What are your plans this Christmas season?
Every Christmas, we would typically travel to visit and spend time with family. Due to unexpected reasons, this year, we have to stay put at home. Yet, it has turned into more of a blessing because it gives us time to rest.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30
It's been quite a year for us, both personally and professionally. So this time of rest is welcome, despite not being able to spend the holidays with family. However, our traditions will still continue, which includes watching It's a Wonderful Life together every Christmas season. Spending time together with our two miniature schnauzers and watching a Christmas classic sounds just about perfect.
With that said, I would love to give away a box of some great books that are worth a reread to one US winner. Just leave a comment below letting us know you'd like to enter. Be sure to enter our year-end giveaway to win an Amazon Kindle Fire via the Rafflecopter below!
Annie is proud to be one of the founding stewards of the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat (CFRR), the first readers' retreat of its kind, and the cofounder of JustRead Publicity Tours. She loves all things book and bookish, and most of all, Jesus. Next to reading, her other interests include spending time with family and friends, eating, playing with her miniature schnauzer pups, Gabby and Reagan, and somehow challenge her non-existent athletic abilities to improve (tremendously) her tennis and golf game. You can find her at @justcommonly on Instagram.
Annie, I love re-reading my favorites, too. It makes me smile, it's like a comfy pair of the best slippers ever. And I love seeing fave movies the same way. Does that make us creatures of habit or just creatures who like the known as we venture into the unknown?
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the joy and health and hope for this beautiful season, but also for the coming year. May 2020 be filled with peace, hope, health and love!
I think we're just a little of both, but love to go back to our comforts. You too! Thank you!
DeleteYour Christmas will be grace-filled, I'm sure. God really doesn't want us to be running ragged this time of year. He doesn't need huge gatherings or sumptuous meals...he just needs hearts open to his love and mercy, hearts that make room for the Christ Child. I know your heart is open wide. Wishing you the most joyous of Christmases filled with the stories you love, with prayer and with rest and reflection.
ReplyDeletePraying for your vision issues and for all God's blessings in the New Year!
Thank you, Debby! May our hearts be open to everything He has for us.
DeleteSo beautifully said, Debby!
DeleteHi, Annie! I love to reread favorite books, too. Like Ruth, I find it so comforting. I'd already decided that finding the time to reread a favorite series is going to be my Christmas gift to ME this year! I have to say--your little schnauzers are absolutely adorable! Praying that you have a restful, restorative Christmas season and bunches of blessings in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurel. I love your gift to yourself. =) It really is a blessing to be able to read and do what we love. My furbabies thank you too.
DeleteI do love re-watching Christmas favorites. Grabbing a cup of something hot and cozy-ing up in a blanket to watch "White Christmas" or "Elf" puts me in a Christmas mood! We travel every other year and this is our year to stay home as well. To be honest, those are my favorite :) Thanks for sharing today!
ReplyDeleteSweet! Everything sounds good. When we have time, we also like to catch up on other classics like White Christmas.
DeleteAnnie - sorry to hear of your vision problems, but it's a blessing to be able to enjoy fantastic books through audio. :) We are definitely staying put this Christmas and I'm looking forward to a holiday without having to drive hours in wintry weather. Maybe there will be more time for building snowmen and drinking hot chocolate then...
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! (ps don't enter me in the draw as I'm north of the border...)
Hi Lee-Ann. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too. It is a blessing to not have to drive through the wintry mix here.
DeleteMerry Christmas, Annie! "It's a Wonderful Life" is my favorite, too. I think my dear husband would rather watch it every other year, or even every five years, but I'm a two or three times a year watcher! So yes, I put it on when he isn't at home. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd a quiet Christmas is the best, isn't it? When we moved west several years ago, we decided we would do our traveling in the non-winter months, so it's quietly at home again this year. Only one of our four adult children will be in town for the big day, so it will be extra quiet...unless our game of Carcassone gets out of hand!
LOL. YAY! I just LOVE "It's a Wonderful Life!" We used to play games too. Monopoly, charades, Taboo, Bang!, Seven Kingdom...etc. So many memories. Thanks. Have a great weekend!
DeleteHi Annie! There really some days where we just need to rest, but God gives us exactly what we need. I would love to be entered in the giveaway, you can never have too many books! May you have a Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteAmen, Angeline!! Merry Christmas!
DeleteAngeline, we're glad you stopped by!
DeleteWe normally travel to visit family during the holidays but this year we are staying home and I am looking forward to the break! I also decided to skip sending out Christmas cards to help alleviate stress. I'm excited to focus on activities to do with my girls, like baking cookies and decorating gingerbread houses. Hope you have a merry and relaxing Christmas Annie! Please enter me in your book giveaway ;)
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I gave up sending card many years ago for that reason and just haven't gotten back into it. Every year, I plan to, but I just haven't gotten back into the routine.
DeleteOh, how I love that movie! I cry every time. haha
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a quiet, blessed Christmas, Annie. As I get older, I'm finding that less is better at holiday time. I'm still pondering on what I'll cook that day, however I know I want to keep it simple. Time for enjoying my family and probably napping as well that day. :)
I also meant to say how cute your doggies are!
DeleteAnnie! I love It's a Wonderful Life! I think the housekeeper's line at the end is so great. "I've been saving this for a deee-vorce, if ever I get a husband!" LOL
ReplyDeleteI love your sweet puppies. They are such loves, and so well-behaved when we were there!
I'm sorry you won't be able to travel for the holidays. I never can either, since all the end of year bookkeeping for our family business falls to me.
I pray you have a restful, refreshing, and remarkable Christmas!
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 from WV ! Thank you for the chance. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie! Thanks for the thoughtful post, and I hope things are looking up for you. We're pretty much staying put for Christmas, too. Our kids and grandkids usually come to visit for a bit, so that's fun.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy re-reading my favorites, although I haven't had time to do that lately. I don't watch many movies, but I'm thinking I might have to watch a couple of them. I love While You Were Sleeping, even though it's not technically a Christmas movie.
I'd love to be entered in your giveaway! That sounds like fun!
Thank you for sharing! Merry CHristmas and I'd like to be entered into the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your inspiring post. Merry Christmas and thanks for the chance to win my favorite gift---books!
ReplyDeleteWe will be home on Christmas day this year. However, the day after Christmas, we will head to FL to spend a week with family and friends. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteIt is a chore to try to get the whole family together. They are far flung. One of our traditions is the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. The readings are so wonderful. One favorite Christmas movie is Nutcracker, the movie. It had sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be in the drawing for the books from your library.
Celebrating with my kids and grandkids at my home this year!
ReplyDeleteLinda Marie Finn
Celebrating with my children and their families at home this year! Merry Christmas! Thank you for the chance to win some books!
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