This year, I’m (once again) working on simplifying my Christmas routine. Most of the gifts I’m responsible for have already been purchased. I’ve picked up some of those snacks and foods that we only eat over the Christmas holidays (with long expiration dates), the house is starting to look cozy, and since I’m almost done my shopping, now I can help you with yours!
Books are extra-cozy Christmas gifts – I pair mine with some tea, or a candle, or a pair of fuzzy socks, to encourage someone I care about to put down their phone, and pick up a book. You can find these at your local Christian bookstore or (because so many of us here in Canada no longer have a Christian bookstore, unfortunately) at the links below.
Without further ado… let’s start our 2019 Christmas gift guide!
For your Daughter or Niece:
Harvest House Courage Books
I know I’ve recommended these before, but I love these books for kids aged 5 – 10 (and for people like me too, honestly). If you’re a woman who wants to know “where are the women in Scripture?” and teach your children as well, these beautifully illustrated and written books will inspire and bring the women of the Bible to life.
Purchase An Unexpected Hero online here, A Fearless Leader online here, An Extraordinary Teacher online here, and A Brave Big Sister online here.
Purchase A Fearless Leader, An Extraordinary Teacher, and A Brave Big Sister from your local Christian bookstore.
For your Husband or Brother:
The Girl Behind the Red Rope and The Beyond the Circle Boxed Set – Ted Dekker
If you want to get your husband / brother / dad / uncle / young adult son to put down the technology and get lost in a book, this is a GREAT way to do it. These books are suspenseful, well-crafted, and riveting. So good. You’ll probably want to borrow them yourself, as well, FYI.
Purchase The Girl behind the Red Rope online here and The Beyond the Circle Boxed Set online here. Purchase The Girl behind the Red Rope at your local Christian bookstore and the Beyond the Circle Boxed Set at your local Christian bookstore.
For a Friend:
Strong, Brave, Loved – Holley Gerth
Holley has a way of writing words that connect directly with your heart. So, so good. And what woman doesn’t need to be reminded that she’s Strong, Brave, and Loved? This is a great gift for a beloved friend. If you’re feeling extra kind, grab a copy of Fiercehearted to give alongside this daily devotional.
Purchase Brave, Strong, Loved online here or at your local Christian bookstore.
For yourself:
Gracelaced 2020 Planner
If you’re hoping to start fresh in the New Year with some good habits and intentionality, this is a GORGEOUS way to do just that. I’m so excited to start using it on January 1st. So pretty, and so practical. Grab one for a girlfriend, your grown-up daughter, and one for yourself, too!
Purchase the Gracelaced 2020 Planner online here or at your local Christian bookstore.
For Kids:
Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids – Rob Elliot
For better or worse, kids LOVE joke books. LOOOOOOOVE joke books. Rob Elliott is actually a personal friend and I think these books are excellent stocking stuffers or gift exchange options. They’re so well-priced that you can pick up a few of them and wrap them up for hours and hours and hours and hours of kid-sized fun.
Purchase Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids online here or at your local Christian bookstore.
Giveaway!
I’m giving away a bundle of these books for one lucky subscriber! This bundle of books is valued at a retail price of $170 CAD. To enter to win, make sure you’re subscribed to my blog and leave me a comment about your favourite Christmas tradition, below.
Contest is open to Canadian residents (excluding Quebec). One winner will be randomly selected on Thursday, December 19 at noon EST.
*Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to Patty R for winning this book bundle!
I love Christmas and picking one tradition is so hard. As a family we cherish the morning time together. Getting up and doing stockings and laughing and sharing together. I always wrapped their stocking stuffers and tried to do it so they couldn’t guess what it was. It was so much fun seeing them guess and I was even happier when they guessed wrong and were surprised. Time together is the most precious gift and after losing so many family and friends over the past few years we cherish those times. Of course Mama loves her quiet times with her cup of tea by the Christmas tree with just the tree lights on and the house quiet.
I think this is where I leave a comment about the giveaway. If so, then here’s mine. I have Dutch parents and the tradition is that the year one of my niece or nephews turn 10, they get a Chocolate Letter from Holland for Christmas. How fun is that?
Setting up my Christmas nativity scenes are one of my many favourite Christmas traditions.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter the draw!
Watching Christmas movies with my family
We have several Favourite Christmas Traditons; decorating our Christmas tree together as a family while listening to our favourite Christmas music, setting up our clay Nativity scene from Honduras that Abuela gave us and on December 24th we head down to Kensington market to enjoy some Latin American favourite foods.
My favourite tradition is making an advent countdown to Christmas – every day till Christmas the kids take a candy and Bible verse off the string of ribbon.
Our favourite tradition is taking our kids to Niagara Falls to see the Winter Festival of Lights
Kiddo opens up pjs on Christmas Eve, we’ll attend a service on the 24th and family throughout the month of December. We are also invited to another family’s house for Christmas dinner as they make room at their table for us,m. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s love for us.
Getting a few days off with the family, church candle light service, watching christmas movies with hot chocolate.
My favourite Christmas tradition is going to Christmas Eve service at church then spending the evening at my aunt’s home with family.
Thank you for sharing your list! The Gracelaced planner is so beautiful.