Candle Order
December
2009
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Hope 1-5
Peace 6-12
Love 13-19
Joy 20-24
Light 25
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Dear Friends,
This week is when the rubber meets the road!
We want to bring more meaning and less stress into our holiday experience and yet, with Christmas Day approaching, all the old expectations of how it SHOULD be are rising up and bringing stress with them.
But, don't give in! Now, is
the time to walk our talk and practice what we've been saying we want.
Less stress, less commercialism, more meaning!
Perhaps that's why this week's word is JOY. Joy can knock 'Expectation' and its BFFE, 'Stress' right on their anxious little a--es.
Look at every moment as an opportunity to strengthen your Joy by banishing the expectations of perfection. Remember, it's people that matter, not a beautifully clean counter, the perfect centerpiece or tons of presents!
Perhaps we can support each other in
knowing that, over these next few days, we will have the courage to release the expectations that are bringing us stress and the wisdom to choose
Joy. To this end, this newsletter has ideas to help us simplify so we can find our Joy during this final week of Advent.
Wishing you Joy and laughter this Christmas,
Caren
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Keep it Simple
As we head into the last few days, consider doing activities that help you relax and breathe. Here are some ideas:
- Use the blank "A Story to Share" Card and instead of reading a story have each person share a favorite memory and let that be the story.
- This is a great time to 'Choose a Charity to Give to'(see below). It's simple, meaningful and quick to do! Donate online to save time!
- Have a 'Reading Day' or hour, when you can sit and read and escape into a book!
- Use a blank card and write, "I get to be a human today" and use it as your activity. Give yourself permission to be human and thus imperfect and thus hopefully see the perfection in your imperfection and laugh.
- Use the blank cards: Family Treat or Surprise and write:
- It's a Cozy Down Day! Time for quiet and rest and vegging with the best!
- Bubble Baths for all! If you don't have any actual bubble bath in the house bath gel works great.
- Family Walk! Take a short walk together saying Merry Christmas to everyone you meet or sending a special blessing to each neighbor's house as you walk past it. If the weather's bad, take the walk in your imagination!
- Are there a few activities you've
pulled but haven't been able to get done? Give yourself permission to
say, "Oops, couldn't quite get there
this year!" and let them go! Act with wisdom by laughing at how human
you are instead of stressing about how perfect you think you need to be!
 - If there's an activity you haven't gotten to but really want to, take
one of the blank cards and write, 'Do Over' on it. Then instead of adding
another activity just try to get one of the ones you've missed doing done.
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Giving to Charity
If you haven't yet chosen a charity to give to this season, you might want to do it sooner than later especially if it's to help with a Christmas meal.
Consider letting your kids address the envelope and write part of the check.
If you are donating online, let them help enter the amount.
Need ideas? Check out Heifer International or Seva Foundation.
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 Display those cards!!
Displaying the activity cards where you can see them becomes a visual reminder of all the meaningful and fun things you have done or plan to do. Those moments add up to more than you realize.
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Christmas Journals
 The best way we've found to bring Advent to a close!
After the presents have been opened and the pancakes and the dishes are done, or perhaps after Christmas dinner, gather together to light the last candle for, 'Light', and to write in your personal Christmas Journal. Writing in the journals provides a beautiful, quiet, final moment to end the season on a note of reflection and gratitude.
Remember, it's your journal, write about what you want to read when you open it next year!
- What am I most grateful for?
- What was the best thing that happened?
- What was the hardest thing that happened?
- What was my favorite moment?
- Who did I spend Christmas with?
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Love & Joy Newsletter
