’t have much time left with my oldest child, because you see, she is 15 years old. And now here I sit 39 weeks pregnant with our seventh.

Many might assume that since I have been through this journey of pregnancy and childbirth a few times that I would have it “down” by now. But truth be told, just as every pregnancy and birth is different, so is every child.

5 Ways to Thrive When the Holidays Feel Overwhelming

Rachel Wojo

She asked you to bring a dessert and you can’t forget to pick up another pack of Christmas cards. Where in the world are the extra rolls of tape and why didn’t Susie let you know she needed a shepherd’s costume before dress rehearsal day?

Celebrating the holidays is wonderful and meant to be enjoyed. But sometimes the swirl of activities and schedule demands make it anything but enjoyable. If you feel overwhelmed throughout the holiday season, today I’m sharing 5 ways to thrive when the holidays feel overwhelming.

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