Christmas is 3 days away, and you’re still not coming up with ideas for gifts that will truly matter to your loved ones?! I suspect that intuitively, you already know what you want to give others. But in a world filled with glittering advertisements, endless wish lists, and the pressure to buy the “perfect” gift,…
The holiday season is a time of celebration, togetherness, and connection. For some, it’s an opportunity to dive into the energy of large gatherings, filled with laughter and chatter. For others, it’s a chance to slow down, savor meaningful moments, and enjoy quieter traditions. These contrasting approaches often reflect the natural tendencies of introverts and…
Well my friends, we made it through another Advent Calendar blog series and I am deeply touched by all your comments and feedback through yet another 24-day adventure together. This year, discussing joy had a profound impact on my positive mental and emotional well-being. Sharing thoughts and experiences of joy allowed me to savour positive…
Canadians look forward to Christmas every year, and the first details to nail down, are where to gather for the event. Whose turn is it to host? What are the plans for Christmas Eve? Many people make these plans long in advance because of the need to arrange travel etc. For blended and reconstituted families,…
As winter’s chill wraps the world in a cozy embrace, there’s a magical transformation that takes place – hearts become warmer, smiles brighter, and the air is infused with a special kind of joy. It’s a feeling we want to preserve, and share. It’s that time of the year when we come together to celebrate…
When December comes around, watching Christmas movies is one seasonal tradition that is widely practiced and enjoyed. That’s because movies about the holidays often provide us with a sense of nostalgia and joy. “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” –Hamilton Wright Mabie Christmas movies often promote messages…
Let’s be real. We’ve all had some days when we’re “ not feeling it” and being joyful is a stretch. We all get in a bit of a rut now and then. Usually, we can pull out of one with a little self-care. Anything longer than two weeks and you might want to check in…
Waking up to fresh snow in the morning brings joyful memories of childhood and more! I know a little boy who delights in the prospects of playing outside when snow appears. I’m sure he’s not the only one. Snow and kids go together like milk and cookies! Dressed warmly in their colourful snowsuits, pushing snow…
Here we are again, on December 1st, connected for the next 24 days by this daily Advent Calendar Blog started three years ago. I am very excited at the prospect of what will transpire from our daily contemplation. I am inspired by the opportunity to rejoice, find gratitude and share a moment with you. I…
Has it already been twenty-four days since I started on this year’s Advent Calendar Blog? I intended the topic for 2022 to be a reflection on change, and how to face it with courage and dignity, whether it was brought in intentionally or not into our life, yet it seems there were a few other…
I am not exactly sure when I started noticing reindeer as a Christmas symbol, beyond just the figure pulling Santa’s sleigh but my fascination with reindeer has grown over the last few years, and I have been compelled to dig deeper into its significance and symbolism not just as it relates to Christmas but also…
Every home I visited at Christmas in my childhood had a nativity scene under the tree, and as children we naturally gravitated towards the miniature scene carefully examining the delicate figurines and rearranging them while the adults enjoyed their visit. When I married, we inherited my husband’s childhood nativity scene from his family and it…
Stars have long been spiritual symbols of divine guidance and protection for many religions all over the world including the star of Bethlehem which we also know as the Christmas star. In Christian tradition, the Star of Bethlehem, revealed the birth of Jesus to three wise men who followed it to meet the new King. …
At this time of the year, we are reminded of how meaningful it is to be in the “spirit of giving”. Certainly, our minds turn to adequately expressing how much our loved ones matter in our lives. In our desire to express an intangible feeling, we sometimes feel helpless and resort to buying extravagant gifts…
Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? I usually get it up the first week of December but there have been years where we left it ’til very late. When you have children in the house the tree usually is decorated early but as empty nesters I remember a few years where we finally…
