12 Days of Christmas (2017) – Day 7
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 seventh day’s guest, Heidi St. John!
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A {simple} Christmas to Remember
Sometimes, creating Christmas memories isn’t very much fun.
Is it okay that I said that? Can I say that out loud? My friend jokingly refers to this season as the “hollerdays” but I think we all know there’s an element her cute description. Late nights of wrapping presents we couldn’t really afford and a strained bank account dot the landscape of my early years of marriage and mothering.
This year, I’ll celebrate 29 Christmases with my husband. It helps to put things into perspective. As the mother of seven and grandmother of two, I have a few Christmases to look back on. Growing up in the 80’s, Christmas was all about the gifts—but the funny thing is, I can only remember a few of the gifts that I received. Most of my favorite memories center around people: that time my grandpa took us out to see the lights and grandma put her special hot chocolate in “cold” Dixie cups so they melted all over the car… yes, most of my favorite memories are more “Griswold” than “Norman Rockwell…” and I’m glad.
I want something more for my precious family than a mad dash to open presents. My prayer for our family is that we look back on Christmas with a sense of grateful remembrance. I’ve lost both sets of grandparents to the arms of Jesus now—but the smell of hot Ovaltine and the sound of Carol of the Bells playing reminds me that I too am just here for a little while.
About twenty years ago, when I began to notice my grandparents beginning to decline, I decided to do something that would help my children remember how precious our time with loved ones is. I had a simple idea: to use letter-sized cardstock for placemats.
Each placemat had the name of a guest at our table. I carefully wrote one name on each placemat, and our five kids got in on the action by lightly decorating each placemat with small cutout stars, snowflakes of leaves, depending on the celebration.
After dinner, I put pens on the table and we passed the placemats to our right until every person had written a note to the owner of each placemat.
This season, if you come to my house, you will see our placemats from years ago displayed for everyone to see. Messages from my grandparents come to life—a note from my father-in-law reminds us of the wonderful legacy he left us, and the handwriting of a six-year old who is now a mother herself reminds us of how quickly time goes by.
People will always have priority over possessions in God’s economy. This Christmas, if you feel the financial “pinch” or you’re searching for a little more meaning to add to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, look at the faces of those who will gather around your table.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
Merry Christmas, friends.
Day Seven Giveaway
For the 12 Days of Christmas series, I am giving away my book, Becoming Mom Strong and the necklace pictured below!
Heidi St. John has been married to her husband Jay since 1989. Together they have seven children and two grandsons! The St. John’s children range in age from early elementary school to adult. They have homeschooled the kids all the way through high school.**********************
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Since we live in a different state as all of our family, this year is the first time we had sent out Christmas Cards to remind them all we love them!
Oh, I love your place mat idea! That would be lovely to do at Thanksgiving as well.
I’m not a mom yet but I hope to be someday and I want to be a strong woman of faith for my family!
The placemats are a wonderful idea…what a precious keepsake!
LOVE DAY 7
I love the placemat idea! The messages from someone who has passed would be a treasure indeed.
I love this idea! What great memories it creates!
What a great idea!
placemat idea is really neat.. It is easy to have a pity party being a grandmother far away from her children……but I keep them in my heart praying for them to grow to be what God has created them for….thanks for the placemat idea
Day 7 for me: I tell my children I’m not going to be around forever. I already have one bad kidney, and the other one gives me problems. I don’t know if they’re in denial, but some of them just go about their days without calling to see how I’m doing. I tried raising these children to love people and not to chase after money, but sometimes other people have more influence over their lives. All I can do is pray, and leave it to my Father in heaven that He’ll move in their lives before their grandparents and I are gone. Even if we’re gone, I pray now that God continues to work in all of their lives.
Love the “Griswold” memories too!
The place mats are a great idea! My mom passed away just a few months ago ~ what a gift it would be to have a place mat she had written on!
For the past few Christmases, the only gift that I want is time with my family. I now know why it made my mom so happy for the family to be home for the holidays.
Heidi – Thanks for the wonderful placemat idea. It’s extra special to read notes from loved ones, especially the first year that we are without them here on Earth. I’m thankful for the promise that I will see them again some day. My sweet mother-in-law, Kay, went into Jesus’ arms earlier this year. I cherish the handwritten Scripture verse she gave me when I first met her. I use it as a bookmark in my Bible. “People will always have priority over possessions in God’s economy” is a wonderful reminder to keep in the forefront of this Christmas season.
We keep thinking of new ways to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and making meaningful memories :)
What a wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing!
I love the handwriting idea. What sweet and special memories.
Wonderful ideas and so personal and sweet.
Love this idea…. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas & for this.
Love the idea with the placemats!!
I love this idea, my Grandchildren range in age from 22yrs -8yrs time does go by to fast! I think we will try this!
May God bless you and your family this Christmas season.
What a great idea to start a family tradition. Thank you so much for your giveaway.
Loved this quote – People will always have priority over possessions in God’s economy. Oh I hope I do that justice in my life every day!!
Love this idea. Will have to start this tradition with my family.
Love the great ideas. The written memories from grandparents are so special. There are so many things I would do differently today with my children growing up if I had a chance to do things over.