Christmas is just a week away. Hopefully you’ve checked everything off your to-do list and can spend some quality time “experiencing” Christmas gifts with your family. Because, after all, your loved ones will be far more touched by how you made them feel than they will be with what you gave them. This week, I want to share with you my sister, Carey’s, family Christmas experience. “One Christmas, when my boys, now 18, 23 and 28, were little, we gave them an experience that is still talked about now. And it’s something so easily replicated that any family can do it, and it’s not too late to do it for Christmas (even ON Christmas) this year. We drove around our neighborhood and looked at all the homes decorated for the holiday. We took note of the addresses as we numbered them. We talked about what made each ornamented yards stand out. And at the end of the night, we voted for our favorite. I had my sons help me make some of our favorite holiday desserts and, in addition to taking p...

Recently, a member of my mother’s church congregation asked her to share with him the blessings she has seen from the pandemic. Wait–the pandemic is a BAD thing, so how can something GOOD (i.e. BLESSINGS) come from it? My friends, it’s all in how you look at it. Because many of our usual activities have been either switched to an online format or cancelled entirely, families are having to spend more time together at home. While some are only focused on what they are missing, many have chosen to concentrate on the positive things that have come from less-busy family schedules, and they are grateful for what they are finding. It’s a time for new traditions, especially with Christmas just two weeks away. There are many things on this world-wide-web of ours, you just have to be slightly proficient at keyboarding to find them. And, if you need some reminders, check out some Holiday Discovery Hunts (all virtual and FUN). How about online Santa Stories every night through Christmas Eve?...

A few weeks ago, I talked about PEAK moments, specifically focusing on the experiences that shape you (see Gifts that Matter from early November). I also mentioned that while some of these things just happen, most do not. They need to be strategically planned, kind of like your budget. But how do I plan for a PEAK experience? I’m so glad you asked. The first thing you a can do is take note of the PEAK experiences in your own life. So, take a minute right now and write down the awesome things that stand out to you. Not only will this help you with ideas for creating PEAK moments for you own family, but it will help you recognize positive things in your life which is good for the soul, kind of like writing in a gratitude journal (which sounds like a great idea for a future blog post as long as I can put a financial spin on it, right?). And yes, you must write them down. There are benefits to writing with a pen or pencil on a piece of paper (another idea for a blog post!). Do you ha...