Thursday, December 17

Grace at Home No. 407


Welcome, welcome! Here we are past the mid-point of December, and Christmas is next week!

I know you're all busily taking care of each part of your busy life and preparing for Christmas, so I'm very grateful you're here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace. Here are some highlights from last week's party.

Need a way to decorate your Christmas table but don't want to spend much money? Tiffany from Tee Diddly Dee gives complete instructions for making these Christmas mason jars and, if you really want to sharpen your skills, the wooden box to hold them.


Or, for a simple but still beautiful way to decorate, check out this post from Satsuma Designs--you'll get full instructions for making these lovely evergreen candle rings.


Looking for some Christmas crafts for your kids or grandkids (or just for you!)? Naush from Doodle Buddies shows you how to make these adorable ornaments from materials bought at Dollar Tree.


Want to do some Christmas baking? Arlene from Flour on My Face shares a recipe for Mexican wedding cookies.

Or if you want to try a little more ambitious baking project, check out the gorgeous Buche de Noel shared by Cindy at Mom, the Lunch Lady.


If what you really need are some tips for just making it through this Christmas, read this post from Jennifer Lambert at A Sacred Balance.


And if that old enemy comparison raises its ugly head this Christmas, I wrote a post called "The Thief of Christmas Joy" that I'd love for you to read (and please share it, if you're so inclined!).


Thank you to everyone who joined last week's party! 

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, I invite you to link posts about
  • DIY projects
  • decorating
  • recipes
  • hospitality
  • homemaking tips
  • parenting
  • marriage
  • faith
  • self-care
  • soul care
Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it.  Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party, and during these difficult times, it can really make someone's day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wednesday, December 16

The thief of Christmas joy


Even though it's 2020, and even though nothing seems to have gone right this year, here's one thing I know to be true: Christmas is coming. 

And this year of all years, I am so ready for it. I deck the halls with boughs of holly. I read my Advent devotional books. I light candles. I sing carols at the top of my lungs. I wish I could stand outside, mouth wide open, like a kid trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue—and that joy would just pour into me. I want the joy of Christmas to pervade every nook and cranny of my heart. 

Then I open Instagram, hungry for more holiday inspiration. And as I browse through all the beautiful images, I feel my joy drain away. Stolen once again.


I've done this so many times before. 

I see the beautifully decorated houses, and my own home seems plain and boring by comparison.  I get a glimpse of small but heartwarming family celebrations, and in comparison I feel cold and lonely.  I click through photos of amazing crafts and gaily wrapped packages and sugar cookies perfectly flooded with royal icing—and my efforts seem pitiful by comparison.

Even the good things I do seem to pale in comparison to others' work.  I hear that someone has raised thousands of dollars for a charity, and my gifts seem paltry by comparison. Or else I read that some parents give their children only three gifts, and in comparison I feel extravagant and embarrassed. 


Finally I realize that I'm doing this to myself.  I'm comparing myself to others at every turn. Instead of gathering inspiration online, I've gathered reasons to feel inadequate.  Rather than embracing the beauty of the season, I've turned it into a kind of competition.  

Am I the only one?  Or have you done it, too?

Comparison has always been my Achilles' heel. In fact, I struggled with comparison for so long that I wrote a book about my journey of wrestling with it and the ways I've found freedom from it. InterVarsity Press published the book, called Mythical Me: Finding Freedom from Constant Comparison. 

In Mythical Me, I tell a story that I'm remembering this Christmas. One week I was rushing around like crazy, trying to pack too many activities into too little time. In the middle of one of the busiest days, a friend asked how I was doing, and I answered honestly: "Frantic."

My friend pressed for details, and I shared them: in addition to the normal activities and responsibilities of the week, my son was celebrating a milestone birthday, I was hosting a dinner party for an important client, and I was preparing for a business trip that would keep me away from home for a week. With a haircut and a dentist's appointment thrown in for good measure, I had way too many things to do and not enough time to do them, at least not the way I wanted to do them.

And how did I want to do them? Well, I had great examples. One of my friends makes each family celebration unforgettable. Another is an ace hostess. Yet another glides through business trips with apparent ease. I wanted to perform at least as well as the people I was comparing myself to, if not better than anyone else could.

Had I stopped to think about how privileged I was? Did I pause to consider how rich my life was? Not one bit. Instead, I let myself be frazzled by trying to be the best at everything.

My friend prayed for me, and I heard God's voice speak to me. Simply and clearly, God said, "I made you to bless, not to impress."

Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized that truth. The reason I was working through my long list was to bless people. When I got stuck in comparing myself to others, I lost sight of that purpose. My talented friends had inspired me and taught me, blessing me with their examples. But when I started comparing myself to them, I twisted that blessing into a kind of contest that no one could win.
 
I'm determined to follow my own advice this year. So this Christmas season, every time I am tempted to compare myself to someone else, I'm going to stop and pray this simple prayer:

"Dear Lord, please bless ___________. Thank you for giving them beauty to share.  And please help me to share the beauty you've given me."

That's it.  Nothing profound or deep; just a simple prayer of blessing. Praying it certainly won't impress anyone. But I think its effect on me might be profound. 

God made us to bless, not to impress

This Christmas, rather than concentrating on how other people outshine me, I'm going to remember that we all shine because God has given us light. If someone shines more brightly than I do, that's okay. There's so much darkness to overcome. Someone else's bright light doesn't eliminate the need for my little light.


Would you like to join me? Maybe we can all concentrate on blessing rather than impressing. 


In 2020, like never before, there's plenty of room for all of us to shine our lights, reflecting the glory of the One whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  

Thursday, December 10

Grace at Home No. 406


Holiday greetings! Isn't it amazing that almost to the middle of December?  Today marks the first day of Hanukkah for our Jewish friends, and Christmas Day is just two weeks from tomorrow. For so long 2020 seemed to drag, but now the days are flying by, aren't they?

I'm so glad you're here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace. Here are some highlights from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

If you're like me, you're not quite finished with your Christmas decorating, so here's some inspiration for you. 

A gorgeous Christmas kitchen from Lidy at French Garden House


A Christmas home tour from Lindsay of Lindsay's Sweet World (love all the traditional red and green!)


And even more traditional decor from Denise at A Home for All Seasons, who shares a full home tour


A lovely Christmas tablescape from Pam at Everyday Living


If you need a yummy gift idea for friends and neighbors (or for your own snacking!), check out these recipes from Niky at The House on Silverado.


If you've been doing a lot of baking and your oven needs some attention (I'm raising my hand here!), you'll be glad to know this non-toxic method for cleaning your oven window from Chas at Chas' Crazy Creations.


In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation, I want to prepare my heart, so I was glad to see this post from Michele Morin at Living Our Days.  I know you'll find it encouraging and challenging like I did.


And in case you missed it, you can still download my Advent prayer guide. Click here to download it for free!


Thank you to everyone who joined last week's party! 

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, I invite you to link posts about
  • DIY projects
  • decorating
  • recipes
  • hospitality
  • homemaking tips
  • parenting
  • marriage
  • faith
  • self-care
  • soul care
Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it.  Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party, and during these difficult times, it can really make someone's day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thursday, December 3

Grace at Home No. 405


We've made it to December! Can you believe it? What a year this has been, but now we're drawing to the end of it.

I pray that your Thanksgiving was a good one. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that our Thanksgiving was very low-key: just my husband and me and our two younger sons, gathered around our outdoor table. But we surely were thankful to be together. 


Just this week I read somewhere "the days of the old school blog link-up are past." I suppose in some circles that's true, but I'm very grateful you're here for the Grace at Home party, because I still believe that it's worthwhile to celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace.

Here are some highlights from our last time together.

Want a simple way to help you get into the Christmas spirit? How about making a hot chocolate bar? Marty from A Stroll Thru Life shows you how. 


If you're stumped for Christmas gift ideas, I heartily recommend the gift of cash—especially this year. Want a great way to give a cash gift? Paula from Sweet Pea provides free printable envelopes to hold your present!

If you're stuck at home and want to make some homemade Christmas decorations, try this beautiful ornament from Helen at Hello Sewing. She gives you detailed directions for every step!


If you just want to look at someone else's Christmas decorations and be inspired, you must pay a visit to Debbie of Debbie-Dabble Christmas. Debbie is the kindest soul, and absolutely loves decorating her home for Christmas. This is one space in her craft room; there's so much more to see!


If you find that you need a little something to lift your spirits during Advent, check out this "Treat Yourself" Advent calendar basket created by CoCo from The Crowned Goat. She gives you step-by-step instructions for making your own. 




Last but not least, if you're struggling through a really tough time right now, you'll be blessed by this post from Donna Reidland: How to Trust God During Tough Times.


Thank you to everyone who joined our last party! 

Now for today's party.  Here at the Grace at Home party, I invite you to link posts about
  • DIY projects
  • decorating
  • recipes
  • hospitality
  • homemaking tips
  • parenting
  • marriage
  • faith
  • self-care
  • soul care
Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it.  Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party, and during these difficult times, it can really make someone's day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter