Archives for December 2014

Christmas Poem 2014: The Christmas Gifts of God

December 15, 2014 by 2 Comments

341708095_02ceff93c0_zI’ll be taking a blogging break until after the first of the year—unless I hop on here to share a photo. May you enjoy sweet times with loved ones and have a truly blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth, my friends. Enjoy my annual Christmas poem—and see you in 2015!

The Christmas Gifts of God

You may not find them under the tree
They may not sparkle with bows,
But the Christmas gifts of God will shine
Much brighter than jewelry or clothes.

For the gifts of God come custom-wrapped
Just for me and you,
Answered prayers, sweet surprises,
And even a miracle or two.

But God gave the greatest gift to us
The night he sent his Son,
A Savior born for one and all
New life, new hope begun.

And now this Christmas season
With God’s love so deep and broad,
Let’s open our hearts and hands to receive
The Christmas gifts of God.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above . . .”  James 1:17a NIV

*What special gifts has God blessed you with this holiday season?

*Flickr photo by higgs2007, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: blessing, Gift, holidays, poem

Holiday Break for Me, Gift of Help for You

December 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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Mother of the Bride, I’m taking a holiday blogging break until the first of the year, but I have a little gift for you—a gift of help! Allow me to point you in the right direction to find some great ideas and tips. Maybe at some point over the holidays, you’ll have a little time to wear your MOB hat. The chances may not be good, but you never know!

Two great sources of help are right here on my website. Glance over to the right sidebar and scan down until you see the Favorite Posts section. There you will find links to some important or super-helpful posts here on the Mother of the Bride Blog. Also, if you would like info or help on a certain topic, just use the search feature right under my picture on the header. It will pull up all kinds of help in an instant.

Another great source of helpful ideas can be found on my Pinterest page. I have eighteen wedding-related boards filled with terrific ideas for you. When you go over to check it out, be sure to follow me while you’re there so you won’t miss out on great new pins I post each week.

How’s that for some MOB help this holiday season? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!

*Find my annual Christmas poem over on my home page. Hope you enjoy—and see you in the new year!

*Flickr photo by top10things, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: help, Mother of the Bride, search, variety

Wedding Day Photo Idea: Bridesmaids Hold the Groom!

December 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment

248DSC_8984Looking for a casual, fun wedding day photo idea of the bridesmaids and the groom, Mother of the Bride? Well, look no further. Today’s idea will provide a great photo as well as a ton of laughs.

Just tell the girls to hoist the man of the hour into a horizontal position and let the photographer capture the zaniness. From the photo above, you can see how this type of shot can work especially well at a beach wedding or in another outdoor venue. It’s definitely not a church sanctuary shot, is it? This one works best when saved for after the ceremony when everyone gets more comfortable.

My daughter Kristin (the bridesmaid on the right) got to enjoy this fun photo shoot with this special group of friends from her college days. Such fun—and what a great memory captured forever with a photo. A treasure indeed.

Suggest this shot to your daughter and her beloved, MOB, and see if they don’t love it immediately. Bet they will!

*You might also like to read Photo Idea: Bridesmaids Blow the Groom a Kiss!

*Photo by Sebrie Images

Filed Under: bridesmaids, fun, groom, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, variety

Midweek Morsel: A Winner Plus Some Christmas Peace

December 11, 2014 by 8 Comments

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Ho, Ho, Ho! Time to announce the winner of the “Playing Santa Again” Giveaway! The winner of the $20 credit towards a purchase from artist Jana Botkin’s website is Elaine! Congrats and Merry Christmas, Elaine! Have fun selecting a purchase from Jana!

Now for the rest of us: In the midst of this jolly Ho, Ho, Ho season, many of us may actually be longing for a little Christmas peace. A little lull in all of the frenzied activity. We can find that if we stop long enough to seize it. But others may be longing for peace of a deeper sort. Peace of the soul.

Here’s what Billy Graham has said about Christmas peace:

“Centuries have rolled by, and still the world longs for and looks for the peace the angels sang about on that first Christmas morning . . . ‘Where is His peace?’ you ask. I’ll tell you where it is. It abides in the hearts of all who have trusted His grace.”

If you’re longing for true Christmas peace—peace of the soul—give your heart to the Savior today. Place your faith in him. Trust in him. Receive his peace.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14

*How does knowing the peace of Christ change your life?

*Flickr photo by mseckington, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: faith, giveaway, holidays, peace, salvation, trust

Realistic December Wedding Planning

December 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment

2926585439_b5c2e16d2c_z*Here’s a special December encore presentation since many of you were not mothers of the bride at this time last year. Hope it helps!

December wedding planning has a different set of rules, Mother of the Bride. And if you break them, sweet friend, you risk not only your sanity but probably a merry Christmas season as well.

A couple of weeks ago I urged you to give yourself a break with time management by saying no to some responsibilities and extra tasks and also by asking for help. But in December the guidelines change slightly. You certainly don’t want to ask anyone for help. Everyone is already overloaded with holiday tasks and events. And from what I hear, it’s not a good time to call on Santa’s elves either.

Saying no to some of your routine responsibilities is still a good idea, though, and if anyone dares to ask you, a mother of the bride, to take on an extra task during the holiday season, not only should they be blasted with a resounding are you crazy, they should also be sentenced to fifty lashes with a peppermint stick.

The main rule, though, for realistic December wedding planning, MOB, is postpone. Yes, postpone any and all wedding planning possible until January arrives. Remembering to live life apart from an all things wedding approach is always good advice but never more so than during the holidays. The holidays should be enjoyed—by you, by the bride and the groom, and by all those living life with you.

If certain tasks must be attended to—like securing a vendor or making a payment on time—do it as quickly as possible and get back to focusing on the special times to be enjoyed during the holidays. Be realistic, MOB, and grant yourself the grace December wedding planning rules afford. You won’t regret it.

*What wedding planning-free activities do you look forward to the most this month?

*Be sure to throw your name in the hat for my “Playing Santa Again” Giveaway on my home page. Deadline to enter is 6 p.m. CST this Wednesday.

*Flickr photo by paperladyinvites, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: advice, focus, holidays, joy, Mother of the Bride, preparation, wait
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