m mo my iday, l ho er, st , l ir Ea me g e na nd y ittl a ou a l ever ay, Y s y ns . D wa ated e’s uly ratio n bu J n f e i o br t o c ev in th len de d Va Four ble she’d use An a t ho es.” t er the the b e I m th d ori s. ha reme und em liday o m I I r o n it. it a king ng h he lea et i y. t s e m ra d te e sb r b sc s r n a ’ u y e r a l a a We ce leb do ay ing alw r it w y, or ce olid ay, “ ing ss vele a e o a p t h p s a h r t et rial D - we ay ys ch top et us wh ea alwa no s o ’t j er w ies m goes y - als f n m a o r , ere at Me holid l me lors ould was rev mo lth o a e s w whe f me ve th hea a w e r r c n h e a e t io h lo ur us ls o ye es the Sh dit r, t . the b, yo eav tra dy in hes. olde etter the t with etai & , w is n n ry es r jo at ed ca dy d grew nd b tim g we at th emo you ic th l a I n a r r n i e i h as c ca n as ette a m los ak ue t fab de pe s i m e u b s e r e t s h o k e t ev got ere It’s eu es ma n if y me t o giv ing at e f th we w way. jus c h v o s . w e s u e es be ions tor giv ur of us rie yo t ibu anks ri a r ca emo me o nce r t o m e n . h B m e a ne ro co es ss rT rc nf em me e ge ori e nd ” fo Th teve the e take ood h a m t a rs t e ut ure G me ’ll se iswh , bu rite erat d u ’t b one. ugho se e w n o e p r th ly. Yo ys to Tak ro m fad it ca ved ou h e g . t t t , n a e s i r h o y P t l k o w as r e m wi our h U emo ma or c ven r ho ristm eth c g y o a e u t g h m e o are y in et – or ily to f R the “ ke elm n y nd C they i o s m e fa ok ar ue et s an wh ga iss to s an over ou c sh lo ivin ou a s m i g y y e o . w h s r e r t f s o s k w b n fo a le In t h stma to , le ha sa te ab ou i , es u a have ke, t crea our T orab ab Chr ori Him o y a t m y m o ’ , t d t e e n m s u n d i s e m a n m it ho lity doe u can hav w, a and the . Wit eep t ea y i o r g o d e n l y g e a b us kin l. K er lre Th doin gifts ing ya ma s Jes it rea ck t u a lann enjo r o u o t i o Wa ief B p y n s e tal s f hat y art p h e o a s i e a k y t -C r -in be ide e w s, st be lebra ng. K tor n i y s a d i a o p E c ce m gu wr ste ons . ou mily ibly i le y ly i r a litt brat e r f hil fam ny n ho le ur ce . W of a e o v g y e n t thi dien t or for re a e fl o r ing go em On main can s the orie s. .................................... Page 2 m u e es m hJ t i w
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Faith Lifestyle Homestyle Faith
Table of Contents
Love ‘em Anyway
Lifestyle
Gift-Giving on a Shoestring Budget .......... Page 4
Homestyle
Holiday Tables .........................................Page 5 www.reachupmag.com
Contributing Authors ........................ Carla Ives Elaine Mizuo Doreen Mytryshyn Crystal Wacker Graphic Artist .............................. Diana Faruqui Photos .......................................... Diana Faruqui Elaine Mizuo Doreen Mytryshyn Crystal Wacker
Editor-in-Chief ......................... Crystal Wacker Writing Editor ....................... Christina Williams Spanish Translation ................... Jodi-Kay Ellis Spanish Editor ...................... Mona Ré Shields 1 Reach UP
Love ‘em Celebrating Christmas with Difficult People It all felt so. . . wrong! I learned something that holiday - the value of family. Even difficult, imperfect, and frustrating family is better than no family at all. During that year I had tried to avoid family gatherings because they felt so awkward. She made every situation stressful. Though I loved her, I found her embarrassing and would usually have a big headache before the day was done. Many times, I thought how much easier and better life would be without her presence at these gatherings. I thought that I missed the days when she had been separated from our family. by Carla Ives
I had never known a lonely Christmas like this one. There I was sitting on the floor beside our beautiful Christmas tree, weeping. I felt overwhelmed by the quiet. Earlier that year, my husband and I had opened our home to a family member who was in crisis. We had sacrificed to make it a helpful, positive opportunity for her to change her life. By Christmas, she had broken my heart, placed a wedge between my parents and I, and managed to strain all the other family relationships as well. That morning, she was enjoying Christmas with my extended family -- without me.
Two years later, she was placed in an assisted living situation where she could receive the help she needed. She had refused change. There was nothing we could do. Yet the first Christmas she was absent from our family gatherings, to my great shock, I missed her! As difficult and hard to get along with as she was, she was family. She brought stress and strain to every family holiday, yet she belonged there around the Christmas tree. Not having her there also felt so wrong! The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to gather with those we love. Yet for many women, they are the most dreaded times
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of the year. Family gatherings can mean awkward moments, difficult conversations, and unavoidable confrontations with frustrating family members. It becomes a reminder of the family they wish they had, but do not. Old wounds are cracked open and new wounds inflicted. Skipping the holidays can seem like a great idea. . . .
• Be yourself. Many of us find ourselves going back into old family roles, speech, attitudes, and behavior at family gatherings. We follow the lead of those around us. But you don’t have to join in the family gossip, defend yourself, or accept what is said as truth. You can choose to be the strong Christian woman you are –- even there.
You have the stability and security of a heavenly Father, Brother, and Friend Who loves you unconditionally. He will never leave you or forsake you. He will not hurt you or neglect you. He will never favor another above you. You have a new family tree! Knowing this will help you take the bumps on the road of earthly relationships. You are loved! Remember, long after But instead of skipping the holithe holidays are ended and • Bring Christ to Christmas. days, we can learn to enjoy them. you have returned to norEven if your family will not It is possible! Here are a few tips mal life, you will be enallow you to pray or share You have I’ve learned that may help you j joying the richness about your faith, you face your difficult friends or family of relationship with can live your faith! the stability and s members as you gather together. your heavenly Bring your family security of a Heavenly Father. His kindness, Father Who l oves you • Prepare yourself. Before anygentleness, and one walks through the door, spend love. Look for ways And if you haven’t unconditionally time talking to God. Ask Him accepted Jesus into to serve and bless them to show you how He sees each your heart, but you want without expecting gratitude. person. Ask for His love to fill your You are never alone anywhere to be adopted into this new heart toward them. He can give family, it’s not hard to do. Just when you have Christ in you. His you the peace and inner strength tell Jesus that you believe He is Presence goes with you wherever you need. It’s amazing how differGod’s Son and that you know you go! ent everyone will look and sound you’ve sinned and ask Him to forto you when you do that! give you of your sins. Tell Him you • Let your heart love them. want Him in your life. He’ll take it We sometimes close our hearts to • Pray for them. You can pray that friends or family members due to from there. they will be blessed with joy, truth, past hurts and painful memories. and love. Pray peace over the time We might be polite and respectM ay this be the best Christmas you will spend together. you have ever known! ful, yet remain distant. The key to loving people who are difficult is to • See and hear beyond the suraccept them as they are. Wishing “Love of Jesus, fill us, face. It can be difficult to hear their they were different is a waste of rude comments or put up with time. They are who they are -– until Joy of Jesus, wrong behavior. Often it’s those Christ brings change. You can’t words and actions that offend change them. Even while they surprise us, us. Remember that somepush your love away, they Peace of Jesus, flood us, times their behavior is need it! Loving them How does the result of an inner doesn’t mean you Light of Jesus, wound or empty place. have to make yourself see Ask God to help you to a doormat to them. It transform us, them? hear the cry of their heart simply means you are rather than the focus on the Touch of Jesus, opening your heart to them. hard words or the silence. Ask You are letting your expectawarm us, Him to give you the spiritual untions of them go. You are loving derstanding this person needs to them as people. Loving them will Strength of Jesus, experience Jesus and His love. feel so much better than bitterness You will find that you won’t be as and hate. encourage us.” easily hurt. You may even feel a by Angela Ashwin deeper bond with your family than Being a Christian means you have The Book of a Thousand Prayers ever before. been “adopted” into a new family!
God
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Gift giving is fun but can quickly become costly. It’s easy to get trapped into using credit cards to buy gifts, but don’t! (That’s a budget killer.) Instead, try your hand at making your own gifts. It’s true -- the very best gifts are homemade! by E
lain
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izuo
Here is a simple but yummy gift that is sure to please.
A clean dry jar with a lid (or substitute a zipper bag) A piece of holiday fabric or wrapping paper (optional) ¼ teaspoons of ground cinnamon 2 boxes of apple juice (children’s juice boxes) k®. ½ cup dried apples Bisquic mon. f o s p na cu 2 cups Bisquick® out 2 poon of cin e r u s g. s a Ribbon 1. Me le in ½ tea c® ba p lo . s ip le Z k or pp wra 2. Sprin he dried a to your jar aper, p r t o in d e the ric 3. Ad mixtur oliday fab ound r is a h t w r 4. Pou are using h a festive bo ag. u b here, 5. If yo r or bag. Tie he Ziploc® inted r t p ja r e o r e th ta jar juice. ns tha of the neck the directio es of apple ch box 6. Atta clude the in and
1. Po u 2. Ad r the po wde d the re 3. Ad d 2 e juice fro d mixtur 4. St e m th ir un ggs. e 2 b in a me t i l diu o j u xes o ma st b f ap m bowl. 5. Co ke the p lended ple j . No anc ok uice . *Ma on a lig ake mix te: Do n htly kes 12 p grea tough. ot over anca mix; s this w kes ed pan, over ill med ium hea t. Who says a broken chair isn’t good for anything? Take the backs of an old wooden chair and cut the wooden posts to the desired size for a candle holder. Mount them with screws onto square wooden bases. With just a little paint you can make these eye-catching candle holders.
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Serve the salad and add extra color to the table. A place setting is always a lovely touch, especially if you have lots of family and friends over for dinner. Whole cinnamon sticks wrapped with pretty ribbons are a little gift they can take home to remember the night by. See the effect of having the napkin in the glass in the next picture. It’s the “wow” factor and takes less room on the table.
This centerpiece is a variation on using a glass with Christmas ornaments, but with a candle set in for evening light. You can place a number of small candles around the table and turn off the bright lights to create a warm glow. Add Christmas lights in the window and the memories only get better when you bring on the food and talk around the table.
Given to you by:
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