November 2013  

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What if we let it go?

What if we completely let go of our holiday expectations?

Would we be free to enjoy them to the fullest?

Would you like to join me in finding out?

It's the month of November where visions of turkey dressing dance in our heads while Santa Claus seems to be coming to town earlier and earlier every year.

Whether we're hosting a holiday gathering for extended family or we just want to create the picture perfect holiday experience for our immediate family, we often load ourselves down with unrealistic expectations that rob us of the joy of just being together with the ones we love.

What if we decided to focus on "being" instead of "doing" this holiday season?

In the No More Perfect Moms book, I challenge moms to not lower their expectations, but to change them to better match reality.  If we applied that to the holidays we might: 
  • Serve soup, or tacos, or even pizza on Thanksgiving Day with the purpose of keeping the cooks out of the kitchen enjoying time with the family;
     
  • Pare your holiday treats down from your family's ten favorite holiday cookies to their top two;  
     
  • Choose to limit the number of gifts each family member receives for Christmas. We could give three gifts to correspond with the three gifts Jesus received from the wise men; 
     
  • Do away with gift giving with extended family and decide to pitch in and give a gift to a family in need through Compassion International;
     
  • Give time, focus, and your best energy to your family during the holiday season; 
     
  • Move from doing things "for" your family to doing things "with" your family; 
     
  • Laugh when things don't go as planned. After all, there are no perfect holiday celebrations! 
I'm ready for a new reality during the holiday season.  I'd love the freedom to fully be with the ones I love. I'd like to make some changes to make that happen.  

Would you like to join me?  

I'm hanging out on the Hearts at Home Facebook page Wednesday, Nov. 6, 8-9 pm CST. Let's share ideas on how to change our holiday strategies so we can enjoy the time with our family to the fullest.

Joining you in the journey,

 

Jill Savage

Wife to Mark

Mom of Anne, Evan, Erica, Kolya, and Austin

Nana to Rilyn, Landon, and Marie

 

 


Have Yourself a Simplified Little Christmas  

By: Karen Ehman & Glinnis Whitwer  

 

A glance at the December calendar is sure to send a mom into panic mode giving her a severe case of the yuletide YIKES!!!   

 

Activities, shopping, wrapping, baking, cleaning, decorating, hosting and more. How can busy moms ever juggle it all? Maybe we can't.

Instead, try these tips for scaling back, simplifying, and savoring the real meaning of this often hurried, but oh-so-holy, season:     

Hold a family meeting.  Gather the gang and make it your aim to discover what your family most enjoys about the holidays and what they could do without. Ask what their favorite foods, traditions, and activities are - the non-negotiables. Is there anything you are knocking yourself out to do that really isn't a must-do in their (or your) eyes? Let it go! Maybe your friend's clan can't imagine a Christmas without homemade fudge but yours can take it or leave it. Scale back the schedule to include only what is meaningful to your particular family.
    
Get it on the schedule.  Once you have decided what's important, get in on the calendar!  Even if it's with your own family, treat it like it's a non-negotiable appointment.  For fun, print out a blank calendar using a Word template and grab stickers and colored pens.  Then as a family, decorate your holiday calendar with pretty ornaments and decorated trees.

Create your menus now.  Cooking can be a big stressor for lots of busy moms.  Take time before the holidays to create a list of foods you'd like to try.  This can include cookie recipes to take to an exchange, food to take to a neighbor's open house, snacks for the big game or a special family dinner. Then create a shopping list far in advance.  This way you can watch for sales, stock up over time and relax on the day of the event knowing you're prepared. Here's a tip - make your menu when you are hungry.  When we are full, nothing sounds good.
    
Make ahead. Bake ahead. Got Christmas cards to address? Cookies to bake? Stocking stuffers to buy? Begin each day asking yourself, "What can I do today that will help de-stress Christmas and avoid last-minute frenzy?" Maybe it is addressing three or four envelopes each night. (Keep them in a bedside basket to remind you) Every other day could you whip up a batch of cookies and freeze them? Maybe each time you venture out to grocery shop you pick up one stocking stuffer per child. (Check markdown bins and clearance end caps to save money.) Be proactive, not panicked.

By bringing in the family, having a plan, scheduling the plan and dividing big tasks into manageable pieces, you're sure to relax and enjoy the holidays more.  Who knows, you might even have time to put your feet up and enjoy a gingerbread latte - with whipped cream, of course.



Karen Ehman and Glynnis Whitwer are on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-authors of the soon-to-be-released book Everyday Confetti: Your Year-Round Guide to Celebrating Holidays & Special Occasions.They each have a passion for helping women get life done in the midst of the demands of raising a family. Connect with them for more ideas and encouragement at karenehman.com and glynniswhitwer.com.

Want ideas for quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts?  Just click here for your free printable.

 

 

A MOMent With God

 

"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you."

 

Isaiah 26:3  

 

 

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Look Who You Can Meet at a 2014 Hearts at Home Conference!  

Sure, it may be November, but we're already planning your 2014 conference experience. And we're so excited about it that we want to introduce our 2014 keynote speakers right now!

Whether you've met them before today or not, we know that you will be motivated and encouraged to "Love Your Life" (our 2014 conference theme!) by these extraordinary women. 
 

Hearts at Home favorite Dr. Kathy Koch loves helping parents understand children's uniqueness and purposes. She has encouraged and changed thousands through her books, products and engaging presentations AND she's co-authoring the book No More Perfect Kids with Jill Savage to be released in March of 2014.

 

Angela Thomas is best known for her passionate heart and story-telling humor. She is the best-selling author of more than 16 books, including Choosing Joy, 52 Things Kids Need from a Mom, Do You Know Who I Am? Do You Think I'm Beautiful? and My Single Mom Life.  


So mark the dates on your calendar and make plans now to attend the conference nearest to you!
  • March 13-15th on the campus of Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal, IL  
  • November 7th-8th at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN 

Registration for the March conference will open in December. Watch the Hearts at Home website, Facebook page and upcoming editions of Hearts On-The-Go for more details! 

 


Get Ready to Hit the Forward Button!


What spoke to you in this month's newsletter? Was it the practicality of Jill's opening article? Or the Bible verse that spoke directly to your heart? Or the link to the "just right" resource for your current circumstance?

We intentionally create each month's Hearts On-The-Go with you in mind! Whether we're sharing articles from moms who have been there, quick doses of encouragement and motivation or information about resources we believe moms shouldn't live without. We don't want a month to go by without you knowing that we are in this mothering thing right alongside you!

Who else do you know who can use this monthly pick-me-up? We've made it easy for you to share this with her, no matter where she is! Simply use the "Forward To A Friend" button in the bottom right corner of this email and bring a little encouragement to a fellow mom's inbox!

Missed an issue? No problem! Past issues of Hearts On The Go are archived on the Hearts at Home website.

 

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Hearts at Home helps you...

  • Be refreshed and ready to implement your new found knowledge.
  • Increase your confidence as a mom when you move from feeling overwhelmed to being an intentional leader of your children.   
  • Improve your time management and run your home more smoothly.   

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