Christmas Shopping With Daddy Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pic is the photo I described in YESTERDAY'S post. I'm posting on Austin's computer since mine is broken, and I had a little technical difficulty!

CONTEST! - TODAY IS THE LAST DAY, FOLKS! You have until midnight tonight to enter the contest to win a chance to participate in Mystery Bag Party 2. I will draw SIX names out of the bowl tomorrow morning and announce the winners at 10:00 a.m.

If you haven't entered, leave your name with the word "CONTEST" beside it in the Comment Section, e-mail me or leave me a note on Facebook. (I'm not above taking a phone call or two, either.) Hurry, hurry, hurry. There's no time to lose!

NEXT WEEK - I have the neatest article to share with you the first two or three days of next week. If you're like me (and I know most of you are thankful you are not), it will change your perspective greatly regarding your role as Chauffeur to your kids and their friends. You'll never crawl into the driver's seat with a bad attitude again after reading this woman's take on that chore/privilege. It will be worth your time!

28 REAL WAYS TO SHARE YOUR FAITH ON CAMPUS - Four more ways to share your faith with others... on campus or at home:

4. Host a Bible study in your dorm or apartment. Ask a Christian friend to help. (Also, attend the weekly BCM Bible Study held on your campus. Make it a priority... just like English class.)

5. Be positive with the people you are around. Choose to look at the possibilities in life. (They will notice.)

6. Put scripture verses and posters on your wall that will help make people curious. Put a prayer request marker board on your door. Let people write requests and follow up with them after you pray for them.

7. Invite people to join you for BCM or church group meetings. Introduce your non-Christian friends to as many of your friends as possible.

Tomorrow I'll post the ways you can share in the classroom. I have to admit. Some of these things would be hard to do in a public setting... especially if you are in the minority. I guess all of the moms of college-age kids should add "BOLDNESS" to their prayer list for their kids. That, and "Let me lead by example." Not easy, but vital! (And just so you know, I'm adding it to my list of things I pray for, too.)

CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY IN DECEMBER

DAY 13

18. Take an hour for yourself. Buy one or two Christmas magazines and find a nice, comfortable chair beside the Christmas tree. Fix a glass of Winter White Hot Chocolate. Tell the kids to entertain themselves until they hear the "buzzer." (I use the timer on the stove.) Sit back and just relax, breathe, read and look at the beautiful pictures and stories. (Southern Living is my favorite to just sit and enjoy.)

Blog Linkage - I have three links to share today. One useful, one which has a neat Christmas tradition attached to the Elf phenomena, and one which has a challenge for each of us. It will definitely tug at your heart and make you so thankful for this time with your kids and family.

1. The old, familiar http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/ has TONS of coupons and gift ideas these last few days before Christmas. Check it out. It might help with finishing your Christmas shopping! Every woman's dream! (Remember back in the day when your dream was Tom Selleck knocking on the door to take you to dinner? That was my pre-Mikie dream... Boy, have my dreams changed!) LET'S FINISH THAT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! YEA!

2. Please go to "tara whitney photography" under My Blog List. She has a tradition which includes an elf AND family activities counting down each day until Christmas. LOVE IT!

3. Under My Blog List, click "Lisa's Blog." She knows a little boy who will only be on this earth a few more days. She is asking everyone to send him a card with $1 enclosed. Read the information carefully. She asks you do NOT say "Get Well Soon" because of the time he and his family know he has left. But as always, prayers are welcome and miracles are hoped for. We may not say "Get Well Soon," but we know as Christians if God says it, this little boy's life can be saved.

Christmas Shopping With Daddy Date

That's right. It is pretty self-explanatory. Let Daddy take one child at a time to look for that perfect "Mommy" gift. Finish the one-on-one time with a milkshake, hot chocolate and a ride around town to look at Christmas lights with Christmas music blaring. Make an event some men think of as a "chore" a "joy."

Moms, you can help by having a very specific list for the child to use to choose your gift. Also, limit it to one or two stores instead of a mall. There's no sense making your hubby have a melt-down in front of the little one. Make it as easy and enjoyable for the "daters" as possible.

And later... enjoy the fruits of THEIR labor!

Have a terrific Thursday. Tomorrow I'll end with Weekend Happenings, more ways to Share Your Faith on Campus, more ways to celebrate Christmas Every Day in December, and I'll ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS FOR THE MYSTERY BAG PARTY 2 CONTEST!!! I'll also quietly be celebrating the 300th post of A Simple Life. (I'm planning on turning on a buzzer, reading two Christmas magazines by the tree and sipping some Winter White Hot Chocolate. I'm a firm believer in "practicing what I preach.")

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow (around 10:00 a.m.).

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda