Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Steph could talk forever about creative ways to celebrate the coming of the Savior! But thankfullly for you, we've taken our best tips and resources from our 4-part Christmas series last year, so you can listen quickly and then put them into practice! You'll hear favorite recipes, gift-giving tips, and thoughts on keeping Jesus pre-eminent! Being a Christian mom is never more fun than at Christmastime, but it can also be exhausting! We hope these tips give you permission to relax!

Recipes:

Berry French Toast Casserole

Links to The Full Christmas Episodes:

Part 1: Advent Episode

Part 2: Traditions to Solve Holiday Dilemmas

Part 3: Our Thoughts on Santa, The Talk, and More

They're the joyful agains our children

shout on the swings, the exhausting

2

agains of cooking and laundry, and

the difficult agains of discipline.

3

So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

6

We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

7

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

8

Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

9

Welcome back to the weekend podcast.

10

I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

11

And this is brought to you

by entrusted ministries.

12

Last Christmas season, Jen Frackman

Emily deal, Betsy Corning, and I sat

13

down for a lengthy conversation covering

all of our Christmas decorating tips.

14

Favorite recipes, advent

recommendations, and more.

15

But I know you're busy and

I have taken the best clips.

16

So you can really get that information

right away and get to your traditions.

17

Of course, if you'd like to listen

to the episodes in their entirety,

18

I will link those in the show notes.

19

This episode will cover our

favorite Christmas recipes.

20

How we decide if a tradition

is sustainable and how we

21

try to keep things simple.

22

We'll also cover some of our

thoughts on gift-giving with

23

our children and with siblings.

24

And one of our favorite traditions

that actually helps us relax.

25

Then we'll wrap up with talking about.

26

Our ideas on Santa's perhaps

you've been developing some

27

convictions of your own and you'd.

28

Enjoy.

29

Listening to where the Lord has

personally brought us on this topic.

30

And you might appreciate knowing

that we didn't all line up with

31

the same ideas on this subject.

32

All right.

33

Let's get to it.

34

We'll start by talking about

our favorite Christmas recipes.

35

Betsy: We make, and

it's the simplest thing

36

in the world, is to make, peppermint bark.

37

And, just you buy the guitared

white chocolate chips and buy

38

some peppermint canes that you

crunch up, or you can buy it.

39

already crunched even, and that's it.

40

You can add vanilla.

41

Little bit of milk, but you just want

the consistency of the chocolate to stay

42

smooth and pour it in a pan and then put

it in the refrigerator and break it apart.

43

It's the easiest thing.

44

And so we make that a lot.

45

You can put a layer of

chocolate on it if you

46

want to underneath,

47

And lots of cookies.

48

I'm always looking for fun,

colorful cookies to make.

49

Stephanie: Birthday cake for

Jesus is number one, recipe

50

that we just have to do that.

51

A lot of times it's chocolate.

52

And, I've even let them have scrambled

eggs and birthday cake for Jesus

53

as a Christmas morning breakfast.

54

Betsy: Uh, uh, uh,

55

Stephanie: I

56

Really like to make a French toast

casserole the night before then put

57

that in while we're opening presents and

that makes for such a peaceful Christmas

58

morning and I keep My son that's a little

bit more introverted than my other three

59

and he's a little bit of a night owl

often helps me as I'll send the others

60

to bed and he'll help me make a French

toast casserole and he does a great job.

61

There's a creme brulee one I like and then

a berry sourdough one which it doesn't

62

call for sourdough bread but I changed

it to sourdough and then I used oat milk

63

and it turned out pretty great recently.

64

Jen: We do a charcuterie tray and

I like it because I am not stuck

65

to making one specific thing.

66

They just know that there's

going to be a spread on it.

67

And so I enjoy that because I can be

creative each year and be like what

68

do I want to put in at this year?

69

What is fun for this part?

70

We do have, we make a

Christmas birthday cake.

71

And we'll do, I do a French toast

bake, that type of thing as well.

72

But throughout the day, we

just munch as the day goes on.

73

And so we open up a gift

and then we'll have a.

74

I sit down breakfast and then the rest of

the day we just munch but my favorite is

75

just not having to feel the pressure as

much of Oh, it has to be this one thing.

76

whatever is easy in that moment.

77

I had a friend years ago tell me that she

was always careful to make a tradition.

78

that she knew she could keep.

79

And I was like, that's a wise word.

80

If it's something that's going to

be just taking too much time and

81

energy and drains you, then that's

not life giving for you either.

82

And she had mentioned that.

83

Her grandma always made special blueberry

muffins and so she tried to do that, but

84

she's there were some years where Costco

blueberry muffins were put in the fold

85

and they were still blueberry muffins.

86

And I just, I find that so

peaceful for me to remember yes.

87

It's okay if it doesn't work out when

the baby is little and nursing, or it's a

88

hectic year that it's the being together.

89

But if the blueberry muffins was a special

thing, then let Costco make it that year.

90

If it's too hard, you know, you still

have them, but Costco can do it.

91

But I do, I aspire towards

that and I love that?

92

if I'm feeling overwhelmed

to be like, okay.

93

Can we do that?

94

Still has the memory behind

it, but that might not be so

95

hard on me.

96

Stephanie: That's such a wise word.

97

About counting the cost of the

traditions that we commit to, one

98

year, so embarrassing, I served my

mother in law frozen pizza, not even

99

good frozen pizza but frozen pizza

for our Christmas dinner you're

100

planning for so many different things.

101

And it had like Christmas and

our Christmas Eve planned.

102

And then we were going

to have family in town.

103

and then she came early.

104

we went shopping that day and

shopping took longer than we expected.

105

And then I like, maybe we can just

go to Costco and buy a pot pie.

106

And we're standing in line with the pot

pie And realizing, oh my goodness, this

107

takes forever to bake And, it's already

getting late and what are we going to do?

108

And it ended up being a frozen pizza.

109

And so now we laugh about it with

trying to make everything lovely

110

yeah, I remember that one year

you served me pizza for Christmas.

111

It's, it's good to be humbled some years,

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Betsy: takes,

113

Stephanie: Yeah.

114

Betsy: it takes a lot of planning

to have guests, not just for a meal,

115

but for.

116

Several days.

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Stephanie: instituted

Yalobakaflod a couple years ago,

118

which I absolutely love it.

119

Do any of you do it?

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Betsy: no, we

121

Stephanie: Okay.

122

And I am pretty sure that's

the correct pronunciation.

123

I did look it up last year.

124

Jalabakaflod.

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It is an Icelandic tradition

where on Christmas Eve, they

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exchange chocolate and books.

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And I have decided I, I just love

it because in all of the busyness of

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the traditions and making everything

special and feeding everyone, I

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feel like sometimes at the end

of it, did I just sit with them?

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Did I just enjoy it?

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Even when I'm together the Lego sets with

them, it's like you're still something.

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I just want to relax with them.

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And so we do, sometimes we do it the

night before Christmas Eve and sometimes

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on Christmas Eve, depending on how

our traveling schedule works out.

135

But I buy a special book for each of

the kids and then give them chocolate.

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And, maybe it's their

favorite chocolate bar.

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And sometimes I'll make chocolate

lava cakes homemade hot chocolate and

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We Then, as they're getting older,

they'll read on their own for a while.

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And we'll be in our, Christmasy pajamas.

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Some of the kids, when they're

younger, buying like a treasury,

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like Madeline's the Treasury, all

of the books in one, or the Kevin

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Henkes books in one, been special.

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And so I would recommend to any moms

that feel like, where is the peace

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in all of this, in the busyness.

145

And it is, it would be a hard thing

to do when your kids are really

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little and can't sit for too long.

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So I'm.

148

Excited that I found out about it

when my kids were old enough just rest

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on the couch for a while together.

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Let's turn now to how we handle

gift giving in our homes.

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Jen: we do.

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Sibling Gifts, where we go to the

store and they use their own money

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to buy a gift for their sibling.

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Sometimes we will either do a bigger gift

and they'll draw names, or if they choose

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they want to do each of them buying a

gift, then we'll do a smaller amount.

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And then they can, you know, like

one year they went to five below

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and they picked for everybody.

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So they, each of them bought

three gifts to give, but then

159

last year they decided

they wanted to spend

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20 and draw a name.

161

And that was really sweet.

162

Cause it was a

163

little bit more of a nicer gift.

164

And it was really fun

to see them pick it out.

165

And they're, that is the gift

that they want to give right away.

166

First thing, they don't

want to open a gift.

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They want to give their gift.

168

And I love that.

169

Stephanie: Absolutely.

170

We do the same exact thing.

171

Same price limit, everything

with the four kids.

172

Yep.

173

20 limit.

174

They draw names and then,

but so excited about that

175

Jen: Yeah.

176

And I, also do what Betsy does

with writing a code on it.

177

I, because they're, like the

size of the box they can guess.

178

And so I'm known for putting like a

golf ball in it just to, to turn it.

179

And it sounds different

and to throw them off.

180

So I.

181

Now I do have a code and so now when

they go down, they don't know I have, as

182

I wrap it, I put it out and so there's,

right now there's gifts under the tree

183

and they have no idea who it's for because

it has a code on it that only I know.

184

So it's fun.

185

They're like

186

trying

187

to guess and

188

Stephanie: Legos.

189

And so I will,

190

Betsy: Oh!

191

Stephanie: wrap up boxes of cereal a lot.

192

And they'll, but they'll be

excited too because it's don't let

193

them eat those kind of cereals.

194

Anyway, and so then they're like, that's

still a great gift, but it's not the

195

Legos that I thought I was getting.

196

Yes, I the

197

Betsy: because

198

Stephanie: that's fun, yeah.

199

Betsy: The, it is a really great,

it really helps a lot because if

200

you're shopping for a large amount

of people, like you do when you're a

201

grandma, it's really hard to keep it

really out balanced and even, and it

202

is even if you have a number of kids.

203

That really helps to have the envelope

or to go out on that shopping day.

204

We really love that, but we also play

a good attitude game and that is this

205

is just something a little extra I

do and this is a hard tradition to

206

keep too because now I have to shop

for 18 people it's like a white

207

elephant and you go around but there's

Lots of great presence in there,

208

but there's always a clunker.

209

And one year Johnny fell for the.

210

Giant, beautiful box with the bent

up wire hangers and, but to, like

211

you start the game and you say,

this is the good attitude game.

212

Now you have nothing and you are going

to go home with something, but you

213

have to have a good attitude about it.

214

and you know what?

215

They have an opportunity to trade

it out, but he had the very last

216

opportunity to trade it out.

217

And he traded for the.

218

the.

219

box, which now they never pick the

big fancy box, but, this year it

220

was actually something really nice.

221

Try not to make anybody too upset.

222

And lots of times I will, pick it out

at the end, but no, we really want it

223

to be, You know, have a good attitude.

224

Now, when you play that

game, you know how it goes.

225

You go all the way through the lineup

to number 18, but then we start over at

226

number one and they can trade it out.

227

So now they see everything.

228

And by the way, they're wrapped

and they have a ribbon and they

229

have to fish for it with a hook.

230

It's a toy one.

231

It's not a real fishing they

have to fish for their prize.

232

it's set on a big table.

233

And, always the game

within the game, we call it.

234

It's really fun to watch them all.

235

Oh my goodness.

236

Fling that hook around was dangerous

this year with the little kids,

237

so that's just a little extra thing

that you might do to, you feel

238

like, Hey, they already know what

they're probably going to get.

239

So I want to have

something that's a little

240

Emily: So fun.

241

Stephanie: we do the something you

want, something you need, something

242

to do something to read, and then,

do a shared gift, so what you were

243

saying, Jen, but this is their big

gift, and one year it was a fort

244

building kit, and one year it was...

245

food with this farm stand

when they were younger.

246

I guess I like it because it's.

247

It takes away part of that possessiveness

and greediness a little bit that this

248

is to share and to enjoy together, but

you're still getting something special.

249

And then I'm happy to spend a

little bit more on that item.

250

One year we used all of our Costco rewards

for an entire year and then put all the

251

aunt and uncle money and got a swing set.

252

So was really exciting, but

I always have a fun challenge

253

for them to open that gift.

254

year we did a Christmas escape

room, and they had to solve

255

all these puzzles to open it.

256

One year, we had them figure

out how many gifts you would

257

get in the 12 days of Christmas.

258

It can go so quickly to open

up the gifts that they have.

259

when they do this challenge together,

it extends the morning, I just like to

260

hear the way that they encourage each

other and the teamwork that it produces.

261

Also I should say when we give

the something to do, sometimes

262

it's been a game that then

we'll play that as a family,

263

I like the idea of the gift producing.

264

An opportunity for family time.

265

now let's talk a little bit

about our thoughts on Santa's.

266

Does anyone have a strong conviction

or a strong preference on the topic?

267

Emily: We always,

268

Jen: Oh, sorry.

269

Emily: we always, and we never,

270

Jen: was so funny.

271

We.

272

Emily: No,

273

We did set out cookies and milk

for Santa because we made all of

274

those sugar cookies, but our kids

never, they knew Santa wasn't real.

275

It was just a fun thing that

we just played along with.

276

They knew it wasn't real, so we had fun

with it, but we never, but they knew.

277

They knew all along.

278

And I didn't grow up believing in Santa.

279

But and the kids had fun with it.

280

We would set it.

281

out in a cute little vintage Santa mug.

282

And we just had fun with it.

283

And we always ask dad, like Jake,

what cookies Santa wanted this year.

284

So we just enjoyed it.

285

But they always knew

286

the real meaning behind Christmas.

287

Jen: We didn't do Santa.

288

We just, I don't know we

never, we just never did.

289

We told them from the beginning yeah,

people are going to ask you in the store,

290

Santa's going to bring You and you can

just give them an answer and move on.

291

But, they obviously knew about

Santa You can't, I don't think it's

292

possible for people to not know about

Santa because everybody does it.

293

This year, I actually had a friend

whose daughter, still believes in

294

Santa and they go through great

extent to help her to keep that.

295

Just magical for them.

296

And so we had to talk to my youngest

about like, how do you handle that?

297

Like it's not your job to

crush her dreams there.

298

So just having to be careful about

that's just not what our family does.

299

We're not against it.

300

We just always wanted it.

301

I always wanted our kids to feel

like we're telling them the truth.

302

That's just a personal conviction for

us, that we just wanted to that they

303

were hearing the truth from us, but

that's not to say that I think it's...

304

Horrible.

305

Stephanie: She'll

306

still be friends with you Emily

307

Jen: Yeah.

308

Yeah.

309

Betsy: Well, I mean,

310

There was a real Saint Nick,

so you can tell him about that,

311

the idea is to be giving and charitable

yeah, the whole idea of Santa has

312

definitely gone to the extreme.

313

I would let my kids, if they wanted

to, get a picture with Santa, but

314

they always knew that it wasn't, real.

315

We always said, everything we have

comes from the Lord, not Santa.

316

But, don't rain on people's parades

if they're pretty serious about it,

317

except, I don't understand why people

would be really serious about it.

318

Because there's other things that are

so much more serious and more important.

319

But there's some pretty

cute things out there.

320

But I just never bought

anything with Santa.

321

We just never had Santa

in our house at all.

322

He just wasn't in there.

323

But not to say that we didn't

see a book that had Santa on it.

324

Or that you might see, some

really cute little mugs, it's

325

just a personal preference.

326

You just have to know what the truth

327

is and that everything

comes from the Lord.

328

Stephanie: yeah, that's

a great distinction.

329

When I was in college, I heard one

of, the guys in our campus ministry

330

say, My parents didn't want to teach

us about Santa and teach us about

331

God and have us find out Santa wasn't

real and think God wasn't real.

332

And just at that moment, I was like, all

right, like my mind's made up and not

333

because you can't do both, but because

like you said, Jen, that I want my kids to

334

know that I will tell you the truth, but

I feel like it's such a displaced focus.

335

Everything magical about

Santa is true of Jesus.

336

he Rides through the clouds, you can

read in scripture about how, Jesus has

337

returned and he's gonna come on the clouds

and the Santa, he sees you when you're

338

sleeping, he knows when you're awake.

339

I feel like when it's about Santa,

it's almost creepy and he's record

340

keeping, but with the Lord, that's for

our protection and our goodness and

341

tenderness, and he gives good gifts.

342

And he's a generous father.

343

All of the great things about

Santa are true of Jesus.

344

And so why would I spend

time focusing on that?

345

Betsy: Give his glory to another.

346

Stephanie: Yes.

347

I remember finding out that Santa

wasn't real and I was crushed and just

348

I feel like, how could you lie to me

and felt like part of my childhood died.

349

And so I think some even I have

some relatives that are like,

350

how could you take that magical

part away from your children?

351

But I feel no, I want to teach them.

352

About all of that hope and

all of that pure heartedness.

353

That's yes and amen and Jesus.

354

And so you can, we can actually

steward that and encourage it by

355

saying you're right, like you,

you were built for something

356

magical, for something supernatural

357

And

358

Emily: Yes.

359

Yes.

360

Betsy: And Jesus just doesn't

361

disappoint when you hear

about who he really is.

362

I'm never thought about that.

363

I'm going to have to meditate on

that for a little while for sure.

364

But really we might have strong thoughts

on it, but we know that it's a personal

365

preference and Emily I'm sure that your.

366

Vintage bug is adorable and we

would gladly drink out of them.

367

If we were celebrating at your house.

368

Betsy: I've

369

seen some

370

pretty cute

371

Santa things I have.

372

Jen: I find it would be

exhausting to keep it going.

373

Like I would be like, Oh man,

we gotta keep doing this.

374

And I don't just it freed me so much

to be like, yeah, he's not real.

375

Sorry.

376

Betsy: It's interesting that the two

main holidays, Christmas and Easter,

377

there's secular view of, eclipsing that

with an Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.

378

And where we feel the Santa Claus

is benevolent, I don't know what the

379

Easter Bunny does, but Neither one

of those, even though we might have

380

a bunny cake or an Easter egg hunt or

whatever, and we do that, it doesn't

381

mean they know that Jesus reigns

supreme in everything and every day.

382

But we also do love to do some

I love a good imagination and

383

some fun and some creativity.

384

And I think, imaginary things and

things with little children are fun.

385

And I think that's the thing

that people are gravitating

386

towards with their children.

387

But we just have to be careful

that it never eclipses the true,

388

one who never forsakes, never,

fails us, never disappoints us,

389

Stephanie: We are looking

for more monthly donors.

390

Even the smallest gifts are such a

blessing to us as we plan how to move

391

forward with wisdom in the projects,

the Lord has laid on our hearts.

392

If you've been blessed by this podcast

or by this ministry, please head to

393

our website and to the donate page.

394

And consider giving to help

us continue in our efforts to

395

spread the glory of God in homes.

396

We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

397

us for this episode of Again.

398

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

399

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

400

EntrustedMinistries.

401

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

402

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

403

world, and we want it for you, too.

404

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

405

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

406

We're rooting for you.

407

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

408

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good and every work of faith by

409

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

410

Him, according to the grace of our God.

411

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

412

Amen.

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Until we meet again.