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

Three Simple Keys to Raising the Happiest Kids on the Planet!

And our final installment…

Key #3. Begin with the End in Mind!

In his highly successful book 7 Habits of Highly Successful People Dr. Stephen R. Covey says we must “Begin with the End in Mind”. This is a highly effective key in raising happy kids. We must stop long enough in our fast paced lives to think about the end and work our way back to today.

Think about your “golden years” in terms of your relationships. When your children and grand children and great grandchildren gather at your home for a holiday celebration, what do you want that celebration to look and feel like? If we want a home full of joy and happy relationships we must model that happiness today!

One of our favorite quotes is: “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” – Mohandas Gandhi

Bottom line? If we want to raise the happiest kids on the planet we must first choose to be happy ourselves!

Blessings~

Jay & Laura

Three Simple Keys to Raising the Happiest Kids on the Planet!

Picking up from where we left off last week…it’s Key #2

Love Your Spouse More than Your Kids!

Again most people believe they do love their spouse more than their kids. However, what would people see if they were a “fly on the wall” of your home? I know for most of us there are three specific areas we can improve.

First, Speak your love in front of your kids. We have yet to meet the woman who doesn’t want to hear the words “I love you” from her husband. While this may be very difficult for some men it gives your kids a sense of security about mom and dad’s relationship. Similarly we have yet to meet the man who doesn’t appreciate a compliment from his wife. “Thank you dear for being such a good provider”. “Thank you for helping in the kitchen”. These words show your kids the affection you have for each other.

Second, Show your love in front of your kids. Displays of affection are like cement in your relationship. Holding hands while watching a movie or television program. An appropriate kiss before leaving for work or after coming home. A big hug for a “job well done” on dinner or for an accomplishment at work tell your kids that mom and dad enjoy each others presence.

Finally Stop your kids from disrespecting your spouse. Couples have to communicate with each other when they feel they are losing respect from a child. On numerous occasions we have and still do, sit our kids down and let them know that their words or tone of voice is disrespectful to one or both of us. Further we explain that if that disrespectful action doesn’t change there will be consequences paid.

Here’s helping you Celebrate!

J&L

Shoe Crisis!!

This morning Grace had a shoe crisis! She needed her black flats and they were no where to be found! Mom to the rescue…I went into her shoe basket and threw around many different shoes until I found two black ones that matched! SUCCESS!

As I looked for her flats, I realized she had shoes in her closet that she could no longer wear. We needed to clean out her closet and take inventory of what she had, and give some shoes to someone else who might be in need. Then after the clean out, put back the shoes she could actually wear.

In life, we need to take inventory every so often. We need to look at our life plan, goals, purpose. Have we added way to much stuff to our life that is crowding our purpose? Do we need to clean some stuff out?  Then only put back into our life that which meets our purpose?

Years ago, Jay and I went thru a process of developing a mission statement ( you can find this process in our book Make Love Everday) and found that doing so allowed us to let go of some of the “shoes” we had added to our life that did not meet our purpose and goals.

What is your purpose in life? Have you sat down and wrote it out? Is your “closet” feeling crowded with too much stuff? Take time to clean it out, take inventory,and begin to live life with the purpose God gifted you.

We have each been uniquely created! Celebrate and Live your uniqueness!

Laura

Committing for Life

Jay and Laura take a look at Jay’s parent’s 54 year anniversary that just passed and tell you how they’ve kept the flame burning for so long. And how you can too.