Sapphire Blue Travel

It’s Christmas Eve — can you believe it? 🎄
For us, this year looks a little different. Phil’s still at work, and we’ll be celebrating our own little “pre-Christmas” on Christmas Day… probably somewhere between airport luggage and a Hungry Jack’s burger. 😂 But don’t worry — we are going to have our big Christmas celebration… It’s just going to be a few days late!

No matter what it looks like — a big family feast or a quiet dinner for two — Christmas always brings that same mix of warmth, gratitude, and a deep breath before the year closes.

So tell me — how do you celebrate?
Is your main meal today, tomorrow, or do you have to work it around life like we do? 💕

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3 days ago | [YT] | 5

Sapphire Blue Travel

🎄 Let’s Talk Christmas Mains! 🍖

For as long as I can remember, our Christmas table has revolved around one glorious centrepiece — a baked glazed ham. It started years ago, back in Perth, when it was just the six of us, and we wanted to make Christmas dinner feel special. Probably inspired by some British Christmas cooking show, we gave it a go… and never looked back!

These days, our ham gets the wood-fired treatment — that smoky, caramelised glaze is next-level. We usually add a little turkey, a few prawns for the seafood lovers, trays of baked veggies (potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, beetroot), and a few crisp summer salads to make it feel properly Aussie.

And of course, no feast is complete without gravy, cranberry or apple sauce, and a few dressings for good measure.

That’s our Christmas table — full, festive, and a little over the top every year. 😂

So tell me — what’s your Christmas main dish?
Is it a family tradition, or does it change each year? 🌍🎅

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Sapphire Blue Travel

Sometimes Christmas isn’t an easy time. It can be a season that feels lonely or heavy. Maybe finances are tight, maybe relationships are strained, or perhaps you don’t have many people around you this year.



But even in those moments, there’s still hope. There’s still joy to be found — maybe not in the big, sparkly kind of way, but in the quiet assurance that God is near.

If this year feels difficult, I’d encourage you to reach out. Go to church, find a community lunch, or volunteer somewhere that welcomes others. Sometimes, giving love and time is the very thing that helps us rediscover joy in ourselves.



Psalm 34:18 reminds us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
And in Matthew 1:23, we’re told, They will call Him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.



Even when joy doesn’t come easily, God is still with you. I pray that this Christmas you’ll feel His presence — in small moments, in gentle ways, and through people who bring light into your life. And if this season feels too heavy, please don’t carry it alone. Reach out to someone who can help — even a call to **Lifeline** can make a difference.

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Do you have a favourite Christmas movie — one you *have* to watch every year, or it just doesn’t feel like Christmas? I’d love to hear yours in the comments below, because ours is a little unusual…



Most families reach for *Love Actually* or *The Holiday* — but in our house, it’s *The Princess Bride.* Maybe we should make *“As you wish”* part of our Christmas motto!

It all started back in 1995 when we hosted an open house for our youth group.
Everyone hung around chatting and laughing late into the night. Then, around 11 p.m., someone suggested we put on *The Princess Bride* to see in Christmas Day. I was heavily pregnant at the time, so I went to bed — but they stayed up watching, and it somehow became a tradition.



The following year, the same story. After the midnight service, we came home, put it on again, and the tradition stuck. Years later, we introduced our four kids to the same thing, and now, every Christmas Eve, we settle in with whoever’s around to watch it all over again.



Sure, I love the classic Christmas rom-coms — I start watching them from mid-November to get in the mood (I need all the help I can get! 😆). But Christmas Eve? That’s reserved for pirates, fencing, and true love.



So how about you? What’s your go-to Christmas movie? 🎄

6 days ago | [YT] | 5

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I thought I’d share a little about what an Aussie Christmas looks like for us.

Yes, there’s plenty of seafood — just not on my plate! Phil loves a good serving of prawns on Christmas Day, but I’ll happily stick to the ham and all the trimmings. I’ve never been a turkey girl; give me roast veggies, salads, and a bit of pudding or pavlova any day.



Christmas in Australia is usually hot — sometimes sticky, sometimes downright scorching. Up here in the mountains, we’re lucky it’s a bit cooler, but head down to Sydney, and it’s muggy and humid. Across the country, you’ll find families celebrating with barbecues, eating outdoors, and plenty of beach time to cool off.



For us, the table is always a mix of hot and cold: baked ham, roast veggies, crisp salads, and desserts to finish it all off. Pavlova is a national treasure this time of year, piled high with cream and fruit — the perfect way to cool down after a long day in the sun.



Our Christmas morning starts with breakfast and church before we open presents. That’s always been our family rhythm — keeping the focus on Jesus being the reason for the season before diving into the gifts.



And of course, no Aussie Christmas is complete without the lights! Every December, we love heading out in the evenings to check out the Christmas light displays around town. There’s something so joyful about seeing houses lit up, kids pointing out their favourites, and neighbours chatting in the glow of twinkling lights. We are known to go all out most years.



Christmas in Australia might look different from the snowy scenes of Europe, but it’s filled with the same joy — family, food, laughter, and faith under the summer sun.

I’d love to hear from you — what does Christmas look like in your home? Do you have special traditions that make it uniquely yours?

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1 week ago | [YT] | 5

Sapphire Blue Travel

💙 It’s finally up.

Today we’re exploring Victoria’s Goldfields — driving through historic towns and stopping in Maldon, Bendigo Pottery, and Rochester to see the silo art.

This one’s been a quiet labour of love, and we’re glad to finally share it with you.
Hope you enjoy travelling along with us 💙

https://youtu.be/s8V9WCOIVZs

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

Sapphire Blue Travel

Christmas can be such a busy time, can’t it? The lists get longer, the invitations pile up, and suddenly every weekend is filled with shopping, wrapping, cooking, or hosting. It’s meant to be a season of joy, but if we’re not careful, it can start to feel like one long to-do list — and relationships can feel the strain.

So how do we keep life together in a time of growth, not just survival? How do we stay close when everything else seems to be pulling for our attention?



Here are three simple ways to help faith anchor your marriage amid the busyness of Christmas:


**1. Pray together, even if it’s short.**

It doesn’t have to be a long devotion — sometimes it’s just holding hands before heading out the door and saying, *“Lord, help us show grace to each other today.”* Inviting God into the middle of the busyness reminds you both that you’re a team, not opponents on opposite sides of the chaos.



**2. Make space for peace.**

You don’t have to say yes to everything. Protect one or two quiet nights where you cook a simple dinner, go for a walk, or sit by the tree with no TV, no phones — just time to breathe together. It’s in those slower, quieter moments that connection grows stronger.



**3. Choose grace over perfection.**

The to-do list will never end, and things *will* go wrong — someone will forget a gift or burn the roast. But grace, spoken out loud, changes everything. A gentle “Hey, it’s okay, we’re in this together” goes a long way toward keeping love front and centre.

Faith doesn’t take away the busyness, but it grounds you in what really matters — loving God and loving each other through it all.

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Sorry, everyone, editing has been a chore this week. The video will be out tomorrow afternoon.

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Dream Europe Christmas Destination

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Sapphire Blue Travel

Every couple sees things differently, and for many, it’s Christmas.

One person loves the lights, the trees, and the sparkle — the other would happily put the tree up Christmas morning and take it down that night. 🎄

If Christmas brings a little tension in your home, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to find a middle ground and keep the peace:



🕯️ **Talk early and laugh often.**
Before the boxes come out, have a chat about what Christmas will look like this year. Decide together on what feels joyful, not stressful.



🎁 **Find each other’s “why.”**
For some, Christmas means nostalgia and faith. For others, it’s noise and pressure. Understanding what it means to each of you softens the edges.



💬 **Celebrate the small wins.**
If your partner helps with lights or shows up without grumbling, say thank you. Gratitude keeps hearts soft.

It’s not about matching levels of enthusiasm — it’s about respecting each other’s hearts. ❤️



If Christmas sometimes brings a bit of tension in your family, check out these **7 tips to build Christmas tolerance and togetherness** in the blog:

👉 sapphirebluetravel.com.au/blog/couples-blog/when-o…

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