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SenseSational Christmas!

It’s been fun highlighting the five senses this week. Today, we’ll look at the fifth: the sense of touch. In what way can you add your personal touch to Christmas? Make an extra effort to send cards? Add a distinct flourish to packages? Even attention to details on a gift card can make someone feel special because their name has been emphasized.
What makes you feel cherished? Chances are, sharing that gift with someone else will bless them too. I grew up in a home where we held hands around the table as we prayed for God’s blessing on the food. We passed that gift of touch on to my family, even though it was a stretch for teenagers. Now, I’m reaping that contact with my grandchildren and I’m soaking it up!
Be generous with your hugs. We all need connection.
Terry Willits pulls it all together by saying, “The God of all Comforts came to this earth as a child and experienced for himself loving human touch. Christmas is about giving. Touch is about giving, too. And touch is a precious gift to give in our homes at Christmas. Just as Mary gave Jesus her tender touch, we can share loving touches to make our homes a place of comfort this holiday.”
Let the touches you add to your home say, “You are welcome here!”
Sally
Originally published at Sally’s Words
Leave a comment: In what ways do you add the sense of touch to your day?

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Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Tastes of Christmas 
How’s your Sense of Smell? 
The Five Senses of Christmas 
Looking for Christmas

Do You Hear What I Hear?

What are the sounds that sing of Christmas for you? The choir practicing? The bell-ringer standing at The Salvation Army bucket? A favorite carol?

One of my favorite albums is Amy Grant’s: A Christmas Album. And I love the day after Thanksgiving, when our radio station plays non-stop Christmas music! However, in Simply SenseSational Christmas, Terry Willits says “At least one night this Christmas season, when the kids are in bed, turn off the television and enjoy the precious sound of silence. Take in the beautiful silence of a snowfall or a quiet, starry night. Sit on the sofa and talk with a loved one, or read a book in front of a crackling fire with no more sound than the turning of a page.”
I have to admit that the silence of Christmas is just as precious as the music. I love that time of the evening when everyone else is asleep and I can sit in front of the tree with all the rest of the lights off. The popping of the firelight casts images across the ornaments and settles me into a reflective mood. Yes, there are wonderful resolutions made in those quiet moments. Maybe that’s why God chose a silent night so long ago to announce the birth of His Son!
Lord, fine-tune my hearing, that I might be receptive when you speak. Amen
Sally
Originally published at Sally’s Words
Leave a comment: What are your favorite sounds at Christmas?


Related Posts:
The Tastes of Christmas
How’s your Sense of Smell?
The Five Senses of Christmas 
Looking for Christmas

The Tastes of Christmas

When you look at Christmas treasures and smell the beautiful aromas, your mouth begins to water!  Aren’t you ready for some of those family recipes that are especially pulled out at Christmas?  Two of our must-haves for the holidays are my Mom’s homemade Eggnog, and Monster Cookies with red and green peanut M&M’s. Our taste buds add to the fun of the season!

Terry Willits reminds us that we need to be sure to serve up healthy but simple meals during this season of sweet temptations.  Our immunities need an extra boost when we’re sampling all of that extra sugar.  

Aren’t you glad the Lord gave us taste buds?  We have the ability to experience flavors because we have 10,000 taste receptors in our mouths!

The Bible also tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good.   Make time to read His Word. Get to know the Author. Sit down at His Banquet Table prepared for you. The Bible is filled with good morsels to chew and ingest.

Did you know that people get a taste of what’s inside of you when you speak?  What rolls off of your tongue?  Do your words build up or tear others down?  Look for ways to soften stress in someone else’s life by encouraging them today!

Here’s another Christmas decorating tip from Terry Willits:  “A wooden bowl filled with a variety of nuts invites anyone to sit down and crack open a healthy holiday snack.  For function as well as a festive look, have a nutcracker soldier stand guard beside the bowl.”

Here’s my favorite recipe for Hot Cocoa:

 

Hot Cocoa Mix

Instructions for a hot mug of deliciousness: Stir 4 tablespoons mix into one cup hot water to make one serving. Add a dash of mini marshmallows.

1 c powdered sugar

½ c unsweetened cocoa powder

1 c non-dairy cream powder (French Vanilla is incredible!)

¼ tsp salt

2 ¾ c instant nonfat milk powder

Whisk all together in 4 c container with a tight-fitting lid. Label with instructions for individual servings.

 

Happy Sampling!

Sally

Originally published at Sally’s Words 

Leave a comment: How do you taste God’s goodness?

Related Posts:

How’s your Sense of Smell? 

The Five Senses of Christmas

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How’s Your Sense of Smell?

Terry Willits says “Smell is the most influential sense we possess.  God wired up our noses to our brains so that the slightest smell can affect us.  Fragrances stir our emotions and affect our behavior.  The smell of peppermint perks us up and enhances concentration; the scent of pine or cedar soothes and calms.  The more pleasant our environment smells the more pleasant we are – reason enough to make our homes smell heavenly this holiday season!”

I’ve been thinking about the smells I love to have coming from the kitchen…warm cookies, fresh rolls baking, a turkey roasting.  I guess anything from the oven can create an enticing smell in the house!  What about when you’re not baking?  Flavored teas, coffees and hot chocolates can do the trick.  And French Vanilla creamer adds a touch of the sublime. Candles also come in many aromas, and pinecones thrown in the fireplace give off a woodsy bouquet.

Yesterday I hunted all over the office for the source of someone’s snack left behind.  I finally realized it was the vanilla-scented candle that I had gotten out with the Christmas decorations!  It wasn’t lit, but still crated an incredible smell that filled the whole room.

Today, when the kids got home from school, they popped some popcorn.  Wow – does that ever smell good!  It’s amazing how little it takes to alert the nose.  But it gives great benefits to the brain as those fragrances register!  Go ahead and look around the house for items you can use to tickle the nose.  You probably have some on hand right now!

Join us tomorrow when we taste (hint! hint!) Day 3 of The Five Senses of Christmas!

Sally

Originally published at Sally’s Words 

Leave a comment: What smells remind you of Christmas?

Related Posts:

The Five Senses of Christmas

Looking for Christmas

The Five Senses of Christmas

Boxes of Christmas decorations come down from the attic and create havoc in my home. But the treasures that emerge overrule my dismay. Joy of joys, the kids are eager to help, and I am letting go of dictating where things must go. Their excitement at being involved is a greater gem!
One of my favorite jewels to unpack is a book by Terry Willits: Simply SenseSational Christmas. It provides candy for the eyes as you saunter through the pages.  Today, for Day One of Five, I want to highlight what she says about the Sights of Christmas.
Terry says “Beauty attracts. Making our homes visually appealing for Christmas will hopefully draw others in so relationships can grow.”
The idea that your home is a place for relationships is a motivator to make it charming! As people feel cherished, they will relax and connect. But Terry warns against making it complicated. Keep it simple! Here are four areas she suggests to highlight: the front door, the mantel, the Christmas tree, and the table and chandelier where you will serve your holiday meals.

It perks me up to dress up the house! Setting up various nativities, greenery and candles builds anticipation and entices me to make more time for hospitality. Did you know that people enjoy being invited into your home? It gives them a chance to see you in your natural element. At the holidays, it lets them observe your favorite traditions and feel included in your life.
So bring out the twinkling lights, the colors of Christmas and the treasures in your attic. It’s time to prepare our hearts and homes to celebrate the birth of our King!
Sally
Originally published at Sally’s Words

Leave a comment: What are your favorite Christmas decorations?