12 Days of Christmas (2017) – Day 11
GRAND PRIZE!!!
One of you WHO COMMENTS ON ALL TWELVE POSTS AND ALSO SHARES ABOUT THE SERIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA will win a grand prize from me, pictured here.
REMEMBER…in order to win the grand prize, you must leave a comment on all 12 posts. You can start with Day One HERE.
OK, let’s get started with our eleventh day’s guest, Ruth Schwenk!
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A Simple and Fun Holiday Tradition to Reach Your Home and Neighbors
Baking seems like a typical tradition during the holidays, but something simple can be made into a fun and creative way to bring the reason for the season into your home and share it with others.
Moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan just two years ago, and into a brand new neighborhood a year ago, we have spent the last several months on mission to meet our neighbors. It has been so fun to meet so many new people, share a meal and hear their stories. As we have gone outside of our comfort zone and made that invitation it has been surprising to see how our welcome has been so warmly received.
As Christmas is quickly approaching, it is the perfect time to reach out and remind our neighbors we care. So I want to encourage you to reach out over the next few weeks in a fun way!
Making cookies can be messy but it is always fun and the perfect way to let the kids help.
This year we are making sugar-cookie stars! First, buy or borrow a star-shaped cookie cutter. Make some sugar cookie stars (or a different cookie and cut in the shape of a star). Here is an entire list of 20 Healthy Christmas Cookies including a gluten-free sugar cookie option.
Take this opportunity to celebrate Jesus and to share with your children how Jesus is the Light of the World. Talk about how the magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2 NIV).
Now share how Jesus came into our world to be a great Light. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46 NIV).
Next, share with your children how we can be stars in the universe and how we are called to be the light. “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14a NIV).
Finally, write a Christmas note, including one of the verses above to your neighbors and pack up some stars to include as a small gift. Don’t forget to invite them to join you at church this Christmas!
Day Eleven Giveaway
For the 12 Days of Christmas series, I am giving away my book co-authored with Karen, Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet With Jesus, my book co-authored with my husband, For Better or For Kids: A Vow to Love Your Spouse with Kids in the House and a Press Pause bracelet pictured below!
Ruth Schwenk is the founder of TheBetterMom.com, and along with her husband, the creator of ForTheFamily.org. She is a pastor’s wife, mom of four energetic kids, a lover of coffee, and co-author of four books including Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet With Jesus and For Better or For Kids: A Vow to Love Your Spouse with Kids in the House.
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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules
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Great idea.
Love this idea of baking as a family to bless our neighbors!
Thank you for the reminder! I have to push myself out of my comfort zone to connect with my neighbors but it is so worth it!
We’ve been sharing Jesus with others by baking too! It feels like we’ve made 1k sugar cookies at least! But it’s fun for the kids and I to bake and bless others this season. ?
What a beautiful idea to meet others!
I REALLY like this idea. I will def be adding this to the list of traditions I would like to try next yr. I am also very excited to learn about “For Better or For Kids” & look forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing another great tradition.
I grew up baking Christmas cookies for the neighbors and did the same when I had a family and home of my own. A tradition for us!
This is what being a real neighbor is all about! I love this post! Ruth, you and your family rock, and inspire me. Thank you.
I like the idea of star cookies; I shall work that into the goodies for the neighbors and write out the verse. Thanks for the creativity!
We love to make Christmas goodies to deliver to the neighbors each year. The kids love it and its so important to get them involved.
My kids love baking cookies. What a great way of sharing Jesus with other.
For Better or For Kids has been on my “to read” list for ages…trying to get prepared for life after the children come. :)
Thank you for sharing!
I would so love this book. I bake for the priest and nuns at our church at Christmas along with the office staff. They are offering overlooked. Along with the mailman and the UPS guy.
One particularly strssful Christmas time, a friend who loved to bake brought precooked cookies over for my young children to frost..along with all the fun stuff. Great memories for all of us
Omg I love this bracelet. What a great reminder. I feel like we get so caught up in the world that we forget to take a few minutes to ourselves and give back to God. What a great gift idea!
One of our family traditions is to read the book, The Sweetest Story Ever Told by Lysa TerKeurst. We bake cookies and each cookie cutter represents part of the Christmas story!
Star cookies to spark conversation about the Light of the World! Love this!! I definitely enjoy insight from Ruth, too. Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea! My kids will love it too, I’m sure.
What a great idea. I used to love baking cookies and sharing with others. Sadly I don’t seem to have the time – I definitely need to Press Pause this season!!
Blessings to you!!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful idea. I love how it really involved a child in the real meaning of Christmas. I was planning on making cookies for our neighbors this year, and this is the perfect way to spread love and faith. I cannot wait to get my children involved. Thank you so much.
Reminds me of my sweet Grandmother, the heart of our family. She made the best sugar cookies ever!!! Thanks for your precious story.
Thank you for the recipes! I love baking cookies with my granddaughters! Adding the Bible verses makes it even more special. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Baking? This is a hard one for me… ?