The 2nd Day of Christmas with Summer Saldana–Le Musings of Moi
Welcome to the 7th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!!!
12 Days.
12 friends guest posting sharing a Christmas idea, recipe or favorite with you.
12 great giveaways for you to enter along with one GRAND PRIZE for someone who comments to enter all 12 days!!
And on this Day 2 of Christmas, please help me welcome the Sensational Summer Saldana of Le Musings of Moi.
Summer is one of those women who certainly isn’t trying to hide anything — except maybe what is behind her beloved bangs. She is refreshingly open about her mommy meltdowns (she has 2 children, but one is strong willed, so it’s more like 4), her faith, and her obsession with thrift store shopping and makeup/skincare hauls.
But, whether it’s through writing, speaking, or leading her youth group girls, Summer’s greatest passion is connecting with others. And she does this by being open and honest, all while trying to find the humor and lesson in it all. Connect with Summer Saldana on her Blog or on You Tube.
Gratitude
It was a few years ago in Christmas Past that my husband and I excitedly put together one of the grandest Christmas’ our kids had ever seen. We thought a lot, spent a lot, got a lot, and felt blessed that we were actually able to do so much for them. And as we wrapped each of the gifts, we could barely stand the anticipation of seeing our children’s smiles and joy on Christmas morning.
Yet when Christmas morning came, we sat in a stunned silence as we watched our 6 year old son quickly tear through a mountain of presents in what seemed like 30 seconds, and then solemnly look around and ask, “So, that’s it? But I wanted…”
We couldn’t believe what we were witnessing!
We had been so thoughtful with our gifts and had spent so much time and money to give them all they could want or need, and instead of being grateful, they were left with a feeling of dissatifaction and unfulfilled wants.
Not quite the smiles and joy we had hoped for.
And so that day, we knew things needed to be different for our family. It was a wake up call not only that our son had gotten it wrong, but even more so, that my husband and I had.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the wants and the “gimmee gimmee’s” that the Holiday Season can bring. So easy. Like, every other day I have to check my own self before I wreck my own self. That easy.
And if I find that the struggle is that real in my own heart, how much more so will it be in the hearts of our little ones?
So, we made a change. We shifted our focus from what we want, instead to what we have to be thankful for. And we brought the excess of presents down to three or four per child, with a budget for the total amount set.
And instead of presents we focus on traditions.
Reading and reflecting on the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
Thinking of ways to bless others around us.
Listening to Christmas Music.
Building Gingerbread Houses.
Watching Christmas Movies.
Getting hot cocoa or cider and heading out to look at all the Christmas lights around town.
And when Christmas morning comes, they know what to expect. They know how many and how much. And before anything…we pray and we reflect on the story of Jesus.
And we are grateful.
Today’s Giveaway:
Summer wants to help you to capture all of the things that you are grateful for, so she is generously giving away this beautiful Gratitude Journal by Catherine Price.
To enter for a chance to win, simply enter a comment on today’s post sharing what you are grateful for today.
Don’t forget to come back for all 12 days! {And remember, if you comment on all 12 posts, you might win the Grand Prize!}
I am grateful that I was home this fall from Guinea, West Africa. The Ebola Crisis made it impossible for me to return to Guinea in September when I had planned to. My mom was really ill and I was blessed to be able to be here with here and take care of her. The prolonged delay to Guinea was actually a huge blessing. I am grateful that God’s plans are always so much better than our own.
I’m grateful for many things today- good health, a warm home, food on the table and in the pantry, good friends, close family, a wonderful hubby and two little miracles- but I appreciate the reminder to keep that as my focus!! God is SO good!
I’m thankful for God’s provision in wonderful, surprising ways.
I am so very thankful for my family – my own husband and children to my parents, brother and sister, and my in-laws.
I am grateful for the big things: faith, family, friends, a reliable job & a warm home – those are easy to remember. I’m grateful for the small things: a sunny day, a song that makes me smile, a sweet reminder of how good life is. I’m grateful for laughter, and tears, and all the things in between. I’m grateful for uncertainty and hardship, because I’ve learned that it is in those difficult times that the beauty of God’s love shines through.
I would LOVE to have that Gratitude Journal! Today I am grateful for my husband, who has been and continues to be so supportive of me in my illness.
I’m grateful for my family!
I’m so thankful for my husband, children and extended family, including my church family. I am so blessed!
Gratitude is something ever present on my mind as I’m trying to teach my three year old about this concept. He’s just now getting into the stage where he can understand the commercials for toys and such this time of year and is in “I want” mode. It’s my heart’s desire to help him learn Christmas is not just a time of year to get a bunch of toys.
The picture posted of Christmas morning made me smile. That’s what our home looks like. My mom and dad tried to spread out the Christmas morning present bliss by only allowing my siblings and I to open one gift each hour. It was torture for us, but I totally get why they did that now.
I am so grateful for my family’s health! We have been so fortunate to have healthy children and to be healthy ourselves. I see so many people battling unimaginable diseases/conditions and my heart breaks for them! Thank you Lord for keeping Your hand upon us!
I am grateful for my family and so much more!
monk5 at charter dot net
I am so very grateful for my faith!!
LOVE THIS!
This was wonderful and timely!
Today I am grateful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my oldest daughter,son-in-law, and 4 grandchildren. It was such a blessing to see how God is 1st in their lives. Hearing the little ones say grace before meals put a smile in my heart.
I’m grateful for my church family, especially those that I can trust to pray for me when I need it, which is always!
Fitting that today should be about gratitude. This is something I have known I needed to focus on but haven’t been. Today I learned that a former student of my mine passed away from breast cancer. She was all of 35 with two very small boys. So I am so grateful for life today and all of the days that I have had with my children who are 10 and 12 and I want to remember to be grateful for each day from now on. Wow! Thank you for making me put that into words!
Thankful for all these posts that help me stay focused on what really matters and thankful for the Advent devotions I am getting to do with my kids this year!
That we are all healthy!
Thanks for this! It is easy to get caught up in the keeping up of the holidays . I am trying to keep our minimized in stuff and maximized in what truly matters. Christ, family and friends.
I’m grateful for so many things. God – that he loves me and wants me; my husband; that he can provide for his family; my kids; extended family; shelter; food; on days where it’s really cold, I’m so thankful that I have a coat, a car to get to where I need to, a warm place.
I am thankful for God’s unconditional love, amazing grace and His Word.
And I am also thankful for my husband who walks with the Lord and my children who love the Lord as well and show me so many of His truths.
Been there done that. Yes, in today’s world gratitude for gifts seems to be a strange thing to many. I experience that yet with my grandchildren. So like you I am trying to focus on what is really important, God, family, love. While I love to give and receive, I have learned that it is the memories of time with those I love that is really important and often too short.
I am truly grateful for my family (both human and furry). They all give me a sense of wonder, joy, and laughter. Sometimes just going with the flow, watching ’em zig when I think they are going to zag….and end up amazed of how they meet their challenges, and grow. :)
So very grateful for family and loved ones! For Love!