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A Christmas Gift Exchange Game!

A few years ago my mom used this game at a Christmas party with our family.

SO.  MUCH.  FUN.

I loved it so much I shared it at a few speaking engagements that year and everyone went crazy for it.  It’s become quite popular (there are even versions out there on the Internet for bridal and baby showers), but if you haven’t heard of it and you happen to be in charge of a party’s gift exchange, this is the perfect game for you!

Here’s the scoop – Someone reads the story below.  Every time the word RIGHT is read, everybody passes his/her gift to the right.  Every time the word LEFT is read, everybody passes his/her gift to the left.  When the word ACROSS is read, pass the gift to the person across from you.  The gift each person is holding when the story ends is the gift he/she keeps.

Even if you aren’t going to a party with a gift exchange, why not wrap up a few candy bars as the gifts and play this game around the dinner table tonight??

Everyone will love it!

Have fun!

Christmas With the Right Family

Christmas was almost here and Mother RIGHT was in the kitchen finishing the Christmas baking as Sue RIGHT was ACROSS the room decorating cookies.

Father RIGHT and Billy RIGHT returned from their last minute Christmas errands ACROSS town at the mall.

“There’s not much LEFT to be done,” said Father RIGHT as he walked ACROSS the kitchen to eat one of Sue’s cookies.

“Did you leave the basket of food at the church ACROSS town with A CROSS on top?” asked Mother RIGHT.

“I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to,” said Father RIGHT.

Bill RIGHT walked ACROSS the room to get a cookie too, “I’m glad my shopping is done,” he said, “I don’t have any money LEFT.”

“And pretty soon there won’t be any cookies LEFT!” Sue said laughing.

The hall telephone rang and Sue RIGHT LEFT to answer it.

She rushed back and told the family, “Aunt Tillie RIGHT LEFT a package for us RIGHT on Grandma RIGHT‘s porch!  I’ll go over there RIGHT now and get it!” she said and LEFT in a rush to go ACROSS the street to Grandma RIGHT‘s house.

Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree and set it up ACROSS from the fireplace.

By the time Sue RIGHT had returned, Mother RIGHT, Father RIGHT and Billy RIGHT were trimming the tree.

The entire RIGHT family sang Christmas carols while they decorated.  Then they hung A CROSS on the top branch.

They LEFT all the presents under the tree and went ACROSS the room to admire the twinkling lights.

As they drifted off to sleep that night, the RIGHT family hoped that they had selected all the RIGHT presents for their family.

Now I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself, because that’s all that is LEFT of our story!

Except to wish you a Merry Christmas… isn’t that RIGHT??

**You can click HERE for a printable version of this great game.**

If you loved this, don’t forget to ‘like’ Happy Home Fairy on Facebook HERE to stay up-to-date on more family fun and encouragement for moms.

Merry Christmas With the Right Family-ing! 🙂

*I also found a version of the Left/Right Game that uses the Christmas story from the Bible.  It’s quite amazing and a fun way to read the story of Jesus’ birth with your Happy Homes.  Check it out HERE!*

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22 Comments

About Happy Home Fairy

Julie Brasington is a Preschool Director, wife of a South Florida Worship Pastor and mom of 3 boys. She writes at Happy Home Fairy where you can find easy craft ideas, FREE printables, simple recipes, holiday fun, thoughts on raising kids, and encouragement for moms.

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Reader Interactions

22 Comments

  1. becky

    December 11, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    This is a fun game! When I was a Thirty-One consultant we played a version of this at my parties!

    to becky" aria-label="reply to this comment to becky">reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      December 11, 2010 at 3:44 pm

      What is Thirty-One?????? Sounds exciting! I’ll bet you were great at it! Thanks for stopping by!

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label="reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy">reply to this comment
      • Amanda Boggs

        February 11, 2012 at 10:30 am

        You can check out Thirty-One at my website below Happy Home Fairy. We sell great bags, purses, stationary, wallets, etc…

        http://www.mythirtyone.com/amanda_31gifts/

        to Amanda Boggs" aria-label="reply to this comment to Amanda Boggs">reply to this comment
  2. Jennifer T in Tennessee

    December 29, 2011 at 9:46 am

    I tried this game with my family this past Christmas. I purchased about 25 tubes of candy from our local Walmart (at 98 cents each — they doubled as a bank when candy’s gone): Tootsie Rolls, bubblegum, gummy bears, M&Ms, Reeces Pieces, etc., put them in brown lunch sacks (instead of the more expensive Christmas bags), and topped them with red/green/white tissue paper. Each player got a bag; it was a GREAT ice-breaker for all ages, and didn’t cost a fortune for me. 🙂
    Thanks for the cute idea!

    to Jennifer T in Tennessee" aria-label="reply to this comment to Jennifer T in Tennessee">reply to this comment
    • Deb Cox

      October 13, 2012 at 5:35 pm

      Played this game at our family Christmas gathering last Christmas and it was a big hit. I just bought a bunch of inexpensive gifts and wrapped them. Everyone picked one out of box at beginning then the story was read. Everyone had fun passing the gifts around and across the room.

      to Deb Cox" aria-label="reply to this comment to Deb Cox">reply to this comment
  3. Roxanne

    October 29, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    I have seen this done while readings”the Night Before Christmas” and the gifts were passed each time the word THE was said…….ending with “The END!!!”

    to Roxanne" aria-label="reply to this comment to Roxanne">reply to this comment
  4. Gail Hawkins

    November 7, 2012 at 10:02 am

    do you have a printable version?

    to Gail Hawkins" aria-label="reply to this comment to Gail Hawkins">reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      November 7, 2012 at 10:43 am

      Just copied it into a word document… it is now available on the post! Thanks for stopping by!

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label="reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy">reply to this comment
  5. Kirsten Miller

    November 24, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    I’ve played this game when reading The Three Trees, switching hands each time you hear the word tree in the story. It’s a very meaningful story about Christ and each tree that played a significant role in the creation to crucifiction story, and it’s a Christmas story to boot! 🙂

    to Kirsten Miller" aria-label="reply to this comment to Kirsten Miller">reply to this comment
    • Lisa

      November 14, 2013 at 8:53 pm

      I have a question. I have never played this game before, and I am hosting a ornament exchange party soon and want to play this game with the ornaments.. Do I have the guests put all the wrapped ornaments in a pile and they randomly choose a gift, or do they start with the gift they brought?

      to Lisa" aria-label="reply to this comment to Lisa">reply to this comment
  6. Sue

    November 21, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Hello, I’m new to this game too but would love to take the idea to our large family gathering. If each person brings a small gift how does it work when we’re all in a circle when the word “ACROSS” is read? Does everyone hand their gifts across to someone else? I get the Left, Right piece…just find the across a bit confusing. If there is an uneven number of people? there may not be a person across from everyone…

    to Sue" aria-label="reply to this comment to Sue">reply to this comment
  7. Kelly

    December 17, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    Going to try this exchange game tomorrow night. It sounds like fun!

    to Kelly" aria-label="reply to this comment to Kelly">reply to this comment
  8. Wendy Foot

    December 26, 2014 at 7:32 am

    I wanted to have some fun games yesterday (Christmas day) with my family… ? I chose this game for our Christmas table. This presents weren’t brilliant (I bought fun coasters and placemats ) but fun. My family rolled their eyes when at the end of the meal I said I wanted to play a game… And then I began… and the hilarity started!!! It was SO much fun! Everyone was in fits of laughter and although the gifts weren’t expensive they went down a treat!!
    Thank you for sharing this game!! It was a total hit!!!??

    to Wendy Foot" aria-label="reply to this comment to Wendy Foot">reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      December 26, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Wendy! That makes me SO Happy! Thank you for letting me know!

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label="reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy">reply to this comment
  9. HelenGrace Dela Pena

    November 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    tried this kind of gift exchange and it was sooooo fun! I prepared a story with LEFT and RIGHT words and my relatives enjoyed much this style, especially looking at each faces awaiting to hear the left and right words. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

    to HelenGrace Dela Pena" aria-label="reply to this comment to HelenGrace Dela Pena">reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      December 1, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you so much!

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label="reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy">reply to this comment
  10. Pam

    December 13, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    Played this game last night at our company Christmas Party —- Some of the guys were not that impressed when I said game. But they were the ones that where having a great time. After the story we the presents were numbered and opened in order and could be exchanged with other presents like a regular white elephant gift exchange. That made it really fun too!!!

    to Pam" aria-label="reply to this comment to Pam">reply to this comment
  11. Sabrina

    December 15, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Love this! We’ll be using it for a gift exchange for our MOPS group. Thank you!

    to Sabrina" aria-label="reply to this comment to Sabrina">reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      December 15, 2015 at 8:50 pm

      Yay! Sabrina, have fun! 🙂

      to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label="reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy">reply to this comment
  12. Gina

    November 20, 2017 at 9:30 am

    It doesn’t really matter of it goes exactly across. The fun is in the confusion of getting up and exchanging it with anyone who is,across from them.

    to Gina" aria-label="reply to this comment to Gina">reply to this comment
  13. Mary Simpson

    January 1, 2020 at 10:57 am

    This sounds like so much fun. Question ,… when do you open the gifts? Before story? After story? I get the left, right and across, but confused as to how the gifts are opened. Thanks. Lot of great ideas out here!!

    to Mary Simpson" aria-label="reply to this comment to Mary Simpson">reply to this comment
  14. Robin

    November 17, 2020 at 6:13 am

    I’ve done the right left game for man y years now. The way I play it is, I began reading the story and as I say the word right, people begin passing the gifts to the right you don’t stop until you hear the word left then you stop and start passing the gifts to the left what makes this hilarious is that when you say right and left two times in a row people get confused and start passing to the left some passing to the right and now they’re laughing hysterically I’m laughing hysterically to the point where it’s hard to read the poem! So much more fun than just passing it once! Also you cannot tell what you’re going to end up with! Because the gifts are being passed around so much you can’t tell who’s going to get what!

    to Robin" aria-label="reply to this comment to Robin">reply to this comment

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Loving God Loving Others and Having Fun

Hey there! My name is Julie, the Happy Home Fairy. I am married to a Worship Pastor, we have 3 boys, and I am a Preschool Director. I love sharing easy, fun ideas to help moms build a happy home! Here you will find simple crafts, FREE Printables, yummy recipes, stories about my journey to trust Jesus with my family, and encouragement for your mama's heart. You can read more about me HERE!

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I like to make people happy.✨ Author of #thekindnessantennae 🎉 💛Psalm 28:7💛
  • I don’t always share my fries when they ask. It’s been a long time since I’ve stuck a note in their lunch boxes. I handed over a load of stinky laundry that I let sit too long before moving to the dryer for them to put away because I didn’t have the energy to rewash it. I am not the best listener when I am stressed. I sometimes cry in front of them listening to worship on the way to work because I’m desperate and needy. I fuss about the level of mess in the house almost daily. 

I am not a perfect mom. Most days I’m tired and feel like I am failing. 

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

If I had to stand on one thing in motherhood it would be that I am certainly not enough, but Jesus is.  He is filling in every gap. He is meeting every need I don’t. He is working and moving in spite of me. Praise God for that amazing grace! And He loves that I keep showing up and needing Him. He loves that I seek His face always. Even when I’m being fussy and wrestling with the parts of me that are selfish and wanting.

Because God is my shepherd - I won’t be wanting. I won’t be wanting to have the perfect home or perfect circumstances. May the Lord find me wanting and hungry for more of Him in my mothering. I hope they will see that hunger more than my hunger for fries. And I pray they will learn to hunger for Him, too. 

**Only He can satisfy.**

Happy Mother’s Day, dear ones! God is enough for you! 💝
  • ✝️💐HAPPY EASTER💐✝️

Easter 2025 Thoughts >>

Been off of social media for Lent and it’s been amazing. Never underestimate the power of a good fast. There is fullness of the Lord to be had! 🙌🏻

This morning we woke up early for Easter service rehearsal. But one kiddo wouldn’t get out of bed, one kiddo was crying about having to wear a collared shirt, one experimented with some Easter basket goodies in the bathroom without my knowledge and there was a strange purple substance all over everything just as we really needed to get out the door, and one was dealing with an upset stomach the whole drive to church.

Meanwhile I’m yelling at everyone to JUST BE HAPPY BECAUSE JESUS IS RISEN!!!!!

I wish it hadn’t taken me this long in motherhood to learn that the chaos and mess and poop emergencies are the real stuff of life. You can wallow in the badness of it all on such a special morning, or you can remember that all the crazy is really why He came to do what He did. To offer PEACE in the chaos, JOY in the mess, a steady heart when someone’s about to have an accident in the car in their Easter outfit (that they hate anyways). 

Joy comes in the morning, friends, and joy comes in the MOMENT. He died and rose again to make sure of it.

God bless you! ✝️💐🙌🏻😁
  • Woohoo! 🥳 The kids are at Grammie’s and we went to a wedding! Got to get dressed up, see Ryan rock it as the “professional officiant” (this is what the wedding coordinator called him), eat a free steak, and even dance a little! 💃🏼🪩

My favorite thing that Ryan said during the ceremony was that God made Adam wait for Eve. He paraded all the Mr. and Mrs. animals in front of him long enough until Adam’s longing matched God’s good gift. The timing was then right, Adam was ready to fully appreciate and treasure his Mrs. “Man”.

To be honest, I almost didn’t attend the wedding with Ryan! I wasn’t feeling great and the idea of being home without kids all day to catch up on cleaning and laundry was pretty appealing. But the little nudge in me said DO NOT MISS THIS. I wanted to hear Ryan’s message and watch him lead this precious couple’s ceremony. I knew it was important to him that I be there. So because I treasure him, I went.

And I wasn’t the only one treasuring today! Ryan thanked me for coming with him, he danced with me even though I knew he would rather die than be on the dance floor, and he let me run into the store on the way home to end the day with some chocolate.

So here’s to treasuring one another - looking first to your spouse’s interests before your own, being their biggest fan, and telling them they look super hot in the fancy suit.

I mean, after all, he is a professional. 😁
  • 🥳This is 42!!!🥳 I got to sleep in, workout, take a shower, AND go grocery shopping alone all in this one day! It’s like the planets aligned! Oh wait - they actually did today! 😂✨🙌🏻

Grateful for a precious village of friends and family (that’s you all) who remind me of what’s right and true on this journey of obedience to Jesus. One doesn’t have to sleep in, workout or have a deliciously absurd amount of sweet potato fries 🙋🏻‍♀️🙈 for dinner to live life to the fullest in Christ. He is enough and He is good and I’m so thankful for another year to serve Him!

God loves you! 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙

“I will bless the  Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the  Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. ”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎁🦄🧚‍♀️✨
  • When you’re in the middle of wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve and spike a fever and suddenly you’re feeling the worst you have felt in years and you can’t get out of bed to go to all of the family Christmas celebrations…

<<< Swipe left <<<

So your mom shows up on your doorstep to bring the celebration to you. 🎄😂

Merry Christmas from the Brasington family! ❤️💚❤️💚
  • Last week we came home after being stuck in traffic for over an hour to a mailbox full of bills, no plans for dinner, complaining kiddos, I ended up not being able to do something I really needed to get done, and everyone was on the verge of getting sick.

I went to the back of the house to take a deep breath as things were getting especially tense, and that’s when I heard the sound of glass breaking.

Zion came running back to me holding the pieces of a beloved ornament. He was crying. He had been playing football in the house.

I wish I could tell you I responded with grace and a warm comment like, “Things don’t matter, people do.”

But I did not! I actually ordered myself to just go straight to bed.

Then in the middle of the night, I sensed the Spirit of God wake me up with that image of Zion, crying and holding the broken ornament pieces.

The thought came to me that don’t we all walk around carrying our own broken ornament pieces?

Maybe it’s not a literal broken ornament, but we all carry difficulties like a stressful day at work, fear for our children’s well being, estranged relationships, anxiety about current affairs, etc. We all experience hard things and act sinfully. We walk around with our ornament pieces looking for someone to fix what is broken.

The whole reason Jesus came on Christmas was to do just that. He, himself, experienced every kind of brokenness this world can offer and yet responded perfectly, showing us the better way of faith, hope, and love. He came to be the refuge from our fears, the long suffering, forgiving love in our relationships, the lifter of our burdens, the steady calm when it’s Christmas Eve and everyone has fevers and you haven’t wrapped one gift yet. 🙋🏻‍♀️

We can take our broken ornaments to Him and find complete restoration because He came on Christmas.

So there I was, in the middle of the night, receiving this word, and knowing I needed to reconcile with Zion. I needed to reassure him that the broken things would not be held against him... because of Jesus.

I held my sleeping child in the dark and whispered the words of a precious liturgy by @justinwhitmelearley …

(Continued in comments…)
  • Today I did something that has been on my Bucket List for years! 😅

I cooked a turkey! 🦃 And it was a 20 lb-er to boot! 

Isn’t it funny how the things that scare us the most typically end up being not that bad? I confess that the amount of overthinking I did about cooking a turkey almost kept me from ever doing the thing! I mean, there are a lot of ways to cook a turkey. And don’t get me started on the gravy! 😵‍💫

But then God sent me a few friends and a sweet mama - all who were there for me even in the early morning hours of searching for giblets (no, I never did find them) and trying to figure out if I did the cheesecloth right. They let me borrow their roasters and fat separators and consistently cheered “You got this!” in my ears. I also surrendered that bird to Jesus and He was faithful to see me through.

Often you have to narrow down the voices and fix your eyes on Jesus to find your victory. Then our great fears can become great adventures. 🙌🏻

So today I am thankful for God’s presence to strengthen and comfort in hard things! And I am thankful for His people who are willing to love me through the hard things! This is God’s best - His perfect design for us includes trusting Him and enjoying His many benefits through the faithful love of others. 

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Happy Home Fairy friends! Thank you for being a great benefit to my family and to me! I adore you all!

🧡🦃🧡🦃🧡

Psalm 107:8-9
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
  • Who can you message right now and thank for being an example of God’s goodness in your life?

“Return to your rest my soul. For the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7

🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁

#thekindnessantennae #kindness #bekind #godisgood #thegoodnessofgod
  • Today is Obi’s 3rd birthday and we couldn’t be more thankful! The transition to having a dog almost sent me to heaven and I think it’s taken me this long to finally accept that the floors and basically everything will never be clean again, but this dog has changed our family for the better. 

🐶He is always happy to see us. 
🐾He is a tremendous comfort to Ryan. 
🦴He knows when one of us is sad and he looks for ways to make it better. 
🐶He loves to be chased around the coffee table. 
🐾He can destroy literally any dog toy we give him. 
🦴He jumps on us when we get home from school and it’s the best thing ever.
🐶I thought getting a dog meant he would eat anything and everything, but he is exactly like my children. Will eat any meat, will not touch veggies. Also I have never been more stressed than when we have grapes in the house.
🐾But you should know his most favorite thing to eat is tissues. Any tissue he can find. Especially the used ones straight outta the garbage.
🦴He gets so proud when he catches iguanas in the back yard. We feel pretty good about it, too. 😜😣
🐶He is the perfect dog for us!

We love you, Obadiah Jude! 🥳

#goldendoodle #goldendoodlef1b #dogsofinstagram #doglover #happybirthdaydog
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I don’t always share my fries when they ask. It’s been a long time since I’ve stuck a note in their lunch boxes. I handed over a load of stinky laundry that I let sit too long before moving to the dryer for them to put away because I didn’t have the energy to rewash it. I am not the best listener when I am stressed. I sometimes cry in front of them listening to worship on the way to work because I’m desperate and needy. I fuss about the level of mess in the house almost daily. 

I am not a perfect mom. Most days I’m tired and feel like I am failing. 

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

If I had to stand on one thing in motherhood it would be that I am certainly not enough, but Jesus is.  He is filling in every gap. He is meeting every need I don’t. He is working and moving in spite of me. Praise God for that amazing grace! And He loves that I keep showing up and needing Him. He loves that I seek His face always. Even when I’m being fussy and wrestling with the parts of me that are selfish and wanting.

Because God is my shepherd - I won’t be wanting. I won’t be wanting to have the perfect home or perfect circumstances. May the Lord find me wanting and hungry for more of Him in my mothering. I hope they will see that hunger more than my hunger for fries. And I pray they will learn to hunger for Him, too. 

**Only He can satisfy.**

Happy Mother’s Day, dear ones! God is enough for you! 💝
@happyhomefairy
@happyhomefairy
•
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I don’t always share my fries when they ask. It’s been a long time since I’ve stuck a note in their lunch boxes. I handed over a load of stinky laundry that I let sit too long before moving to the dryer for them to put away because I didn’t have the energy to rewash it. I am not the best listener when I am stressed. I sometimes cry in front of them listening to worship on the way to work because I’m desperate and needy. I fuss about the level of mess in the house almost daily. I am not a perfect mom. Most days I’m tired and feel like I am failing. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! If I had to stand on one thing in motherhood it would be that I am certainly not enough, but Jesus is. He is filling in every gap. He is meeting every need I don’t. He is working and moving in spite of me. Praise God for that amazing grace! And He loves that I keep showing up and needing Him. He loves that I seek His face always. Even when I’m being fussy and wrestling with the parts of me that are selfish and wanting. Because God is my shepherd - I won’t be wanting. I won’t be wanting to have the perfect home or perfect circumstances. May the Lord find me wanting and hungry for more of Him in my mothering. I hope they will see that hunger more than my hunger for fries. And I pray they will learn to hunger for Him, too. **Only He can satisfy.** Happy Mother’s Day, dear ones! God is enough for you! 💝
3 weeks ago
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1/9
✝️💐HAPPY EASTER💐✝️

Easter 2025 Thoughts >>

Been off of social media for Lent and it’s been amazing. Never underestimate the power of a good fast. There is fullness of the Lord to be had! 🙌🏻

This morning we woke up early for Easter service rehearsal. But one kiddo wouldn’t get out of bed, one kiddo was crying about having to wear a collared shirt, one experimented with some Easter basket goodies in the bathroom without my knowledge and there was a strange purple substance all over everything just as we really needed to get out the door, and one was dealing with an upset stomach the whole drive to church.

Meanwhile I’m yelling at everyone to JUST BE HAPPY BECAUSE JESUS IS RISEN!!!!!

I wish it hadn’t taken me this long in motherhood to learn that the chaos and mess and poop emergencies are the real stuff of life. You can wallow in the badness of it all on such a special morning, or you can remember that all the crazy is really why He came to do what He did. To offer PEACE in the chaos, JOY in the mess, a steady heart when someone’s about to have an accident in the car in their Easter outfit (that they hate anyways). 

Joy comes in the morning, friends, and joy comes in the MOMENT. He died and rose again to make sure of it.

God bless you! ✝️💐🙌🏻😁
@happyhomefairy
@happyhomefairy
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✝️💐HAPPY EASTER💐✝️ Easter 2025 Thoughts >> Been off of social media for Lent and it’s been amazing. Never underestimate the power of a good fast. There is fullness of the Lord to be had! 🙌🏻 This morning we woke up early for Easter service rehearsal. But one kiddo wouldn’t get out of bed, one kiddo was crying about having to wear a collared shirt, one experimented with some Easter basket goodies in the bathroom without my knowledge and there was a strange purple substance all over everything just as we really needed to get out the door, and one was dealing with an upset stomach the whole drive to church. Meanwhile I’m yelling at everyone to JUST BE HAPPY BECAUSE JESUS IS RISEN!!!!! I wish it hadn’t taken me this long in motherhood to learn that the chaos and mess and poop emergencies are the real stuff of life. You can wallow in the badness of it all on such a special morning, or you can remember that all the crazy is really why He came to do what He did. To offer PEACE in the chaos, JOY in the mess, a steady heart when someone’s about to have an accident in the car in their Easter outfit (that they hate anyways). Joy comes in the morning, friends, and joy comes in the MOMENT. He died and rose again to make sure of it. God bless you! ✝️💐🙌🏻😁
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Woohoo! 🥳 The kids are at Grammie’s and we went to a wedding! Got to get dressed up, see Ryan rock it as the “professional officiant” (this is what the wedding coordinator called him), eat a free steak, and even dance a little! 💃🏼🪩

My favorite thing that Ryan said during the ceremony was that God made Adam wait for Eve. He paraded all the Mr. and Mrs. animals in front of him long enough until Adam’s longing matched God’s good gift. The timing was then right, Adam was ready to fully appreciate and treasure his Mrs. “Man”.

To be honest, I almost didn’t attend the wedding with Ryan! I wasn’t feeling great and the idea of being home without kids all day to catch up on cleaning and laundry was pretty appealing. But the little nudge in me said DO NOT MISS THIS. I wanted to hear Ryan’s message and watch him lead this precious couple’s ceremony. I knew it was important to him that I be there. So because I treasure him, I went.

And I wasn’t the only one treasuring today! Ryan thanked me for coming with him, he danced with me even though I knew he would rather die than be on the dance floor, and he let me run into the store on the way home to end the day with some chocolate.

So here’s to treasuring one another - looking first to your spouse’s interests before your own, being their biggest fan, and telling them they look super hot in the fancy suit.

I mean, after all, he is a professional. 😁
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Woohoo! 🥳 The kids are at Grammie’s and we went to a wedding! Got to get dressed up, see Ryan rock it as the “professional officiant” (this is what the wedding coordinator called him), eat a free steak, and even dance a little! 💃🏼🪩 My favorite thing that Ryan said during the ceremony was that God made Adam wait for Eve. He paraded all the Mr. and Mrs. animals in front of him long enough until Adam’s longing matched God’s good gift. The timing was then right, Adam was ready to fully appreciate and treasure his Mrs. “Man”. To be honest, I almost didn’t attend the wedding with Ryan! I wasn’t feeling great and the idea of being home without kids all day to catch up on cleaning and laundry was pretty appealing. But the little nudge in me said DO NOT MISS THIS. I wanted to hear Ryan’s message and watch him lead this precious couple’s ceremony. I knew it was important to him that I be there. So because I treasure him, I went. And I wasn’t the only one treasuring today! Ryan thanked me for coming with him, he danced with me even though I knew he would rather die than be on the dance floor, and he let me run into the store on the way home to end the day with some chocolate. So here’s to treasuring one another - looking first to your spouse’s interests before your own, being their biggest fan, and telling them they look super hot in the fancy suit. I mean, after all, he is a professional. 😁
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
🥳This is 42!!!🥳 I got to sleep in, workout, take a shower, AND go grocery shopping alone all in this one day! It’s like the planets aligned! Oh wait - they actually did today! 😂✨🙌🏻

Grateful for a precious village of friends and family (that’s you all) who remind me of what’s right and true on this journey of obedience to Jesus. One doesn’t have to sleep in, workout or have a deliciously absurd amount of sweet potato fries 🙋🏻‍♀️🙈 for dinner to live life to the fullest in Christ. He is enough and He is good and I’m so thankful for another year to serve Him!

God loves you! 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙

“I will bless the  Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the  Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. ”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎁🦄🧚‍♀️✨
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🥳This is 42!!!🥳 I got to sleep in, workout, take a shower, AND go grocery shopping alone all in this one day! It’s like the planets aligned! Oh wait - they actually did today! 😂✨🙌🏻 Grateful for a precious village of friends and family (that’s you all) who remind me of what’s right and true on this journey of obedience to Jesus. One doesn’t have to sleep in, workout or have a deliciously absurd amount of sweet potato fries 🙋🏻‍♀️🙈 for dinner to live life to the fullest in Christ. He is enough and He is good and I’m so thankful for another year to serve Him! God loves you! 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙 “I will bless the  Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the  Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. ” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬ 🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎁🦄🧚‍♀️✨
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
When you’re in the middle of wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve and spike a fever and suddenly you’re feeling the worst you have felt in years and you can’t get out of bed to go to all of the family Christmas celebrations…

<<< Swipe left <<<

So your mom shows up on your doorstep to bring the celebration to you. 🎄😂

Merry Christmas from the Brasington family! ❤️💚❤️💚
When you’re in the middle of wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve and spike a fever and suddenly you’re feeling the worst you have felt in years and you can’t get out of bed to go to all of the family Christmas celebrations…

<<< Swipe left <<<

So your mom shows up on your doorstep to bring the celebration to you. 🎄😂

Merry Christmas from the Brasington family! ❤️💚❤️💚
@happyhomefairy
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When you’re in the middle of wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve and spike a fever and suddenly you’re feeling the worst you have felt in years and you can’t get out of bed to go to all of the family Christmas celebrations… <<< Swipe left <<< So your mom shows up on your doorstep to bring the celebration to you. 🎄😂 Merry Christmas from the Brasington family! ❤️💚❤️💚
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
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Last week we came home after being stuck in traffic for over an hour to a mailbox full of bills, no plans for dinner, complaining kiddos, I ended up not being able to do something I really needed to get done, and everyone was on the verge of getting sick. I went to the back of the house to take a deep breath as things were getting especially tense, and that’s when I heard the sound of glass breaking. Zion came running back to me holding the pieces of a beloved ornament. He was crying. He had been playing football in the house. I wish I could tell you I responded with grace and a warm comment like, “Things don’t matter, people do.” But I did not! I actually ordered myself to just go straight to bed. Then in the middle of the night, I sensed the Spirit of God wake me up with that image of Zion, crying and holding the broken ornament pieces. The thought came to me that don’t we all walk around carrying our own broken ornament pieces? Maybe it’s not a literal broken ornament, but we all carry difficulties like a stressful day at work, fear for our children’s well being, estranged relationships, anxiety about current affairs, etc. We all experience hard things and act sinfully. We walk around with our ornament pieces looking for someone to fix what is broken. The whole reason Jesus came on Christmas was to do just that. He, himself, experienced every kind of brokenness this world can offer and yet responded perfectly, showing us the better way of faith, hope, and love. He came to be the refuge from our fears, the long suffering, forgiving love in our relationships, the lifter of our burdens, the steady calm when it’s Christmas Eve and everyone has fevers and you haven’t wrapped one gift yet. 🙋🏻‍♀️ We can take our broken ornaments to Him and find complete restoration because He came on Christmas. So there I was, in the middle of the night, receiving this word, and knowing I needed to reconcile with Zion. I needed to reassure him that the broken things would not be held against him... because of Jesus. I held my sleeping child in the dark and whispered the words of a precious liturgy by @justinwhitmelearley … (Continued in comments…)
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Today I did something that has been on my Bucket List for years! 😅

I cooked a turkey! 🦃 And it was a 20 lb-er to boot! 

Isn’t it funny how the things that scare us the most typically end up being not that bad? I confess that the amount of overthinking I did about cooking a turkey almost kept me from ever doing the thing! I mean, there are a lot of ways to cook a turkey. And don’t get me started on the gravy! 😵‍💫

But then God sent me a few friends and a sweet mama - all who were there for me even in the early morning hours of searching for giblets (no, I never did find them) and trying to figure out if I did the cheesecloth right. They let me borrow their roasters and fat separators and consistently cheered “You got this!” in my ears. I also surrendered that bird to Jesus and He was faithful to see me through.

Often you have to narrow down the voices and fix your eyes on Jesus to find your victory. Then our great fears can become great adventures. 🙌🏻

So today I am thankful for God’s presence to strengthen and comfort in hard things! And I am thankful for His people who are willing to love me through the hard things! This is God’s best - His perfect design for us includes trusting Him and enjoying His many benefits through the faithful love of others. 

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Happy Home Fairy friends! Thank you for being a great benefit to my family and to me! I adore you all!

🧡🦃🧡🦃🧡

Psalm 107:8-9
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
Today I did something that has been on my Bucket List for years! 😅

I cooked a turkey! 🦃 And it was a 20 lb-er to boot! 

Isn’t it funny how the things that scare us the most typically end up being not that bad? I confess that the amount of overthinking I did about cooking a turkey almost kept me from ever doing the thing! I mean, there are a lot of ways to cook a turkey. And don’t get me started on the gravy! 😵‍💫

But then God sent me a few friends and a sweet mama - all who were there for me even in the early morning hours of searching for giblets (no, I never did find them) and trying to figure out if I did the cheesecloth right. They let me borrow their roasters and fat separators and consistently cheered “You got this!” in my ears. I also surrendered that bird to Jesus and He was faithful to see me through.

Often you have to narrow down the voices and fix your eyes on Jesus to find your victory. Then our great fears can become great adventures. 🙌🏻

So today I am thankful for God’s presence to strengthen and comfort in hard things! And I am thankful for His people who are willing to love me through the hard things! This is God’s best - His perfect design for us includes trusting Him and enjoying His many benefits through the faithful love of others. 

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Happy Home Fairy friends! Thank you for being a great benefit to my family and to me! I adore you all!

🧡🦃🧡🦃🧡

Psalm 107:8-9
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
Today I did something that has been on my Bucket List for years! 😅

I cooked a turkey! 🦃 And it was a 20 lb-er to boot! 

Isn’t it funny how the things that scare us the most typically end up being not that bad? I confess that the amount of overthinking I did about cooking a turkey almost kept me from ever doing the thing! I mean, there are a lot of ways to cook a turkey. And don’t get me started on the gravy! 😵‍💫

But then God sent me a few friends and a sweet mama - all who were there for me even in the early morning hours of searching for giblets (no, I never did find them) and trying to figure out if I did the cheesecloth right. They let me borrow their roasters and fat separators and consistently cheered “You got this!” in my ears. I also surrendered that bird to Jesus and He was faithful to see me through.

Often you have to narrow down the voices and fix your eyes on Jesus to find your victory. Then our great fears can become great adventures. 🙌🏻

So today I am thankful for God’s presence to strengthen and comfort in hard things! And I am thankful for His people who are willing to love me through the hard things! This is God’s best - His perfect design for us includes trusting Him and enjoying His many benefits through the faithful love of others. 

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Happy Home Fairy friends! Thank you for being a great benefit to my family and to me! I adore you all!

🧡🦃🧡🦃🧡

Psalm 107:8-9
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
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Today I did something that has been on my Bucket List for years! 😅 I cooked a turkey! 🦃 And it was a 20 lb-er to boot! Isn’t it funny how the things that scare us the most typically end up being not that bad? I confess that the amount of overthinking I did about cooking a turkey almost kept me from ever doing the thing! I mean, there are a lot of ways to cook a turkey. And don’t get me started on the gravy! 😵‍💫 But then God sent me a few friends and a sweet mama - all who were there for me even in the early morning hours of searching for giblets (no, I never did find them) and trying to figure out if I did the cheesecloth right. They let me borrow their roasters and fat separators and consistently cheered “You got this!” in my ears. I also surrendered that bird to Jesus and He was faithful to see me through. Often you have to narrow down the voices and fix your eyes on Jesus to find your victory. Then our great fears can become great adventures. 🙌🏻 So today I am thankful for God’s presence to strengthen and comfort in hard things! And I am thankful for His people who are willing to love me through the hard things! This is God’s best - His perfect design for us includes trusting Him and enjoying His many benefits through the faithful love of others. Happy Thanksgiving, sweet Happy Home Fairy friends! Thank you for being a great benefit to my family and to me! I adore you all! 🧡🦃🧡🦃🧡 Psalm 107:8-9 "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."
6 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Who can you message right now and thank for being an example of God’s goodness in your life?

“Return to your rest my soul. For the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7

🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁

#thekindnessantennae #kindness #bekind #godisgood #thegoodnessofgod
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Who can you message right now and thank for being an example of God’s goodness in your life? “Return to your rest my soul. For the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7 🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁🍂🧡🍁 #thekindnessantennae #kindness #bekind #godisgood #thegoodnessofgod
6 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
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Today is Obi’s 3rd birthday and we couldn’t be more thankful! The transition to having a dog almost sent me to heaven and I think it’s taken me this long to finally accept that the floors and basically everything will never be clean again, but this dog has changed our family for the better. 🐶He is always happy to see us. 🐾He is a tremendous comfort to Ryan. 🦴He knows when one of us is sad and he looks for ways to make it better. 🐶He loves to be chased around the coffee table. 🐾He can destroy literally any dog toy we give him. 🦴He jumps on us when we get home from school and it’s the best thing ever. 🐶I thought getting a dog meant he would eat anything and everything, but he is exactly like my children. Will eat any meat, will not touch veggies. Also I have never been more stressed than when we have grapes in the house. 🐾But you should know his most favorite thing to eat is tissues. Any tissue he can find. Especially the used ones straight outta the garbage. 🦴He gets so proud when he catches iguanas in the back yard. We feel pretty good about it, too. 😜😣 🐶He is the perfect dog for us! We love you, Obadiah Jude! 🥳 #goldendoodle #goldendoodlef1b #dogsofinstagram #doglover #happybirthdaydog
7 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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