When Thanksgiving meets Christmas

As we move towards Christmas, this year feels different.

Normally I’m full speed ahead in the Christmas spirit, but it’s like I don’t want to leave the posture of November’s focus in gratitude. Even as I move to decorate the tree and blare the Carpenters Christmas album when I go Christmas shopping, my heart is reluctant to let go of Thanksgiving. I suppose that was the point of the gratitude giving challenge.

Maybe this has always been a natural thing for you- to maintain an attitude of thanks year ’round. For me it’s new, it’s foreign, and it changes everything. Because if I’m being truthful, moving towards the holidays can be hard.

Why is it that the holidays can simultaneously lift your emotions and crush them?

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Gratitude and Giving Challenge

Can you believe that next week we’ll hit November, already? These months seem to fly by even quicker now with our ‘livi-girl. I’ve been doing some thinking about Thanksgiving and find myself getting wrapped up in plans for thanksgiving day. It’s easy for me to get distracted in the to-do’s and miss out on the heart of giving thanks. I put together a little Gratitude and Giving challenge to help me refocus. I hope you’ll take up with me, darling!

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When The Good Gets In The Way

Have you ever stopped to think, “this is just a taste.”?

For those that know Christ as their personal Savior, this life is just a passing, fleeting moment in the greater context of our Heavenly home. Sometimes I have to pause and remind myself of this. Especially when I breathe in that baby smell after nap time or when I hold tight a little longer as my husband leaves for work in the morning. In those times I wonder if life can be any more full.

I want so badly to cling to these moments. It’s like I’m walking around, fist tightly clenched to hold on to all that I hold dear.

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2 days ago by darlinglittlelife “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” Phil 4:8 The longer I work on the blog and social media, the more I realize how important it is to check my heart often. It’s far to easy to get distracted, discontented, prideful, and self seeking. Do you struggle with this too? Verses like this remind me to focus on Christ and glorifying His name. Starting to compile some fall items from Target
4 days ago by darlinglittlelife Happy 30th Birthday to my darling husband! Leave him some birthday wishes in the comments below for me? ❤️ To celebrate his big day, I put together a blog post with 30 small and simple ways to love on your husband. Head over to the link in profile to read!
6 days ago by darlinglittlelife “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” -Mother Theresa* Do the hard work now, mama. Just show up— an exhausting thought some days, i know. But through the slow, repetitive, daily investment in the small things, hearts are changed and character is molded. Mother those sweet hearts with grace and God’s truth. Know that I’m cheering you on from our little home to yours! After a bit of research it seems that this popular quote may actually be a paraphrase and not a direct quote from her ‍♀️. Either way, it’s a good phrase.
1 week ago by darlinglittlelife “When you cannot praise Him for what He has done, you have to praise Him for who He is in what He has allowed... Brokenness leads to blessedness in prayer.” Jill Briscoe Taking some time to pray for you, darling reader, this morning. I know there are hurts and struggles and broken places in your life. My heart breaks with you. May the hard places lead you closer to the God of all comfort. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you through and through.
2 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife Thank you for all of the sweet comments and messages this weekend after our little announcement on the blog! We were so touched by your kind words! If you missed it, Olivia is going to be a big sister! Baby number 2 due in early February. ❤️ You can catch the announcement on the blog link in my profile.
2 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife We’ve got some big news on the blog tonight—any guesses?! Head over to the link in profile to read our darling little family update!
2 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife FINAL DAYS TO ENTER! Friends, this beautiful watch from Jord is such a sweet reminder to be purposeful and intentional with each and every moment... I’ve paired with @jordwatches to bring you giveaway of a $100 off any watch! It’s SO easy to enter- go to the link in my profile where it’s says “Jord watch Giveaway” I’ve got a short blog post with more details and then you can enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. Winner will be picked on Monday 8/5! Good luck! #jordwatch
3 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife #truthstoteachmydaughter “History is the story of redemption. This story is much bigger than I. I am not the main character in the drama of redemption. I am not the point. But by God’s grace I am a part of it. My subplot is integral to the whole. It is far more significant to have a small part in this story than to star in my own puny productions. This is a cosmic story that will run throughout eternity. Will I play my part with grace and joy, or will I go for the short- run, insignificant story that really has
3 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife “I’ve got the joy (joy, joy, joy) down in my heart to stay! ‘Cause I’m so happy, so very happy, I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart!” ⠀⠀ I’ve been singing all the fun Sunday school songs of my childhood to ‘Livi girl. Many of them have such rich truths to teach about the Lord. I’m sure I’m forgetting some good ones though--What’s one of your favorite childhood Sunday school songs? ⠀⠀ (P.S. it’s official, she likes @chickfila just as much as her mama) Both of our outfits are linked on @liketoknow .it ! You can instantly shop my
3 weeks ago by darlinglittlelife NEW BLOG POST (link in profile) ⠀⠀ “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 ⠀⠀ “Sometimes we spend so much of our emotional energy on being polite, gracious, and kind to others throughout the day that it feels like we “nothing left” for those we love most at home. But these are the people that God has directly and specifically called you to love, serve, teach, support, and encourage...” ⠀⠀ Head to the link in my bio to read more on kindness in the home along with a tip to infuse teachable