When it comes to Christmas, I need simple. 

(Oh, is Christmas really coming so soon?)  I don’t need lists and lists of things to do, expensive gifts to buy, and people to please.  My goal this Christmas is to do simple.  Family, good food, meaningful gifts, and togetherness.

I started searching for ways to simplify, and decided that the gift-giving is an easy thing to do simply.

Simple gifts.  Meaningful things that are lovely, simple, and useful for everyone.  A gift that wasn’t purchased in the heat of a Black Friday frenzy, or a last minute impulse… these are what have meaning.  This is a gift that touches a heart.

I wanted to share a few with you, because I know we all need simple.  Even more simply, all of these gifts come from the Dayspring store.

I love my Love Came Down mug! It is just the right size for a nice cup of tea.

It has a heart painted inside the bottom of the cup, and 1John 4:14 printed inside the rim. My Dad heard how much I loved the one I received from the Relevant Conference, so he bought me five more so I would have a complete set. They’re my favorite.

The We Are Thankful wooden photo holder is a sweet way to display cherished family photos.

Hang this lovely seasonal-themed piece in your dining room and keep your memories ever-present.

The loveliest book that will ever make you think seriously about everything you have, want, or have lost, is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

She gives the reader a new view of what it really means to give thanks, for everything. Even the ugly stuff.  It is one of the hardest books I ever loved to read. Be sure to also take a look at her new book, The Broken Way: A Daring Path to an Abundant Life.

For a busy mom, this Family Planner will help her pull it all together.

For me, balancing homeschooling, work, church, kids in karate, outside classes, and internships, and everything in between, a planner is a MUST! It has an organizer pocket, stickers for marking important dates and appointments, and Scriptures to keep us grounded in the Lord.

Lastly, I wanted to find something that would be truly useful for the upcoming holidays.

We have anywhere between 8 and 26 people at our house for the holiday meals.  The Give Thanks Wooden Caddy is is my favorite way to store our silverware for these big family gatherings! (And every family gathering with the Perkins clan is a BIG one.)  In addition to silverware storage, I can definitely see this little caddy full of candy canes and other candies, or school supplies like pens, pencils, and rulers for those off-holiday times too.  It is lovely, simple, and useful! Also it is only $10 right now!!

Remember that when your children look back on Thanksgivings and Christmases past, they won’t remember your perfect table settings, the scent of the candles, or how clean your house was.

They will remember the meals, conversations, laughter, and togetherness.  Keep it simple. In the long run, those things don’t matter anyway.  Family is all that matters.