Category: Holidays

“Surviving” and “Holidays” seem like two words that do not belong together; however, the reality is that the holidays can be a very difficult time for a plethora of reasons. The holidays can be a not-so-gentle reminder of past hurts involving family members, an opportunity to grieve those that are no longer with us, and a platform to build up more resentment in struggling familial relationships. This season also lends itself to helping us lose focus on the most important parts of Thanksgiving and Christmas: We become inundated with school plays, holiday parties, and shopping. We are both so eager for the holidays to arrive and eager for them to be over.

I want to challenge each of us to approach this holiday season differently. I am such a visual and kinesthetic person. In an effort to shift my thinking and also the lenses through which I am viewing people, I often picture the following scenario: I picture different pairs of glasses. There are clear ones that are my correct prescription, sunglasses with orange tinted lenses, glasses with weird shapes in the lenses, and a pair with lenses that distort objects.

The reality is that the truth of what I am viewing doesn’t change when I use different lenses. Instead, it is my perspective that changes.

As I approach the holiday season, I am asking the Lord to provide me his lenses through which I can view his people. Using his lenses allows me to love those individuals that are difficult to be with during the holidays. His lenses also allow me to identify hurting people during this season and position myself to love and encourage them. I am so thankful that, this holiday season, we can be a church that chooses our lenses intentionally so that we can participate in what the Lord is doing in the most incredible of ways.

We have the ability to shift our thinking from a mode of “survival” to a position of opportunity this holiday season. I am excited and eager to see what the Lord reveals to me as I ask for his lenses.

This post was written by Lindsey Wesley. To read more about her, click here. 

Oh Summer, how I love you!!!

This is truly my favorite of all seasons…my kids are home almost everyday, it’s warm, full of fun, a wealth of sunshine, plenty of time with family and friends, s’mores (got to have them), an abundance of snuggles and lots of swimming (my family’s favorite).

God has really been working on my heart and showing me how easy it is to get caught up in thinking we have to work to make summer out to be something extraordinary for our kids. We tend to get caught up in thinking our kiddos are missing out if they aren’t visiting Mickey Mouse or zip-lining through a rainforest. In doing that, we get wrapped up so much in trying to make summer perfect that we lose sight of what’s most important–the everyday. 

I don’t know about you, but there is nothing perfect about life!! It’s a mess!! There is baseball schedules, junior high daughter things (need I say more?), unexpected medical bills, trying relationships, toddler silliness, plumbing mishaps…the list goes on and on and there is much work involved in that.

With that all being said, I LOVE imperfect!!! It allows us to slow down and enjoy the little things. It allows time to teach our children how to work through circumstance. It allows us to remove ourselves and remember that life isn’t a snapshot; one day we will see the bigger picture. It allows us time to grow!! It allows time for us to see that Mickey Mouse and the rainforest aren’t that big of a deal after all!!

I know for my family the small and unplanned getaways are the most memorable, most vulnerable, most appreciated times together as family. I challenge you this summer to change your way of thinking along with me and see how our mighty Father works in your family’s heart through it!! I pray this summer is the best one yet with lots of love, growth, patience, relaxing and many unforgettable times!! Let’s not just survive this summer…lets THRIVE!!!

Romans 12:2 (GNT):

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

This post was written by Kisa Luther. 

Summers were made for vacation, right?

Jodi Leigh shared great tips for traveling, especially with littles. Being prepared—mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually—is certainly key.

If you’re thinking: “We can’t travel anywhere! We don’t have any money! There’s no time!” my answer to you is this: Make it a priority; it’s worth it!

Vacations offer us a new perspective, rest for our soul, and the opportunity to make memories with our loved ones.

I don’t know why we have to leave town to get that kind of transformation, but we just do.

If you don’t think you have money to spend on vacation, consider this, you’re likely paying for a data plan on a smart phone, a Netflix account and internet, or a cable account—or some combination of all the above.

I’m not suggesting you cancel your cable and take a trip, but we pay for whatever we prioritize.

Howell and I didn’t have a lot of “extra” in our finances during our first few years of marriage, but we were raised in households that vacationed at least once a year. It didn’t have to be anywhere fancy—but getting out of town was a common practice we wanted to continue.

There are plenty of opportunities for vacationing that won’t break the bank:

• Go somewhere close
• Stay at hotels or motels that include breakfast
• Pack lunches
• Choose cheap entertainment opportunities

The biggest advice I would offer is to plan and save. Sometimes we have a place picked out where we know we want to go, and sometimes we just start to save—putting a few hundred dollars back each month. When we have X amount, we start “shopping” around: Where can we go that includes hotel, gas or flights, meals, etc. for this amount?

We’ve traveled to many great places (London, San Diego, Colorado, the Caribbean—and all over Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, of course!), but the trip with some of our best memories may very well be one of our cheapest vacations.

We went to Fort Davis in our first or second year of marriage. We drove about six hours in the car, so gas was fairly minimal, and we stayed somewhere cheap (but nice enough to include breakfast 🙂 ). Our entertainment included a lot of free things—touring Fort Davis, hiking outside of Fort Davis, hiking Enchanted Rock, and walking around the shops in town.

We have several funny (and some embarrassing) memories from that trip, and I bet the whole weekend didn’t cost more than $300.

If you plan well and manage expectations (as Jodi suggested), then vacations give us a wonderful opportunity to let go of stress, forget about work and the laundry, and make memories with our family.

Your kids may or may not remember the $100 you spend on their shoes or jeans, but they will remember that time you went to Six Flags and ate turkey legs together.

Yes, it’s an investment. Yes, it’s time away from work and other responsibilities (and may require that you delegate). But it’s worth it!

This post was written by Laura Brandenburg. To read more about her, click here. 

When I think about summertime with my children, I kind of imagine a scenic picture of a mom in a precious sundress bouncing down the sidewalk with her children who seem to be smiling ear to ear with a little bit of “What a Wonderful World” playing in the background. However…Yes, I said it. However, this is so not what my life looks like most of the time in the summer. Far too often I look up and it is 11 a.m., I am still in my yoga pants and t-shirt, re-heating my coffee and trying to keep up with the wild circus that is taking place in my home.

Summertime can be overwhelming, and last year I really had to begin praying through how to embrace summer, and I feel like the Lord laid several things on my heart.

1. Work hard/Play hard: I am raising girls to be women—and you may be raising boys to be men- so we work. So we start our day with breakfast and chores. Every morning they are to put away their laundry, hang up their clothes, and help mama unload the dishwasher. I know what you’re thinking—fun summer, mama! However—fun really isn’t ever really fun until you know what work is. Spontaneity cannot exist without structure, so set a schedule and create some responsibilities for your children, because they will be more excited than you can imagine on the random day you throw that schedule out!

2. Partner up: Take the time and initiative needed to get together with your girlfriends. Let others know what you’re doing with your children and do them together. Our children need to see what friendship, and living with one another looks like.

3. Get involved in the community: I feel like sometimes summer throws our budget straight out of the window. I love to take my children out and do things with them—but that can often be expensive. Use your resources. The library is free and has many events for you and your children such as magic shows, petting zoos, or kick off summer parties—there are SO many options in your local community that are cost effective. Do your research and get out into the community!

4. Get outside: I cannot stress this enough. Get. Outside. Go on a nature walk or an adventure! Just this last week we saw a duck that made a nest in our neighbors’ bushes with 4 eggs. The eggs had hatched but left behind their shells as treasures. Engage their imagination and get them some vitamin D as you get outside. Plus side: we always do this right after our chores and my house stays cleaner a little longer!

5. Be Present: No matter what it is you do with your children this summer, be present. You only have 18 summers with them. That’s it! Use your time wisely and be right there in the moment with them. Take their hand as you adventure through summer together!

This post was written by Maggie Riley. 

Summer is upon us and family travel is eminent. I love THE IDEA of getting out of town for a bit. However, THE REALITY of leaving with the entire family can be exhausting. If your family is anything like ours, the concept of vacationing goes like this: You actually factor in some extra time to leave, then turn around and go back to the house to get the one thing you stayed up all night telling yourself to not forget!

Vacationing used to be a breeding ground for tiffs and tough times. I have a friend who says taking a family vacation is just a way to go fight in a different place.

My husband Jodie and I have learned a few things that help us travel in “peace” with our kids. Maybe they’ll be helpful to you, too.

1. Manage expectations. Talk OUT LOUD with your spouse regarding what would make your trip great and also what would create anxiety. If you understand what would make each person’s dream come true or what they’re worried about, then you can take that into consideration. Take action steps to make that person’s dream come true while being considerate and helping ease anxiety. When we go see my parents, Jodie loves to go to a restaurant in Strawn, Texas, called Mary’s. He can put up with a lot of other randomness on our trip if he knows that an ungodly-sized chicken-fried steak is in the forecast. Usually we each only get one dream granted per trip. Deal with it

2. Get organized. Trying to do everything needed to get gone the day we’re leaving on a trip is a sure-fire way to put me in my pain cycle. One of the kindest things I can do for myself is handle laundry, packing suitcases and servicing the car 1-2 days in advance. If we’re feeling super motivated, then we pack everything in the car the night before we leave.

3. Set realistic travel plans. When we’re traveling with kids, we understand we’ll have to stop. A lot. Or we can force it and deal with explosions of emotion 10 miles from our destination. Do whatever you want, but setting up children and grownups for meltdowns just doesn’t sound like a nice, relaxing atmosphere.

4. My heart is my responsibility. If I find myself heading down a bad path emotionally, I need to be the grown up and figure out what’s going on and make a choice to get back on a better path. Early on in our marriage I vented all my frustration on my husband when we’d leave town. After a while we figured out that I needed to eat an apple for the first 10 miles of the trip. I know it’s silly, but it helped give me time to cool off and get some perspective.

Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. You being yourself is the best start to making your trip awesome!

This post was written by Jodi LaFrance. To read more about her, click here.