Giving: A New Kind of Shopping Spree
One of the feelings I hate is what I’ll call the after-Christmas glut. It’s a little like that feeling you can get after a Thanksgiving feast: I…
Epic Fail: No Christmas Traditions
Back in November I was at a social gathering for women and each person was asked to share their family Christmas traditions with the group. Thankfully…
Noel Piper and Treasuring God in our Traditions
Okay, I admit it I’m a John Piper groupie. Love everything he writes, says, thinks. I’ve been like this since I discovered Desiring God. (Was…
Thanksgiving Memories (a.k.a. Dinner’s Ready When the Fire Alarm Goes Off)
Before autism turned our world upside down, we did a fair share of entertaining. I loved filling our house with people and feeding them. The…
Relieve Holiday Stress Before it Arrives
Just the other day I was chatting with some friends, primarily mothers of young children. They were already feeling anxious about the holiday events now…
No More Christmases at Home
When we got married I looked forward to starting new traditions and continuing many from my childhood. Certain cookies, a particular style of stockings, and always…
Pregnant at Christmas!
If your belly is lookinglike a bowl full of jelly, welcome to the “Pregnant at Christmas” club, where most of us are shaped a little…
Mother Bear Attends Holiday Gathering
It takes a special person to invite a family with an autistic child to her house, especially when the function will take place indoors. And…
Avoiding Debt this Christmas
Spending at Christmas can get out of control quickly. I’ve never kept track of everything I spend, but I’m sure I’d faint if I tallied…
What Really Happened to Our Family this Thanksgiving
There is a proverb that says, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” This year my plans did not happen as I’d…