As I sat down across the table from my three girlfriends, I took a big mouthful of salad and began munching the crisp greens with big bites of tomato. The food was amazing, the conversation lively, as Kathleen giggled about something, but I couldn't push my nagging thoughts aside.  "I need help,"  I began.

My tradition had started at age 12, what seemed like a few, short decades ago.  The pastor at the new church plant handed me the worn out hymnal.  I remember him crouching down to my eye level and saying, "Tag, you're it.  There is no one else to play.  Go home and start practicing."  Every Christmas song was practiced diligently each day after school.  I would be prepared for the Christmas Eve service.

As a child, even younger than age 12, I had always helped to prepare a magical Christmas Eve for my family.  I chose the music, planned the drama, picked the poetry, and eloquently, for a small child, delivered the traditional family Christmas program with my two siblings.

The years passed by, and when I became a Director of Worship & Creative Arts, my children would groan, as August would bring the traditional ritual of listening to Christmas music as I began preparations for the church services, filling them with awe and wonder, so to remember and celebrate the Christ Child's arrival.  The calendar was pushed, pulled and stretched to the umpteenth degree, packing every day with baking, rehearsals, building and painting drama sets, parties, caroling, and much preparation for the services.

Now, with my new position as Executive Director of Best Life, and our first conference not scheduled until January, I perused my calendar.  Nothing.  Then, more of nothing.  Oh, good, there was a dinner on that one Saturday evening, and a concert on another.  Then.....nothing.  I desperately picked up the phone and called good friend, Kandy.  "What do people do for Christmas?  What are the Christmas traditions that your family has?"  I asked.  Kandy proceeded to tell one of her fabulous stories that she seems to always pull out of the dresser drawers of the closets of her mind.  She listed many traditions and went on to talk about the overwhelming feeling the family had with too many traditions.  She told how they picked and pared down, now feeling very satisfied to be simplistic in their celebration.  "It seems time to create something different.  Instead of looking at this time of year as a time of feeling lost, it's time to find some new traditions," I cheered myself on.

My friends continued to giggle around the table, but stopped abruptly when they heard me say, "I need help."  They took the next half hour to go around the table and recite the many cherished traditions of their own lives.  The stories poured out, swirling about each tradition to substantiate its purpose.  Cookie baking, sleigh rides, ethnic foods, reading the Bible story, enjoying family, and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" were just a few of the ideas that were relived.  But as I listened to them, nothing seemed to click in my spirit.

Later that day, I looked out at the backyard as the snow began to gently fall. It glistened in the beautiful midday sun.  I grabbed one of my favorite stories and curled up in my big stuffed red chair, grabbed my glasses and read..... "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

I laid the book down now.  There they were... traveling to a place they'd never been.  Tired and weary from the journey, a mother, soon to deliver a child, is journeying ....uncertain of the future.  But one thing she is certain of...she carries the Son of God within her belly.  Mary and Joseph will celebrate His birth.

And suddenly, the anguish seems to subside.  I no longer am struggling with how to make and bake, create and connect, perform and present.  Instead, I'm just willing to be on a path that I've never been on before, journeying to the unknown. and certain of one thing...the birth that I celebrate will be the Son of God's.....Hallelujah....the Savior has come!
  

Walk into any store these days, and it seems like we are already in December. In my hometown, as soon as the Halloween candy was removed from the shelves; the ornaments, tinsel, and Christmas lights went up. Quite frankly, it stresses me out. My little five-year old daughter said, "I think they forgot about something." What she meant was Thanksgiving! She was right though, but Thanksgiving to marketing specialists isn't quite as glamorous (or profitable) as Christmas.

As Christmas approaches, it seems we all have visions of sugarplums dancing in our to-do lists, our busy-ness, and our day-to-day existence. To compound those visions, we each have family traditions and rituals added to an already commercialized season of crazy. I grew up in a family that always strove to have Norman Rockwell moments for each holiday, but I married into a much more laid-back family. Somewhere in the middle, my husband and I tried to compromise.

That is until the year of "The Survey". Now, before you go and get any ideas that the survey was an epiphany moment with angelic lights and heavenly host singing, I assure you it was born out of necessity. That sweet little five year old mentioned earlier came bounding into the world on a December 14 morning, five and half years after her next closest sibling. That first Christmas was a wash as we all adjusted to baby mode, and quite literally, the entire Christmas holiday, the older kiddos and I laid on blankets with the baby in the middle and colored in coloring books or watched movies.

The next November with Christmas approaching, my husband and I devised a plan to survey the family about our favorite Christmas traditions. We held a family meeting to discuss all the things we had done in Christmases past. We were all shocked at how long the list was and how much we tried to cram into a short season. Then we were to each pray about which were our top 3 favorites, and we would reconvene our meeting one week later to vote. We weren't to discuss, persuade or otherwise try to influence each other's decision.

What happened the following Sunday was so revealing to us about who we are as a family that none of us have ever forgotten "The Survey". When the ballots were all in, all five voting members of our family chose 2 things exactly the same. Out was the huge, stressful Christmas party for friends, out was the progressive party for work, out was the attempt to gather friends for sledding & caroling, but what was in declared to everyone who knew us - that less is truly more around Team Stevens headquarters.

The two things we all agreed on was the family sleepover under the Christmas tree on the first day we put it up and the Christmas Eve candlelight service. Wow! Neither one of those required any extra work or money, but they brought such joy to our family. More importantly, they brought us back to the real reason for our joy - Jesus! One of my friends still teases me about the year the Stevens got off the crazy train, and just enjoyed each other and sweet, little baby Jesus. We haven't looked back since. You might be wondering about the 3rd tradition that stayed. Well, we had to negotiate and keep a couple things that meant something to some, but not as much to others. The spice of life is the ability to be flexible, and trust me, going from 54 to 5 traditions wasn't hard to do and we are much more blessed because of it.

As Christmas approaches, please join me each day in December for my blog series, "A 25 Day Countdown to a Season of Joy". I will share lots of great stories, ideas, and hopefully inspiration for you and your family to be jumping for joy as well. I will also reveal the couple other things that were saved from the chopping block of Christmas crazy. Join me each day at http://bestlifeministries.com/faith-family-and-football/ and celebrate Christmas with joy in your family too!

Jumping for Joy in Jesus - Kandy

When the air stings your nose as you breathe it in, and leaves a trail as you exhale, you know it's time to break out those sweaters. This winter is all about being warm, yet stylish in your favorite comfy sweater.  Bright colors, such as stripes or details in a sweater draw interest if you want to stand out. If you prefer blending in at the office, the earthy, neutral knit would be better suited to your tastes. These can tend to look bulky, so make sure to give that waist line the attention it deserves by adding a funky belt. Do not fear the belt ladies! Most women avoid it thinking it will draw negative attention, however in a sweater; it can minimize this problem area and actually make you to appear thinner! 

 
 Of course, footwear is a necessity in the depths of the winter snow. Boots are a winter staple and are all the current rage. Big comfy furry boots or even stream-line, calf-high boots can elongate legs and make you appear taller. Flat, comfortable  boots are just as fashionable this season as stiletto boots, so everyone's taste can be accommodated.   

Keep makeup simple and effortless this season with a basic regimen. You can never go wrong with eye shadow in neutral tones but to add some razzle-dazzle for the holiday season, do not fear a soft, frosty silver, or a shimmery gold tone. It can brighten up eyes and give a youthful effect.    

Remember, it takes as much effort and energy to put on a comfortable outfit as it does to don a "put-together" look.  When you feel glamorous, you can take on the world with a renewed sense of confidence. Live your best life each day by starting out looking your best....

By Sarah Starr Vincent

'Tis the season...and people and their good works race by me.

I used to race to be a part of The Great Stampede to get something for everyone I know.

To pay back each kindness- careful, nay, preoccupied, possibly terrified, let I forget anyone and be thought less of.

Now I still rush, but I long with all my heart to remember You in some quiet place, to be filled with You and the true reason of Your Coming.

O God, shine Your light in me, steady and unwavering.

Pour Your love through me, a river of living water to satisfy my thirsting soul.

 

According to Mariah Carey, a soul-filled pop singer, she learned her unique style from her church during Sunday morning worship with her all-African American choir. She has amazed me for years, in her unequivocal abilities to sing such high notes on the scale that no one can even compete with. This just released cd brings such traditional favorites as "O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel and Here Comes Santa Claus." But Mariah adds her own unique flavor to a gospel-choir version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as well as "Charlie Brown Christmas." But my all-time favorite song on this cd is "One Child" written by Mariah and Marc Shaiman, performed with a children's choir. The chorus reads: "One child can change the world Christmas Morn'. The King of all Kings was born. He reigns forevermore. Let us worship and adore.. Christ the Lord." Fabulous! I purchased mine at Target for $11.99.

Lady Antebellum A Merry Little Christmas