My Christmas Blessings

December has always been my favorite time of year due to the cheer and giving that it seems to bring out of people, but this year, I have struggled to make it a joyful season. Last year on December 5th, my family lost a 20 year old young man that had been like a child of my own, and a brother to my kids. Then, just 19 days later, another young man that spent lots of time with our family, age 24, also passed away suddenly. Feeling lost inside at how quickly things can change, and people can be here one day, and gone the next, I haven't felt very festive.

On December 11th, my grandson's birthday, my 23 year old niece passed away very unexpectedly, and it has taken a toll on the whole family. I celebrated my grandson's birthday during the day, and by that evening, I got "the call" that my niece was gone. I felt like my emotions were on a huge roller coaster, and I just wanted it to stop so I could think straight again. 

Due to the extreme emotions this year, I didn't plan very well for Christmas, and because of that, my family was put in a bit of a tight place to have an enjoyable holiday. One of the first blessings that we received came from a friend of mine. We have known each other for years, and I babysat her children for the past 10 years or more, as needed. I consider them to be family, even though there is no blood relation. She stopped by one night just before Christmas with a pre-lit 6 foot tree, a star for the top, and decorations to put on it. She then informed me that she had picked up a couple of gifts for me to give to my children, because she knew I was struggling. 

The next day, my friend was at work and was speaking with a customer about her excitement in being able to help another family with Christmas this year. Before the gentleman left her store, he handed her $100 and asked her to use it to contribute more gifts to my family, as his way of helping out as well. I was in awe when she called and asked me what other gifts she could get for my kids. I know that God saw my pain and my struggles, and He came through to make this Christmas a blessing to all of us.

Sometimes through the struggles, I find it hard to let go and give it to God, but I am thrilled to say that He already knows what we need, and when we need it.

Thank you God for sending your angels to make this Christmas a blessing to my family. We had a very Merry Christmas.

The season is upon us

I grew up believing that Christmas is not about the gifts, but rather about celebrating the birth of Christ. As a parent, besides catering to the worldly perception of Christmas, I have tried my best to pass on the significance of Christmas to my children, and now my grandchild. Christ is the reason for the season, and it is great to see how many other families celebrate His life, besides giving gifts to those around them that they love and care for.

This year has been tough financially for my family, due to unexpected medical expenses, but we are never too poor to pass on the significance of what Christmas is all about, and that is Christ. 

I like to remind my children that Christmas is about giving as well, but that we should be caring and giving to others all year long, not just in one season. People have daily struggles all year long, and sometimes a simple gesture can show the love of Christ through you, just by smiling at someone, or giving some loving advice that they find helpful. If you have a way to help others, give it a try and see how great it makes you feel. It really is way better to give, than to receive. Pass this lesson on to the next generation as well, and we can all make this a better world to live in. It is all through Christ that we have the opportunities and the successes that we do.

Leadership Qualities

Today while finishing up the dishes, starting dinner, and switching loads of laundry to get a head start on a new week, it occurred to me how much being a stay at home mom is like leading my team of affiliates.

I am available all hours of every day, to assist when problems arise, answer questions that may have them stumped, and to teach strategies and tips that I have found useful in my life journey.

I do my best to lead by example, and I strive to show honesty, compassion, confidence, self-motivation, and hard work to all that I feel responsible for. These are qualities that I want to see not only as a mother, but as a team leader. 

Keeping the lines of communication open is vital to success with family, as well as with your team. I want to be there to encourage and cheer them on, and always be there when they need someone to talk to. Life and business can be tricky at times, but having the support they need will go a long way in their success.

Give praise often, even if it seems like a minor feat. Positive reinforcement will bring the best out in people, and they will strive to do even better.

Parenting and marketing are both extremely difficult jobs, but with the right attitude and the devotion to see others succeed, you can make a difference in the lives of others.

Are you falling behind?

This seems to be the time of year that gets very crazy for me as a wife, mother, grandmother, and a business woman. Shopping for my family can be quite the ordeal, and definitely has a way of wearing me out. Even through the strenuous days, I still devote time every day to build my business, and keep in contact with those that need some advice or assistance in moving their business forward. I try to do so many things at once, and in the end, I feel like I am falling behind in all that I am trying to do.

My solution for all of the chaos is to make a schedule for each day, and prioritize the things that I find the most important. Obviously, I may not be able to stick to the schedule completely, but writing everything down does wonders for my weary brain. 

This is a sample of my week as far as I can tell right now:

Sun.	Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thur.	Fri.	Sat.	Notes
Laundry	Kids school	Kids school	Kids school	Kids school	Kids school	Research	Goal: Get website online
To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	To Do Tasks	Write 2 blog posts as back up
Church	Advertise site 11-20	Advertise site 21-30	Advertise site 31-40	Advertise site 41-50	Shopping	Shopping and wrapping
Advertise site 1-10	Housework	Laundry	Housework	Laundry	Pay bills	Laundry
Research	E-mails	Dishes	Church	Housework	Research	Research
Housework	Change bedding	E-mails	E-mails	E-mails	Housework	Housework
Family time	Work on website	Read marketing blogs	Sweep/Mop floors	Read marketing blogs	E-mails	E-mails
E-mails	Grocery shopping	Work on website	Work on website	Work on website	Advertise site 51-65	Advertise site 66-75
Blog	Paid E-mails	Blog	Paid E-mails	Blog	Paid E-mails	Family time

Obviously I can't always predict unexpected things that may need to be done, so I am always open to my schedule changing a bit, but the goal of writing it down is so I don't continue falling behind.

Are you falling behind, or do you have some great tips that help keep you on track?

I'd love to hear your techniques and ideas.