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My Favorite Christmas Movies & A GIVEAWAY!

December 14, 2015

With Christmas less than two weeks away, it’s time to really embrace the season by watching all my favorite Christmas movies and television specials and singing along to Christmas carols and fun holiday songs all day.

Sure I’ve already caught a couple of films and shows, and we have had Christmas music playing off and on since the day after Thanksgiving, but I think that everyone generally has a few very special movies and songs that they just have to enjoy every year. This week, I’m going to be sharing my lists with you, and as part of the fun, I’m also going to be doing a GIVEAWAY! (More on that in a bit)

There is nothing like a few good Christmas movies to get you ready to celebrate the holiday. Cuddled on the couch with your family, sipping hot chocolate, and munching on Christmas cookies while you all laugh, sing, or even tear up thanks to a film you’ve probably seen so many times you can quote it by heart. It doesn’t matter. Favorite Christmas movies never get old or lose their charm.

For me, I have a huge list of holiday features that I appreciate, but there are 9 movies that I have to make time for each Christmas, in order from “Really Want to See It” to “Absolutely MUST SEE It.” (I’ve included an affiliate link to each movie, which means at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission when you use the link.)

MY 9 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

#9. Meet Me in St. Louis

1944, MGM Musical/Romantic Comedy. Judy Garland, turn-of-the-century costumes, a delightful cast, entertaining storyline, and catchy music make this such a fun film any time of the year because the movie doesn’t just take place at Christmas. The story follows the lives of the Smith family over the course of the year leading up to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. However, a lot of the best stuff in the show happens during the climatic Christmas Eve scenes, including Judy singing the iconic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to her on-screen little sister, Margaret O’Brien.

My favorite part: Either the after-the-party scene where Judy Garland has the “boy next door” help her turn out the lights in the house, or the Christmas Eve ball, including the conversation between the two older girls as they get ready for the evening. Oh, and the early-dinner-scheming in the beginning of the film.

#8. The Preacher’s Wife

1996, Romantic Comedy. Denzel Washington & Whitney Houston star in this remake of the classic Carey Grant Christmas movie, The Bishop’s Wife. While I like both versions of the movie, the music in The Preacher’s Wife makes the newer film my pick. (Sorry, Carey.) Denzel is an angel named Dudley, who is sent to help a busy, giving preacher, a preacher who is so focused on his work for God that he tends to overlook his family. However, Dudley’s arrival seems to cause even more trouble for the minister.

My favorite part: The children’s Christmas program is adorable, and when Dudley “fixes” the preacher’s little boy’s firetruck.

#7. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

2000, Comedy. The live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ book and the 1966 cartoon is always fun. While other adaptations of Seuss classics have gone horribly awry (ugh…The Cat in the Hat!), this one is pretty perfect. I love how fully they embraced all things Seussical and Who, and Jim Carey plays a good, mean Grinch. Watching this with my boys makes it even better.

My favorite part: Spoiler alert – When his heart changes, of course, and he returns Christmas! Also, when he tries to sing along with the Whos as they celebrate around their Whoville Christmas tree. “Fah Who Foraze, Dah Who Doraze” is just fun to say.

#6. While You Were Sleeping

1995, Romantic Comedy. If you’ve never seen this one, you have to. Sandra Bullock plays Lucy, a lonely girl who is smitten with a handsome stranger who passes her tollbooth every day. When she jumps on the tracks to save him after he’s mugged and fallen in to a coma, his family mistakes her for his fiancée. Only one person doesn’t believe the story, his charming brother (Bill Pullman), who is determined to find out just who Lucy is.

My favorite part: Oh, there are sooo many great scenes and endlessly fun quotables. This is a movie that my mom and I try to see together every year, and it’s always just as funny. One of our favorite scenes is the one around the dinner table with all of his family talking about the mashed potatoes and John Wayne. Watch the movie, and you’ll understand.

#5. Elf

2004, Comedy. Do I seriously need to write a description for this one? Will Ferrell is Buddy, a human who grew up as an elf. Once he realizes this, he goes to New York to meet his father, who has managed to wind up on Santa’s naughty list. Hilarious, heart-warming, and joyful. One of the best family Christmas movies!

My favorite part: The quotes. All the funny quotes. Oh, the initial meeting between Buddy and his dad with the impromptu “Christmas-gram”and when Buddy decorates the toy department. Or discovers the mailroom. And when he takes Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) on a date. “Francisco….

#4. The Nativity Story

2004, Biblical Drama. This is a beautiful depiction of the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. While I’m still a bit amused at how easily Mary actually delivers her baby (seriously, I’m pretty sure Mary had to work a little bit for it) and annoyed by the fact that the wise men show up so early (they would have been a year or more later in arriving), I love this movie. It shows the real emotions, humor, and struggles that Mary, Joseph, their families, and friends may have dealt with. It’s so easy for us to forget that these people actually lived – they aren’t just characters in a story. Seeing their humanity brings the Christmas story that much closer to home, stirring my heart to the awesomeness of Jesus as Immanuel, God with Us.

My favorite part: I love Joseph. Seriously, he’s my favorite character. Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their journey to caring for each other. Also, the comedic side of the wise men is pretty great.

#3. White Christmas

1954, Musical Romantic Comedy. You had to guess that this one made my list. It’s one of the all-time greatest Christmas movies. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, tons of singing and dancing, and Christmas! The story is about two army buddies who come to the aid of their former commanding officer by putting on a Christmas show at his Vermont lodge. With the aid (and adoration) of a sister act, all they need is a little snow to make it perfect.

My favorite part: Can I first share my least favorite? Vera-Ellen. She drives me crazy throughout the whole movie because she’s constantly looking at the camera, especially during dance routines, and it’s just weird. I mentioned this once to a friend, and she said now that she’d noticed it, it was bothersome. So, sorry if this changes the movie for you.

Okay, the good parts – the banter between Bing and Danny and the songs and dances. Obviously.

#2. The Shop Around the Corner

1940, Romantic Comedy. Hello, Jimmy Stewart! He is one of my classic Hollywood favorites (I mean, he’s just great, isn’t he?). In this film, Jimmy is a head sales clerk at a small store, and he’s corresponding with a girl that he’s never met. Meanwhile, a new sales girl (Margaret Sullavan) is hired on at the store right around the Christmas season, and she and Jimmy Stewart’s characters do not particularly care for each other…or do they? 🙂

If you recognize some of the plot, it may be because this movie was remade twice: once as In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland (I like this one, too) and more recently as You’ve Got Mail (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan – I don’t like this one).

My favorite part: When Jimmy Stewart’s character finds out the identity of the girl he’s writing. Watching him interact with her from then on is funny and sweet and swoon-worthy all at the same time.

#1. It’s a Wonderful Life

1946, Drama/Comedy. There really isn’t another Christmas movie that captures it all for me like this one does. Humor, music, struggle, faith, and hope. Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey is perfect. In the move (if for some sad reason you’ve never seen it), George, in desperation, wishes he’d never been born and miraculously gets the chance to see just what the world would be like without him.

My favorite part: Walking Mary (Donna Reed) home from the dance – “What is it you want, Mary?” and “This is a very interesting situation.” His stand against Potter. When he meets Clarence – “Well, you look about the kind of angel I’d get.” His joy as he runs through the town, shouting, “Merry Christmas,” to everyone and everything just because he’s happy to be alive. And of course, the end, where all of his giving and sacrifice are rewarded.

I also have an Honorable Mention list or an “If I can fit them in” list, which includes Miracle on 34^th Street, In the Good Old Summertime, Bachelor Mother, Little Women (1994 version is my favorite), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Brad has an edited, more family-friendly version), The Nutcracker, Holiday Inn, Home Alone, & A Christmas Story.

I realize that everyone’s list is different, and I might not have mentioned your number one “Absolutely MUST SEE It.” Sorry. As I said before, I like a lot of Christmas movies. But they can’t all be my favorites. 🙂

Speaking of favorites, this week one holly jolly reader will win one of my “Absolutely MUST SEE It” favorite Christmas movies along with three more holiday films.

My special Christmas giveaway

is a TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday, a 2-disc set which includes my #2 favorite – A Shop Around the Corner – as well as three more Christmas movies: the beloved Christmas in Connecticut, the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol, and the cute It Happened on 5^th Avenue. Along with the movies, the prize pack includes a selection of Land O Lakes Hot Chocolate in a variety of flavors. My boys enjoyed helping me taste-test the different options, so they could pick their favorites.

: TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday

: A selection of Land O Lakes Hot Chocolate

The giveaway starts today and is open until Thursday 11:59pm, with the winner being announced on Friday.

So, did your favorite Christmas movies make my list? What would be your #1 MUST SEE Holiday film?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nobody Is Grading Your Holiday

December 7, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Nobody Is Grading Your Holiday. Keeping Jesus as the focus of Christmas by giving up the to-do list.

Tis the season! Time to gather with loved ones, make cherished memories with your children, and celebrate the birth of our Savior! Yea for Christmas!!!

I love, LOVE, LOOOVE Christmas!

Yet this time of year can get overwhelming. Very overwhelming. I was talking to a friend a few days ago who already seemed tired just anticipating the celebrating and dealing with the pressures to do ALL the holiday things and do them all well.

I knew exactly what she meant. As moms, we especially feel this pressure to pull off a Pinterest-perfect, Instagram-worthy Christmas. We want it to be “sparkles in the air” exciting for our children, with joy, laughter, and precious memories being made daily.

From decorating our tree and home, baking Christmas cookies and treats, sending holiday cards, attending numerous Christmas events and gatherings with friends and family, shopping for “just the right gift,” not to mention making sure that the season is truly meaningful for our families by doing Advent calendars or Bible readings with our children every day, December can be a busy, stress-filled month.

Well, it can if we let it.

I mean, who says we have to do it all? Who says we have to do any of it?

Don’t want to send Christmas cards this year, or can’t bake cookies to save your life?

Then don’t do it.

*Gasp*

I know. It’s revolutionary.

But seriously, if you’re zapping the joy from your holidays (and probably of those around you) by striving to live up to all the expectations you think someone has for you or that you’ve put on yourself, let me tell you what I told my friend:

Nobody is grading your holiday.

Nobody.

Not your family.

Truly, your children won’t miss half of the things you think they might. Sure, you want to do the things they love if you can, but they don’t need a lot of activities, crafts, goodies, or even presents (yes, I said it!) to have a wonderful, memorable, meaningful Christmas. Besides, sometimes we have them so Christmas-saturated that it’s no wonder they have trouble seeing Jesus amid all the chaos and noise.

Pick the things that are the most important to you to do as a family during the holidays, and do those. Everything else can fall by the wayside or make the list to do another year.

Not your friends.

We all have things that make our holidays special. What is an important tradition to my crew may not be special for yours. Just because another family is celebrating a certain way doesn’t mean that we need to be doing it, too.

(For example, my friend liked the idea of St. Nicholas Day, something that my family began observing last year. However, she knew that she wouldn’t be ready this year to introduce it to her boys.)

Not even Jesus.

If all your Christmasing is exhausting you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or financially, I honestly think Jesus would probably tell you to chill.

Think about it: Sometimes all our wonderful holiday doings actually make it harder for us to focus on Him and all His coming means to us.

That’s the whole point of the season, isn’t it? Focusing on Jesus. Remembering that moment in time when God “became flesh and dwelt among us.”

And if you miss a night of reading your family’s Christmas devotional (it’s happened in our home once or twice), breathe.

God isn’t impressed with how much we DO to observe Christmas. The Bible tells us that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

If your heart is toward Him, God knows.

We could run ourselves ragged keeping up with all the best traditions for Christmas, but if our hearts are NOT on Him in the midst of those activities, what are we really celebrating anyway?

So, cut yourself some slack this year. Let go of some of that holiday to-do list. Give yourself and your family some time to truly enjoy each other and reflect on the One you’re doing all this to celebrate.

My advice: Even if you don’t make it to see “The Nutcracker” this year, at least make sure you see Jesus.

The Thought Box

November 23, 2015

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How a Vacuum Cord (& God) Sparked a New Way to Encourage My Child

Last week as I was getting ready to vacuum the house, I began to unwind the vacuum cord and then stopped. The day before Elijah had had to sweep up a mess he’d made, and I had shown him how to wrap the cord onto the back when he was finished.

As I looked at the precise job he’d done of wrapping the cord, I made a mental note to tell him later that

I had noticed his effort. With his curious, active personality and stubborn, independent nature, there are some days when he gets “noticed” more for less-than-positive reasons (bossing his little brother around, getting into things he’s not allowed to, talking back), and I wanted to make sure I pointed out this “something good.”

The more I thought about it, the more I wished I could just send him a little note so he would know that I was thinking about him. Had it been my husband I wanted to acknowledge, I’d probably just shoot Brad a text message, but Elijah is only 5. He’s not going to have a phone for quite a while.

Then I had an idea.

I’d write a note and leave it for Elijah to read when he got home from school. However, rather than just hand it to him or tape it to the refrigerator, I’d make it fun and special.

Grabbing an empty cracker box, I cut down the sides, tucked three of them down in, and left the fourth as a flap that covered the opening.

Ta-dah: a miniature “mailbox.” (All my Pinterest browsing has kept my creativity very active.)

I wrote out an easy-to-read note for my little man and slid it into the box.

This would be a special place where I could put notes of encouragement and praise throughout the day to let him know that I had thought about him often while he was away.

I dubbed it his “Thought Box.”

While I was in the note-writing mood, I went ahead and made one for Brad because, you know, husbands like be appreciated, too.

Once I had Elijah back home from school, I showed him the cracker box. I had every intention of digging out some wrapping paper and making it all fancy, but as it happened, the day flew by before I could.

However, Elijah didn’t mind at all. He was thrilled to have a special note just for him, delighted that Mommy had seen his careful work, and overjoyed at the prospect of getting more messages from Mommy and Daddy in his Thought Box.

He immediately wrote a letter for his Daddy’s box, too.

The next day, Brad was off work, so he picked Elijah up from school, and as Elijah came running into the house, the first thing my little boy said was, “I want to see what’s in my Thought Box!”

And I winced. I HAD thought about writing his note, but then got distracted by a phone call, and HADN’T WRITTEN ONE.

I said, “Oh, honey! I didn’t write one yet.”

Elijah’s face went from radiant to rejected in a heartbeat, and I felt like the WORST MOM EVER!

I apologized and explained that I had started to write his message but didn’t get to it right away and forgot later that I hadn’t done it.

Thankfully, he’s a sweet, understanding boy, and he was fine with Mommy writing it out right then. (Whew!)

But seeing how important it was to him made me determined not to let him find an empty box again.

It also confirmed in my heart what I felt when the idea first sparked in my mind.

This was more than just a good “Mommish” idea. This was God once again directing me to a unique way to love my child. Just like the book I wrote for Elijah, this “Thought Box” idea would minister to his little heart and help us to encourage and affirm who he is growing up to be.

This weekend we finally decorated the boxes, and Elijah changed his from a cracker box to one that used to hold teabags and has a lid. It now holds all the notes from last week.

Life in Lape Haven: The Thought Box - How a vacuum cord (& God) sparked a new way to encourage my child.

Clearly, I live in a house full of boys: Star Wars, blue, and Spiderman.

We made one for all my guys, although Elijah didn’t see the point in Josiah getting notes when he can’t read yet. (The plan is to draw pictures or read them to him.)

As if encouraging my family wasn’t enough, this idea has another facet that illustrates just how efficient God is when He does even the smallest things.

Following the example of Philippians 1:3, “I thank God for you whenever I think of you,” I have purposed to pray for my guys and thank God for them every time I write a thought about them for their boxes.

Clearly, He had all of us in mind from the start of this. It’s a nice reminder that we are always in His thoughts, too.

4 Reasons Why Bedtime Is Our Best Family Time

November 12, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: 4 Reasons Why Bedtime is Our Best Family Time

(This post may contain affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you use the link. Thank you for supporting our site.)

A day in the life of a mom (or dad) can be hectic, unpredictable, and distracted.

From the time you are getting everyone up, ready for the day, and out the door for whatever you need to be doing until you’re back at home, tidying up, doing homework, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed, there can be days where your quality time with your family doesn’t really get to happen until bedtime.

At least that’s how it works for us, but that’s okay because it is usually our very best family time.

Why?

#1 – Bedtime is the one time when all four of us are present without distractions

My hubby works four 10-hour shifts a week, with a 9 a.m. start time. This means that he doesn’t generally get home until nearly 8 p.m. (or later) most nights. With Elijah in school and having a stricter bedtime now, time with Daddy during those days is limited.

However, by bedtime, we are all there. We’ve turned off the television, we put down our phones, and we focus on sharing time together.

(And I will be honest, sometimes I’m a late-comer to the party. There are days when I can’t work on writing or editing pictures until Brad is home, so when it’s time for getting the boys ready for bed, he’ll take the lead and let me work until they are ready for me to come join them. I try not to miss it, though, because it is such valuable family time.)

The boys take turns getting to pick the bedtime story each night, which means we can pretty much guarantee an argument every few days about whose turn it actually is to pick the book. J

We all snuggle up on Elijah’s bed to read our story. If we’re in a time crunch because they took longer brushing their teeth or dawdled while getting into their pajamas, I’ll read. I’m a much faster reader than Brad, and I’m quite good at summarizing as I go along, just in case Elijah has picked a particularly lengthy book. (Now that he’s learning to read, however, I have a feeling I may get called out on this little trick sooner or later.)

Of course, if Elijah hands me our copy of Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss, there isn’t much even I can do. We’re going to be tongue-twisting our way slowly through that one. (But we still love it!)

A 3D bedtime story.

Sometimes it’s hard to get through a book quickly, though, because…

#2 – Bedtime is when the boys are the most talkative

My boys are always pretty talkative. (I think they get it from their mother.) However, at night time, they are even more so. Maybe it’s partly a technique to stall the inevitable “going to bed” part of the bedtime routine, maybe it’s because they know they have our full attention, or maybe it’s because they have started processing their day by then. I’m not sure. I just know that when we’re trying to get them to settle down, they are trying to start all kinds of conversations.

We try to allow time for this in our routine because we want them to know that what they have to share is important to us, no matter what they want to talk about. We chat while they’re getting faces washed and teeth brushed. We chat while they are changing into jammies and picking out tomorrow’s ensemble. And we chat before, during, and after their story, their Bible reading, and their prayers.

Which brings me to our third reason…

#3 – Bedtime is when we spend time in God’s Word and in prayer as a family

While we pray with our boys throughout the day, bedtime is when we really get to, again, do so without distractions and all together.

We read a story or passage from one of their children’s Bibles or use our Kids’ Bible App to study the Word together, and then we each take a turn praying.

From the time our boys could talk, we started leading them in simple prayers, just saying, “Thank You,” to God for family and praying for safety and good sleep. With just a little guidance, before long they start to pray on their own very easily, and now, sometimes they surprise us with their words (in a good way).

We end our bedtime routine with a song, usually “Jesus Loves Me,” although they can request whatever song they’d like.

Then it’s time for kisses and cuddles, which is our last reason.

#4 – Bedtime is when my boys are the cuddliest

From snuggling on our laps during a story to laying down on Mommy during prayers to giving tons of good night kisses and hugs, our boys are especially affectionate as they wind down from the day. Josiah will even flat-out lie and tell you that “I didn’t get a hug!” when you know you just hugged him after you tucked him in, right before you said, “Good night,” and turned to leave his room. Another stall tactic, maybe, but another hug, too.

Watching how quickly my boys are growing, I know that our bedtime routine will someday change. Soon they’ll be able to get ready completely on their own. They’ll be able to read to themselves and won’t always want us to read them a bedtime story. At some point, we definitely won’t be able to fit all of us comfortably on a twin-sized bed because they’ll no longer be snuggled in our laps.

However, I pray they never outgrow spending time with us before bed, even if it looks differently. I pray that they will value reading the Bible together and praying as a family. I want them to be able to talk to us and share about their day, their concerns, and their questions. I never want them to be too big to give me good night hugs and kisses, even if it’s done before they head off to tuck themselves in.

Mostly I pray that Brad and I are always redeeming the time now, while they are young, taking advantage of our best family time, realizing how important it is that we don’t miss the beautiful moments we have with them. These are the moments that will make spending time with us more important to them later.

When is your family’s best “Family Time”?

How We Capture a Great Family Picture – Every Time

November 9, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: How We Capture a Great Family Picture Every Time - Our One Trick for Always Getting a Great Shot of Our Family

In case you don’t know, I love taking pictures, and my favorite subject is my family. While I am always taking pictures of my boys, I generally have my camera with me at all of our family gatherings, too.

A few years ago, my side of the family began making an effort to take group pictures whenever we were all (or mostly all) present.

If all of my family were together today, we’d have my parents, my 3 siblings and me and our spouses, plus 8 grandsons, 1 granddaughter (married to my oldest nephew), and a great-granddaughter. I don’t know of any additions on the way at the moment, even with Elijah still praying for another sibling, but I’m sure our numbers will continue to grow, and with all of our families growing both in age and number, we want to document our time together as often as we can.

Having a professional photographer take our picture would be ideal, but since we don’t usually have a professional photographer at our family gatherings, we are still determined to get whatever pictures we can using my rather decent Canon with the timer and set up on a tripod.

However, getting several little boys (and big boys – thanks to my brothers who don’t relish getting pictures) to sit still and cooperate for photos can be difficult.

We have a few tricks that we try, but one of our solutions to keeping their attention has resulted in some of our favorite family pictures.

What is it?

THE SILLY PICTURE.

In my family, having fun is nothing new. We’ve never been a very serious group, and we love to laugh and joke around.

So when we were on vacation with my family when Elijah was only 3 months old, we were out on the beach, trying to get a nice group picture, and someone suggested, “Let’s do a silly picture next! Everyone do something silly or goofy.”

With everyone in agreement, I pressed down the shutter button and ran back to my spot in the group, trying to find my silly pose before the timer went off.

It was a fun way to capture each individual personality of our fun-loving family in a wonderful way that could never be achieved with a seriously posed picture with everyone’s forced, plastic smiles.

Even my non-picture loving brothers showed their styles, with one completely turning his back on the shot.

That picture was an instant classic.

: The “nice” posed picture

: The “silly” picture

With the success of that picture, we started a tradition. So now every time we do a family picture, everyone knows to expect a “silly” picture (or a few) at the end. All the little guys grab on to that, sticking out their tongues or making funny faces at the camera, free to move a bit instead of sitting perfectly still and having to behave.

And without fail, those silly, goofy, free-to-be-them pictures are always our favorites of the shoot, the ones we can’t wait to see. Sure, we always take a few “good” pictures, too, and it’s nice to have those. We make a good-looking crew. But the silly pictures are the ones that capture my real family.

Whenever I look at them, I can’t help but smile, as the memories of giggles, tickles, and different funny faces we tried out play through my mind.

Those are the moments with my family that I want to keep forever.

Those are the ones that make the great family pictures.

: Silly at a birthday party

: Silly on Thanksgiving

: The “nice” picture for my parents’ anniversary

: The “silly” picture

Here’s one more, from my parents’ 40th anniversary this year. It was a little departure from our usual silly picture, but I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a really great picture nonetheless. 🙂

TELL ME: Do you have any fun tricks or traditions for your family photos?

My Best Christmas Gift Idea Ever…so far

November 3, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - My Best Christmas Gift Idea Ever...so far. Creating an original personalized storybook photo book for my son.

Sometimes the best Christmas gift require a little advanced planning. My “best Christmas gift” idea was one of those, but it was completely worth it. It’s an original Tried It Tuesday idea born out of need. Here’s why.

Any parent of two or more children can tell you that making the jump from being a one-child family to a multiple-children family is daunting. The adjustment from one to two (or more, if you get blessed with multiples) is a big one.

However, the adjustment for an only child to go from “it’s just me” to “it’s my little brother/sister and me” is just as big and can be harder for little ones to navigate.

When Elijah learned that he was going to be a big brother, he was just over two years old, and he was ecstatic. He liked babies, so for him, it was going to be tons of fun to have one to play with.

Brad and I did our best to prepare him for the changes and talked to him about how his little brother was going to need Mommy and Daddy and Elijah, too, to do things for him for a while because, as a baby, his little brother wouldn’t be able to do them on his own yet. I made sure that Elijah knew that if he ever felt lonely for Mommy or Daddy, all he had to do was ask us for a hug or come sit with us.

: Photo courtesy of Picture Bliss Photography

Even with all the preparation, we still had some rough days, and there was a point, after the initial “I’m a big brother now” stage, where it seemed that Elijah was constantly getting in trouble, especially for being defiant. I’m sure part of it was just the natural phase of becoming more independent (he was 3), but the timing didn’t help.

It was heartbreaking because not only did I feel guilty for having to spend so much of my attention and time on Josiah when I knew Elijah could still use some Mommy time, but my sweet, joyful Elijah was becoming moody and difficult. I remember telling Brad that I missed “our Elijah.”

It was a situation that we prayed about constantly and one for which I was always on the lookout for a solution.

Then one night while I was up nursing Josiah, God gave me an answer, or at least part of it. He gave me the seed of an idea that took root so quickly that I couldn’t go back to sleep until I’d written it down, even though it was four in the morning.

I was going to write a book for Elijah, one all about him and the many reasons I loved him. Since it was later in November, I think, or maybe even already December, I wanted it to be one of his Christmas gifts.

In my mind, I could see a book with illustrations and knew exactly how the wording would be laid out and what the font would look like. However, with a limited budget and timeline, I decided to do the next best thing – use pictures that I already had and match them to my story.

(By the way, this post contains affiliate links, which means I get a small percentage if you make a purchase through the link, at no extra cost to you.)

Having used Shutterfly for a few photo album-style photo books in the past, I decided to see what photo book themes they had that might work for Elijah’s book. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find one that worked really well, and I began laying out the story.

The story was really simple. I was recounting our day with Elijah at bedtime and using the events of the day to illustrate all the things that I love about him, such as his creativity, his kindness, and his courage. The final pages also reassured him that even when he wasn’t kind or brave or obedient, we still loved him very much because God has given him to us. I titled it, “Why I Love You.”

On Christmas morning, it was the gift I was most looking forward to him opening, and I was praying that it ministered to his unsettled little heart.

From the moment he saw it, he loved it. A book all about him, written by his mommy, was a big deal. The words were exactly what he needed to hear.

That book instantly became his favorite. For weeks we were reading “Why I Love You” every night and sometimes during the day.

And my sweet Elijah slowly reemerged, calmer, more secure, and more willing to listen and help. (He was still stubborn and independent – that’s just him, but it was more manageable.)

I am confident that God gave me the idea and the story because He knew what Elijah needed from us and how he would best receive it.

The book became the best Christmas present that year for all of us.

Since my first personalized book was such as hit, the next year I created two more books: one for Elijah and his cousin Christian that was all about their friendship and an ABC book for my little Josiah that featured words relating to him and our family. Each book contained pictures that I had taken throughout the year, so it served not only as a fun storybook about them, but also as a way to share our memories.

In addition, Shutterfly often features great coupons for everything photo-related, including prints, calendars, and the photo books. By planning ahead and having my stories ready for when they had special offers, that year I ordered three books and only paid full price for one of them (and I don’t think I had to pay shipping on that one)!

And again, those books became instant family classics.

Feel free to borrow this idea. I’m sure it’s not unique to me, but the cool thing is, when you write your own stories, your book will be completely original and special for whomever you write it!

(If I see any new Shutterfly coupons coming up, I’ll be sure to share them on my Facebook or in my emails. Follow me or sign up so you don’t miss out.)

What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever given someone?

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My Favorite Christmas Movies & A GIVEAWAY!

MY 9 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

#9. Meet Me in St. Louis

#8. The Preacher’s Wife

#7. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

#6. While You Were Sleeping

#5. Elf

#4. The Nativity Story

#3. White Christmas

#2. The Shop Around the Corner

#1. It’s a Wonderful Life

My special Christmas giveaway

So, did your favorite Christmas movies make my list? What would be your #1 MUST SEE Holiday film?

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Nobody is grading your holiday.

Not your family.

Not your friends.

Not even Jesus.

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