As we round the corner on the weirdest year (ever?), with just under 10 days until Christmas, I wanted to share with you just a few last minute crafts. These are great gifts, great things to do if you find yourself in need of a way to connect AND kill some time, and are super easy. Most of you will probably have the majority of these craft items already on hand, too, thus lessening any additional burden brought on by last minute shopping. The best part? You really don’t even need to be crafty to pull these off–I promise!

I’ve written about Advent resources before, and social media is full of things to buy and do this time of year, so I’m sure there’s no shortage of information being thrown at you from one avenue or another. This year has been full of all different kinds of challenges due largely to the coronavirus pandemic and the ways it has changed many facets of every day life. As I was lamenting with some friends about the ways that social distancing has robbed* me of some of the joy of this season, I got to thinking about Advent.

Being a Christian in a Tumultuous Election

This is a hard post to write, and one I partly wish I never had to publish and partly wish I’d published months ago. This time is divisive anyway; add it to the pressure-cooker of the COVID-19 pandemic, and man, 2020 begins to feel more and more like a dumpster fire.

But I digress, and if you’ve yet to cast your vote, I hope you’ll think objectively. This conversation isn’t an easy one, as both Republicans and Democrats have some deeply held convictions, and I think it’s important to recognize how hard it can be to break from tradition.

Why Won’t My Kids Listen?

Spoiler alert: you don’t (and they won’t). Wait wait wait, please keep reading, I promise there’s something useful here! If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a ton of times: it takes a village. My friends and neighbors and small group and Mothers Ministry are my village, and someone from each one of those groups has either parented their children or somehow given me a tidbit of wisdom in PRACTICAL real-time situations that stuck with me. What I mean is, I read tons of blogs and books and listened to tons of podcasts on parenting, but there’s just something about seeing a mom interact with her five-year-old who is having a colossal meltdown in front of you that makes it stick with you more than all the best blog posts in the world.

Read on, and don’t forget to comment at the end if you have something that’s been particularly helpful in your season. Share so we can all benefit (myself included)!