by kathilipp | Nov 21, 2012 | Christmas, Home |
The Christmas Project #3 Pick Your Photo for Your Christmas Card
We’re keeping today’s Project fun (and hopefully simple!) in honor of Thanksgiving. I want you to either:
Pick your Christmas picture (if you’re including one in your cards,) or
Take a picture while everyone is gathered for Thanksgiving
See? Fun and easy. Tomorrow you can send it in to Costco, Target, or your card company to get it ready for your cards. But for today, just enjoy looking through all those pics on your computer (or your phone,) and remembering how blessed you and yours have been this year.
Tell us all what you are doing for your photo: professional, a snapshot, something you found from this summer? Or maybe you’re skipping the whole card thing – good for you! Tell us that too! For everyone who comments, I will enter you into a drawing for a $10 gift card to Shutterfly.com Here is what we did this year on Shutterfly – it was super simple (and did I mention, it’s DONE!?!)
First, Here is what we did last year:
And here is what we did this year:
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving! I really do include you my friends as one of the things I am most grateful for!
by kathilipp | Nov 20, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Project #2 Put Together Your Christmas Binder
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Put all things in order.”
Today I want you to create a safe place to keep all of your Christmas “stuff”.
If you’re like most people, you have your recipes in various cookbooks, a bunch of envelopes from last year’s Christmas cards stuffed into a kitchen drawer, and your Christmas stamps are tacked to your fridge with a magnet waiting to be used.
Stop the madness.
I want you to grab a binder (yes, you can go buy a pretty one at Target, or you can scavenge one from your kid’s room,) and start pulling all your loose papers, Christmas labels, lists and recipes and any other holiday-related paraphernalia into one place.
Here is what you will need:
- Binder
- Binder tabs
- Sheet protectors
- Three hole punch
- Permanent marker
If you don’t have all these items laying around the house, no worries. The important thing is to gather all your holiday-related papers into one place. Even if you just have a folder lying around, that will do for now.
If you do have the binder and the tabs, here are some sections of the binder you may want to consider (you don’t have to use them all, in fact, the simpler the better.)
- Calendar
- Christmas Cards
- Recipes
- Hiding Places
- Christmas Gift Lists
- Menus
- Receipts (use a page protector to store these in that section)
- Budget
- To Do List
Start putting all your gathered papers into the sections. it’s going to make it a lot easier when it comes to finding your favorite pumpkin custard recipe or the receipt for the Barbie Toothbrush that your daughter just said, “is for babies…”
Over the next few days, I will be posting some form for you to help keep track of those different areas, but for now, just gather up what you have.
Oh, and if you want a fun cover for your binder like mine, you can download it over at my Facebook Author Page Just got to the Tabs and when you click on day two, your will see the pic – just keep clicking and you will get a downloadable version of the cover.
- The Binder Cover
by kathilipp | Nov 19, 2012 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Welcome to The Christmas Project! We are so excited to get this holiday up and going. Start planning with us now, and you will experience a more sacred and sane holiday this year – Promise!
Project #1 – Create Your Holiday Mission Statement
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
What you will need:
I know, I know. You want to dive in and start checking things off your list since it’s going to be a busy few weeks. I get it.
But, I want you to spend ten minutes determining this: What do you want your Christmas to look like this year.
If we can go into the holidays being intentional about how we spend our time, physical and emotional energy,
it truly will be the key to a more sane and sacred celebration.
Brainstorm about what is important to you. Some years, I’m looking for Joy. I want to experience that deep, abiding Joy that only comes from God and being with His people.
In 2011, it was different: I was all about the Peace. Between chaos in my ministry, chaos in our home lives, chaos in my husband’s job and a triple shot of chaos with my mom’s health, I needed that peace that passes understanding. Here is what my mission statement looked like:
For Christmas 2011 I will share God’s peace with my family, my friends, and people I meet and I will to be done with my prep by December 20th so that I can experience peace during our celebration. I will read the Christmas story each morning of December.
And yes – God delivered that – even while at the mall. In December.
In 2012, here is what I want my Christmas to look like:
During this Christmas season, I want to throw off any old traditions that are just habits, and do those things that:
- Bring me closer to God
- Bring us together as a family
- Equip us to serve
I will ask in advance for help from Roger and the kids.
I’m putting my Christmas Plan on an index card in three places:
- On the fridge
- Taped to my computer
- On the visor of my car
Since these are the three places that I need a little more Jesus during the holidays.
I’ve got a free resource to help you brainstorm and come up with a sentence (or two) about your intention this Christmas. Just go to my Facebook Author Page to download My Holiday Mission Planning Sheet (we’ll be putting all of our goodies up there!)
For a chance to win a copy of THE HUSBAND PROJECT sent to any address on your Christmas list (and it will be wrapped and a gift enclosure card will be added with your note!) tell me on my FB author page or here at the blog write your mission statement in the comments by Friday, November 23rd. I’ll announce the winner next Monday!
If you would like to receive The Christmas Project to your inbox every morning, just sign up in the box below.
by kathilipp | Nov 18, 2012 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
There is enough drama around Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner that it’s best to keep some things very simple. The funny thing is, four of the five super simple recipes listed below are the ones that we get requests to make (and for the recipes… I end up emailing at least a couple of my kids or their friends the recipes every holiday season. So here are 5 Quick Dishes To Make (or Bring) for Thanksgiving or Christmas. whether you’re hosting at home, or bringing these on the road, you’ll be thankful for a few appetizers and deserts you can make (mostly) ahead.
Artichoke Dip
8 oz cream cheese
1 c. Parmesan cheese – shredded
1 c. mayonnaise (low-fat or fat-free is acceptable) (pantry)
½ t. dill weed
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (pantry)
Preheat oven to 350
Cream the cream cheese, add the Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed and garlic. Mix well.
Fold in the chopped artichoke hearts and then spoon mixture into a 9×9 pan.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Serve with crackers, toasted baguettes, or toasted pita points.
Serves 8 as an appetizer
Goat Cheese Bruchetta
Ingredients
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, or basil
Toasted baguette
Goat cheese
Prep
Add the balsamic vinegar and herbs together. Drizzle over slices of toasted baguette or other bread and spread with goat cheese. Finish with another drizzle of vinaigrette. Garnish with thyme.
Drive By Cheese Plate
For those last minute party invites. Just grab a plate and cheese knife from home. You can assemble once you arrive. (Or, if you’re like me, in the backseat of the car while your hubby is driving…)
Grab at the store:
Camembert or other artisan cheese
Carr Water Crackers
1 bunch of green grapes
Roger’s Pumpkin No-Bake Cheesecake
2 sticks of cream cheese
1 Cup of sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
¼ Cup Pumpkin pie filling
Pre-made graham cracker crust
Blend until creamy and fluffy
Pour into graham cracker crust.
Garnish with
Cinnamon sugar (makes it look baked)
Shaved white chocolate
Refrigerate for a few hours
Roger’s Cranberry No-Bake Cheesecake
2 sticks of cream cheese
1 Cup of sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 Cup Whole cranberries in jelly
Pre-made graham cracker crust
Blend until creamy and fluffy
Pour into graham cracker crust
Garnish with any (or all) of the following:
The remaining whole cranberries/jelly. I put this just on the outside edge of the pie.
Orange peel zest
Shaved white chocolate
Refrigerate for a few hours
Now it’s your turn. Tell me your can’t miss, so simple it’s embarrassing, recipe that you pull out for the holidays in the comments below.
by kathilipp | Nov 15, 2012 | Relationships, The Husband Project |
5 Marriage Blogs You Should be Reading
OK – so I get a little bossy when I’m blogging. But I really feel like all of us girls who are REALLY working hard to make our marriages better need all the love and encouragement we can get.
You already read my blog. And for that I’m glad, cause I’m all about taking those small steps to a great marriage. But as much I want to be all things to all married women, I cannot.
Here are a few people I’ve met along the way who encourage me in my marriage…
The Happy Wives Club
Fawn Weaver
Great Post: Becoming a Happy Wife
The Happy Wives Club Facebook Page
Why I love her: Fawn has literally traveled all over the world to talk with happy wives and see why they are that way. Her insights are fascinating, her writing smart, and her ideas practical. Love that.
Cheri Gregory
Cheri Gregory
Great Post: Do I Think Like Lover or Mother
Cheri Gregory’s Facebook Author Page
Why I Love Her: Cheri is an expert on the personalities. (She helped me write 21 Ways to Connect with Your Kids focusing on the personalities.) She is married to someone with her opposite personality, and in her blog she talks about the real stuff of marriage. I always come away a little marriage smarter after reading her blog.
To Love Honor and Vacuum
Sheila Wray Gregoire
Great Post: 31 Days to Great Sex is Here
Sheila Wray Gregoire’s Facebook Page
If there was every a girlfriend to give it to you straight (with enough humor to make you keep listening..) then Sheila is your woman. Love, love love her.
Time Warp Wife
Darlene Schacht
Great Post: 3 Ways to Create Unity in Your Marriage
Time Warp Wife’s Facebook Page
Why I love her: Darlene Tackles all the issues of marriage (kids, house stuff, sex,) with love, grace and godly wisdom. You will be encouraged, and you will change something you’re currently doing.
Spiritually Unequal Marriage
Dineen Miller and Lynn Donovan
Great Blog Post: Redefining My Marriage
Spiritually Unequal Marriage’s Facebook Page
Why I Love Them: Dineen and Lynn have a great ministry to women (and some men) who are married to spouses who are not followers of Christ. I love their gentle, biblical approach to honor and love.
Q4U: Is there a great marriage blog that I missed that I should include in the next list? Tell me in the comments below so I can take a look!
Visit Kathi Lipp on Facebook here.
by kathilipp | Nov 13, 2012 | Relationships |
The Cross at the Center of a Marriage
Guest Post
by
Darlene Schacht
Looking back on those days when I was just a young woman stepping into marriage, I see this: what I said I expected and what I really expected were two different things.
What I planned on was spending the rest of my life with my best friend, what I didn’t foresee was that my love for this man would bring me to the cross time and again.
There’s something about the character of antiques that takes our breath away. They are unique, of precious value, and have stood the test of time. So it is with love that is preserved by a couple who care enough about their marriage to value its worth.
How do you preserve the worth of something so precious when the wear and tear of this world are bringing it down? You put the cross at the center of your marriage.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” ~ Luke 9:23, KJV
The bumps in our marriage however big or small have always been surrounded by selfish ambition and pride. But when I move pride aside to make room for patience, understanding and kindness I see two hearts molding together as one.
Philippians 2 tells us to put on the mind of Christ, which tells me that I need to start thinking like Him who humbled Himself before man.
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” ~ Philippians 2:7, KJV
With that said, I’d like to add this: servant-hood isn’t about washing dishes or doing someone’s laundry–any dry cleaner or maid service can do that. It stems from a place in our heart where we give up our right to be “right,” for the good of our marriage.
Keeping house and making good meals for our family is an extension of that love, but it isn’t the root and never should be. A flower without root soon withers away, but one firmly planted has long-lasting beauty.
I challenge you to take on the heart of a servant who humbled Himself before God and man.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene
In T
he Good Wife’s Guide New York Times best-selling author Darlene Schacht encourages women to joyfully serve their families. In doing so she offers reasons for achieving a well-managed home backed by scripture and gleaned from experience. As well she provides readers with detailed cleaning and organizing schedules for practical application.
Darlene encourages women to make faith and family their first priorities from a place of sacrificial love, and reminds women that they were created with a specific purpose in mind, which is that of being a help meet. In supporting our husbands and living in unity we reflect God’s blueprint for marriage.
Enjoy a free chapter of The Good Wife’s Guide
The Good Wife’s Guide will help you:
- Group your life inventory and set your priorities
- Manage your time inside and outside of the home
- Create a home-management binder
- Create a warm atmosphere that your family will appreciate
- Understand your divinely-created purpose
- Find ways to communicate and handle conflict in your marriage
- Get your house organized and keep it that way
Darlene and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 24 years, they have four children (three still at home), two birds and a pug who is everyone’s baby, especially hers! Their lives are basically surrounded with three things: faith, music and everything books.
She’s an award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.
by kathilipp | Nov 12, 2012 | Marriage, Relationships, The Husband Project |
UPDATED: July 14, 2016: In the midst of The Husband Project online bible study with Proverbs 31, I wanted to share this older article with all my new friends working hard to love on their husband. It can be especially hard to know how to love on our men when he’s having a hard time. It can be depression, being overwhelmed, overly stressed, health issues, etc. As wives we CAN help even when we feel helpless.
I get some variation on this question a lot when I’m speaking: What should you I do when my husband is overwhelmed?
It could be because of work – or finances. Or there’s stuff going on with his parents, or in your family. Whatever the reason, we all know when it’s happening. Maybe he get’s really quiet and withdrawn. He may be in a place where talking about it (or just about anything,) is overwhelming. He’s exhausted, so either he sleeps all the time, or he doesn’t sleep at all.
You know what it looks like for your man. But when you see it happening, don’t just wait for the wave to pass. There are things you can do actively help your man during this difficult time.
Here are five things you can do right away when you realize that your husband is overwhelmed:
1. Lighten His Load
Are there things around the house that your husband normally does, that you, (or an older child) can do for him right now? Even hiring a teenager to mow the lawn could be just what your husband needs to know that you’ve got his back.
2. Pray for Him
Here are eight verses you can pray for your husband, right now, as he’s feeling overwhelmed. I think it’s important to let your husband know that you’re praying for him. Roger walks with new confidence when he knows that I’ve got his back, prayer-wise.
3. Feed Him
I don’t want it to seem like I’m making our guys into cavemen, but there is something about knowing where his next meal is coming from that can really make a man feel more secure. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, you can right now and receive my e-cookbook The Ultimate Guide to Man Food for some inspiration.
4. Sex or Physical Touch
Again – not trying to go caveman here, but sex is (for most men,) the biggest tension reliever he will experience. Setting aside some time (and even asking your parents if the kids can have a sleepover,)will do more for your husband than just about anything else. However, if he is in a place that sex is even an area of discouragement, offer a no-strings-attached massage, or head, hand or foot rub.
5. Words of Encouragement
One of the reasons your husband may be feeling overwhelmed is that he is feeling undervalued. What can you say to make him know that he is valued and respected?
- “Thanks for working so hard to provide for us. I appreciate all you do.”
- “I feel safe when I’m with you.”
- “You take such great care of me and the kids.”
- “I love how you lead our home.”
- “God blessed me so much by letting me be your wife.”
Want more ideas? Download my 21 Post-it-Note Encouragements.
Giveaway: July 14, 2016
Go to my Facebook page and respond to the question of the day for your chance to win a copy of Praying God’s Word for Your Husband.
Question of the day: How do you help your husband when he is overwhelmed by life?
by kathilipp | Nov 11, 2012 | Christmas, Home |
Yes- I’m excited to announce that by popular demand The Christmas Project is back. Starting Tuesday November 20th, we will be breaking down our Christmas – one day at a time In our time together we will:
- Get your Christmas cards created and sent out
- Get your Christmas gift list together
- Wrap your gifts
- Get you menu together
- Freeze up some cookie dough
- Get your gifts in the mail
- Plan your family celebration
- Never forgetting that Christ is the center of it all
If you’re not already subscribed to this blog, go ahead and do so now so you won’t miss one project:
(Subscribe Here Now…)
I’m not saying don’t do anything before the 20th – (I was on Etsy.com just today trying to find some hand-crafted gifties for some very picky people in my family,) but what I am saying is that even if you feel like you are desperately behind, don’t worry. Starting on November 20th, you will still be able to get everything you need done.
Besides joining us on the 20th, there is one other thing you can do to make the holidays a bit better: ask a friend to join you in the Project. You know I’m all about accountability and fun, so having a friend there to help and encourage each other is the best gift you can give yourself as you plan.
Q4U: What is your biggest challenge when it comes to preparing for Christmas? I would love to hear both the practical and the spiritual.
Looking forward to a more sane and sacred Christmas…
Kathi
by kathilipp | Nov 8, 2012 | 21 Ways to Connect With Your Kids, Relationships |
Fifteen Dollar Family Fun Night
Try This:
Plan a Family Fun Night for some time in the next week.
Making the Connection
Is it really possible to feed a family of six and have fun, all for fifteen dollars? I dare you to find out! When my kids were young, we didn’t have the financial capacity to blow hundreds of dollars on family adventures. We never had front row seats to Broadway plays. Or season tickets to the 49ers. Or fancy dinners at those restaurants where you get to cook your meat over a little grill in the middle of the table.
Instead, we would have “Fifteen Dollar Family Night.” One family member (sometimes it was a kid, sometimes a parent) was in charge of the planning. The chosen planner would get fifteen dollars to feed and entertain the troops. Our family experienced everything from a bake-at-home pizza and a DVD of The Princess Bride to a home-packed picnic at the duck park followed by an afternoon at the local nickel arcade.
And while these adventures aren’t as glamorous as front-row tickets to the Taylor Swift concert, they ended up being experiences that we laughed and talked about for years to come.
We found many benefits to setting aside some time for family fun:
- Not only did Family Fun Night give us an opportunity to spend time together, it forced our kids to plan, budget, and take other people’s likes and dislikes into consideration.
- We found that giving the kids the chance to plan the event helped them enjoy this time a whole lot more. Our kids really got into it. Sometimes the event was a surprise to the rest of the family. On another occasion, Kimberly made invitations for everyone in the family so they would know what the evening held (as well as appropriate dress code).
- Having a limited budget has a special magical quality. With such limited funds for a night out, there was no resorting to a dinner out for everyone at your favorite family restaurant followed by the latest movie in the theaters.
Make Connecting Fun
Perhaps the best part about Family Fun Night is the unlimited number of variations. It doesn’t have to be fifteen dollars. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It doesn’t even have to be at night. You plan according to your family’s schedule and budget. Remember, the goal is to have a meal and some entertainment.
Check out Kathi’s Facebook Page for a Free Download of Fifteen Dollar Family Nights.
by kathilipp | Nov 7, 2012 | 21 Ways to Connect With Your Kids, Relationships |
Write Your Child a Note
Try This:
Write your kid a love note.
Making the Connection
Back when my kids were younger, we kept a small, lidded basket better known as the “family mailbox” in the middle of our cluttered kitchen counter. And inside it, I’d often find sticky notes with the words “I love you, Mom,” written with green glitter pen in my daughter’s best nine-year-old cursive.
Our family mailbox was a great way to encourage each other and brighten our kids’ days. Even when my kids grew past the age of wanting notes in their brown-paper lunch bags where their friends could see them, they never minded finding a note or a small treat in the family mailbox.
Since then, I’ve learned that a handwritten and heartfelt note can go a long way to make someone feel loved, cared for, and appreciated. So for this connection, I want you to write your kid a love note and leave it somewhere where she’ll find it.
Make Connecting Fun
Here are a few ideas to get the ink flowing.
- Start a family mailbox. All you need is a basket, a pad of paper, and a pen. You can start the ball rolling by writing notes to each member of your family. You could start with a note of encouragement or maybe a Bible verse. End the note with a question, such as, “If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?” I promise you will get some fascinating mail in your little basket.
- Welcome your kid home with a note. I saw this on Pinterest. Use dry-erase markers to write “Welcome home! I love you!” on a china plate. Then prop up the plate on a plate stand and put it on the counter for your kids to see when they get home from school.
- Send notes in your kid’s lunch. In her book Love Notes in Lunchboxes: And Other Ideas to Color Your Child’s Day, Linda Gilden tells about the day her daughter said: “You know, Mom, I don’t really remember what you said in all those notes you wrote in my lunches. But I remember you wrote them and they always showed you cared. Some days I think all you said was, ‘Have a good day’ or ‘You are special,’ but it meant a lot. Just to know that you took the time to write a note and that you thought it was an important part of my lunch made my day. Most kids only had food in their lunch bags!”Yes, food is an essential part of the lunchbox. But even more important than the food for our children’s bodies is the food for their spirits. And it doesn’t have to be dispensed in a lunchbox. There are plenty of ways to encourage and affirm our children.
- Write out an acrostic using the letters of your child’s name. Hang it on their door or on the fridge so they can see how great you think they are.
J ust so funny
E nergetic
R eady for anything
E veryone loves him
M y favorite person to watch cartoons with
Y ou are a great kid!
- Send Scripture notes. Can’t think of what to write? God gave us a whole book of love notes. Just borrow one of His! Then add a few words of your own.
God’s Note: “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
Mom’s or Dad’s note: Always trust God. He knows what’s best for you, and He is bigger than any problem you may have.
- Write a list. Jot down a quick list and leave it on a sticky note on the bathroom mirror where your child can see it when they brush their teeth or get ready for school. Try “Top Three Reasons I Love You” or “Top Five Reasons Our Family Is the Greatest” or “Top Five Reasons You Are My Favorite Lunchbox Kid.”
A Chance to Win:
Tell me what you’re going to write to your child and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a copy of 21 Ways to Connect with Your Kids!!! (Entries close at midnight on Friday PST.)
Tell us all what you are doing for your photo: professional, a snapshot, something you found from this summer? Or maybe you’re skipping the whole card thing – good for you! Tell us that too! For everyone who comments, I will enter you into a drawing for a $10 gift card to Shutterfly.com Here is what we did this year on Shutterfly – it was super simple (and did I mention, it’s DONE!?!)
