The 5th Day of Christmas with Courtney DeFeo

chaos.calmFrom unrealistic expectations to traditions to your screaming schedule as well as those annual holiday encounters with the in-laws and outlaws, this free 5 Day challenge will allow your holidays to go from chaos to calm. Click HERE for the free 5 Day Challenge and they will automatically come to your inbox. Merry Christmas!

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IMPORTANT NOTE: You may comment to win on all of the 12 Days of Christmas posts until Sunday night, December 15th at midnight EST so be sure to read through those you missed and catch up!

get-attachment-9.aspxWelcome to the 5th Day of Christmas with my guest Courtney DeFeo.

Courtney DeFeo is the founder of this Lil Light O’ Mine blog (courtneydefeo.com) and believes our kids can light up the world. As a former marketing professional, she lives in a constant brainstorm with herself and suspects it’s the route of her migraines.

Her favorite topics to spin are “bringing faith to life in the home” and “empowering moms” and “teaching virtues in a fun way.” She wants her little light to shine so that her family knows Jesus intimately and others might see His love in the process. And now, here she is for our 5th Day of Christmas!

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I used to circle one toy on every page in the JCPenney catalog. Now, my two little girls open up the American Girl catalog and circle one of everything. One small problem, we did not win the lottery last weekend.

I certainly LOVE to delight and surprise my girls with their hearts’ desires. However, I have to keep reminding myself how quickly the “stuff” gets tossed aside. In a matter of weeks, all of the toys and things are forgotten and the money seems wasted.

Don’t get me wrong – mine will definitely get a few of the circled things. I am just on a constant mission to target their little hearts. I want them to always be thinking more about GIVING not GETTING. Two years ago, I started Light ‘Em Up – a program to equip families to light up their communities with kindness. It has thrilled my heart to watch kids grasp the concept of generosity. Join us!

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Here are TWO TIPS for shopping with little hearts in mind.

  • Shop to Connect: Think about experiences over things. Give the gift of time – a sleepover with grandparents, a date night with Daddy, a manicure with mom or a promised game night with the family. These can be more affordable (in the form of coupons) or you can give a gift that coordinates with the experience – the sleeping bag, the new game or a telescope for moon watching! If you think back to your childhood, do you remember your favorite toy more? Or the moments and time you had together with your family?

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  • Shop to Train Hearts: I believe we all share a common goal – for our kids to fall in love with Jesus and follow Him. What if our Christmas morning reflected this priority? Can we give a new devotional? or new bible? I absolutely love Jesus Storybook Bible, Jesus Calling for Kids and of course my ABC Scripture Cards.

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  • One “free” way to train hearts – is to wrap up gifts to God. Have each family member write down what they want to give to God for the year. A kind heart? A sharing spirit? Self-control?

TODAY’S GIVEAWAY:

 

cardsI am a crazy huge fan of Karen Ehman! She has encouraged me and lifted me up. And I love all of her amazing books. I’d love to treat TWO of you to a set of ABC Scripture Cards for your family.

ENTER TO WIN

…..by commenting on how you shop with little hearts in mind. I like to purchase gifts that teach, encourage kids to create or are consumable. How about you?

222 Comments

  1. I always like to get small art things – just a small notebook and new crayons….just something that came be used to be creative and keep the little ones busy for a little while. Moms always need a break!

  2. I like to choose gifts that inspire imagination in little ones. I love to watch them learn as they go and beam with pride when they’ve accomplished their masterpiece. I also like games that the family can play together.

  3. Each Christmas we like to give each child a new family game and new books but I especially like to give something that is reminder of the past year – this year we are giving them a collage blanket filled with pictures of events, sports, and time together just hanging out as a family. And of course – a few items off there Christmas list to “Santa”.

  4. I love to get my boys books and devotionals that will inspire them and remind them to focus on Christ every day.

  5. My kids are getting older so I like to shop for things with Scriptures on them to place around the house so we’ll be reminded of God’s love and Jesus’ words every day! :)

  6. I tend to buy books for at least one present and I like to buy storybooks, color books etc with a biblical message

  7. I am so much like you! I love educational gifts and consumable gifts. There is a local family owned toy store in town and I only buy from her. All her gifts are well made and educational and super fun! I also like to buy “adventures” say a sporting event or zoo tickets or maybe the aquarium. I give the tickets to the parents and also offer babysitting if they have little ones that can’t tag along.

  8. My hubby and I try to find our 3 children something that is a “keepsake” item each year. Depending on the ages it’s been a Bible, a teddy bear, a piece of jewelry, etc…

  9. I like to buy Veggie Tales movies or CD’s for the little ones. Books of encouragement or a new Bible for the older ones are always good. Also, t-shirts with solid messages on them are fun.

  10. We buy experiences or games or things that our children can enjoy together. We don’t do santa at all so that really helps. We try to give away more than we get each year. :)

  11. We have had to learn to shop w a purpose, as we are 6 to a MH, I cannot work, so dh does, it should be thoughtful, necessary, & remembering what the season is really about.

  12. We don’t have any little ones in our family anymore but I contribute a shoe box or two every year of gifts for Samaritans purse.

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