Christmas Plan With Us! [FREE PLANNER!]
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 18 сен 2024
- 🎄❤️ Download Your FREE Christmas planner Here: dianakokku.com
The free PDF will be emailed to you. If you do not see the email, please check your spam or junk folder.
***********************************************
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
But we’re already so busy and have too much to do! So how does it all fit? And how can we experience the joy and meaning of the season with all that we have to handle?
This practical planner is designed to use one hour of your time to plan for a relationally and spiritually fulfilling holiday season. And I’ll continue to share helpful tips and resources here as we journey through the Christmas season together.
Love & blessings!
Diana
**********************************************
❤️🎄 Download Your FREE Christmas planner Here: dianakokku.com
The free PDF will be emailed to you. If you do not see the email, please check your spam or junk folder.
***********************************************
BOOK REFERENCES:
Devotionals
*Simply Christmas by Tama Fortner: amzn.to/3BAXKVW
*Prepare Hime Room by Susie Larson: amzn.to/31b5Mbj
*Joyous Advent Family Christmas Devotional: amzn.to/3Cu8BSM
The Christmas Story
*The Christmas Story for Children by Max Lucado: amzn.to/3nLajsC
*Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas Picture Book by Sarah Young: amzn.to/316XEZm
Christmas Stories
*Christmas Stories by Max Lucado: amzn.to/3jTqZNv
The Minimal Mom Christmas Playlist:
• The best surprise we'v...
***********************************************
MORE ON BIBLE STUDY:
How To Study The Bible
• How To Study The Bible
Let’s Bible Study Together
• Here's the accountabil...
When You Don't Feel Like Reading the Bible
• What to do when you do...
FAVORITE RESOURCES:
*My bible: amzn.to/3nefeSI
Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and study:
www.biblegatewa...
www.blueletter...
Scholarly articles:
www.bible.org
The Life Journal Free pdf download:
www.hillsborofi...
*The Life Journal on Amazon: amzn.to/31XZZXf
The Bible Recap Podcast
thebiblerecap....
The YouVersion Free Bible App
www.youversion...
The Dwell Bible App
dwellapp.io/
The First 5 App
first5.org/
Sermons By Pastor Diana:
vimeo.com/3616...
vimeo.com/3690...
vimeo.com/2975...
*These are affiliate links and I will get a small proceed from the sale.
After 20 years of marriage I finally can accept that my husband closes down his office on Christmas Eve, comes into my clean and shiny kitchen and starts a messy job of making ginger shortbread. To me it always seemed last-minute, more than late (because he packages and mails most of it in rather scruffy old tins (environmentally conscious) and he knows how I hate those crumbs. But obviously it starts his holiday season. And his aunt never got her cookies, because her family would snack them while she was preparing food. Now that she gets them AFTER christmas, she can enjoy her homemade cookies.
Now that I learned to let go I enjoy our teens wandering in and it has become a nice tradition to sit in the warm and cozy kitchen with a cup of spiced tea knowing everything is ready.
It feels good to send cookies AFTER the holidays, to someone who you know really enjoys consuming her present and appreciates the effort.
It feels good to be able to relax and enjoy and have this island of family time - and it took me some time to realise it was right there all the time.
This is so sweet 🥰🎄
Also, I heard a super sweet idea of using the nativity instead of Elf on the shelf and talk a little about where or what Mary and Jospeh do as they travel the days of December till the birth and celebration of our Savior. Moving them throughout our homes and them gifting things would be a perfect tie in to us receiving the greatest gift on Christmas!!!
Spot on~☆ THIS is a meaningful idea~ ✝️
Oh wow what an awesome idea!
Great idea!! Especially if you're having an Advent calender as it could be tied in with this
Yes! The star from afar has a super cute wooden nativity set with a star that guides the three wise men around the house. Parents move the star each night and kids find it each morning until you get to the stable and Jesus is born. There is a book for this as well. Such a sweet tradition my kids LOVE it.
@@trishateague3401 I need to check it out! Thank you!
I am older, not too old, because we can always expect a heavy snow the day before or on Christmas so I never know if I will make it to see my son or not so I always make sure I put up a small tree while playing carols and sipping hot chocolate. If I get snowed in at home alone I might have a quiet but somewhat special dinner and do a video chat with him and his father while they are having dinner and I eat mine. We find a way to be together even if not physically in person.
You have a great attitude and it’s better to have a plan already in place in case you can’t travel. Is it possible that you could invite a close family friend or relative to come to your house if you’re alone? if you’re able to travel, could she go with you to your son’s house? Just a thought if you didn’t want to be alone.
If not, think you’ll be fine.
We just lost my step-Dad a few weeks ago. My Mom is now living with us. We just invited ourselves to my Uncle’s family Thanksgiving celebration in Wisconsin instead of doing it by ourselves.
I downloaded the planner yesterday. I was determined to be more organised this year and concentrate on what is most important to me. Then my elderly mum took ill last night and passed away suddenly. I'm heartbroken 💔😢. Please do remember that the most important gift at Christmas is spending time with your family, making memories. ♥️
Oh, my dear! My heart goes out to you. May the Lord be near to you and sustain you in this suddenly sad time. Simplified holidays will still be important .
Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this, especially that it was sudden. I’m so sorry 😢 I pray that every detail will come into divine order and that you will feel the nearness of the Lord during this time. Many blessings and love 😢❤️
I’m so sorry! It’s always sad when a loved one passes, but having it happen so suddenly is even more devastating. I wish you peace and many good memories to comfort you in the days ahead.
So sorry for your loss, Songbird. I am surrounding you in my heart and prayers. I lost my beautiful Mom last December and understand the grief and struggle. Please know you are not alone in your pain.
So sorry, sending you love and light x
This is a great planning tool. Christmas will definitely be different this year. 😢 My sweet Mama passed away a couple of weeks ago unexpected. It’s just my Dad, my Aunt and me. Mama loved Christmas so much. No matter what we do, it will be a blue Christmas.
🙏🏻 Please everyone reading this, keep us in your prayers not only for Christmas but for strength and comfort as we go forward.
May God Bless each one of you.
I so enjoy when you two gals do a RUclips together. This planner is definitely the best of both sisters. Thank you once again.
Gift cards are great for stocking stuffers . In my family, my husband and I only get small things for the stocking, and "gifts" come from the rest of the family (aunts, grandparents, etc). It works and you can get small meaningful things - candy kids like or jewelry, etc ❤️
Tub cleaner bath bombs - If you have a jet tub fill it with hot water then add several dish washing tablets. Run jets for 15 minutes, drain tub and rinse.
This year, I'm beginning to give 'non-plastic gift cards'. If you are feeling crafty, you can make a gift card, but I'm going to Dollar Tree and picking up a pack of Christmas cards. Inside I'm tucking in cash with a suggestion of where to use it (a store or a restaurant). In reality, the recipient can use the cash wherever for whatever 😉 I want to limit the amount of plastic we mindlessly toss into the trash!
That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I homeschool and we take our quote summer break between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The entire month of December we do devotionals, Christmas stories, baking, service.❤️
Nice planner! I have a very large Nativity scene. After Christmas I put it away and my nephew said "Where did Baby Jesus Go?" After that I have a smaller version of a nativity made of olive wood that I keep out always!.
B-E-Y-O-N-D well done Diana!!! I feel more relaxed just knowing this is available!
Yes so good! Thanks so much!
Where can I find the devotional for 5.00? The link it’s in is a
bit over 12.00
I’m loving all of these ideas. I wasn’t even anywhere near thinking about Christmas gifts yet but this got me to thinking. Thank you!!!
Yes!!! I agree!!! I’m so excited to get my hands on it!!!! I’m going to send some to friends!!
Please make time with your Mom. I wish I could. blessings.
One thing on my absolute “must” list is my nativity sets. I have several. Some are nothing more than ornament size. But EVERY SINGLE ROOM in the house has a nativity of some size or description….even the rooms we aren’t currently using. In the hustle and bustle of the season, I feel I need to honor the reason for the season this way.
What a great idea prioritising Christmas activities and doing what’s most important rather than trying to do it all. Our nativity is an advent calendar that I bought from our local Christian bookstore after Christmas one year for a really good price. It’s great for having conversations with our children like: imagine being a shepherd and angels come and tell you Jesus is here! or do you think the animals were quiet or noisy? Children think of so many things I wouldn’t so it gives me a new perspective on the birth of Jesus year after year. I am definitely going to print this next year. Thank you!!
So true. I lost most of my little family in the last 2 years. So when u can imagine that imagine what a blessing it would be simply to spend time with family. I promise it will be worth it
You 2 are soooo wonderful and down to earth real. I feel like I’m sitting in room with you’re my helpers, 🥰 when I watch your videos. I paused video and printed my planner so I could go through it with you❤️ we are going to myrtle beach next weekend and I’m going to take my Christmas cards with me, so I can be ready to hand them out or mail them just after thanksgiving! I made a promise to add a picture but now yearly letter (which is why my cards are always late or not done, lol) We will see how this all goes. You, dawn, Cas, Dana and Robyn are my helpers,🥰love you all
God Bless you and all your family
We make homemade gifts for our large family Christmas. We draw names so the gifts can be more personal. It's so much fun.
I am loving what you bring to RUclips Diana. Thanks for sharing your caring, considerate, giving spirit with us all while reminding us of what's important. I am eager to go through your planner and go into this season mindfully. Welcome to RUclips Diana, I'm wishing you all the best!
I have a notebook that I received for free at a conference in the swag bag. This has become my Christmas gift journal (definitely NOT FANCY! It was free!) I put the year on top of the page and list my family members that I give gifts to. I leave a line or 2 for each person. Once I begin to buy their gifts, I record the gift after each person's name. Not only do I know what I've purchased for them, I can look over years gone by and remember Christmas for any given year! It keeps me organized and becomes a memory keeper at the same time!
PS - I'm finished shopping AND wrapping for this year! Bring on the dancing elves and the Christmas cookies lol!
Teens and teachers should always get gift cards ♥️🎉🙌🏻
Used this planner! The values and the more of/less than sections were especially helpful. I felt this gave me "permission" to lean into crafts with the kids, which I always love but I sometimes take for granted instead of leaning in and just fully enjoying.
This plannee got me to just sit down, pick the important things to me, and plan them out. Thanks to this, I already have my Christmas card and custom calendar projects (my annual gifts for parents and inlaws) underway, and I do feel on top of things I care about this year, and I already feel more space to reflect on the incarnation of Christ, and spending time with my kids! :D
Tip-- we moved the fun (but a little stressful)elf on the shelf magic away from Christmas to November, and we do Dinovember where some dinos magically set up in fun scenes around the house throughout the month!
I love the bow on the gift idea collab with the elf! We may do that with the dinos sometime!
Growing up in South Africa,Jim Reeves was my mother's favourite!
The real gift is seeing you both together again... the podcast was great but seeing the quirkiness in your relationship is where the fun is.
The cousins would plan a skit for Christmas and start planning at Thanksgiving!
This looks really great!! Can’t wait to go through the planner 😊
This Christmas is probably going to be the most simple, since we don’t know anyone in our new town. (No parties! Ha!) I’ve already started managing my kids’ expectations about gifts. I explained to them that we’re saving up cash for the home selling/buying process.
At the beginning when you mentioned making homemade gifts for everyone-that is 100 percent my 10yo daughter. She hand-crafts several gifts for each of us, she LOVES doing it. This year she also wants to knit doll slippers for all of her friends in our former city. But thanks for the reminder that I need to talk to her about not stressing herself out by trying to do too much ❤️ It’s never too early to learn that lesson.
There are some beautiful hand carved nativity scenes that support missions and sharing Jesus around the world..that would be a great gift for dawn!
Love this!!! 🥰
I don’t have one either. If you have information on that I would be interested thank you
I’d love to know where to find these. I’m doing a complete de clutter and downsizing of Christmas decor this year, but the one thing I want to purchase is a very special Nativity.
Etsy has some beautiful options
My booklet is printing while your show is still running! I love you two ladies!
i love watching you both- i look forward to your videos after my long days of running around after my kids lol your videos bring joy and peace to my life . Thank you! 🙏🏽
Great ideas! I think I will opt out of the Christmas secret Santa gift exchange at work because I don’t really need anything, and my secret Santa spent way too much money on me last year! I felt a little guilty. I think instead you have inspired me to write a little note and maybe send just a little trinket or small gift or something meaningful to each of my coworkers who are all nurse educators and are so overworked and overwhelmed right now because of COVID.
You are both such a blessing to others 💕 I love this. I have felt so tired this October, the thought of hallmark Christmas does not fill me with joy but reconnecting with God's son and the love and peace he gives us! Now that's joyful and refreshing! Thanks so much for this planning gift you guys xxx
Your Christlikeness brings me to tears, and I praise Him!
Thanksx diana x and dawnx
I love this! I just printed out the entire planner. We moved across the country last year so this will be the first of many new Christmas traditions.
For many years my husbands family would do a donation to a charity/non-profit instead of buying a random $25 gift to exchange. We would all go around the room and describe the charity we were interested in. Each charity mentioned would go into a bowl. Then one of the kids would draw out the winner and all the donated money would go to that particular charity. It was interesting to hear what each family member was interested in.
We retired to Mexico 2 years ago. I miss a Christmas trees ... that one behind you is perfect size. I will use sea shells to decorate it. That’s what I am trying to get here ... a tiny dollar store tree. Funny it’s just a simple item ... also there are lots of traditional food items not found in Mexico BUT I found a store here that shops at Walmart in the states and flys the goods into our city. And delivers to our door ... that I have to plan really plan for ... and I started collecting food stuffs in October ... I like your channel. We moved from St. Cloud area Minnesota. I DO NOT miss the cold. Lol
@MN2MX ° ¡Felicidades! 🥳🎉🥳
We spent a number of years in St Cloud working at the Christian radio station (Spirit 92.9)! It will always hold a special place in our hearts 🥰 Sounds like you’ve had to adapt quite a bit!! Thanks for sharing and many blessings! ❤️🎄
Hubs and I have been actively talking about moving to Mexico for most of this year! (we live in Michigan! I hear you about the COLD!)
@@DanaPeshkovich two old people, two old dogs, 12 plastic totes of our treasures and one pickup truck. We’ve never been to Mexico, DONT speak Spanish we gave ourselves 1 year to see if we liked our choice ... we are staying. It’s been two years and counting
@@DianaKokku I know exactly where that place is ... my husband worked at Sentinel Printing for 26 years. Hwy 10 and 23. Small world. We attended Joy
Diana & Dawn, you two are such a blessing to me. THANK YOU!!! 🤍 I am soooo Type A like you, Diana, but dealing with depression is simply impossible. Regardless, I get to live vicariously through your enthusiasm! Blessings, Margie 🤍🤍🤍
You two are so cute together. I don't have a sister, and I've always wished I had.
Love you both!! God bless you Diana and Dawn!!!! 💜🙏💜
Love you guys. Thank you for the download. I am so ready to do this and enjoy the holiday. Since covid started I have been doing notes to friends that might be alone or just missing. I send them once a month with a little prayer card, sample scents. And small watercolor painting I made, fancy paper clips, etc. I send 10 a month. They are called currently .
Wow! That is so beautiful... thank you for sharing 🥰
I am so sad i missed this last year! Great idea! Please do a 2022 version!! Thank you so much. Love the videos Diana.
Diana, I just read through the Christmas planner and it's brilliant. Been loving your channel too and it's great to see you and Dawn collaborating. Can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve!
Can we get the recipe and food items you mentioned, please? Loved the video!
I loved the planner!
Great job on the planner Diana, love listening to the two of you. 🧡
My kids love gift cards and money. They get more by shopping after Christmas.
My parents both died this year within 6 weeks of each. It’s been a really hard year. I already know that Christmas will be rubbish this year. But I’m trying to remember that I have to try my best for my kids (who are young adults) and my hubby. However after watching this it just enforced how much our Christmas revolved sound my parents and not gifts. So no amount of presents will make this better. Love your channel. Loved this video even if it did make me cry. But everything makes me cry this year. Xx
Hi Sharon! You have every right to expect the holidays to seem or feel like rubbish this year...especially with both your loved parents having gone to rest in eternity. My prayer for you and your family is that your memories of them stay with you forver.....and that you feel comfort ; peace when you are able to spend time together with your loved ones that ARE around. 💕
My favourite video yet Diana. Seriously loving this approach.
Thank you ladies! I just love 💕 you both! God Bless you for all that you are doing!❤️💐
I have everything wrapped and ready by Thanksgiving. We no longer give to everyone. I want to enjoy the holidays.
This is awesome, thank you for this. I've already simplified Thanksgiving this year since 2 of our kids won't be home for the holiday, so we'll have a smaller gathering with just 4 of us. I'm excited to try the planner for Christmas - particularly the part about traditions. And oh my gosh yes, planning in down time for yourself after having to entertain a family member who might be taxing to you. And I LOVE the cleaning bath bomb idea!! Thank you again!
Awesome video! I love your idea of including our Elf in donations!
I knew your Sisters channel before and then you popped up onto it and that’s when I discovered your Christmas planner and it looks awesome
Well done you have this plan so easy to follow I have a nativity in most rooms in our home and when our children were at home they had ones in their bedrooms. So nice to see you together and ideas from you both. I have downloaded planner thank you xx
Wonderful video. A few years ago another blogger gave the idea of wrapping a gift card in the pocket of a crazy shirt from goodwill. So, I went to goodwill and found a really loud shirt for my brother in-law and slid a gift card into the pocket of the shirt. His face was hilarious when he unwrapped it, trying to find something nice to say about the shirt! And then the shirt got donated to goodwill after the holiday.
We did some of your minute to win it games a few years back….the pantyhose with the balloons for reindeer antlers was so fun, we laughed so much!
This year has been very difficult. Trying to super simplify this holiday season. Christmas cards have always been very important for me. I love the whole process. This year I am letting it go. Don't have the bandwidth to do much this year.
Diana! Thank you so much for the resource. 💜 I am so grateful for you!
Love this! I'm not a gift person and Christmas is uncomfortable for me. Prefer time spent and all the plays, lights, and songs!! That's what brings me peace and joy!!
We did your minute to win it games a few years ago. What a hit!!
The planner is fantastic! Thankyou so much for your help and generosity. God bless you.
Wow amazing! I love it! The planner can be a great Christmas gift also! I love/dislike Christmas so much. So much work but passes so quickly.
This is amazing!!! Great job ladies!!!!! Love your hearts so much!
Diana, you are awesome. Full stop. Thank you!
I have been filling the Amazon boxes with things to donate and back out the door they go. Small batches at a time is in my bandwidth right now.
Very helpful, I will be printing it out! Thank you! I mom and I came up with a system to eliminate her not knowing what to buy me, and me getting “stuff” I don’t really want or need. This time of year I may start buying things that I really want or NEED. My mom then takes the items and pays me what I paid for them. Ie. Last year I picked out all new matching bath towels for myself and opened them on Christmas morning 💕
Got it! Thx so much! Will spend that hour either this afternoon, or Sunday. Blessings, Christine Teremi
This is a year later, end of 2022 and you still let me get the planner, thank you
I’ve already watched my fav. Christmas with the Kranks LOL
My mom past this year and had been very sick the year before, we simplified our Christmas last year and plan on doing the same this year. I’m in a different season and that’s ok. Love you girls and your thoughtful ideas
Hi Lisa, I'm so sorry for your loss 😥 I'm doing a video with a Christian therapist this Saturday and we'll be discussing grief at Christmas time. It can be so hard. Abundant grace and love to you! ❤️
Awesome Christmas Planner Diana!! I am so grateful, I am going to print it right away, I am so excited to plann the Christmas time and I know it is going to be less stressful this year, thank you so much!
Great ideas and just in time. I’ll be sharing this video, well done ladies!
Each of you are delightful on your own and together ... lots and LOTS of great ideas to 'spark the start' of this meaningful time of sharing Christmas in all the ways that are precious to each individual and community !! Thank you xoXO
You guys just make me smile..❤
You two are so sweet and fun together!! I always love opening RUclips and seeing the TWO of you! I have a sister that is 6 years younger than me and she’s my best friend BUT she lives in IL and I live in GA. We just got to spend a few days together for my son’s wedding in MS after not seeing each other for 13 years!! One weekend was definitely not long enough! We FaceTime each other every day so that helps. It’s just so special to see your relationship and friendship with each other.
Also our Nativity sits under the Christmas tree every year. I love it!
Thank you for going through this workbook page by page. When I first saw it I kind of thought oh great this is work. 🤣 But seeing you go through it I realized the point to it and how helpful it will be. So thank you!
Printed this the other day! So excited to break out my fancy pen 😅
Only thing I think is missing is the decorations... Christmas lights matter to me. I also have learned a lot from Myqullin Smith being a guest on different podcasts her book Welcome Home is on my list. But decorating for the seasons with the 5 senses in mind.
Again thanks for this planner I appreciate minds that can make organized thoughts accessible and not overwhelming!
Yes, the lights... thank you!! 🎄❤️
I love you girls! Such a blessing!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
I LOOOOOVE this channel. 🥰
Soooo, I have been adding salt to my toilet tank to help with rust etc, mainly just cleaning out old sold I'm not using, so I dumped a bunch of canning and pickling salt in there today..... It fizzed like a bath bomb! I just don't know why... Ingredients say it is just salt. I've also used citric acid to clean out the tank at times too.... In case you wanted a place to start on your bath bombs. 🤣
Love the bath bomb that cleans your tub idea! That would be great!! 😃
Thank you so much Diana for doing this for us …. U r amazing
Love this video. I needed to hear your words of wisdom in this time of craziness. You have a very calming way Diana. Love when you and your sister Dawn laugh together. Thank you for the download. I am hoping it will help with some of the craziness.
Thank you Diana. This is a great planner.
Love the printable. Thank you for all your hard work putting it together. 💕
Loved it, Diana! All great tips!
Thank you for your free download and all your helpful suggestions….
Tub cleaning bomb - use a dishwasher tab ☺️
Super!!! Thanks soooo very much!! Already send this to a couple of familymembers and friends!
Growing up, my mom listened to Jim Reeves on a record player. I associated with having to clean the house on Saturdays. 😅
Ahh haha!! Love this 🥰
The download is wonderful! TY! I did add "buy stamps" to my list under the Christmas Card category. I printed download and followed along with the video. Merry Christmas 💚❤
We potluck Christmas. Cooked or bought. And I'll bring a small hostess gift - nice fancy paper towels, topperware, to go boxes, hand soap. We've house hopped Eve, Christmas day and day after. We tried secret santa, it worked for the kids not the adults🤦♀️ I'm shooting for mini gifts, gift cards.
I have a friend who started posting on Facebook a few years ago that in lieu of Christmas cards she is making a donation to a charity. I am going to try this year too!
I love this so much! Best planner I’ve seen! And it’s so practical and in line with my values of faith, family and simple living. Thank you so much!
Wonderful video! ❤❤❤ I love the list idea, very thoughtful.
I'm so excited to print this planner off and use it! Thank you so much!
I got a pair of socks with tacos on them and a Taco Bell gift card as one of my almost 14 year old grandson’s gifts. And then there is his birthday to plan for on December 29th. Our 44th anniversary is November 27th.
So EXCITED FOR THIS! I just shared it to my sister. Thank you, Diana!! You girls are an amazing 👏 blessing to me :) :)
Loved reading your workbook. So helpful. Stayed up one night to go through it and it took about 1 hour as you said. Sanity returned. LOL 😆