Holiday Coffee Date 🎄 {with a Gift-away 🎁}
Photo updates, links + last-minute gift suggestions, and a gift-away for YOU this Christmas season!
Hey Friends!
There could not be a more special time to meet up for coffee than during the holidays! Crank up your favorite Christmas music and let’s share something warm and caffeinated. ❤️ ☕️ 🎄 (Thor and I have
The Chosen Christmas Special Playlist on Spotify going on here…)
I love love love this time of the year, so I’m smiling even as I imagine catching up with you! So…You go first! I want to hear everything! — How was fall? School? Work? Family? And how is your Christmas shaping up? Be sure to share in comments (and enter to win a gift card, below! 👇)
As for me/my family...Well, wow! Where do I begin? For the sake of time —(we are alllll busy this week!) I’ll share my updates in photos —
Beginning with our new dining room!
After 10 years of dreaming about gathering around a table inside of the house, I am so very happy with how our dining room addition is coming together. Here’s a quick look at the covered lanai “before” (50% sport-court, 50% outside dining area, 100% drove-me-crazy) up to the current dining room!
Remodel in progress…
Then a temporary wall went up during the project and stayed there for about 5 months…which gave us a fun, “tiny kitchen” experience! 😉
And finally…TADAAAAAA!!
I am so in love with this new space!
*This is a Monkeypod Tree Slab table which we had made last year. We were going to put it outside and then decided it was too pretty to go outside. So, this is the table that inspired a remodel!
We still have a few final touches to put into place…
- the windows on the side wall have not arrived yet.
- We need to order chandeliers. Still undecided on those.
- We have decided to add a small island in between the kitchen and dining table…I’m so excited about that! I think it will finish off this project perfectly!
- We’re still working on a few decor ideas…(it’s a bit open and stark as it is. 😉 Though I do love that too!)
Catching up FROM FALL:
I LOVE fall so much…especially when I get to travel to “fall-ish” places, which I got to do a few times this year!
The first was for the Open Door Sisterhood retreat in Priest Lake Washington. It was incredible!! I was refreshed and inspired, and I made new friends who truly became like sisters. I will forever cherish the experience…
Also many fabulous meals around this table!…Seriously.
Then, in October the boys and I went to California to meet up and celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday! 🥳 (photo from a day trip to Catalina Island.) My parents are such gifts to all of us. ❤️ 
On the home-front…Levi’s passion for golf has only grown. My husband wins the best-dad-ever award for his commitment to whatever our boys love, and God is stretching me in new ways…
Golf is a big commitment. 😜
That’s all for now.
(also Levi may be growing his hair out…)
Luke has had an exciting fall with surfing. After a long spell of very few contests, (thanks, Covid) he has been able to enter into a few pro events here on our north shore. He has advanced through a few rounds and done really well. He also just signed a professional contract with Rip Curl, which opens the door for him to pursue his pro surf dreams (and begin with online college.) A very different pathway from his big brothers, but we are so excited for all God has for him!
A couple pics from the WSL Pipeline Pro contest this last week.
If you aren’t following Luke on Instagram, you might enjoy doing that…His videos and photos are always exciting. 
Josiah and Jonah both were home for Thanksgiving which was everything. ❤️ I might be a weirdo, but since my kids were young I have always looked forward to the day they would “come home” for holidays. (probably because I have such fond memories of traveling home from college for holidays.) Anyways, if you have younger kids, let me just tell you: It’s the BEST!! Keep doing the work now, build great relationships, (send them away eventually!) and then you’ll love welcoming them home!
About those boys 👆🏼– they are both doing great at Westmont. They love the school, their friends, their church, and the surf. They also hang out together at school a lot! 🥰. Josiah will graduate next spring, (HOW?!) and Jonah will finish his Sophomore year. God is good! (also that photo was taken VERY early in the morning as we left for the airport after Thanksgiving.)
NOW ON TO CHRISTMAS: With the remodel and all (or maybe I’m just lazy!) our Christmas decorations are super minimal this year. Also, we keep our decorations in the attic, so I basically get whatever Levi chooses to crawl around and pull down for me. haha. But we always love to get a Norfolk Pine Christmas tree from a local farm. 
As I type, Jonah is on a flight home, and Josiah is already back from college. My parents are in town and Dave will be off work on Christmas Day for the first time in YEARS! So, I am anticipating a very, very special holiday this year!
Most importantly, I want to remain ever-mindful of the true miracle of Christmas…That God came into this world as a human, to live and die for us — that we might know His love, experience His forgiveness, and spend eternity with Him. This is the greatest news we could ever know!
NOW for some links + last minute shopping ideas + New Years inspo:
FOOD + DRINK
- We’re having fun with Mocktails this year. Here’s a good list to inspire. (and my post from a few years back with some simple, festive bevy’s)
- These healthy holiday treats look so good it’s hard to believe they’re healthy. Noteworthy aside: My college boys have actually requested healthy foods for our holiday season because they have noticed that when they are on break from school and eat a lot of junk they: A) tend to get sick, and B) have more breakouts. (File that under: Things that are hard to imagine ever hearing your kids say! 😉)
- My mom and I have decided to have lasagna-two ways for Christmas dinner this year. I love a veggie lasagna, so I’ll be making something like this.
BOOKS + GIFTS: - For the Grandparents in your life…This book will bless them and you/your kids, too! I love these two women and they have so much wisdom (and a great sense of humor!)
- Two Bible studies I’m so excited to dive into in the New Year (both by Lifeway)
HE’S WHERE THE JOY IS, a study on the Trinity, by (my favorite Bible-Recapper-) Tara Leigh Cobble. Wow she is so smart and such a great writer.
NEVER ALONE, by Jeannie Cunnion, which points us parents to our true source of strength…Wow we need this!
- The ARTZA SUBSCRIPTION BOX is one of my favorite new things. {Quarterly boxes full of incredible goodies from specific areas of the Holy Land.– a great gift for anyone who has visited the Holy Land, or — like me, hopes to one day!}
USE THIS LINK and code ARTZAMONICASWANSON to get 20% OFF a box!
- Family game!? We received the RANK GAME as a gift and we all learned more about each other! The boys loved it!
- Give the gift of Dwell! — > Have you checked out the Dwell Bible app yet? I use it every day! Go to dwell app.io/boymom to get 10% off a yearly subscription or 33% off Dwell for life. (I am listening to the Wonder playlist leading up to Christmas – so good! And, I am super excited about the new International Children Version which has kids reading the Bible for our kids! 🙌🏼)
- Raise great writers!! ** Check out the annual 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVING –from our favorite writing curriculum, IEW (The Institute for Excellence in Writing.). This = free gifts every day, beginning on December 26th!
- LASTLY: Let’s not forget to include a copy of BOY MOM for you or a boy-mom on your Christmas shopping list!
Oh! And if you speak German, or know someone who does…The German version of Boy Mom is hot off the press!! 🥰
There is always more but I suddenly have a quiet house and this is my clutch time to pull out some gifts that need wrapping! I’d love to do coffee dates a lot more often. We’ll have to plan another soon in the New Year!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
In comments tell me anything that is new or on your mind. What you’re reading or watching or what you’re doing for Christmas. I’ll choose two names on Sunday, the 26th and send each of you $25 Starbucks card to sip your way into 2022!!!
I LOVE doing life with all of you and I appreciate you being a part of this online community! If you are not on my weekly email list, sign up for it — for free HERE! **That is where I share favorite books, recipes and links in between coffee date posts. It’s also the one place I can connect with people in a more personal way.
Big hugs and MELE KALIKIMAKA!! 🎄 🌺 ♥️
Merry Christmas from all the way over on the East coast! This advent season I have very much enjoyed that Christian parenting tabletop flip advent family devotional. Have been doing it with my young boys over lunch… most of the days 🙃. I’m even more excited to have it for coming years as they get older and it can lead to good discussions. Christmas this year is low key and at home and it’s been wonderful♥️
Emily M
Thank you, Emily! SO glad you enjoyed the CP advent… We loved it too! Sending hugs for a happy 2022!!
We have had a busy fall! One of my nieces got married at the end of October. My step daughter married on November 12th, we had a baby GIRL(surprise-after 22 years of boys!) on November 19th, and my daughter graduated from college December 11th! Shew- we are tired!! Merry Christmas!
Shara Livingston
Wow, Shara! You should be tired! 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying a holiday rest! Big hugs to you and your family.
Merry Christmas Monica! I love all the encouragement I received from your podcasts & emails weekly! Wishing you a blessed Christmas & New Year! 🎄♥️
P.S. heading to Kuaia tomorrow, 1st Christmas in HI 🙏🏼
Thank you so much, Evelyn! Blessings to you and hope you had the most wonderful Mele Kalikimaka!!
This year we choose not to travel (in the process of getting our first home) and just be present with our 3 kiddos. This is also the first year they are crazy about Santa (thank you public schools! Lol) so we will be home drinking hot chocolate while watching Christmas movies. Nice and simple.
Sounds like a great holiday!! Hope you enjoyed some quiet, cozy rest! xo
We just got a big dump of snow and I’m excited for a quiet and white Christmas with my boys ( 3 and 1.5) and my husband.I’m also looking forward to Cooking Turkey dinner for the second time.
Merry Christmas Everyone
So fun!! Thank you for commenting Charlotte! hope you had a great Christmas!
We are done with the busyness for the holidays (Christmas parties, wedding, etc) now we are relaxing with family. Everyone is home. ♥️My heart is full.
ohhh that sounded heavenly. Hope you enjoyed your holidays!! big hugs
Love the look of your wonderful new space! I recently made a tv console/containment area for all our homeschool chaos and love it. I find I am a bit to perfectionist for carpentry work though. As for Christmas…need to kick myself out of the bah-humbug feeling I have had the last few days.
May you have a very Merry Christmas with your kids back and family there!
Rachel, Wow– well done making your own zone for homeschooling! Hope you made it through the bah-humbug and had a great Christmas! Sending love-
Monica, A very merry Christmas to you and your family. This fall was hard. Not sure why 2 years after my mom went to Jesus it feels harder. Missing mom and dad just had some mini strokes Monday. Otherwise we have so much to be thankful for and are excited to be with family for Christmas. Enjoy you family and keep those sunny beach photos coming. Beautiful dinning room.
Thank you, Kristin! So sorry for the hard stuff (hope you caught my podcast episode 2 weeks ago about grief during the holidays?) Sending much love to you!
Merry Christmas!! I am about to begin reading Don’t Mom Alone and we are actually staying home for Christmas! Sometimes we travel for Christmas but our hearts always long for simple at home with our kids. We are able to do that this year and I am excited. Thanks for all you do Monica! You are an inspiration.
Thank you so much, Daniella! Love this and hope you thoroughly enjoyed your holiday!! xo
Can’t wait to decorate Christmas Cookies with my boys (5 and 7) and see how creative they will be this year.
Merry Christmas to you from Illinois! Thanks for your coffee post and sharing your heart! I am grateful to be able to do fun Christmas activities at a slower pace this year with my family and not feel overwhelmed/miss the meaning of the season. We started our school adventure with my firstborn boy in K this semester and now enjoying a holiday break. I have 2 younger boys (3 and 21 mo) and my 4th baby boy due in May! I greatly enjoy your passion and wisdom; I’ve been following you the past couple years but my first comment! 😉 Thanks again!
Sooo glad you commented, Sarah! I love hearing from you. Also– your name was chosen as a giveaway winner so I’ll be emailing you now! 🙂 XOXO
Merry Christmas.
Your new space looks great. I always love to hear and see from you and your boys. You are a wonderful mom.
I have to remind myself every day to enjoy the things I have and specially this time with my young boys, and not to stress about what people think of me and my house and my decorations outside my home.
I constantly remind myself to live in the present, cherish every moment I have. It is hard for me to just sit still and get my mind to calm down too.
Peace on earth, sang the angels.
Peace I wish for your home and soul.
Andrea– so beautiful! Thank you thank you. And I truly hope you had a peace and joy filled Christmas! xo
Mele Kalikimaka Monica!
I loved reading the update! The dining space is gorgeous and the table could not be more perfect! I still have younger kids (11, 9 and 4), but how sweet to look forward to “welcoming them home” for Christmas!
I grew up near Catalina (could see the island from my home and visited often), then spent my teens and 20s in Washington (Priest Lake was a favorite spot) and then married my Air Force man and had the privilege of living on Oahu for 3 years (2015-2018). I miss it!! We loved our Norfolk pine each year! I mentioned it to a neighbor and she bought me a baby one. I love it.
Have a very merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Stefanie! Love this comment AND…your name was just chosen as a giveaway winner! yay! I’ll be emailing you directly now! big hugs and Happy New year!
Merry Christmas!
Your new space looks amazing, and I absolutely love the table and benches.
Our Christmas will be pretty quiet overall. This mama is having a hard time coming to terms with this being the last Christmas before her only baby is a legal adult. (He turns 17 tomorrow!) I can’t help but to feel that the coming year will be one of many changes. I am too stubborn and need to learn to have faith and trust that things will turn out exactly as they should.
Merry Christmas, Monica! Always love the virtual coffee dates! A quiet holiday season is about to become crazy in the best way with all the Christmas gatherings that come with a big family! We have a freshman who just finished his first high school semester and made varsity swimming! Our seventh grader continues to be his sweet, smart baseball loving self and has recently gotten into volunteering. Looking forward to getting out of Illinois for a few post- Christmas days in The LA area. Thanks for your posts!
Hi Monica,
I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing. Your table is absolutely beautiful. I also love your Christmas tree.
Well, my family and I just moved from Southern CA to Northern CA. Even though it’s the same state it’s definitely quite different in the suburbs of Sacramento. But, we are grateful to God for the blessings and new adventure. I have two little ones. My son is 2 years old and daughter is 8 months. It’s amazing to see them get so excited for the holidays. Nothing beats the holidays through your children’s eyes.
LOVE your new dining room space! ❤
Christmas is my favorite season. All the good feels and great memories. Even though my mom is now in Heaven, I often think of all the awesomeness and great experiences she created around this time. It has become so special. ❤
Finished reading & participating in the 40 fay social media fast with Wendy Speake. 🙂 Currently reading this book a friend blessed me with: Don’t Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table, by Louie Giglio.
Much Aloha & Mele Kalikimaka!
Just wondering….what is the paint color on your walls? It looks beautiful! We are trying to choose paint color in our new house, so I’m always looking inspiration!
Hi Monica! This has been a challenging year for me learning with my two little boys (4 and 1 1/2) God has been stretching me and growing me like crazy, it has not been fun all the time but everyday I feel my mental health getting better and better! I am very much looking forward to Christmas, we will be going to see my in laws in Vermont like we do every year and I cannot wait! Thank you for your boy mom book! It was a game changer when my first was little and I am about to read it again in this new phase of life! Every new phase I encourage everyone to read this book again! 🙏🏻❤️🙌🏻 Praising God for sending His son and for His peace and love no matter what we are going through!
The singing room looks so good! I hope to have a nice big entertaining/eating area some day!
I am doing She reads Truth’s Advent book this season and really am enjoying it!
I love your new dining room and your shorter hair! Merry Christmas to you and yours!🎄
Thank you and thank you and Merry Christmas to you!! xo 🎄 ♥️
Aw, yay for news and updates! Thanks for the coffee chat! My oldest son graduated college (Appalachian State, Boone NC) in May and my youngest son graduated last week (UNC Wilmington). Bittersweet times for this momma! We raise them to love God and others, then prayerfully send them into the world, but it’s still hard! Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!!
Good evening Monica! I love reading your coffee posts! I have followed your blog for 4 years now, I really think of you like family!
My own family is coming out of a mental health crisis, you see my mother had mental illness for years and in October her behavior was so intense that me and my sisters reached out for medical help. She is on medication and is finally getting treatment. It is a painful and emotional time for all of my siblings. I have received so much support and love during this season, my heart is full! I am starting my second term of community college in January, I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend. I have a passion for photography and was praying for a camera. Last week a dear friend gifted me her DSLR camera! God really answers prayers!
I hope you have a blessed and joyful Christmas!
Love, Emma
Oh Emma– What a great update! I’m so sorry for what you’ve all gone through with your mom but so happy she is getting treatment and YOU are have such sweet support. Love that God provided you with a camera and so proud of you for all you are doing. Keep it up and yes to feeling like family. The feeling is mutual! 🙂 hugs and merry Christmas!
I love your updates, Monica! All is well in San Diego… My 18 yo daughter has loved her first semester at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. My 16 yo has loved her junior year so far in a homeschool charter near us, and I’ve homeschooled my youngest (6th grade). It’s all flown by so fast that I can hardly believe it. As I write this, I’m sitting in our living room next to the Christmas tree, reflecting on 2021, God’s grace, and praying for a peaceful and safe 2022. Thankful for you sharing glimpses of your life with us 💕🙏. Merry Christmas 🎄
I’m new to your podcast but have enjoyed it a lot! Also, I LOVE your Christmas tree! So fun!
I am currently with my sisters, niece and mother. We take my Mom
Somewhere every Christmas season to see something Christmasy. It is our time to show her how much we love her and give her our time and laughter. Some years we go big (New York) some years small (French lick, IN). Regardless it’s a way we show her she is special. She is 80 this year. We have had health scares the last two years with her. We don’t want to miss a special moment.
Change. I’ve been thinking about change a lot lately. We are in a remodel stage – fully gutting a 1895 farmhouse and it’s a slow expensive process. My small ones are growing (oldest of 4 just turned 13)… And now I feel as if I need something for me that will benefit us all. But it’s hard to know what that is…. We live rural with little option for work so I am limited but am trying to get creative. ❤️ I’m not overly worried or concerned God always seems to provide in just the perfect timing but I just wonder…. Really appreciate all your blog posts. Thank you for your thoughts.
I love your home – the dining room table is beautiful!! I love reading your blog and glad to see you had a wonderful year. Looking forward to your blog and podcasts in 2022!