Making 2012 Your Best Year Yet!
Ponder Your Blessings
Reflect on Your Goals
One of Jay’s golfing buddies is a financial adviser who signs every email with this quote: “People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan.” Sooooo, what’s your plan for your marriage? Do you have a regular “date night” on the calendar? Have you planned that weekend getaway for just you two? When we commit an event to the calendar, we find it much easier to maintain a commitment to that event. Whether it’s fitness, study, or even time with your spouse, we are most likely to keep a commitment we’ve written down!
Align Yourself with Like-Minded People
One of Jay’s dad’s favorite sayings is “You will become the books you read and the people you hang around.” It’s true, we’ve counseled countless couples who get their “sound marriage advice” from their divorced friends at the bar! Seriously? Find other couples who care about their marriage and start hanging out with them. Inform friends who complain about their spouse that unless they change their tune you’ll be finding different friends. DO NOT underestimate how much those who are closest to you will either build or tear down your marriage!
Yield to God’s Guidance
We make no bones about the fact that we are “Christ Followers”. We are far from perfect and have never claimed to have a perfect marriage. However, one thing we do is to seek God’s best in our lives. Our rationale is quite simple, if there is a God (and we believe there is) then HE has the best plan in store for our lives together. Our only role is to listen to Him daily in our marriages, He’s waiting to help you make this your best year yet!
What about number 5?
Merry Christmas from Jay & Laura!
The year has come to an end for Jay and Laura, and with this last Vlog they are going to add the last Christmas Tradition to the trio.
Have a very Merry Christmas, from Jay & Laura.
Remember the reason for the season!
Even though it is a cliche’ it rings true! Christmas is my favorite time of the year! I find myself getting lost in the shopping, baking, parties, decorating, and wrapping. I love buying gifts for those special to me! I take alot of time perusing ads and catalogs, shopping online, and making a shopping plan so that I can make sure I get the best gift for the appropriate person. HOWEVER….
All the trimmings of the season tend to blind me at times to the real reason we celebrate Christmas. As a result, we have had to become very deliberate to spend some time focusing on THE reason for the season. Two things that we do:
1. We take an evening with our kids and sit down, turn off lights, light candles, and reflect on our tree. This is the story we use…the ornaments represent the gifts we give each other, the lights on our tree represent the heavenly hosts that hearalded the birth of the baby Jesus, the evergreen tree represents eternal life that we now have through Jesus, the gifts under the tree represent the gifts that the wisemen brought to Jesus, and last but not least- our tree is topped with a star that has Jesus on it! This has become a family tradition that focuses us all back on Jesus and His birthday.
2. We made a commitment a few years back to attend Christmas Eve services at our church. Even though at times it is inconvenient or we just do not want to go out, we have found that attending Christmas Eve services has again focused us back on Jesus!
Jesus is the reason for the season! Merry Christmas to you all!
Laura
The Christmas Episodes, Vol. 1
This week begins a three part series on Christmas to round out 2011 with Jay and Laura. Have you been paying attention to the word of the month each and every month? If so, you may have a chance to WIN!
Three Simple Keys to reduce Christmas…..STRESS!
Is the Christmas season starting to STRESS you out? Well considering this blog normally goes out on Tuesday and it’s now Wednesday, I’d say the answer in the Laffoon household is YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
So how do you reduce the STRESS normally associated with the Christmas season? Here are three simple keys to reduce Christmas stress.
First, maintain your HEALTH! Nothing stresses us out more than tight fitting clothes from too much holiday fudge. Remember to enjoy the fun food but eat it in moderation. Also, even though it’s a busy time of year do not forget to get enough rest and exercise. Good sleep and regular exercise can help you keep a clear mind and reduce the amount of “over-thinking” this time of year brings.
Second, maintain your RELATIONSHIPS! Remember that Christmas is about celebrating Christ’s birth so keep in touch with HIM first and foremost. Stay grounded in the Word and in Prayer during this season and see how your relationships will flourish. When we keep Christ first HE helps us see the importance of the key relationships we have at home, work and church.
Finally maintain your PRIORITIES! The busyness of this season can often fog our perception of what is and isn’t important. Remember to stay connected with your spouse on the important decisions this season. SET BOUNDARIES together as to what you will and will not say agree to do. Those boundaries will help keep the “good” things away that will allow you to focus on the “great”!
Here’s to a stress free Christmas!
Blessings~
Jay and Laura
