Wishing You the Hope of Christmas

Beth VogtChristmas, encouragement, Faith, grace, holidays, hope, perspective, Quotes 10 Comments

@bethvogt There’s no denying I love quotes. Quotes about Christmas? They’re some of my favorites. So many people have different perspectives about Christmas and, yes, I skip over some of them. But, for the most part, the quotes I read inspire me. Encourage me. Uplift my heart. Guide me through the season with the right attitude – one of gratitude, …

Treasuring an Unexpected Holiday Tradition

Beth VogtChristmas, encouragement, family, Friendship, gratitude, holidays, home, hope, Life, Love, perspective, Quotes, Relationships, time 4 Comments

@bethvogt Some things become treasured family traditions without any planning on our part. In 1988, when my husband was a family physician in the military, Uncle Sam declared, “I want YOU to be stationed in Turkey for two years!” What Uncle Sam decrees, he gets. And off we went, with a newborn, a two-year-old, and a five-year-old. Travel back and …

Realizing What Gratitude Can Do For You

Beth Vogtchoices, contentment, encouragement, gratitude, holidays, hope, Life, Thanksgiving 5 Comments

“Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented.”     I hope today’s quote encourages you and that you’re able to lean into gratitude. I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. The holiday season doesn’t mean we can push pause on …

Choosing to Keep Christmas All the Year … or Not

Beth Vogtchange, choices, Christmas, COVID-19, expectations, holidays, hope, Life, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 12 Comments

@bethvogt It’s time to take down our Christmas tree. I know, I know, some of you are thinking, “It’s long past time to take that tree down, Beth!” After Christmas, my husband Rob decided we needed light in our lives. Keeping our Christmas tree up was a perfect way to accomplish that. We also left our Christmas star up outside …

Choosing to Keep the Lights Turned On

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, challenges, Christmas, COVID-19, Faith, holidays, hope, Life, New Year, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 16 Comments

@bethvogt My family always packs away our Christmas decorations right after the new year. Only this year, we didn’t. My husband Rob suggested we keep our outside lights up until we no longer have to wear masks because of COVID-19. His recommendation includes the white lights on the evergreen tree in our front yard. It’s grown taller than we ever …

Merry Christmas and I’ll See You in the New Year

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, Christmas, contentment, family, holidays 9 Comments

  With only 9 days until Christmas — and 8 days until my youngest daughter’s birthday — it’s time for to step back from social media until the New Year. My first blog of 2021 will be on Wednesday, January 6. The holidays have been disrupted by COVID, but I’m intentionally focusing on my family and friends — and even …

Viewing Christmas Through Others’ Words

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, Christmas, Faith, family, gratitude, holidays, hope, In Others' Words, kindness, Life, Love, perspective, Quotes, Relationships 10 Comments

@bethvogt “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” Bob Hope (1903-2003), British-American comedian and actor   My love of quotes prompted today’s post. I decided to step aside this week and let others step front and center stage. I spent last night gathering some of my favorite Christmas quotes for you to enjoy. Let …

Choosing to Balance Our Expectations with Reality During the Holidays

Beth Vogtacceptance, Beth K. Vogt, challenges, choices, Christmas, COVID-19, expectations, family, holidays, hope, Life, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, Reality 8 Comments

@bethvogt Like it or not, the holidays are coming in the midst of a pandemic. I don’t know anyone who likes it. I also acknowledge each of us honor different holiday traditions: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. Some of us may have even broken away from our original family customs. And in the midst of all of this, there may be other …

What Do We Do When Thanksgiving and Grief Collide?

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, brokenness, challenges, choices, COVID-19, crisis, family, grace, grief, holidays, hope, Life, mental health, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, Reality, suffering 14 Comments

@bethvogt   Our Thanksgiving holiday is complicated this year. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. It is 2020, after all. A world-wide pandemic doesn’t take a day off so we can observe our annual holiday traditions. Some of us have already decked our halls with fa-la-la-la-la because we just need a little Christmas right now – not later. Then in …

We are Made for Anticipation

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, choices, Christmas, contentment, emotions, expectations, Faith, holidays, hope, Identity, Life, perspective, Quotes 13 Comments

I was chatting with my friend Gianna on the phone yesterday when she said, “I feel like it’s the day after Disneyland.” And then she laughed. “You know what I mean?” Yes. Yes, I knew exactly what Gianna meant. You probably do too. Disneyland. “The happiest place on earth” right? Most of us plan for weeks, if not months, to …