New Beginnings Women's Help Center

12/30/2025

When we look back at 2025, it is called a review. We can evaluate the past year to see if there have been any changes as well as if any changes still need to be made. If you journal, then it is easier to look back on the year to see what challenging circumstances you have experienced. Each year, I choose one word to focus my entire year on. 2025 was the word strengthen. Now I thought that word might bring me circumstances that would require strengthening, which was a little intimidating but challenging as well. Each year, I go through a journaling process asking questions like: How has your one word helped you grow this year. You can find a review on Facebook's My One Word. This is the 10th year I will be looking for my one word for 2026. Ask yourself: What is one thing that I would like to grow more in 2026? Take your time as words come to you and ponder them before choosing. It takes me several weeks to settle on one. Once you have chosen a word, then the creativity is endless. I like to look for a scripture with my one word in it as well as quotes on the word to make a picture frame vision board to hang up in my office. There I can read over and over what the word I am focusing on. Then as 2026 goes by, I am looking through the lens of my word. This past year, I have needed strengthening due to many life changes with loved ones and serving at the Women's Help Center. I can look back and see the times I needed strengthening and note how it came. Take 2026 and chose one word. Then watch, learn, and grow.

12/26/2025

During the year it is a tradition to celebrate someone's birthday. When I was younger, my family would bake a cake and decorate it for Christmas day. I remember asking "whose birthday are we celebrating?" My parents would say, "Why it's baby Jesus's birthday." I always wondered why Jesus never blew out his candles on the cake. Fast forwarding to adulthood, we bought a little Tikes Nativity set so little hands could play with each figure as we talked about the Christmas story. As they got older, I carried on this tradition for my children by leaving the baby Jesus out of our porcelain Nativity set until Christmas day. Then on Christmas day, we read the Christmas story to them. Now that my children are grown adults, they still talk about those memories of the Nativity set and the Christmas story. What family traditions do you have for Christmas. Comment below.

12/25/2025

https://youtu.be/Aw3dkj6GoBY?si=TscLDV_rFYU1Y4Pl

Official Lyric Video for “Christmas Hits Different” by TobyMac feat. Tasha LaytonStream & Download here: https://TobyMac.lnk.to/ChristmasHitsDifferentVDSubsc...

12/25/2025

People out in the street singing Christmas carols as they walk door to door in the snow. Others are humming right along with them. Gathering in restaurant of families celebrating with laughter and joy. Ever thought seeing this, "Bah, Humbug!" How can anyone have such merriment when all you feel is left out, sad, and angry about it. Don't let your inner grinch steal Christmas this year. The real joy of Christmas isn't in the presents. It is in the heart and soul of each person. Take a minute and think back at Christmas past to one thing that brought warmth and joy inside. If you are unable to recall such a moment, then find a Cindy Lu Who. A Cindy Lu Who is someone that oozes with love, joy, and peace. She will certainly share her enthusiasm and kindness without being asked. Even a grinch has a heart hidden beneath life's hurts. If you are a Cindy Lu Who, then find that special grinch and include them in your festivities. There needs to be room in our hearts for each other regardless of how much joy it holds.

12/23/2025

As a child, anticipation for an exciting event like Christmas can be contagious. Children will open gifts put under the tree without even asking if they can due to their excitement. They will ask "Is it time to open the presents yet?" over and over. If you have woken up to a little face of a child perched within inches of your face, you have experienced anticipation. They are bound and determined to reach their goal of opening presents. Do you still have that kind of anticipation about your life? What if you knew that this year, Christmas would be filled with many blessings and joy? I have had years like this, and then other years have been filled with dread. Those years of dread were due to many reasons like grief, loss, and difficulties. The things that pulled me through those years were to let others plan, cook, and buy gifts. As well as, limiting my time and expectations for myself. There will be years that you will struggle but remember that anticipation of Christmas will change as we grow up. Let's not be too hard on those who are not filled with excitement and anticipation for Christmas. Just because we are struggling doesn't mean others have to hide their excitement/anticipation. Let's all anticipate making room for both this Christmas. We need one another more during this time of year.

12/19/2025

The clock is ticking down the minutes until Christmas. Only 5 more days to go. The final rush to buy the food, gifts, and wrapping paper is happening. This is the time that many can experience the feeling of stress, sadness, and frustration. Which every feeling that this holiday stirs up in your heart, don't ignore it. Instead, ask yourself questions to dig deeper into that feeling. If you are sad, ask yourself who, what, and why am I having this feeling. Then listen for your heart to respond to your mind the answer. Feelings will surface long before our minds register the reason. Many times, we find ourselves frustrated and we don't know why. Every day becomes a struggle to manage leaving us overwhelmed and exhausted. Difficulties rise up and we become unsettled. Let's not keep listening to the clock ticking and start connecting the dots between the feeling and reason. It's time to live our lives connected with peace.

12/19/2025

We all have wishes especially for the Christmas season. We wish for a present from a Christmas wish list. We wish for peace and love during holiday celebrations. We even wish that our loved ones who have passed could come back for just one day with us. The longing for your family to be together during this season is very strong. What do we do with a wish that doesn't come true? If we spend the entire holiday season only focused on that one unfulfilled wish, we can miss the many present people right in front of us. One helpful way to broaden our focus is to look for someone we can bless. The next time you go out to eat, look for a full table of diners and pay for their meal. Maybe the waiter or waitress needs a little blessing. If we open our view to those around us, we become the answer to others wishes this holiday. Do something in memory of your loved one and bless others this Christmas.

12/13/2025

When we go to buy a gift for someone, most of the time there is thoughts about what others would like to receive. There can be a list, which is helpful, but we still have to go through the hunting, buying, and wrapping the gift. It takes time to do this for another. Some of us would rather give then receive gifts. We can get so wrapped up with finding the perfect gift for others that an internal stress rises. This stress can take away joy and give exhaustion. Have you ever thought about giving to yourself a gift? For instance, the gift of time, relaxation, and doing things one enjoys are all important gifts to give yourself. Some may think this is being selfish or self-centered. Actually, this depends more on internal motivation, which we cannot see in others. We are the only ones that know what kind of gift is the most encouraging and helpful to give ourselves. Just remember that gift giving is not just for others, we need to put our names on the list. The most important question we can ask is, "What do I need in this very moment?" We can all give an internal gift to self. Give it a try.

12/11/2025

We make all kinds of lists, especially at Christmas time. As children, we made our list in a letter to Santa each year. Now as an adult, we have our list of gifts to buy, food to make, cards to send, and more. This time of the season can start to feel fragmented as we scurry around trying to check things off our lists. Everything seems to be vying for attention. We have lost the exciting anticipation of Christmas day. Take a moment to mentally check in with what is on your to do list. Do you have things on your list that bring peace and joy? Are there things that help you to be present in the moment? Having these things on the list will help to brighten the moments. When we make time to sit and reflect inward, our awareness becomes crystal clear. This season, take time to add things on your list that will be supportive during this busy time. You are the one who will benefit the most. We all need to be our own Santa to bring internal gifts to ourselves. Give it a try. Comment below what you did.

12/09/2025

Children can look with wonder and excitement about the future. They are the ones to continually ask, "Are we there yet?" when traveling to grandma and grandpa's house. Children get so excited when they think about Christmas. Many of us as adults have lost that sense of excitement about the future. Circumstances in life can bring grief, pain, and heartache that changes the outlook. Maybe this Christmas season is the time to recapture hope. First, we must change our perspective from discouraging thoughts about our lives to something different. Then try to pick one simple thing to focus your attention into the future. If a child can focus on Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree, we can certainly focus on one thing. What comes easily to a child needs to be carried with us as adults. So, finish this sentence: The one thing I'm focusing on for 2026 is __________? This can be an encouraging word, event, walks in nature and more. Comment below what you will be focusing on this holiday season.

12/05/2025

The glow of persistent lights has a calming effect on our minds. Just try to sit and stare at chasing or blinking lights for a few minutes and see how you feel. It can cause nausea, migraine, or feeling overwhelmed. During the holidays, we can feel like our circumstances are causing our minds to short circuit and blink rapidly. In order to have persistent lights, we need to make sure we are plugged into a power source. Some find that their power source is found in the birth of Jesus at Christmas time. His birth brings peace and hope into the thought life. Our lives can then glow peace and hope outward. If your life feels like the lights are dimming or going to go out, try looking for those whose lights are persistent in glowing peace and hope. They can help light the way when it seems dark. May we all be a persistent light of peace and hope to everyone around us. This little light on mine, I'm going to let it persistently shine.

12/04/2025

https://youtu.be/PkdkiuJgqxk?si=D5drZV_jZzzB4Tdy

Music video by Danny Gokey performing Tell Your Heart to Beat Again. 2016 BMG Rights Managementhttp://www.vevo.com/watch/QM4TM1600001