Episode 69. [Faith] Has Your Christmas Lost Christ? Easy Ways You & Your Kids Can Bring Him Back This Advent Season

Pruning To Prosper - Clutter, Money, Meals and Mindset for the Catholic Mom

Opening Bible verse: Matthew 24: 37-44

Does Christmas stress you out? It stresses me out! I'm not good at choosing gifts for people that I'm confident they will like. I stress about all the money involved, the mess, the extra annoying traditions like elves that need moving and on and on. This Sunday, November 27th, marks the first Sunday in Advent and in today's episode, I invite you into one of our family traditions that keeps me grounded in the reason for the season.

This is not meant to be yet another thing added to your To Do List. Please do not even look at Pinterest for any ideas, keep it simple and stress free!

Begin with asking your kids how they can use their time, talent, and treasure to bring Christ into the season. Our kids are so creative and once the ideas start to flow...there's no stopping them. I pray this tradition is one you and your family will embrace and look forward to year after year.

Here is the list I mention in this episode along with the original old school YouTube video that shows you the Advent bags I mention in this episode. Merry Christmas! XOXO, Gina

https://youtu.be/lxCvJkWYEfk

Service: Soup Kitchen, Nursing Home, Trash Pick-Up, Shoveling snow for neighbors, Take someone else’s dog for a walk, Babysit for free, Wrap gifts for someone else, Run Errands for someone else, Coat/clothing Drive, Bake a casserole for the soup kitchen, Invite a lonely neighbor for tea or dinner

Helping Hands: Pick a chore and do it for free with JOY, Be a Mother’s Helper today

Religious: Attend morning mass, Pray the Rosary, Light Advent Candles, Army Men reminders to pray for our military, Decorate the grave of our baby/brother and pray for him, Pray for someone that lost a loved one this year, Pray for someone who lost a pet, Pray for the lonely, Check Church bulletin for ideas or those that need prayers, groups, etc, Confession, Apologize for something specific and ask that person for forgiveness, Attend mass for our loved ones that died in December, Pray the Rosary on ride to Christmas Eve dinner for all the people that don’t have family, Place Jesus in manger on Christmas morning, Put your shoes out for St. Nicolas Day (shoes out the night of December 5th)

Good Deeds: Make granola/breakfast sandwiches for waste management guys, Adopt a family (gifts, gloves, hats), Hang hats, scarves, mittens at city bus stops, Pay for someone’s groceries, Pay for someone’s gas for their vehicle, Fill a family’s propane or oil tank, Donate toys to thrift store/clean playroom, Teacher Appreciation Day (write card and wrap gift), Bake Cookies for Neighbors and deliver, Donate to charities, Leave money for a family that’s had a hard year, Give money to Pastor so he can decide who needs it most, Family Fun Talent Night (play piano, guitar, sing, dance), Go see Santa and get photo, Go see a Holiday Show at local theatre, Out to Dinner Night, Happy Birthday, Jesus! Bake him a cake

Family Time: Appreciate the siblings you have, tell them what you love about them, play the game they want, Go Pick out a Christmas Tree, Game Night, Decorate the Christmas Tree, String popcorn for the birds/pinecone feeders, Send a card to a grandparent telling them the best thing you did with them this year, Drive Around looking at Christmas lights or pay to do a drive-through exhibit, Snowy Day hike, Sledding, Skiing, Walk the dog, Christmas movie nigh

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