Homemade Christmas With Children

The best Christmas memories are made by hand. 

And if that is true, then perhaps the worst Christmas memories are those made when we spend the majority of the holiday season in department stores without our children, trying to purchase toys that will be played with for a few days and then forgotten. 

I love gifts, and giving them is important to me, but often the gift that our children most long for is the gift of our undistracted time.

On the other hand, many of us envision making things by hand as just another distraction from our children. When these gifts are difficult projects that must be done solo, we are again forced to choose between time with our children, or time doing something for them, but not with them.

Last Christmas, I did spend a few hours away from my children. We had a theme of "used or homemade" for Christmas gifts which meant that I would take a few children at a time to hit up thrift stores, or I was sewing simple gifts for them such as capes and doll blankets.

This year, we are forgoing elaborate (or thrifted) gifts that our children will open in favor of an ultimate field trip. We are heading to Africa at the first of the year to do ministry to children and families, with a stop in Ireland on our way to celebrate Christmas with a beloved aunt and uncle.

However, we still want to have a few gifts on hand for grandparents and friends, and since this year we are on a tight budget we chose to make a few of these gifts.

These are a few of the simple gifts that we made;

Rolled Beeswax Candles

You need:
Beeswax Sheets
Wick

• Carefully cut your beeswax sheets in half lengthwise. 
• Cut your candle wick to fit.
• Place wick at the edge of the beeswax and carefully fold over the first roll.
• Finish rolling tightly.

Our two sheets of beeswax made 4 thick candles. You could also cut the beeswax in thirds for thinner candles or cut in quarters for short candles.

Essential Oil Bath Salts

Soaking in bath salts is a great way to supplement your body with magnesium and get better sleep.

You need;

1 32 oz package epsom salts

essential oil (we used Young Living Lavender Oil)

pint sized mason jars

Christmas fabric and ribbon

• Pour your epsom salt into a large bowl. You could also add himalayan pink salt, dead sea salt, or other mineral rich salts.
• Add about 15 drops lavender essential oil.
• Stir well to combine.
• Use a scoop to pour bath salts into jars.
• Cut circles from your holiday fabric that are slightly larger than your jar lid. We used a gallon size jar lid as a template.
• Place fabric over lid and then screw on jar ring. 
• Tie ribbon around jar ring and add a gift tag if desired.

There are loads of other possibilities for homemade gifts, bean soup in a jar, cloth doll, a simple cape, or even potted plants such as geraniums that you start from a cutting. 

We can turn the tide on Christmas expectations, and create a holiday celebration that is defined by precious moments spent with our loved ones.

Do you want more alternatives to shopping this Christmas (or online shopping alternatives)? Check out this post

If you are struggling to figure out how you can pay for Christmas, please check out my new course, Bountiful Homeschooling. When you use code, "Budget" the course is only $18 and all proceeds go to a project we are doing in Tanzania, Africa this January. Not only do you get inexpensive help with your budget, but your purchase goes towards helping others.

This post has affiliate links. 

Finding The Quiet

I had an opportunity to get away with my husband for a couple of days. We get away a few times a year for a marriage conference, but the last time we were actually alone together for more than an evening, was a year ago when we celebrated our 25th anniversary.

I was actually pretty excited about this trip. He has a hotel for work, so it meant that I could have some uninterrupted time to work on projects, without a big financial expenditure. You see, when I am at home, I don't want to be staring at a screen. If I am not looking my children in the face, I have lots of little organizing and gardening projects that I need to look at. And don't even let me get started on all the laundry and cooking. Even with several older children, it still requires one person to manage it all.

So life at home is very full, and the first day alone in the hotel room felt pretty amazing. I worked on my computer for a full five-hour stretch before taking a break. It was a whole new experience.

By day two though, the quiet was starting to wear on me. I missed my crazy life. I missed the excitement and intensity of managing my busy household. I missed the hugs and even the refereeing that is such a big part of my days right now.

Sure, I could FaceTime my kids, and do a silly check on teeth brushing and schoolwork through the computer, but there is nothing so wonderful as being around these amazing humans that my husband and I birthed together. 

I am thankful that my husband and I still love each other, after 26 years of marriage. I am thankful that we enjoy being together because I know that someday it will be him and I without all of these children at home. I am also thankful for the quiet times that I have at home. My morning routine of reading my Bible in bed, while I sip my first cup of coffee has given me just enough of a respite to keep me going on those busy days.

But I really love being around my kids, and I am so grateful for the many extra hours that homeschooling has allowed us to have together.

Some of the things that I love doing with my kids;

• Watercolor painting

• Reading aloud

• Nature Study

• Science projects-

Tinker Crate has been a great resource for us this year!

• Cleaning 

• Picking fruit

• Baking

What are your favorite things to do with your kids?

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Comprehensive Goal Setting

Although I have read many books on goal setting, one of my favorite systems was well explained by missionary wife Colleen Adams at a women's meeting I went to. Thankfully my creative friend Rebecca, beautifully explains the whole system here, visit her page and you will find a very clear explanation of each area of goal setting. The short story is that, instead of trying to make A, B and C goals, or just a big list of general goals for the year, Colleen's method has you break down your goal setting into eight different areas. Also, instead of making goals for the whole year, these goals are meant to be for a shorter time period, such as three months.

However, even before you start defining your goals for the year or a season, it is important to have your basics, or essentials clearly defined. Although, we have long had a family vision statement, it is important to revisit it and pray for fresh vision, so that we aren't making goals without the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we long for. If you don't have a family purpose statement, then this free download from Tsh Oxenreider of The Art of Simple, could be super helpful for you.

Some of my essentials are;

God, and an active, listening relationship with Him.

My husband, and building a strong marriage.

My children, and giving them a solid spiritual and educational foundation, with all the love they deserve,

My home, and making it a life giving place.

My community; loving and encouraging my extended family and friends.

My ministry, and encouraging other moms.

My art, and continuing to improve my photography, food raising, and writing.

My businesses, and serving my market well to supplement our family income.

Missions, and being a part of helping families in crisis worldwide.

Last Year's Goals

(with the honest truth about progress)

1. Self Care

Exercise 5 days a week
 (better than the previous year, but overall inconsistent.)

Drink 6 glasses of water per day
 (improvement)

2. Spiritual Life

Daily Bible copy-work 

(this became a habit, yay!)

Spend first 30 minutes of the day in prayer and Bible study 

(this went pretty well, but I need to work on getting the children being more productive so I can have this time guilt free, or get up earlier)

3. Intellect/Emotions 

(for me right now, these are some goals with my kids)

Weekly nature walk and journaling

 (we did a lot more illustrating and journaling, but not enough nature journaling/observation)

Teach chore consistency with children 

(still working on this)

4. Relationships

Weekly date with my honey 

(we had some really sweet times together this year, and celebrated 25 years of marriage)

Work on eye contact with my children

 (major relationship breakthroughs with my middle children, the book, Hold On To Your Kids was very influential in this.)

5. Time Management

No phone/computer until priorities 1, 2 and 3 are done (super-fail)

Family Bible time by 8:30 a:m (here too)

6. Nest Management

Monthly deep cleaning 

(my house just got dirtier, as I got busier)

Library redo (tile, flooring, window)

(we did it, all but the window, and I love it)

7. Uniquely You

(This might mean weekly pedicures, or more time spent on self care, 

but those aren't my top priorities right now)

Weekly blog post (nope)

Improve photography 

(yes, and this lens is helping)

8. Financial Stewardship

Make a list of accounts (done)

Make some money (yes!)

Although, I didn't achieve total success in the goals that I set in 2015, having the goals, did help me gain consistency in some important areas.
This year, with the help of books like Essentialism, I am being even more prayerful about what my core values and goals should be. It is easy to get my plate so full that I end up frazzled. This is not what I want for myself or my family. Our dreaming and goal setting, can inspire our children to also have purpose; we don't need perfect execution, forward progress is what we are really looking for.

2016 Goals 

1. Self Care

Walk 2 miles, 5 days a week

Do a 21 day sugar fast

2. Spiritual Life

Memorize one verse each week.

Spend first 30 minutes of the day in prayer and Bible study.

3. Intellect/Emotions 

(for me right now, these are some goals with my kids)

Get my youngest reading fluently

Teach morning routine consistency to children.

4. Relationships

Weekly date with my honey.

Continue forging connection with my middle children.

5. Time Management

Family Bible time by 8:30 a:m.

No phone/computer until morning routine is done.

6. Nest Management

Simplify/organize my closet.

Grow more food.

7. Uniquely You

Write a book with my daughter.

Go to a writer/blogger conference.

8. Financial Stewardship

Increase my income. 

Save for a mission trip.

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Cherry-Almond Granola, New Kids and a Flood

No sooner did I make an inspiring list of goals for the year than I got hit with a few major interruptions. First, our goat became a first time mama. The three kids are a delightful little distraction but it is easy to lose an hour staring at them when I only meant to quickly check on them.

In the midst of the fun our drain backed up, leaked out a faulty pipe and ruined my lovely kitchen floors. This necessitated digging a four by four hole in my laundry room floor which has left me in one of the worst situations for a large family. No laundry facilities!

However, I still yearn to spend quality time with my children and feed them healthy food so in the middle of the chaos I decided to enlist their help to turn some of my bulk purchased oatmeal into a hearty batch of tasty granola.

Cherry-Almond Granola

Preheat oven to 300

Mix in large bowl,

8 cups rolled oats

1 cup almonds

2 T chia seeds

1 cup coconut

(You could substitute any nut or seed in place of the almonds/chia seeds/coconut)

In a small saucepan melt together

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 t cinnamon

1 t pumpkin pie spice

1/4 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

Cook and stir just until melted and combined. Pour slowly over the oats mix, stirring thoroughly. 

Once all ingredients are evenly mixed, spread on two large cookie sheets.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

After removing from oven add 1 cup dried cherries.

(You could substitute any dried fruit on hand. I prefer to add after granola has cooked so the fruit does not dry out, just a personal preference).

Once cool, place in airtight container and enjoy.

As you can see, this was a fun and easy recipe that my children loved helping out with. It is also flexible enough that if a child does not measure exactly, it won't be ruined.

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