The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.-Lenore Hershey

Love This Song! Merry Christmas! @MaryAlessi The Christmas Song
http://ping.fm/JtbPW

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.--W. T. Ellis

Day is done, gone the sun. From the plains, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest. God is nigh.

older man came up and needed a couple bucks for gas. I filled his tank and said Merry Christmas, what a reaction, it was fanstatic! Give!

#Unity Girl's Guide to #Advent: The Candle of Joy!

In honor of the third week of advent, we revisit the meaning behind the advent wreath. Specifically behind the candle we light this week. Why is there one pink candle?

I saw someone kidding around on twitter about this saying "Tomorrow's 3rd Sunday of Advent, when many churches light a pink candle. Know why? 'Cause God really wanted a girl! :)". Seriously though, the church actually does have a symbolic meaning that I think an be applied to our lives in a very practical way.

When the season of Advent was instituted (around 1840) the church viewed it as a mini-Lent, a time for reflection and repentance (thus the purple). In so doing, the church adopted the first four candles of Lent and changed the third candle of Advent to pink in honor of the Lenten tradition of feasting instead of fasting the 3rd week of Lent. This is why we have a pink candle in our Advent Wreaths.

So this is the week to rejoice! In the word rejoice we hear the word Joy, and that is the name some churches have given this week of advent. We light the Candle of Joy as we know the birth of Jesus is very near.

One of the great moments of Jesus' life is when he gave us very specific steps for attaining joy in our lives, the beatitudes. They are like rungs in a ladder that get us closer and closer to being a better reflection of perfect love, kindness and understanding.

1. Blessed are the poor in Spirit. Matt 5:3
Do you think you are perfect? Have done no wrong? Do you think you can do it all by yourself? Jesus' first step to JOY is admitting in our lives that we need God. That we are not alone and that we are One in spirit with our creator. The first step to JOY is knowing that we were created, and through the power of free will we have made choices that don't reflect God.

2. Blessed are they that mourn. Matt 5:4
This is interesting that it comes after an admittance that we cannot do this life on our own. Once we realize this there is a bit of mourning that occurs. We mourn the life we had as we turn to God, we mourn the choices that were made that did not honor God's love or kindness. The second step to Joy, is being sad about the way we used to live, before God was first in our hearts.

3. Blessed are the Meek Matt 5:5
I like this word because it is not what it seems. The root meaning actually comes from a concept similar to taming a wild horse, not so much a weakness of heart or mind. People who are considered meek are those who have been tamed by the love of God, who have had the power of their lives and passions bridled by the power of Kindness, Grace and Peace. God now rules our lives, directs our paths and leads us through life: JOY

4. Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst. Matt 5:6
This is probably my favorite! When was the last time you were starving? In today's society it is hard to imagine or even experience. But in the New Testament times, this was a real possibility for some. That if they didn't eat, they would die! This step to JOY I think is where most of us become a little complacent. Is our love, understanding and reflection of God in our lives and life-or-death thing? I remember watching "V for Vendetta" with Natalie Portman and seeing her go through torture for her beliefs, not even fearing death, because she knew in her heart what was right. After the exercise in the film, her character was able to live completely without fear. Allowing JOY to be a leading emotion. It is interesting to me to think about how many us us, or to be transparent, whether I, under the duress of death or execution would stand up for what we believe in. Interesting to consider.

So as we begin this week, we light the Candle of Joy. We think about these 4 steps to JOY and I invite you to look at ways that you can climb each rung in the ladder.

Take action:
Take a full inventory of the decisions you have made this past year. For it is those very decisions that have created the life you have. Where did you place God in these decisions? Spend some time in contemplation this week and remember that JOY comes from knowing who your God is and developing a relationship. Spend time in the silence of your mind, and listening to the whispers of your innate Divine nature.

Become like a little child: Our Advent Calendar today reminds us to create a Christmas treat (Cookies, Gingerbread house, fruit cake) and then enjoy it with friends and family. The key to this action is to share. :)

Love
UnityGirl

follow me @unitygirl

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

#Unity Girl's Guide to #Advent: The Candle of Preparation

#Unity Girl's Guide to #Advent: The Candle of Preparation

Living in Miami, its hard to get into a song like "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas". There is no snow or snowman, no parkas or scarves with matching hats. Today the temp dropped to 60 and my kids kept telling me how cold they were (what have I done?). This week we light the 2nd candle in our advent wreath. This second candle is the candle of preparation. For some of us preparation is easy, because its starting to feel like Christmas. For others we need to make a specific effort.

In our house we are using an advent calendar to keep the advent of Christmas in our thoughts daily. We look forward to opening each square and doing the activity that it recommends. We know that every day we are getting closer to celebrating the birthday of our Brother and Perfect Example. How do you think the Wise Men prepared for their journey? How did Mary and Joseph prepare for the birth of the Messiah that would be their son? How can we prepare our hearts and minds each day as we enter the world, which may seem contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

Prepare your heart: I encourage you to "become like a little child" and do some fun activities. You can either do them with your kids, or with some friends.

Take action: Make a Holiday treat for the Birds!

Prepare your Spirit: In preparation of the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the amazing news that his birth brings:
 
"No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory."

When I read this passage, here is what I understand. No matter what situation I am in, what challenge I am facing, what mountain I am trying to move, the outside world does not provide my guidance.

The world I live in is a reflection of the choices I have made in my past, not the reality of my future. So I don't look to the sun, I don't look to the moon. I look within. I look to that part of me connected with the Most High. That is the truth of my future, the light of my path.

For what I can see in my mind, through my faith in God, I can have, do and be. Don't let the world show you, let God light the path and you show the world.

Love,
UnityGirl

follow me @unitygirl

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

#Unity Girl's Guide to #Advent: The Candle of Hope

UnityGirl's Guide to #Advent: The Candle of Hope

The first candle we light in the advent wreath is lit the 4th Sunday before Christmas. We light this candle to remind of the hope that is being born that day in the manger. I love this time of year, as we focus on what this birth really meant to the people of that time.

I often imagine (especially while humming "Oh Night Divine") what it would have been like to be there as the 3 kings approached the baby in the manager. How they knew, beyond, words that this baby would change the world, save the world and light the way for all who would follow him.

How much hope can we find in the vision of the baby in the manger? We have a unique advantage of knowing how Jesus life progresses, the sacrifices he will make, the miracles he will demonstrate and power he bestowed upon on us. Advent is not just about thinking about the birth of Jesus but also about what it means to kindle the flame of divinity within ourselves, to be born again.

As we light the Hope candle the first week of advent we begin to feel what Jesus must have felt, excitement, awe, anticipation of the life to come. This is how we approach each year, we feel these same emotions as we approach another year of dreams and challenges. Charles Fillmore says in the "Revealing Word":

hope (and faith)--Hope is the expectation of good in the future. It is a quality (good as far as it goes) of sense mind because it is subject to time. Faith is the certain knowledge that our good is ours right now. It is of God; it goes beyond time and space.

I like this definition of hope, because it is exactly why we celebrate Advent. We are celebrating the idea that we have Good coming, that the birth of this child will change our future for the Good, forever.

Take action! Our advent activity for today is to write a hand written Christmas card and give it to a neighbor, meaning someone you live next to. God is Love and Kindness and this activity will put you in alignment with both of those qualities.

I heard something on the radio this week that I really liked. Christ-mas means "More Christ", So Merry Christmas brothers and Sisters. And be reminded of the amazing things you can do through faith.

Talk about HOPE!
Matthew 21:21 NIV Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way :)

Love
UnityGirl

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

Advent: 2nd Week: Understanding the #Advent #Wreath

Advent: 2nd Week! Understanding the #Advent #Wreath

In this second week of Advent, we light the second candle in the wreath. It occurred to me that not everyone knows what this wreath is, what it is used for, what it represents. I love the power of symbolism. This week we will focus on the symbolism of the advent wreath and the meaning behind its candles.

In the Old Testament, we are told of the advent of Immanuel, or "God with Us".

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

The New Testament realizes this proclamation, with the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Advent Wreath is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent (Which is 4 Sundays before Christmas), the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. The 4 or 5 candles that are arranged in a circle symbolizes Christ’s eternity, as a circle has no beginning and has no end. It is also a symbol for God, Who is eternal and thus without beginning or end. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, "Christ" candle which can be lit at Christmas.

The wreath itself means “victory” as Christ’s victory over sin so He can save us. Metaphysically, it represents our victory over error thought (sin) and the power Jesus gave to us when he said "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do". Advent is all about celebrating the freedom that was given to us through the birth and life of Jesus Christ. The evergreens mean He is “ever with us,” they are usually pine branches or holly that are used as a base that represents anticipation, newness, renewal and His everlastingness. The red berries of the holly represent the shedding of Christ’s blood.

The Advent candles mean the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. This refers to the significance that Christ is the Light of the world. When they are lit, the illumination is to symbolize the Christ of eternity and His coming as the “Light of the World” and our worship and honor of His most precious gift of His Grace and mercy. These candles also have a color theme too, purple, blue, pink or rose and while. The first two or three are purple meaning royalty and this is also the color of suffering and the darkness of sin, connecting Jesus’ birth and crucifixion and His triumph over sin. Blue means sky and life, pink means joy, and white means purity.

TAKE ACTION: Get in the Christmas Spirit! Watch a holiday film! One of my new favorites is Elf, here's one of my favorite quotes: "The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear." Start singing, one of my new favorite songs is called Grateful, but Mary Alessi.

This week we will spend time looking at the meaning of each candle and and how you can use the advent wreath as a reminder of the Christ light within each of us.

The next 5 blog entries will be about:

• The candle of Hope
• The candle of Preparation
• The candle of Joy
• The candle of Love
• The Christ Candle

This is going to be FUN!!!

Love,
UnityGirl

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

#Unity Girl's Guide to #Advent Day 2: Advent for Kids (or the Kid in all of us)

Unity Advent Day 2: Advent for Kids (or the Kid in all of us)

This year is the first year I am using a Advent Calendar with my children to count down the days until Christmas. This year we were given a Peanuts advent calendar, with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the whole gang (Thanks Titi!). One thing I love about it is that each day during advent, you open a little square it provides an activity for you to do. So I will be sharing those activities with you here on this blog in the hope that you will find them helpful in preparing your heart and spirit for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ.

Children's Advent Calendars are really for the kid in all of us. I would encourage you to go and get one, kids or not and begin the fun of opening a new door every day. I believe that we should all become as little children as we begin to prepare for Christmas. This is something that Jesus himself advocated.

Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. - Matt 18:3-5

In this passage Jesus is reminding the disciples not to dismiss away little children, as they posses qualities that reflect the kingdom of God. Notice the last line: Whoever receives one little child LIKE THIS in my name, receives me... Do you think Jesus could have been also referring to those of us who have become like children and humbled ourselves before God when he talked of "receiving one little child"? Do you think it is possible that Jesus meant that we as Christians must receive each other as children of God, instead of fight each other as if we had nothing in common? Maybe that we need to recognize children of God and accept them as opposed to dismiss them as if they were bothersome or didn't matter. In some Christian churches I have attended, I have felt like a little child being shuffled into a corner and asked to sit quiet and behave, not to disturb the "adult time" that the elders in the church held sacred. In the end, I left those churches never to return. I sought after a church(and people) that were themselves humbled and like a little child. Here are some of the characteristics I was looking for:

1. Fearless: Children are fearless. They know, somehow that everything will be ok and that they will be take care of.
2. Trusting: A little child trusts its parents to be there, to comfort, care and provide for every need. Trust shows up in how a church (or person) acts when things get tough.
3. Questioning: Children are always wanting to know more, and my favorite, to know why. What happens to a soul that stops asking??
4. Enthusiastic: Children can become enthusiastic about almost anything, mommy walking through the door, a new book, an extra 5 minutes "swimming" in the tub. Imagine what our walk with God would look like if we had this level of enthusiasm for everything we did, in his name.
5. Forgiving: A child does not hold grudges, or stay mad or angry for any extended period of time. Their heart is forgiving and forgetful. Allowing them to be happy in each and every moment.

I strive to be more like this every day. I challenge you to look at these characteristics and see how your spiritual life reflects them. What actions can you take to become more fearless, trusting, questioning, enthusiastic, and forgiving?

Take Action!
Today's "little child" activity is to make paper snowflakes and hang them all over your cubicle, home or office :) In case you have forgotten how to make them, I added a few references:

Paper Snow Flakes
http://www.papersnowflakes.com/
http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html

so FUN!!

Love,
UnityGirl

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

Raising Powerful Girls

http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisinggirls/powerful/

How do you raise a powerful girl and what does that mean?

Powerful girls grow up feeling secure in themselves. They learn to take action, making positive choices about their own lives and doing positive things for others. They think critically about the world around them. They express their feelings and acknowledge the feelings and thoughts of others in caring ways. Powerful girls feel good about themselves and grow up with a "can-do" attitude. Of course, strong girls may (like all of us) have times of insecurity and self-doubt, but these feelings aren't paralyzing because the girls have learned to work through their problems. Powerful girls will grow up to lead full, valuable lives.

Here are some of our experts' ideas to help you raise powerful daughters.

Encourage your daughter to pursue a passion.
"Full engagement with an activity she loves will give her the opportunity to master challenges, which will boost her self-esteem and resilience and affirm intrinsic values rather than appearance," says Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out. "Having a passion lets her go shoot baskets or play an instrument, for example, instead of being swept up in online drama."

Let her have a voice in making decisions.
"Whenever possible, let her make constructive choices about her life. Let her choose her own clothes, within appropriate limits. Give her a voice in what after-school activities she participates in and how many she wants to do (as long as it works for the rest of the family, too). Remember that knowing what she cares about most will come from trying some things and finding she doesn't like them, as well as from finding things she loves to do," recommends Jane Katch, Ed.D., author of They Don't Like Me. "Your daughter might need to make a commitment for a short time for an activity (one soccer season) but when that's over, it's okay to try something different!"

Identify the values most important to your family.
"Consider the ways you convey these values, especially by example. What are the moments in your daily life when you can model the values you want your daughter to learn?" asks Simmons. "What traits and strengths do you want your daughter to develop as she grows?" asks Meg White, M.A. "See if these qualities are reflected in how you parent."

Encourage her to solve issues on her own rather than fixing things for her.
"When parents take over, girls don't develop the coping skills they need to handle situations on their own. Ask your daughter to consider three strategies she might use to deal with a situation, and then ask her about the possible outcomes. Let her decide what she wants to do (within reason). Even if you disagree with her choice, you give your daughter a sense of control over her life and show her that she is responsible for her decisions," says Simmons.

Encourage her to take physical risks.
"Girls who avoid risks have poorer self-esteem than girls who can and do face challenges," says JoAnn Deak, Ph.D., author of Girls Will Be Girls. "Urge your daughter to go beyond her comfort zone -- for example, encourage a girl who's scared to ride her bike downhill to find just a small hill to conquer first." Catherine Steiner-Adair, Ed.D., co-author of Full of Ourselves: A Wellness Program to Advance Girl Power, Health and Leadership, agrees. "It's important to help even non-athletic girls develop some physical competence and confidence when they're young. Whether it's through team or individual sports, girls need to form a physical relationship with their body that builds confidence."

Get girls working together.
"Girls who work cooperatively in school or who problem-solve together do much better in taking large risks or facing challenges. These girls report an incredible sense of accomplishment and feeling of competence, both of which give a huge boost to self-esteem," says Deak. "Encourage your daughter to participate in team-building activities or join organizations that rely on teamwork."

Let your daughter know you love her because of who she is, not because of what she weighs or how she looks.
"Encourage your girl to eat in healthy ways, but don't over-obsess over what she eats. Listen to her opinions (about food, and other things) and show appreciation for her uniqueness, to help her develop herself into the person she wants to be," says Steiner-Adair. "Comment on the way she carries herself into a room or the ideas she is expressing before commenting on her looks. She needs you to know her insides and validate the developing person within, as well as noticing her emerging young womanhood," adds White.

Allow her to disagree with you and get angry.
"Raising a powerful girl means living with one. She must be able to stand up to you and be heard, so she can learn to do the same with classmates, teachers, a boyfriend, or future bosses," says White. Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D., and Sharon Lamb, Ed.D., co-authors of Packaging Girlhood, write, "Girls need guidance about how to stay clear in their disagreements, and they need support for not giving up their convictions to maintain a false harmony. Help girls to make considered choices about how to express their feelings, and to whom." Steiner-Adair notes that "Not all girls will want to do this, especially shy girls, but you can still help them develop the skills."

Address girl fighting when you see it.
"Talk with girls about relational violence (such as gossip, rumor-spreading and exclusion) as well as physical violence (hitting or fighting). But don't assume all girls are mean, and avoid saying 'girls will be girls' when you witness girls engaging in exclusive cliques and clubs. Instead, affirm girls' relational strengths and sense of fairness, help them identify and hold on to their strong feelings, like anger, and encourage them to practice more direct, positive ways to effect change in their relationships," says Brown.

Make regular time to listen to your girl.
"By creating consistent, predictable times when she knows that you are receptive and available to listen -- like riding in a car, taking a walk, or just sitting reading -- you will eventually be let into her inner world. Let her use you as a sounding board to sort out what she is going through, without solving problems for her. The answers that come from within her are the ones she will eventually live by," says White.

Listen more than you talk.
"When we talk to girls, they often experience it as us talking at them, and they not only stop listening, they stop thinking and reflecting. But when we listen to them, they have to think about what they are saying, and they tend to reflect more. And we need to keep an open dialogue -- we can't dismiss their chatter about ups and downs of friendship as trivial, and then expect them to talk to us about the important stuff," says Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D., co-author of Mom, They're Teasing Me.

Limit your daughter's exposure to the media and popular culture when she is young.
"This will give her more time to develop her own ideas, creativity, and imagination from her direct first-hand experience. As she grows, media messages will start to get in, so having rules and routines from the start can help your daughter control her own experiences as she gets older," says Diane Levin, Ph.D, author of So Sexy So Soon.

Help her process the messages in the media.
"Help her avoid the narrow focus on appearance and consumerism that often dominates the media. By helping your daughter process the messages she sees on the screen and develop her own ideas about them, you can prepare her to better resist the media's pervasive stereotypes," says Levin. "Help her notice the bigger picture -- for example, how looking like her latest teen idol can be fun but also connects her with a lot of other stuff she might not have noticed or thought about. Wonder aloud about more general patterns you see, like how all those little purses hanging from everything might make it seem that all girls, even three-year-olds, are into shopping," add Brown and Lamb.

Talk with her about the differences between sex in the movies and loving relationships in real life.
"It's important to talk with your daughter about sex and sexuality in ways appropriate to her age and your values," says Levin. "As she gets older it becomes increasingly important to help your daughter understand the difference between sexualized images in the media and healthy sexuality. Through give-and-take discussion, you can help her begin to understand the difference between the media's presentation of sex and sexiness. You can talk about how sex is frequently portrayed without love, intimacy or emotion, or as part of caring relationships. When your daughter is old enough, you can begin to discuss what a mature, healthy, loving relationship -- in which sex is a part -- is all about."

Acknowledge her struggles but keep a sense of perspective.
"We have to acknowledge the pain our daughters are experiencing, so they feel heard and accepted and empathized with. But we also need to put it into perspective, to stay calm and listen to what they are experiencing without projecting our own experiences onto theirs. Your daughter is having a different experience than you did, even if there are surface similarities," says Cohen. "After all, she has something you didn't have: you."

Enjoy her!
"Having a powerful girl can be exciting and energizing. Find activities you both enjoy and do them regularly together. Maybe you both like cooking or having breakfast together, hiking or reading books," says Katch. "Try to keep this connection as she gets older -- if times ever get tough, you'll appreciate this special bond you share!"