The Joy of Giving, in this Season of Receiving

Psst, Have you heard???

December 25th is coming very soon!  Just in case you are in the middle of the hustle and bustle of your To Do List and lost track of the days that seem to whiz by at this time of the year.  I have to pinch myself to the reality that Christmas Day is next week!  I have so many notes on my date book such as: finishing up work details, cleaning our home, tidying up my shopping list and adding the ribbons & bows to our gifts bags, etc.  But some of the best times I have allotted to my schedule is FAMILY, FRIENDS and FUN!  What kind of week goes on without having loved ones surround us?  

Have you ever heard the saying,  " All work and no play" ?  ewe!  I prefer the saying that goes like this... "Work hard and Play hard".  I truly believe, in keeping with our purpose in life, that no matter what we do, Do it the BEST we can.  So whatever work you are called to perform, do so with all your heart, give 100% and know that at the end of your shift, you have done well.  Go joyfully to the next step..  Could that be coming home to your children, preparing a family meal, or possibly sitting in a comfy recliner and squeezing in a 15 minute power nap.  No matter which step is next..  Do it, also, to the best of your ability.  Happy parents sets the mood for having happy children.. They too have had a long day at school and can use a release from their "job" ...Having other family members join you and take part in the meal preparation, not only gives them participation experience but also makes the responsibility from refrigerator to table to clean up spread among many versus just the one and only.  And if you are lucky enough to have a 15 minute slot to grab a power nap..  AHHH, say Thank You! and Do that step with giving it your very best!

Often times, during this season, we cram, squeeze and double up our calendars with extra activities.  We stress even more.  Then top if off with trying to shop for all the wish lists that have been handed to us .  We have ourselves traveling from store to store to get that "perfect gift" for everyone.  I, personally do not feel THAT being positive, joyful OR the direction I want to follow nor teach our children.  Finding peace and harmony during this season is more like it.   So how to do this?  EASY!!... the JOY of GIVING, is realizing that it is not the amount you spend or the total number of gifts you buy.  Christmas presents should not be a stress or put you in debt.  December 25th is truly a Season of RECEIVING .  Here is part one:
so let's try stepping outside of the commercialized box. By doing so, here are some examples:

Keep local small business at the forefront of your purchases.  Give a gift card for:  a massage, nail or hair care service, car detailing, a house keeper for a month, a product from their favorite direct sales representative or a paid meal to a small family owned diner.  This form of gift, not only helps small companies thrive, but it also allows treats to our loved ones, by thinking outside of the commercial "box".  Think of this as some ideas in the Joy of Giving..  

In this Season of Receiving... I do not mean the pretty wrapped boxes..  I am referring to the world receiving of the birth of Christ.  December 25th is much deeper and more than the hustle and bustle that TV ads and people have made it on the surface.  December 25th is and has been our greatest gift, from our loving and giving God!  WHO can top that?  So allow yourself the Joys of Giving but savor this Season with the Receiving of Jesus as the gift that gives and gives.

May you be blessed each and everyday with life's simple pleasures, through Jesus
Melany~

The Countdown Begins...

December is HERE!!!  Happy Dancing, Happy Prancing and.... hmmm MORE cooking , cleaning, shopping, thinking, gotta be, gotta go, gotta do....  EEEEKS...  

Now Now Now.... Let's pull back here, take a deep breath and close yours eyes (okay open them up so you can continue to read with me <--- haha)

We ARE in December and THAT is a blessing!  We get to experience the weather changes of the brisk mornings.  We see the amazing frost that graces our lawns like glistening diamonds.  We still get to use those muscles that were built up from swimming and tennis in the Summer, raking and picking up all those fallen walnuts on the ground from Fall to now using them on the shoveling of the snow that will most likely make an appearance more that once in the coming weeks.  So can we say... It does a body good things??  Yes! It does make you long for a heating pad, maybe even a dose of muscle pain relief, sure... why not!  Could have a massage or at least a NAP...but the bottom line is..  being thankful that we CAN.  We CAN do all things with the proper mindset.  Living with disabilities or natural aging, we modify what we can do, but we TRY our hardest and with that...  we still have a purpose.  We can serve cocoa to those who work to help us.  We can make little sandwiches to feed those who do things for us.  We can even make sure they have a small tin of baked cookies to let them know how much we appreciate what they do for us.  The very least that we can do is provide them with a smile, a hug and a true sense of caring for their presence in our lives.  This my friends is what we can ALL do.  God made us individual and purposeful and THAT is the true BLESSING.  When we can see that, feel that and know that, you can't help but being warm and fuzzy all over!  So, I may not be the girl behind the shovel digging out tunnels of snow this winter, however, I WILL be the one who has the mugs of cocoa to scatter around the neighborhood making sure everyone is warm...  I WILL be the one who has the home smelling like a delicious bakery and I WILL be the one who tidies up the porch to collect all the scarves, boots, mittens and coats to then hand out hugs and kisses to all the ones who steps over the threshold. I say WELCOME....  WELCOME Winter...

May you feel the chill of the winter months as a wake up coolness that opens you eyes to all the beauty that lies around us.  May you have the warmth of the Lord in your heart and in your homes to wrap you and keep you safe and at peace, this day and every day.

Remember, being Simply You is the greatest gift you can give the world.

Melany~

With the autumn days settling in after making its debut a few weeks ago...  I am really looking forward to the fellowship and table talks that our family will share in the coming months.  We celebrate the birthdays of our loved ones and the milestones of certain ages with great joy.  We give thanks for our blessings with a feast at Thanksgiving and we rejoice in our freedom and eternal life gift through God at Christmas. I am so blessed to be around many people that believe in the simply pleasures of life.

If you want to bring inner peace to yourself, try purging the clutter that our mind often hangs onto.  Box up those extra "things" in your home that are no longer needed, used or enjoyed and consider donating them to a homeless shelter or a community agency that can help those in need in your area.  It is an amazing feeling to see the smile of a stranger that receives a gift "just because".  When we sprinkle these little dustings of joy to others, we get so much more in return.  The heartfelt love inside is nearly indescribable and I challenge you to take a small step and pay it forward at least once this season.

 My husband was taught to never walk by the little red bucket and the chiming bell that you will often see and hear at Christmas in the front of some stores.  We have passed along that tradition and instilled it in our children as well.  Our youngest son scrambles to find the coins to place in that little slot and is so thrilled to know that such a small gift can make such big changes.  And trust me...I find the biggest change is in me.  The reality that one quarter, one dollar or even the time for volunteering to ring that bell, poses no sacrifice on my life yet the opportunity to actually a more managed way of my time.  You may ask...HOW?  God allows us to make choices and He sees in our hearts.  When we are stressed with work, cleaning, parenting and the added activities of the season, we feel the least thing we have time for is volunteering on top of all that..  But...  we do!  One 30 minute session at school, at the soup kitchen, at the church or even at a fellowship group can be found.  When we look for it and do it, we will be richly inspired by those we are placed with at that same time!  It is a ripple effect.  Life has a way of doing that.  Now that doesn't mean you HAVE to find 30 min. to volunteer. You don't HAVE to drop in a coin, and you do not HAVE to join any circles.  We can do only what we put our minds to doing.  Make baby steps to a plan of action and work towards goals.

I encourage you to sit and relax each day, unwind after the children go off to bed and take time for YOU.  Everyone needs a good 15 minutes to regroup and reflect and re-energize yourself.  By doing so you can bring so much more to your life, your family and beyond.

May you see all the positives that happen today and take a lesson from any negatives and learn it, release and let it go.

Be... Simply You, with a dash of fall colors for your added glowing exterior.
Melany~