tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post1221873013422333778..comments2024-01-26T13:52:15.408-05:00Comments on Life After I "Dew": This ChristmasShannon Dewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-32844242341709872062015-11-11T11:15:17.165-05:002015-11-11T11:15:17.165-05:00Thank you! After I read your post I went through ...Thank you! After I read your post I went through our closets {still have Jimmy's to do but kinda want him to be a part of that ;-)} and filled two trash bags with clothes and got rid of 32 pair of shoes! Now I'm looking for a women's shelter in our area because that sounds like an amazing opportunity. I think it'd be nice as a part of our advent activities too! We always donate to the food pantry but this would be awesome too!Shannon Dewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-31368279851041391132015-11-11T11:12:07.109-05:002015-11-11T11:12:07.109-05:00OK that makes a lot of sense! I love that! And th...OK that makes a lot of sense! I love that! And the Elf bringing the jammies is a GREAT idea! I think I'll do that!Shannon Dewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-82306936826323842472015-11-11T11:10:47.406-05:002015-11-11T11:10:47.406-05:00Yes! I love that! I've seen a few blog posts...Yes! I love that! I've seen a few blog posts where people do that and I love the idea! I think I'll adopt that this year too!Shannon Dewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-8192315746007032872015-11-11T11:09:53.981-05:002015-11-11T11:09:53.981-05:00Yes! Once they open that *one* toy it's all o...Yes! Once they open that *one* toy it's all over! That's all they want to play with. Love it!Shannon Dewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-48480350466526228572015-11-11T11:09:23.795-05:002015-11-11T11:09:23.795-05:00That's a great idea! Then they can wear them ...That's a great idea! Then they can wear them longer!!!Shannon Dewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532112640843820431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-44628570329281865192015-11-10T19:02:38.590-05:002015-11-10T19:02:38.590-05:00LOVE this. We noticed at my mom and dad's one...LOVE this. We noticed at my mom and dad's one year that the kids were miserable opening so many presents- they just want ONE thing to play with. So now they do one toy for each kid and one or two clothing related items. Then we have more time to play together and enjoy each other.Jen Wattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10928461435902874566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-56202942260647217812015-11-10T18:56:39.785-05:002015-11-10T18:56:39.785-05:00We do what Katlin does with Elf on a Shelf. He bri...We do what Katlin does with Elf on a Shelf. He brings Christmas jammies when he comes!!!<br />Way to go on getting back to the spirit of the season.April Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07950874804365982465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-84180532458466647942015-11-10T14:12:36.935-05:002015-11-10T14:12:36.935-05:00I love the 4 items idea and I bet it will be hard!...I love the 4 items idea and I bet it will be hard!! Here's a holiday tradition we do .... we did this when I was little and now we do it with the kids ... we celebrate Jesus's birthday and have a cake and sing happy birthday to him.sblind2https://www.blogger.com/profile/03606246479236072796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-86494840956464222532015-11-10T10:13:02.190-05:002015-11-10T10:13:02.190-05:00If you do Elf on the Shelf I always have our Elf b...If you do Elf on the Shelf I always have our Elf bring a book and PJ's on the day he arrives. That way you get to use them longer! Just an idea<br />Plus I love this idea of getting back to the true meaning of Christmas. My son is a little young (2.5) but he knows that Santa comes because Jesus was born so it's a start. Plus Santa brings one toy that we don't wrap and then we give other more practical gifts (clothes, books puzzles) Katlin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696697947909192192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645105390063604360.post-26536229113574801372015-11-10T09:27:33.894-05:002015-11-10T09:27:33.894-05:00YES! Times a million over again! Seriously, when ...YES! Times a million over again! Seriously, when you grow in your faith in Jesus and allow Him to grow your heart, you realize so many things on so many different levels. We are moving towards a minimalist lifestyle and have been for the past 8 months. Our house does not have the junk in it, we are moving towards the basics, and what we need versus what we want. We have also rid ourselves of the junk in our homes, the clutter, and yes, NO MORE toys. Both of my kids took their toys to a women's shelter for battered women to give toys to the kids who have to live their with their mothers for safety. We serve in a couple of different ministries that are local and worldwide and have now involved my chidlren in these efforts, and we are ALL realizing there is so much we are given and blessed with that others simply do not have. I am telling you ... the book that changed me was "7" by Jen Hatmaker ... if you haven't read it, you really should. I have rid myself and everyone else in the house of a lot of our unworn clothes, shoes, etc. and have personally given those items to people I know need them more than I do versus just dropping them off at the Goodwill. That's good too, but I found it so powerful to connect with those and meet those who receive face to face. Bottom line: we DO have enough, and we need to be the light in the lives of others as Jesus has been in ours. End of story. I used to get so wrapped up in the decorations, creating a Pinterest home, the traditions, creating, creating, and creating for Christmas. Not this year. Christmas does NOT need to any more "creation" ... we don't need 5 trees in our home with different "themes", we don't need junk all over the place to show our love to Jesus, etc. God has already done the "creating" for us, so why are we consuming ourselves in the nonsense and losing our focus on Him? I find the more consumed I am in the nonsense, the more I lose sight of Him. No more overdoing it on the decorations, no more overdoing it on the toys, our Advent calendar will be LOVING and serving in minintries to help others and bring the light of Jesus into their lives every day until Christmas as Jesus does for us as opposed to "what am I getting now? It's day 5...am I getting chocolate or popcorn tonight?" Get, get, get. NO. NO. NO. We are not doing this...every day on my Advent calendar will be doing something for someone we live around, serving in a ministry that is local, participating in a worldwide ministry, etc. Bottomline is: It is not about us, you, or me ... it is about Jesus. Keeping our eyes on Him and more importantly, living for HIm and bringing His light to others.Daxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248795238466518284noreply@blogger.com