![\"Christmas](\"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Christmas-Post--e1387478189646.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf there is ever a time to let the screens go dark,
\nIt\u2019s when the twinkle lights go up.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to bury the to-do list,
\nIt\u2019s when mitten-clad hands invite you to build a snowman.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to live in a glorious mess,
\nIt\u2019s when pieces of wrapping paper cover the floor and holiday sprinkles decorate the kitchen.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to ditch the scale and embrace the curves,
\nIt\u2019s when the table is lined with beloved family recipes and \u201cOnly Love Today\u201d are the words you choose to hear.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to take pause and give a real kiss,
\nIt\u2019s when the air is brisk and mistletoe is abundant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to belt out \u201cSilent Night\u201d no matter how bad you sound,
\nIt\u2019s when your singing child looks up at you and gratitude fills your eyes.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to make amends with yourself or someone you love,
\nIt\u2019s when you can't carry the burden of resentment one more day.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to offer a warm meal, a few bucks, or a gentle touch,
\nIt\u2019s when your feet stop along a busy sidewalk and you realize, \u201cThat could be me.\u201d<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time let go of past regrets,
\nIt\u2019s when the clock strikes midnight and a new year stands before you with open arms.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to live in today,
\nIt\u2019s when you realize that the hardest part is behind you.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time to believe life can be different today than it was yesterday,
\nIt\u2019s when your daily choices begin to reflect what truly matters to you.<\/p>\n
Today let us remember the power of \u2018Just One.'<\/p>\n
One extended hand
\nOne \u201cYes, I can play\u201d
\nOne loving gaze
\nOne face-to-face conversation
\nOne \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d
\nOne \u201cI forgive you\u201d
\nOne ‘Power Off'
\nOne decision
\nOne choice
\nOne blessing
\nOne wish
\nOne prayer
\nOne possibility<\/p>\n
It starts with you and me.
\nPeace, hope, and love
\nIt starts with you and me,
\nAnd then it trickles down to those who are learning how to live by watching us live.<\/p>\n
If there was ever a time to believe things can be different,
\nIt\u2019s today. It\u2019s right now.
\nIt starts with one choice.<\/p>\n
If there was ever a time to stop managing<\/em> life and start living<\/em> life, Let us begin.<\/p>\n ***************************************<\/p>\n My friends, 2013 has been such an amazing year for this little blog. What began three years ago as a way for me to stay accountable to my Hands Free journey has become a supportive space where millions come to learn how to live less distracted and more connected. The Hands Free message could not have reached international exposure without you, The Hands Free Revolution<\/a> community. Every time you shared a post, told a friend, or emailed a story to your loved one, this little blog grew. And now there\u2019s a book<\/a> inspired by your stories and your questions that will help even more people transform their distracted lives. The book release is January 7th<\/sup>\u2014thanks to all who have already pre-ordered<\/a>!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n In January, it would bring me great joy to thank you in person. My publisher has planned a few book signings. I\u2019ve been told that if there is a good turnout at these signings, they will consider adding more. I hope you will come see me if I am in your area. I will be coming to the following cities:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n *Birmingham, Alabama <\/span><\/i><\/b> *Atlanta, Georgia: <\/span><\/i><\/b> *Indianapolis, Indiana<\/span>: TBA<\/i><\/b> Thank you for walking alongside me on this journey and supporting my writings through the purchase of my book<\/a>, the Live Hands Free bracelets and prints<\/a>, and through loving comments and emails. Your encouraging words are my lifelines!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n And now it\u2019s time to power off; my screen is going dark until January 1. See you in 2014, friends.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n * Please accept my apologies for an old post (“Taking Away My Daughter's Smile”) being emailed to those who subscribe to receive new posts. I am perplexed as to why that happened over the weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If there is ever a time to let the screens go dark, It\u2019s when the twinkle lights go up. If there is ever a time to bury the to-do list, It\u2019s when mitten-clad hands invite you to build a snowman. If there is ever a time to live in a glorious mess, It\u2019s when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[1178,832,1175,1179,1177,1176],"gutentor_comment":36,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-1xm","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5912"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5912\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nIt\u2019s today. It\u2019s right now.
\nIt starts with one choice.<\/p>\n![\"DSC_0013\"](\"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/DSC_0013-559x600.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThursday evening, January 16 <\/i><\/b>
\n@ Books-A-Million <\/i><\/b>
\n757 Brookwood Village\u2028<\/i><\/b>
\nBirmingham, AL 35209<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\nTuesday evening, January 28 <\/i><\/b>
\n@ Sweet Spirit <\/i><\/b>
\n1205 Johnson Ferry NE <\/i><\/b>
\nMarietta, GA 30068<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\n\u00a0<\/i><\/b>
\n*Austin, Texas<\/span>:\u00a0 TBA<\/i><\/b>
\n\u00a0<\/i><\/b>
\n* All times, dates, & locations can be found on my \u2018Events<\/a>\u2019 page starting in January.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n