tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post1985973403440760894..comments2023-11-03T04:59:35.580-04:00Comments on Serenity Now: How to Stay Joyful (and Sane) This Christmas SeasonAmanda @ Serenity Nowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483017563206007698noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-41749521543951837122011-12-06T23:41:55.933-05:002011-12-06T23:41:55.933-05:00Hi, Amanda ~ Stopping over from Richella's. ...Hi, Amanda ~ Stopping over from Richella's. Really appreciate your open and genuine spirit, Amanda. Richella ~ Wise and grace-filled words, as usual. Thank you for the much needed reminders to stay focused on the One who loved us enough to come down to us....Christmas Blessings, Friend ~Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00805272932024269158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-24790241948632488062011-12-06T20:51:55.491-05:002011-12-06T20:51:55.491-05:00Richella you are always so full of wisdom! I have ...Richella you are always so full of wisdom! I have a bad habit of thinking I can do it all and then I get upset with myself when I just can't seem to! I need to work on that for sure! I love your son's Lego centerpiece! I need to show my oldest that and see if he wants to try something like that for our table:)Kelli Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865834655887862155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-15159660933389100662011-12-06T05:20:04.016-05:002011-12-06T05:20:04.016-05:00Richella has great tips, even for someone without ...Richella has great tips, even for someone without children. <br /><br />If anyone hasn't read The Christmas Box that Richella suggests to feed your spirit, I highly suggest it. I used to read it to my class every single year. <br /><br />Great guest post!Paula@SweetPeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159609759110718249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-57892020502320461872011-12-05T23:20:00.846-05:002011-12-05T23:20:00.846-05:00Richella invited me over to visit. What a treat. ...Richella invited me over to visit. What a treat. I truly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Thank you.Terri at Finder's Keeper'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885148229437253811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-82800894552175641512011-12-05T20:24:58.213-05:002011-12-05T20:24:58.213-05:00Well said, Richella. You are one wise lady! Loved ...Well said, Richella. You are one wise lady! Loved this!Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Tophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311495846073017864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-75180970764337549832011-12-05T18:49:19.682-05:002011-12-05T18:49:19.682-05:00I love these tips! My mom would adore this post......I love these tips! My mom would adore this post...especially the part about tending to people's expectations. We've made the choice to not give gifts to all 30 relatives this year as a way to save money and be more careful with our spending around this time of year, and still some family members can't grasp our decision! Loving this series already (:Michaelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05279263060923898833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-26334642486627800862011-12-05T14:55:16.562-05:002011-12-05T14:55:16.562-05:00Hello Richella and Amanda! Such wise, lovely words...Hello Richella and Amanda! Such wise, lovely words. I love that you got your baby a Christmas plate! You are right, they know no difference until they are 2 or 3.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11998834833645862095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-45281291157658702432011-12-05T14:53:33.513-05:002011-12-05T14:53:33.513-05:00Hi Amanda and Richella! Great post here. My favori...Hi Amanda and Richella! Great post here. My favorite tip? There are no rules. Sometimes I just need to be reminded that there are no Christmas police or craft police. Especially this year. {I'm tired and a bit uninspired.} And Amanda, you summed up Richella perfectly: "sweet spirit, classic style, and wise words." Wishing you both a peaceful and joy-filled holiday!Marian Vischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02149389508879901827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-82092700083008964332011-12-05T13:53:28.765-05:002011-12-05T13:53:28.765-05:00I love your take on this - sometimes we feel so mu...I love your take on this - sometimes we feel so much pressure to have a picture perfect home and well-ordered traditions that we actually rob the season of its joy. I love your Lego example - too cute! And what a great memory for your son!Rhonda @ Abide at Homehttp://www.abideathome.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-38863888744416626042011-12-05T13:15:18.735-05:002011-12-05T13:15:18.735-05:00I loved this! Thank you Richella for your wise wor...I loved this! Thank you Richella for your wise words and Thank you Amanda for this series! I feel very encouraged today because I was starting to feel stressed. I love the sentence, "Jesus did not come to earth to make you feel stressed or guilty." I am sharing this with my friends! Thank you!Jennifer S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08045707126341829231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-86399116551924093062011-12-05T12:07:43.785-05:002011-12-05T12:07:43.785-05:00I love this Richella, such wise words spoken from ...I love this Richella, such wise words spoken from experience ~ you have sucha gracious way about you, I love how YOU make the rules at Christmastime and the harmony it brings, great feature Amanda!<br />xo<br />KateKate Riley https://www.blogger.com/profile/12505826655649361222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-89085242323988192432011-12-05T11:59:56.051-05:002011-12-05T11:59:56.051-05:00Thank you for these great reminders. Taking owner...Thank you for these great reminders. Taking ownership of your own holiday and deciding what is meaningful to you and your family is so important. I appreciated the distinction between meeting other people's expectations and tending to other people's expectations. The latter is sensitive, but protects you and your family from holiday craziness. Merry Christmas!Erin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04133001054953045509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-20834901652732461672011-12-05T10:41:21.070-05:002011-12-05T10:41:21.070-05:00Hi there! Richella told us to stop by so here I am...Hi there! Richella told us to stop by so here I am! :-) You have such a wonderful blog and I'm so glad you had her as a guest here today. What an incredible post, full of wonderful truths and tips! She is just so open and honest and we adore her. And seriously, I cracked up at your Ugly Christmas sweater party idea! I totally want to do a family photo sometime for our Christmas card with us all wearing those. LOL! I'm a new follower now and can't wait to look through more of your posts. :-)<br />VanessaAt The Picket Fencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16846200981778597675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-60290816341671864362011-12-05T10:16:25.221-05:002011-12-05T10:16:25.221-05:00Hi Amanda...I am here from Richella's blog. N...Hi Amanda...I am here from Richella's blog. Nice to meet you. I am becoming a follower.<br /><br />I liked your Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Idea. Looks like you had a good turn out and a lot of fun!<br /><br />These were good tips for staying sane during the Christmas season! I love Richella. I love her home and her decorating ideas. I love her sweet spirit and how she loves the Lord. Thanks for having her guest post.<br /><br />I am a Christian. A 61 yr. old wife, mom and grandmother to 14. (Three of those are in heaven along with some miscarried babes we never met.) God is so faithful, loving and kind.<br /><br />I love blogging. I have met so many wonderful people who inspire me and challenge me in my day to day life. Maybe you will stop by my blog and read some of my posts when you get a chance.<br /><br />Merry Christmas! <br /><br />Linda @ Truthful TidbitsLindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751356958497450109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-48534271136534648212011-12-05T09:57:44.807-05:002011-12-05T09:57:44.807-05:00This was such a wonderful post. Richella's wor...This was such a wonderful post. Richella's words really struck me! I need to write her quote, "YOU get to choose what's right for you and your family" on the back of my hand as a daily reminder. Thanks so much for sharing these tips!Brandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049383432715304456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-42946847435329182242011-12-05T09:23:42.386-05:002011-12-05T09:23:42.386-05:00Great tips from Richella. I love her son's leg...Great tips from Richella. I love her son's leggo creation.Kim @ Savvy Southern Stylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493624262438266840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-11006889245720047142011-12-05T08:58:16.205-05:002011-12-05T08:58:16.205-05:00Thanks Richella for a wonderful post! I really enj...Thanks Richella for a wonderful post! I really enjoyed reading this and, thanks to you, am now following this blog too, lol!<br />I just found my Christmas spirit this evening, and now I am excited to make beautiful memories for my family. And without, blowing a gasket, (hopefully!) :Dmamamiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12544290867067647720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-80719634599651731902011-12-05T08:54:47.231-05:002011-12-05T08:54:47.231-05:00Wonderful post! I know I don't fall into the m...Wonderful post! I know I don't fall into the mom category but all the tips are helpful for when I do have kids & also for life in general. I'm constantly needing to slow myself down between work, family, church, etc., its hard to know what's "enough" before you crash & burn. Can't wait to see the rest of the series!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-1035809617126049172011-12-05T08:45:54.859-05:002011-12-05T08:45:54.859-05:00Awesome post, Richella! (I'm popping over from...Awesome post, Richella! (I'm popping over from your place!) I especially like Rule #1--there are no rules. Oh, and I liked what you said about the blog world making us set up unrealistic expectations for ourselves. Trust me, nobody from any blog is going to come peek in your windows on Christmas morning to see if you've done it all right. Just enjoy your family and friends and, especially, enjoy the blessing of this season.Shelly Wildmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18366214414205646931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550079205854272848.post-20631337197111492592011-12-05T08:33:26.576-05:002011-12-05T08:33:26.576-05:00I feel so honored to be guest posting for you! Th...I feel so honored to be guest posting for you! Thank you so very, very much for inviting me to be a part of this series. You're the best!Richella Parhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04353214472648623583noreply@blogger.com