One of my favorite Christmas traditions with our little family is our Christmas Book Basket. I started this tradition last year, when my daughter was barely a year old and even then it was a huge hit.

I just gather all the Christmas and winter-themed storybooks I can find, wrap them individually, and place them in a basket near the tree. Each night, my daughter gets to pick one book to unwrap and read with me and her daddy under the twinkling lights. It’s so much fun (and it’s helped her get better at opening presents!). 

After a giant Costco haul last week, I’m determined to keep this week’s grocery list under $40. (I do a monthly Costco run and this month was a bit more expensive than usual. So I’m trying to tighten up my weekly grocery budget to make up the difference!) Here’s what we’re eating this week.

Keeping a home running smoothly, especially with a toddler, part-time work, and church commitments, takes a lot more than knowing what’s for dinner. And while I’m still learning, I’ve built a system that works well for me and my family, so we know what we’re eating and what we’re doing for the whole week. It’s nothing fancy, just a simple spreadsheet that gives me peace of mind and helps me stay faithful in our daily needs.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit whispers not in our quiet time, but right in our mess: When you snap at your child and instantly feel that gentle tug: pray first, speak softer, apologize. When the baby cries at 2 a.m. and you want to grumble, but instead you're met with a reminder: this is holy, this is fleeting, this is love in the night.