Living life graciously also means spending our leisurely hours in a way that refreshes our souls and exercises our creativity.

Consider trying your creative hand at arts and crafts. Decoupage, for example, is an enjoyable and inexpensive craft which takes something old to make it look new again. All you need to do is purchase a small bottle of decoupage varnish, choose an object (like an old vase, watering can, etc.) and cut out scraps from cards, photographs or gift wrap. After painting the object with a fresh coat of paint, let it dry and then you can varnish on your scraps, paint artistic designs or words, and voila! You have created an original masterpiece!

Silk ribbon embroidery is also a fun and beautiful art form. You can use it to decorate pillows, clothing, hats, and much more.

Letter writing is becoming a lost art today, but one that you can recapture. Although e-mail is fast and convenient, there is something special about sending and receiving a hand-written letter in the mail. Consider designing or making or your stationery. A few intentional doodles can go a long ways in showing your friends an extra-amount of care. Or make your own greeting cards instead of buying them from the local Hallmark. They don't have to look professional (that's the point!) or sound particularly poetic, but you could draw a little, paste some pretty cut-outs on, and copy a line of Scripture or poetry from something you have read. And don't forget to do something pretty with the envelope. Perhaps you could decorate it with some stickers. Or in the least, you could use some color in your address, but just make sure it is legible for the postal carrier! Letters are wonderful gifts to give.

Creative writing is another wonderful way to spend some leisure time. Writing is a great way to understand oneself and life. It can also be a terrific medium to glorify God. Poetry, essays, and novels are all forms of writing. You could start by keeping a journal of your thoughts.

There are also some good quality, delightful films for the whole family. I have chosen a few of my favorites below. Please visit Once Upon a Time for reviews and information about the films. Relax with a bowl of hot popcorn, and enjoy!

And finally, sometimes we all need an excursion away from home for some rest and recreation. For a relaxing and fun vacation, make sure you plan ahead. Find a place where the whole family can have fun. If your family is of the active sort, perhaps a national park would be a good choice. Those who enjoy shopping might like a restored historic town with fine dining and gift shops. Art or history buffs may enjoy a big city with large museums. Whatever your taste, good planning will help to make your trip a fun and memorable experience.

Some important things to remember are booking a place to stay early in advance. If possible, travelling during the "off season" may save you much money in lodging, entrance tickets, etc. Also, make sure that you don't pack too much into your vacation. If you only have a few days, don't try and see every little tourist site your city guide recommends. Choose a few sites that you and your family really don't want to miss, and then just take it easy. After all, you are on vacation! Also, sometimes vacations bring out some stress in us. We want everything to go perfectly, and want everyone to act as we would like them to. But while you are on vacation, try and give everyone some extra grace. The most important thing is not how much you see and where you go, but the time that you are spending with your family or friends.

When traveling, consider spending the night at a Bed and Breakfast. They are often quieter, more restful places to spend an evening away from home, and provide the special comforts of home away from home. Stay at an elegant Victorian mansion, or cozy country cottage, and make a "theme vacation" out of a weekend. The host and hostess will usually be gracious sources in recommending restaurants and sites of the town in which they live. Also, provided with your night's stay will be a home-cooked breakfast, and sometimes even afternoon tea!

Related Links
Bed and Breakfast Inns Online
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
Family Style Movie Guide
Guide to Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns
Jane Austen's Television and Film Adaptations
Once Upon a Time
Plugged In