About the Author

Anna works full-time for DaySpring from Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and four kids. Anna is the author of A Moment of Christmas and Pumpkin Spice for Your Soul, and she shares the good stuff of the regular, encouraging you to see the ordinary glory in your everyday.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Anna,

    You are spot on saying that God made each of us unique. It shouldn’t matter how, what or why we celebrate. God celebrates every time a sinner repents & comes back to Him. My hubby & I don’t care much for holidays. Maybe cause we work medical & often work holidays. Both our parents are gone now-although his step mom still living. This year is even tougher on people. Covid has taken its toll mentally, physically & emotionally on so many people. We need to celebrate & have some fun music on to help get us over those feelings. Asking God to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus. To remember that He left the splendor of Heaven to come to broken Earth to save us from our sins. Listen to “Leaving Heaven” by Matthew West & “It’s About the Cross” by Go Fish. These songs speak loudly to my heart about the true meaning of Christmas. Have a blessed & happy Christmas.

    Blessings 🙂

  2. Thank you, Anna! Your post reminds me of Byrd Baylor’s book, “I’m in charge of celebrations.” The LORD has given us many reasons to celebrate. Let us, each one in her unique way, celebrate every day!!

  3. Thanks for a wonderful post! Christmas is a peaceful time in our hearts. Enjoy yourself and be thankful for the reason of this season! Thanks Anna!

  4. Love this so much. Such good encouragement and inspiration. I’m going to put this into practice starting today❤️❣️❣️

  5. Thank you so much! Your writing is so cheerful and uplifting I appreciate you for it. I can hear the joy in your written words. So happy for your Mom❤️

  6. I will be thinking of you when I listen to comments in February regarding my Christmas wreath that will not come down until Valentine’s Day! And while holidays are not the same since I became a widow 2 years ago, and I need to push myself to embrace the season, once I actually open the boxes of Christmas decorations, I remember why I need to do this. Good for you Anna for taking the time to embrace the “season”.

    • Madeline, I love thinking about a Valentine’s Day tree! How fun is that?! And why not, right? May you be able to embrace this season, and may your heart feel a quiet joy even in a new season.

  7. “The God we celebrate and praise created each of us with unique hearts and likes and things that bring us joy, and I’m pretty sure He wants us to lean into them” – This. I love it and completely agree. “We have today, which means we have a chance to celebrate” – Amen. Thank you for this post ❤

  8. Thank you so much for this post. This year has been hard for so many of us. I didn’t even want to put up my tree or decorate since this year it’s just me but God had a different plan. I’m happy to say that I’m now surrounded by a beautiful Christmas tree with all the trimmings and decorations everywhere including a dancing Christmas Snoopy. March is usually when I take everything down but I’m
    in no hurry and that egg nog cake is ready to be baked. Merry Christmas as we celebrate our King Jesus and await his return.

    • A dancing Snoopy!! We have one of those two, and he’s a favorite with my kiddos (and with me)! Also egg nog cake sounds delicious. I have a recipe for egg nog bread that I make each year, but cake! Yum.

  9. What a joy it was to read your message today! Congrats to your mom on TWENTY years – so awesome! I just rounded year 4….and celebrating is always worth it!

  10. What a wonderful idea and such good advice. It makes you wonder why we have limited ourselves all these years. Thank you for sharing your views. Have a very Merry Christmas

  11. Do you really celebrate Halloween? I thought it was a Pagan festival fraught with hellish and evil implications and that Christians weren’t supposed to engage? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising you. I organised a Halloween party once a long time ago, but then got wise about it and stopped short in my tracks. Do let me know your thoughts. I love your way of celebrating Christmas and the love, joy and peace of God (Fruits of the Holy Spirit) are in our heart always.

  12. Anna, I agree with you. In the OT, we see God establish lengthy times of celebration in the festivals and so on. I think we need celebration and it’s a good challenge to consider what that means for each of us. The more we can cultivate a spirit of celebration/ thanksgiving, celebrating all that God is and has done for us, the better off we will be. Especially in the midst of challenging times of worldly turmoil. We need to remember. I honour your celebratory spirit. It doesn’t need to look the same for each of us – I believe it’s about the heart and our mindset. We all may express our gratefulness differently; that’s not only okay but to be expected. It’s all good when it comes from a thankful heart.

  13. Anna, thank you for a message so simple and yet so profoundly beautiful. I will aim to do just that – celebrate joyfully in whatever way I wish to, and without regard to what I think I ‘should”do! Merry Christmas!

  14. I absolutely love this! I have kept my tree up through February and put Valentines on it for many years. I get teased about it but it brings me joy, especially in the cold and sometimes dark days of winter in upstate New York. Embrace your inner child and all that God made you to be!

  15. Hi Anna,
    This was such a breath of “fresh air” to read. This year, everyone needs that Joy in celebrating, making this season their own. I reaaly loved your final line; so beautiful!

    Thank you.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    Shalom, Sandy

  16. Amen!!! I am the same way with Christmas I celebrate and decorate when I want to and for as long as I choose!!

  17. This so touched my heart! I dearly love the Christmas season and all the joy and hope it represents! God bless you this Christmas

  18. Late in saying how much I loved this. We are kindred spirits. 😉 A very Merry Christmas to you & yours! ♥