Photo credit robyn michelle-lee lifestyle photography

There's a change coming. It's been coming for a long time and I'm sorry that it's taken me so long.

I need to apologize to you all. For the past two years, I have been a member of the BlogHer ad network. I need to state right away that there is nothing wrong with BlogHer or with any other blogger who is a member of their network. Not in the slightest. They're fantastic ladies, a great ad network and I found them wonderful to work with.

The problem is with me.

I knew that 90% of the ads didn't really sit right with me. Yes, I opted out of some of the ones that were particularly not something that I wanted on my blog. But I also let a lot of other ads run anyways, even though they were something that I would never buy myself and would not actually want to promote.

Funny thing is, allowing the ads to be up on my site is pretty much condoning them, isn't it? Ouch.

I've known for a long time that I needed to leave the ad network and branch out on my own. Truth is, I was scared to. It takes a lot of hard work to run your own ads, and there is a significantly greater degree of risk involved.

This past month, however, God really convicted me that what I was doing was absolutely not serving my readership and was undermining the integrity of my blog and the topics and products that I share about.

Remember, stewardship applies to all areas of life and that would include the way that I am stewarding the awesome privelege of writing this blog and sharing the things that I am learning with so many other women. It is a great responsibility and in this area, I have not been faithful.

Can I just say that I'm sorry? Sorry for not putting my responsibility to be honest and integral with my readers above my desire to keep bringing in a reliable source of income. Sorry for exposing you to ads for things that I would never personally recommend to you.

All that is changing on March 1st. I am now running entirely private ads. The only things that you will see on my site from now on are either paid ads that I have personally chosen to run, or affiliate ads and links for companies that I believe in and would buy from (or do buy from) myself.

My criteria for accepting advertisements will now be for companies and products that fit well within the parameters of what my blog is about: natural and sustainable living products, real/traditional foods, books on Christian living or real food or natural living, small family-run businesses, homemaking helps, etc.

I am so excited to kick my first month off with advertisers like:

• ListPlanIt (fabulous organization pages that I use all the time)
• HopeInk Scripture Art (encouraging and inspirational and hanging in my own home)
• Moukisac (a 6-in-1 reusable bag system that I have and love!)
• It Starts at Home (a new book from Moody Publishers, intended to help parents learn to disciple their children)
• Vintage Remedies (the fabulous reference book on herbs and natural remedies that I recently reviewed)
• Your ad here (only one left- do you want it? Email me at stephanie (at) keeperofthehome (dot) org)

That's much more like it, isn't it? Phew... I feel so relieved.

The wonderful bonus? I have already seen God's hand of blessing as I've made this move, confirming that it was indeed the right thing to do. He is so full of abounding grace and kindness.

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support of this little corner of the blogosphere. You make it so worthwhile.

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Q&A: Blogging and Balancing Time | Keeper of the Home
• It’s Planting Time! | Keeper of the Home
• Living Simple Saturdays- First time, all the time | Keeper of the Home
• It’s time for another Bloggy Giveaway! | Keeper of the Home

Reflection on a Difficult Year

Reflections on a Difficult Year, Part 2 (focusing on the body of Christ and how it functions)

Reflection on a Difficult Year- Practically Serving Those in Need

Any of your own reflections to add on walking through your own particular difficult seasons of life?

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Family Update | Keeper of the Home
• A change of plans | Keeper of the Home
• Quick Update | Keeper of the Home
• A Grander Vision | Keeper of the Home

I wish that I had a wonderful update for you all, letting you know that the doctors know what is wrong and things are looking promising, but it's just not true. Every test so far has come back absolutely normal, and as our kind doctor said this afternoon, all that he has right now is question marks. Same goes for Ryan and I. Diagnosis, though difficult, can sometimes be easier than the not knowing or having no answers as to what will bring healing.

Today was also difficult in other regards. Around noon, we listened in disbelief and sorrow as one of Ryan's hospital roommates went into a code blue. His heart stopped, and he was not resuscitated, as his suffering was so great at the end of a long battle with lung cancer. We heard his adult children and his wife weeping openly, and then recite Psalm 23 as a family... "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures... Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...". It broke my heart.

It seems that illness and death are all around us. Last night while watching a video with our children in the hospital lobby we saw friends from an old church, and discovered that he, too, was in a battle with cancer. My husband's father's wife who lives far away from us is currently in her own battle with terminal brain cancer and is literally hanging on by a thread the last several days.

Life is fragile. We are like the grass the grows and then withers and will one day be gone.

And yet, we have so much hope.

God, in His absolute goodness, has already met our greatest need by saving us from His much-deserved wrath and instead flooding our lives with incredible grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. We have never been promised lives of ease, free of pain or sadness or loss. We are broken people, living in a broken world. Yes, God can absolutely heal, and yes, I believe that He is more powerful than we can even imagine. I don't doubt His ability to do great and gracious things among us during our earthly lives, and yet that is not what I hold out hope for. I've said it before and I'll say it again... our hope is not in physical healing, in perfect health, in happiness here on earth.

Our hope is in what's to come. In the One who saves and whose face we will one day gaze upon, most likely with wonder that we ever doubted His goodness at all.

Are you certain today of the hope that you have and your standing before this God, who though He is merciful is also pure and incapable of allowing the wretchedness of our sinfulness into His presence? If you are, praise Him. Rejoice in what He has done for you and remember once again how fleeting our earthly lives are and how eternal He is.

If you're not sure, I beg with you to visit this site and learn more about the 2 ways that we can choose to live our lives.

Our family would appreciate your prayers throughout this week. For my husband's healing, and particularly for wisdom for the doctors, and for tests and specialists to come through quickly. For our children, to be surrounded by the comfort and peace that only the Holy Spirit can bring. For their mommy, to continue trusting in the Lord and in His goodness, in ALL circumstances and ALL outcomes, as well as simply for strength and energy to continue to take care of all that needs to be done. And especially that we would all look to Jesus through this trial, without fear or anxiety, and bring glory to His name in the midst of it.

I will try to keep you all updated, if not through my blog, then through twitter (@keeperhome).

Thank you, my friends, for the support and prayers I know you always give. I may not know you in real life, but your kindness still touches my heart and your prayers affect my life.

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Family Update | Keeper of the Home
• A change of plans | Keeper of the Home
• Seasons of Difficulty | Keeper of the Home
• Hope in His Goodness | Keeper of the Home

I found this year to be one of our most meaningful Christmas seasons so far. It has been such a blessing to begin implementing even a few new things into the way that we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Here are some of the things that we did this year:

• Daily Advent devotions through the month of December (we learned about the many names of Jesus)
• Made a "Names of Jesus" Garland with Abbie and Caden
• Made shortbread cookies cut into shapes and symbols that remind of us the significance of Christmas-wreaths (symbols of God's everlasting love), hearts, a little boy (Jesus, who came to earth), stars (like the star over Bethlehem, and also to symbolize Jesus, the bright and morning Star), and the cross (because ultimately that's why He came to earth at all)
• Made star ornaments for the tree, because Abbie particularly liked learning about how Jesus was the bright and morning Star.
• Supported and watched Daddy take part in a beautiful Christmas performance at our church, focusing on the meaning of Christmas, from the manger to the cross.
• Participated in putting together for a Christmas hamper for needy families in the community
• Did a nativity version of an Advent calendar- one new fridge magnet each day (a stable, Mary and Joseph, wise men, sheep, etc.) until Jesus arrives on Christmas day!
• Watched the movie, The Nativity Story, as a family for the second year in a row on Christmas Eve. Our new tradition.
• Gathered on Mommy and Daddy's bed on Christmas morning to pray and thank God for sending Jesus, before opening our stockings together.
• Ate a wonderful breakfast and then Daddy read the Christmas story out loud, before we gathered around the tree to open presents (keeping Jesus first, and presents secondary!)
• Will be celebrating Epiphany tomorrow, Jan. 6th...

Epiphany and the 12 Nights of Christmas

One thing that I learned this year is that the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (you know the one... a partridge in a pear tree) is actually referring to the 12 days from the day after Christmas up until January 6th, a holiday known as Epiphany. Epiphany literally means "manifestation" and is a celebration of the fact that God became man and manifested Himself on earth in the form of Jesus, His son.

In the book Celebrate with Joy, Sondra (the author) includes an entire chapter with ideas for celebrating these 12 nights of Christmas. Each night include a Christmas carol to sing, along with activities and a devotion to go along with that carol. She also suggests that this can be an excellent opportunity to complete any Advent activities, special trips or events, gifts to give or ways to serve others, etc. that you had hoped to do before Christmas but were unable to get to.

I felt that this year, I couldn't completely jump in and actually celebrate these 12 nights. Our family really needed some time to just rest, and that meant that Mommy couldn't be working to pull together any more activities, events or devotionals! Instead, I have opted to do something only for the actual day of Epiphany, as a way of starting out small this year. In the book, there is a focus on the wise men during these 12 nights and on their gifts to the Lord. So tomorrow we will take Sondra's suggestions of learning about what each of the gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) symbolize, and I will be putting on a treasure hunt for the children, using various decorations, coins, etc. that will look like "treasures" in my little kiddies eyes. After we've found the hidden treasures, we will do a devotional on giving all of our treasure to Jesus!

Some Reflections on Transforming our Family's Celebrations

To be honest, there was more that I had hoped to do. Even what we did still felt a bit minimal over the course of 5 weeks. It's hard to find the time to pull it all together with 3 young children and a busy husband. A few times I felt frustrated that I wasn't doing more or doing all that I had wanted to, but I finally had to rest in what I was able to do and let it be enough.

It takes time and effort to begin to implement these wonderful ideas and traditions in our Christmas celebrations. Though I was keen to do as much as I could, I had to recognize my limitations and accept the season that I am in... a season where each small child needs me so very much, in many different ways, and sometimes Mommy gets stretched too thin because all of the everyday stuff, so that adding in "extras" can be very challenging. I have decided that I need to trust the Lord to help me do what I am reasonably able to do, offering it up to Him as a feeble but hopefully precious gift in His eyes, as we all learn to honor Jesus more and more in our holiday traditions. I pray that He will grant us the ability to continue to build on what has been begun. I trust that He is faithful to reward our acts of obedience, no matter how small, as we learn to transform our celebrations to become more God-glorifying and I believe that over the years we will see the fruit of that obedience!

Preparing for Next Year

Personally, I didn't begin my Advent and Christmas preparations early enough this year. Not until basically the end of November, which is right when we needed to be beginning. Knowing this now in hindsight, I will be prepared to put some effort into my preparations in early November instead, because having a plan will help to ensure that my list of hope-to-do's actually turns into reality!

I spoke with Sondra about it a little while ago, and she said that she thinks January is actually the perfect time to begin thinking about next year. Perhaps this year didn't go the way that you hoped it would, or you were quite disappointed by the Christmas season and its lack of meaning, its busyness, etc. Or maybe this year was a more special year that drew your family closer to the Lord as you began to focus your celebrations and traditions more on Him, and you've been inspired to add even more meaning to next year's holiday season. Either way, now is the time to begin thinking and preparing for next year, while it's still fresh in our minds and hearts.

This is the last opportunity to purchase Celebrate with Joy from Keeper of the Home. It is available for $24.95 US (including shipping) and you can read more about the contents of the book in this previous post.

As well, Sondra has a number of copies that have become slightly damaged in storage, that she is willing to sell at a discount. The types of damage include small scratches or scuffs to the cover, slightly damaged corners, etc. They are completely readable and usable, just not in perfect selling condition any longer. These books are being sold for $19.95 US including shipping.

(Use this button for discounted copies, and the button above for regular condition copies)

As the holiday season winds down, what are your reflections on how it went? What new traditions did your family add? What added special meaning and purpose to your celebrations? What would you like to change for next year?

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Celebrate with Joy: Week 1 | Keeper of the Home
• Simply Celebrating Christmas! | Keeper of the Home
• Christmas Traditions- the Jesse Tree | Keeper of the Home
• Happy New Year (and it’s great to be blogging again)! | Keeper of the Home

It's easy to complain about what we don't have isn't it?

I often find that in the fall and winter, as the stores are absolutely bursting at the seams with all sorts of gifts and goodies for eager Christmas shoppers, I notice a whole lot of things that I think I need. Suddenly my wardrobe seems more lacking than it did before, my home decor more sparse, my kitchen needing a few more additions, and on and on.

Discontentment is a sneaky thing. Just when we think that we've learned to be grateful for all of the abundant blessings in our lives, a quick trip to the mall brings out that ugly green jealousy monster in us (otherwise known as sin) and we start looking around with eyes that see only what we don't have.

God has been so faithfully working away at this area of my life, chipping away the rough edges of greed and materialism and envy. Though I found that it did rise up again somewhat this Christmas season, I was so blessed to realize that (at least for the moment) the contentment side is starting to win out over discontentment.

I think that one of the main things that has changed in my heart and in my way of thinking is this... I realize now more than ever that I am rich. I'm not just saying that in the spiritual and relational sense (though that would also be true- I have a Savior who has met my greatest need, and I have been blessed with an amazing husband and children, and many, many other significant and beautiful relationships in my life).

What I mean is that I am really, truly materially rich. And most likely, so are you. I'm quite sure that most people in our North American culture would disagree with me. We don't own multiple vehicles and the one we do own isn't luxurious or new. We don't live in a fancy house, and for that matter, we don't own the one we do live in. I don't wear designer clothes. The only purse I own is from a garage sale.

So exactly how do I define being "rich"? Well, for starters, I live in a house. With heat. And running water. It's clean and sanitary (ok, except maybe the bathroom once in a while), with no insects or rodents to speak of. Our home has more than 1 or 2 rooms (in fact, it has 10 if you count laundry and bathrooms). Our furniture is not ratty or ugly (and for that matter, we actually have furniture). I have a closet full of clothing and much of it was purchased new. By my doorway sits 5 or 6 pairs of shoes. Even when our budget is tight, we don't worry that we won't eat. It might not be our favorite foods, but we have never come even close to experiencing hunger.

I live in a country where I can vote in a fair and democratic system. For the most part, the police and justice system is generally just and certainly not corrupt to the same degree as in many nations. I do not live in a war-torn nation, fearing midnight bomb raids or hearing random gunshots throughout the day. I go to sleep each night feeling safe. I do not experience the terror of fearing for the safety of my precious children. We have the freedom of attending church in public each and every Sunday, with no concern of persecution. We own more Bibles than I can count.

It is so easy to begin to swallow the messages that our culture wants to feed us... you need more, you deserve more, you should have everything you want, it's ok to treat yourself, bigger and newer is always better. What we forget is that beyond the place that we call home are desperate nations full of desperate people. People who would consider the clothes in my closet beautiful and plentiful. People who would consider my home a palace. People who would wonder that I could ever possibly feel stressed about my grocery budget and the foods I feed my family. People who are hurting and needing so much that even the simplest of human comforts (a comfortable bed, a bowl of rice, a bath, a hug) would feel luxurious to them.

Whenever I start to look around and feel that I am somehow lacking something, I remind myself of these things. It doesn't take long before that want or "need" dissipates and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that we have been blessed with and asking God how we can give of ourselves more to those who are without.

Do you struggle with feelings of discontentment? How do you deal with them? And am I the only one who finds that the holiday season makes it harder?

Want to remind yourself of all that we have to be grateful for? Check out the other Gratituesday posts at Heavenly Homemakers!

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Rejoicing in My Role | Keeper of the Home
• Pro-Mom, Not Pro-Blogger | Keeper of the Home
• How I “Do It All” | Keeper of the Home
• So Grateful | Keeper of the Home

When Emily of Hope Ink Art asked if I would do a review and giveaway of one of her scripture art prints, I couldn't have been more delighted! Not only is her work eye-catching, unique and beautifully done, but it boldly proclaims the very HOPE that we have in Christ. What better way could we possibly add to our home decor?

Here are a few of my favorites from her Etsy shop, Hope Ink Art, to give you a little glimpse of the work that Emily does:

Delight. Psalm One. (This is a cafe mount, which comes ready to hang on a 3/4 inch professional backing, no need to frame)

Hope.

Forever.

And here is the striking "Love Defined" print of 1 Corinthians 13 that I received, personalized in my colors of choice and with mine and my husband's name on it. This is the print that is going to be given away!

(The grainy look at the bottom attests to my poor photography skills. The print is finished with a wonderful looking sheen to it, and I just can't seem to capture it well enough with my camera. In real life, it looks just beautiful and very classy.)

Would you like to win your own personalized (colors, names) 12 x12 "Love Defined" print from Hope Ink (a $40 value)?

(Yes, of course you would!)

**Please remember that as always, you must leave each entry as a SEPARATE comment for them to be included. Thank you so much for making my life just a teeny bit easier! **

Here's how to get entered:

1) Visit Hope Ink and take a look around. The print that's being given away is the personalized 12x12 "Love Defined", but please still take a moment to browse around then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite product (and believe me, I know it's hard to choose!)

2) Tweet or Facebook the giveaway, or both for 2 entries (gosh, has "Facebook" now become a verb? Just as long as it never makes it into Webster's Dictionary)

3) Follow me on Twitter (@keeperhome)

4) Follow Emily of Hope Ink on Twitter (@hopeink)

5) Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with the post url

6) Become a Keeper of the Home community Forum member or start a new topic

As well, you should know that there is currently a sale going on at Hope Ink- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE! Today (Friday, Dec.18th) is the last day of this fantastic Merry Christmas sale, so take advantage! Even if you were to win the giveaway, I don't know how you could go wrong with more of this beautiful scripture art adorning the walls of your home!

Note: Emily has also just confirmed for me that her printer says that anything ordered up until the 20th should make it in time for Christmas (US shipping only), so this is a perfect opportunity to finish your Christmas gift list!

Giveaway ends Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 5:00pm. Giveaway has ended. Thanks everyone!

(I have received a product to review but have not been compensated for my time to write this review or run this giveaway)

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Herbal Art Prints Giveaway! | Keeper of the Home
• Giveaway: Beautiful Silver Handmade Mementos and Earrings | Keeper of the Home
• Steady Days: Book Review and Giveaway | Keeper of the Home
• Get More Organized This Holiday Season: ListPlanIt Review and Giveaway | Keeper of the Home

Image by ishane

For this week's Celebrate with Joy post, I'm going to take a pause from giving more ideas or activities for adding to your Christmas celebration. Instead, I would like for you to be encouraged and inspired as you press on in learning to make these "holy day" celebrations more meaningful and alive for your family.

Meet Sondra, the author of the book Celebrate with Joy. Over the last two weeks, I've shared with you many of her ideas and quotes from the book itself, but today I have something that Sondra just wrote this past week. She wanted to share with you her thoughts on how their family celebrations have resulted in fruit in the lives of her grown daughters, and her reflections on what she would do differently if she could go back and do it all again.

"Sitting in the glow of candlelight, this Christmas season, I find I have more time to reflect. My Mommie category is changing... I am almost an empty nester.

Over the mantle in our living room is a sign that reads Bethlehem Bound. An old Jewish proverb says "put something where you can see it so your eye will remind your heart". We believe that is true, that is why we decorate with things reminding us of where we are going each Christmas season. Back to the place where it all began... back to Bethlehem, to make room for Him, preparing our hearts to welcome Him.

There are definitely things I would do differently if I was raising my family over again, but not in how we celebrated! As I watch the girls today, I can trace their hearts of compassion, gratefulness, love for the Babe of Bethlehem and giving to others to the joy we had as they were growing up in our celebrations.

Spreading out our meaningful traditions during the month didn't leave all the expectations on Christmas day, and added richness to the whole season. Our version of St Nicholas Day taught us to think of others and to give without thought of return. We learned what the symbols of the season meant and discovered the many names of Jesus. We made giving lists, not receiving lists, and wrote love letters to Jesus. We sought to savour the moment... even on Christmas morn as we awoke to St. Lucia singing "Joy to the World the Lord is come".

Our desire was to develop Christ-honoring traditions. Traditions that helped set our values into patterns that would outlast us and remain with our girls and their children and their children's children.

If I had to do it over again... I would do even more. Cannot wait for my grandchildren!"

I don't know about you, but I am so glad that I am beginning to learn how to create more meaningful traditions and to use these holidays to teach my children more about their Heavenly Father and our merciful Savior. What a blessing!

It's getting close to Christmas now and you may feel that it's too late to change the way you're doing things. I would encourage you to see if there's even just one new tradition or practice that you can add to your celebrations this year, nad then purpose to pursue this further next year!

Sondra's wonderful book can still be purchase for the remainder of the month. You can see more of the ideas and topics covered in the book in my previous Celebrate with Joy posts, Week 1 (Advent) and Week 2 (Symbols of the Season).

Celebrate with Joy can be purchased for only $24.95 US including shipping. Books can be purchased through my site only. Supplies are limited, so if you'd like to get one, make sure to place your order quickly!

What fruit have you seen in your family by incorporating more meaningful and Christ-honoring traditions in your own Christmas celebrations? How has God been speaking to you this season about the way that you celebrate the holidays?

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Celebrate with Joy: Week 2 | Keeper of the Home
• Celebrate with Joy: Week 1 | Keeper of the Home
• Cooking With Littles | Keeper of the Home
• Living Simply Saturday- The Ultimate Freeloader | Keeper of the Home

Image by ishane

It's Week 2 of making this holiday season more meaningful using the book Celebrate with Joy!

How are your Advent activities going? We've been enjoying our special devotions (or "learning about Jesus' names", as my daughter says) so much. We've almost finished making our Names of Jesus garland, and it's going to be beautiful when it's finished. Each day we've been able to spend 10 minutes or so doing our Advent devotion, reading a scripture, doing a simple object lesson and then just discussing one of the many names that we use to describe our Savior.

Symbols of the Season- Chapter 3

This week I've spent some time reading through the chapter on Symbols of the Season. Here's what Sondra (the author of Celebrate with Joy) has to say:

"Wreaths, holly, bells, angels... these are not merely pretty decorations for the Christmas season. They are symbols rich with spiritual meaning. We should know why we use them and teach our children their significance.

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were to preserve the spiritual importance of each key event. They were to teach the meaning of their festivals to their children. God knew His people had short memories. He commanded them to talk of His Law at all times. The parents were to focus their children's attention on God. Whether sitting at the table or taking a walk... they were to talk about Him at all times.

To restore the spiritual beauty of the Christmas season, let's pack our traditions with their true meaning. How much richer to hang a wreath on your front door knowing it symbolizes God's eternal love for His children... than simply to put up a pretty wreath because it is the "thing to do" in December."

There are a number of symbols discussed in the book, with some of the history into their meaning and some ideas for how to use them in your Christmas celebrations and decorating (candles, holly, stars, bells, etc.). Here are a few that I am going to work on including more in our own celebrations:

Nativity/Creche

The set I'd love to get, the Willow Tree Nativity Set

The only Nativity scenes that we have are children's ones (the Playmobil one and a really neat magnetic one for the fridge, where you add 1 new piece of the scene for each day of Advent). They're both fun and great for the children, but I've realized that I would really like to have a manger scene that I find beautiful to put out on display. Not sure that it's in the budget for this year, but I'm definitely thinking about it and will be keeping my eyes open when the after-Christmas sales hit. If anyone has some ideas for me of make-it-yourself projects that are simple and inexpensive, please share them in the comments section! In the meantime, I like some of Sondra's ideas for creating a putz scene (something depicting part of the story of Jesus' birth), like making a wall banner or decorating a window with parts of the story. It might be neat to decorate a large window with angels and stars and music notes, as the angels sang and glorified God at the birth of Christ.

Christmas Tree

Well, the tree is in the house, but not decorated as of yet. I need to remedy that today, as we're hosting a big Christmas party tomorrow night. Yikes! Sondra suggests making the tree more meaningful by doing themed decorations (angels, lamb of God, joy, Christmas story, etc.) and gives ideas of specific ornaments that you can make. One of the things that we have enjoyed doing in past years and will do again this year is use Adorenaments. These are a set of 12 ornaments, each portraying a different name of Jesus or aspect of who He is. Inside each ornament (they're thick cardboard and open like a card), there is something to read about Jesus as well as a scripture. On their fronts, they have an image (like a lamb, or a loaf of bread for the Bread of Life). We make these the last ornaments we put up, reading each of them before letting the kids put them on the tree. This adds a special element to our tree trimming time. I'm also considering making one new ornament with the kids and I found a lot of great craft and decor ideas here (scroll down to see a huge list of links to Christmas do-it-yourself crafts).

Wreath

(This is the one I saw at MomAdvice and want to make!)

I've never thought about the symbolism of the wreath before, but here are a few that are mentioned in the book:

• It speaks of God's never ending love... this should comfort us
• It pictures eternity. We will live forever in heaven with Christ if we are a part of His family... this should fill us with joy
• The evergreens are "ever green" and speak of life. His life in us can make us "forever fresh" with the goodness of the Lord... this should give us strength

I don't have a wreath, but I'd like to make one this year. I am thinking of attempting this beauty.

More Than Just Recipes- Chapter 8

Thought I would mention this chapter of the book as well, as it fits in so well with what's been happening here at Keeper of the Home this week! In this chapter, Sondra says "Many of our fondest memories sweep over us when we catch a scent reminiscent of mother's hot apple pie, or Aunt Lizzie's rich fruit cakes. Christmas is a time to celebrate God's goodness, and His blessing of delicious foods certainly should be enjoyed by all." I definitely agree!

This week I hosted the Healthy Holiday Eats and Sweets Carnival, which is just brimming with not only scrumptious but healthy and nourishing recipes as well (though I did notice that there were significantly more Sweet recipes than Eats... hmmm, do I detect a few sweet tooths among my readers? ) Take a look through the wonderful recipes included and see if there are any that you would like to add to your own food traditions (and yes, you may still comment with new recipes for me to add to the carnival!).

Celebrate with Joy can still be purchased for the remainder of the month (or until supplies run out):

Celebrate with Joy is a 192-page spiral bound book that includes:

• Advent... With Your Family- wonderful resources for using the season of Advent to prepare your hearts for celebrating Christ's birth
• Symbols of the Season- their meanings, how to use them
• A look at Christmas traditions- their value, ones worth keeping, how we can plan to establish unique family traditions
• Gala Gatherings- meaningful Christmas parties and get-togethers, including ideas for evangelism as well
• Grateful Giving and Gifts From the Heart
• The Twelve Nights of Christmas- celebrating from December 25-January 6 (a lesser known Christian holiday called Epiphany)
• More Than Just Recipes

Celebrate with Joy can be purchased for only $24.95 US including shipping. Books can be purchased through my site only, and will be sent directly to you as quickly as we can get them out so that you can still use them for as much of the Christmas season as possible! Supplies are limited, so if you'd like to get one, make sure to place your order quickly.

How do you use symbols and special recipes to accentuate the true meaning of Christmas and add to your holiday traditions?

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Celebrate with Joy: Week 1 | Keeper of the Home
• Celebrate with Joy: Week 3 | Keeper of the Home
• Simply Celebrating Christmas! | Keeper of the Home
• spud! Review- Week 2 | Keeper of the Home

Image by ishane

What is Christmas? It is not a winter festival. It is not the inevitable annual energy drain. It is not a few holidays to give us a break. It is not a time to fill our children's heads with "visions of sugar plums."

Christmas is a season of holy days (the original meanings of "holidays"), filled with rich symbolism. It is a many sided object lesson using the Symbols of the Season to give us glimpses of heaven's glory. It is a time to fill our children's heads with "visions of God's incomparable Gift." Christmas is profound truth wrapped in plain packages.

What are some of these profound truths? Eternity in an infant. Heaven's bridge in a baby. The God-man in a manger. Every man's hope wrapped in homespun handiwork. Enough material for a lifetime of meditation.

These are some of the opening thoughts in the book Celebrate with Joy: Transform Your Christmas Season by my dear friend, Sondra Burnett. Many years ago, when her girls were still young (her four lovely, homeschooled daughters are now grown) she had a vision to write a book that would encourage and equip families to transform their Christmas from a time of frazzled (and often meaningless) activity into a time of meditation, family togetherness, special memories and most of all, growing in understanding of and love for the magnificent God who came to earth to become a sacrifice for all.

This year, I have decided to use Sondra's book in order to learn some unique ways to teach our children about the meaning of Christmas, and to help our family to celebrate Christmas in a deeper and richer way than ever before! Each Tuesday for the next 5 weeks, I will be sharing something from the book that I have gleaned or that we are doing as a family. For those who would love to have a resource like this for your own family, I will also be selling copies of Sondra's book (more on that in a minute).

Chapter 2: Advent... With Your Family

This chapter is just brimming with different ways to celebrate the season of Advent, which typically lasts from Nov.30 until Dec.24 (some traditions begin it slightly earlier). Sondra notes that "Advent preparations put our Christmas celebrations into proper perspective. Observing Advent causes us to take the time to spiritually prepare ourselves and grow into the joy of Christmas."

Here are a few of her ideas:

Image by Collin Anderson

Advent Wreath- The wreath is a popular and familiar symbol of advent, with 4 candles to be lit throughout the 4 weeks of advent. It is meant to give us a focal point and to be used during times of worship and adoration. Many churches include an advent wreath in their service or somewhere at the front of the church, and having one in your own home is a wonderful way to make advent more tangible. Wreaths are traditionally made of evergreens, with 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle (though you can use any color you like). However, there are many different options- a decorated styrofoam wreath, an artificial evergreen wreath, even a bread dough wreath, or you could simple make your own with fresh evergreen boughs. I have a wreath made up of small branches of wood, woven together. I am going to decorate it with sprigs of evergreen and put candle holders in its center. A large candle can also be placed in the center to light on Christmas day.

Advent Devotions

There are so many possible variations, but here are a few that Sondra offers:

1) Use your Advent wreath with the traditional 4 candles, and each week, have a special family devotional time where you light one additional candle per week (1 the first week, 2 the second week, and so on).

2) If you are starting late or the month has become busier than intended, you can use the wreath each day for 7 days, during the week that precedes Christmas.To use this variation, you might like to use 7 candles instead of the traditional 4.

3) Another option is to use 24 candles (you may not want to use a wreath, but perhaps set up your 24 candles in a larger display that includes your wreath, perhaps on a side table or the top of a piano). As you follow a daily advent devotion for 24 days, you can light 1 new candle each day. You could also include your nativity scene in a display like this.

Celebrate with Joy includes a wide variety of Advent month devotionals to choose from:

• 4 slightly longer family devotions for use with your wreath, to be done each Sunday leading up until Christmas
• Advent activities: a traveling advent calendar (for those who will be on holidays for much of the time), an advent chain (a paper link chain that is hung up somewhere prominent, and each day you remove one link to show that Christ's birth is approaching), advent chain memory verses (writing one memory verse and decorating each link on the chain), using an advent calendar (that you open daily) as a way to remember to pray for some specific people during this season, making an advent scrapbook or spiritual journal, etc... so many unique ways to add to this special time!
• Advent daily devotions. There are two different plans included, each of which has 24 devotions: 1) Names of Jesus and 2) Symbols of the Season. Short and simple, these offer verses to read, questions to discuss, objects for an object lesson, or an activity to do.

Personally, instead of the Jesse Tree that we did last year, we are going to try something different and instead use the Names of Jesus daily devotional, which includes a few verses and a simple object lesson. I am going to create a Names of Jesus Garland with the names from the devotional, and we can add a new name to our garland each day.

For those looking for some devotionals to begin with their family right away, here are a few links to some that I have found online (and please note that I have not been able to go through each one and check for sound doctrine, so be discerning as you select one!):

• Over @ Kitchen Stewardship, Katie is putting up an Advent Daily Dose, which will be "a very short reflection, encouragement, lesson or challenge for you to read every weekday of Advent." As well, her first daily dose included a couple of links to Jesse Tree devotionals available (free) online.
• Last year I posted on doing a Jesse Tree, and in the post I linked to where you can purchase a wonderful ebook of devotions as well as simple paper ornament cutouts.
• Family Jesse Tree Devotions @ Reformed Church in America website

Better yet, you can purchase Sondra's book, Celebrate with Joy: Transform Your Christmas Season for only $24.95 US including shipping!

Celebrate with Joy is a 192-page spiral bound book that includes:

• Advent resources, as discussed above
• Symbols of the Season- their meanings, how to use them
• A look at Christmas traditions- their value, ones worth keeping, how we can plan to establish unique family traditions
• Gala Gatherings- meaningful Christmas parties and get-togethers, including ideas for evangelism as well
• Grateful Giving and Gifts From the Heart
• The Twelve Nights of Christmas- celebrating from December 25-January 6 (a lesser known Christian holiday called Epiphany)
• More Than Just Recipes

Books can be purchased through my site only, and will be sent directly to you as quickly as we can get them out so that you can still use them for as much of the Christmas season as possible! Supplies are limited, so if you'd like to get one, make sure to place your order quickly.

How will your family be celebrating Advent? Any other creative wreath ideas?

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• Celebrate with Joy: Week 2 | Keeper of the Home
• Celebrate with Joy: Week 3 | Keeper of the Home
• Celebrate with Joy: Epiphany and Reflections on Transforming our Christmas Celebrations | Keeper of the Home
• Frugality with Food, Revisited- Part 1 | Keeper of the Home

Originally Published June 2008

There is a lot of bad news out there. Sometimes, being on the internet so much, I can tend to feel overwhelmed by all that I read and see.

One site in particular has really been getting to me lately, with what I feel is a particularly negative, hopeless and humanistic approach. If I were to listen only to that site, I might really be struggling to find any hope at all, in the midst of so many dangers and cautions and conspiracies and the like.

Perhaps you are like me, and feel that you are doing your very best, as you continually seek to improve aspects of your health and nutrition, avoid dangerous foods and products and toxins, and still find balance in your life. Yet we are daily being told that it is not enough!

I can't do it all. I know from your comments and emails that neither can you. 

There is much fear mongering in the area of health information and education, and it is truly unfortunate. Much of it is used to manipulate us and/or convince us to part with more of our money. Some of it is well intentioned and I believe sincerely offered out of compassion and care. But yet, discerning between the two can be nearly impossible, can't it?

In general, there is a serious lack of hope in all of the hype and claims and new discoveries and all of the things that we must do in order to be "healthy". 

But what good is it all anyways? So much of the information out there is self-help or self-actualization or even heal-thyself-because-god-is-within-you garbage.

There is a vast difference between careful and conscientious stewardship, and believing that you are capable of turning everything around and creating perfect health for you and your loved ones. One is God-focused, and the other is me-focused.

Let's face it. We live in a sin-burdened, broken-down mess of a world. No matter how healthy or green or natural we may become, we all share the same end, and that is physical death and an eternity either with God or without Him.

Pursuing health and natural living is not the ultimate goal. They are merely tools that can be used to enable us to live more in harmony with the creation God has so lovingly given us to have dominion over, to steward it and to preserve it for future generations, and to experience more energy and vitality in these incredible bodies that He has designed so that we may be more fully able to minister to others and seek His kingdom, and nothing more!

Where is our hope then, in the midst of so much brokenness, despair, sickness, and confusion?

It cannot be found in this diet or that supplement or in being healed of this ailment or avoiding that toxin.
Any and all hope that we could ever desire to find can be found in nothing but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is only in the real salvation and healing of our souls that Christ alone offers (as opposed to the counterfeits offered by the world)  that we can and should place our ultimate trust. 

I do not long for a day when I am able to cook perfectly of completely naturally produced food, and rid my home of any toxins, or when I have abounding energy and feel free of all sickness or disease. I do not long for cleaner skies and seas, a reduction in landfills, uncontaminated soil or pure drinking water.

No, I long for something far, far greater. 

I long for the day when my Savior returns on the clouds, and with the resounding of a trumpet call, draws me home to be with Him forever. I long for an eternity where the truest healing awaits- no more sickness, no more death, no more tears, no more sorrow (Rev 21:3-5).

And so as I walk daily through this world in which I am merely a stranger and an alien, I choose hope. Not in what Dr. Mercola or Nourishing Traditions or Weston Price (and certainly not Keeper of the Home) have to say. 

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Our Sponsors:

• It Starts at Home: Are we Discipling or Outsourcing the faith of our children? Read It Starts at Home! Then, just nurture them together.
• Moukisac: Your 6 in 1 shopping bag system; compact, stylish, versatile and practical, of course! Made by Canadian mom.
• hope ink: Custom inspirational art for your home
• ListPlanIt: Lists to put your world in order
• Vintage Remedies: Get healthy, naturally
• Just Bumming Around: When only the best cloth diapers (at great prices) will do. FuzziBunz packages on SALE!

More from Keeper of the Home

• I choose hope | Keeper of the Home
• How I “Do It All” | Keeper of the Home
• Hope in His Goodness | Keeper of the Home
• Play it Again: My Top 3 | Keeper of the Home