i would not say that i fall into the category of dreading the holiday season…but i have noticed a tightening in my chest that comes with this time of year. two out of four of our tribe's birthdays fall in these weeks between thanksgiving and christmas, and i feel pressure to make each of these days + the entire season spectacular.
at the same time, this tribe has come to a point of truly feeling we do not need more. we do not want extra clutter. we've done the work of clearing out, and we like simple. and yet, i feel like i am left to wonder how to fill these weeks with the feelings i think should come in this season. we don't have big school or church productions to participate in or attend. it's up to me to bring christmas to life.
i realize that i am still trying to figure out, after all this time, how to give my tribe a wonderful christmas that does not come from a store. i also realize that maybe i'm still expecting to create something that elicits the same reactions and feeling my girls had when they were younger...but toys have been replaced with a cello, a ukelele, art supplies, and library books.
it is amazing and satisfying. we don't need more stuff.
so we have conversations about it. we are ready for christmas simplicity. i know we want this, and i want to figure out what exactly this looks like...so i can just have fun with what we choose to do (which is not nothing!).
i want to come up with some guidelines for myself that feel right in this season of life (although, i think these would be right in any season-for us)…something to help me not to have to wonder about this next year. no second guessing, no comparison, no guilt.
i want christmas to be special. it want it to be cozy and happy. most of all, i want it to be jesus. i want the glow to come from the manger. i don't think it has to be spectacular every day, and i need to let that sink in. so this is just to remind myself. :)
our decorations are:
-twinkle lights
-vintage-y tinsel
-candles
-pinecones gathered on autumn walks
-paper snowflakes
-small tree + stars
-nativity set
-advent calendar we made together
activities: (because we like an activity or two to look forward to)
-making for others + volunteering too
-giving an extra gift to our compassion kids' families
-a ride or three to see christmas lights with hot cocoa in hand
-christmas tunes
-a few silly movies
-dickens' christmas carol audiobook from the library
-the christmas story read by linus and us too
-a special event or two (they make great gifts)
-a christmas day walk to spread some seeds and give the animals a day of easy eating
gifts:
-3 small stocking gifts
-3 gifts under the tree for the girls (including experience gift)
-(note to self: these don't have to make their year. they are just little lovelies to give smiles and warm feelings.)
food:
-homemade cookie/treat of the week
-our traditional shepherd's pie + cranberry fluff + birthday cake on christmas day
i hesitate to post this, because it is so personal. i mostly want to convey the idea that we each get to decide what is right for us...what is simple...what is enough...what is meaningful.
these are just some of the things that i can make happen...not a to do list that must happen. expectation is what gets me every time. and i mean my expectations, really. my girls never seem disappointed. it's more than just gifts…or perhaps they are all gifts...especially the one in the manger!
love,
jane
p.s. what are your plans/have you done this year? i would truly love to hear!!
at the same time, this tribe has come to a point of truly feeling we do not need more. we do not want extra clutter. we've done the work of clearing out, and we like simple. and yet, i feel like i am left to wonder how to fill these weeks with the feelings i think should come in this season. we don't have big school or church productions to participate in or attend. it's up to me to bring christmas to life.
i realize that i am still trying to figure out, after all this time, how to give my tribe a wonderful christmas that does not come from a store. i also realize that maybe i'm still expecting to create something that elicits the same reactions and feeling my girls had when they were younger...but toys have been replaced with a cello, a ukelele, art supplies, and library books.
it is amazing and satisfying. we don't need more stuff.
so we have conversations about it. we are ready for christmas simplicity. i know we want this, and i want to figure out what exactly this looks like...so i can just have fun with what we choose to do (which is not nothing!).
i want to come up with some guidelines for myself that feel right in this season of life (although, i think these would be right in any season-for us)…something to help me not to have to wonder about this next year. no second guessing, no comparison, no guilt.
i want christmas to be special. it want it to be cozy and happy. most of all, i want it to be jesus. i want the glow to come from the manger. i don't think it has to be spectacular every day, and i need to let that sink in. so this is just to remind myself. :)
our decorations are:
-twinkle lights
-vintage-y tinsel
-candles
-pinecones gathered on autumn walks
-paper snowflakes
-small tree + stars
-nativity set
-advent calendar we made together
activities: (because we like an activity or two to look forward to)
-making for others + volunteering too
-giving an extra gift to our compassion kids' families
-a ride or three to see christmas lights with hot cocoa in hand
-christmas tunes
-a few silly movies
-dickens' christmas carol audiobook from the library
-the christmas story read by linus and us too
-a special event or two (they make great gifts)
-a christmas day walk to spread some seeds and give the animals a day of easy eating
gifts:
-3 small stocking gifts
-3 gifts under the tree for the girls (including experience gift)
-(note to self: these don't have to make their year. they are just little lovelies to give smiles and warm feelings.)
food:
-homemade cookie/treat of the week
-our traditional shepherd's pie + cranberry fluff + birthday cake on christmas day
i hesitate to post this, because it is so personal. i mostly want to convey the idea that we each get to decide what is right for us...what is simple...what is enough...what is meaningful.
these are just some of the things that i can make happen...not a to do list that must happen. expectation is what gets me every time. and i mean my expectations, really. my girls never seem disappointed. it's more than just gifts…or perhaps they are all gifts...especially the one in the manger!
love,
jane
p.s. what are your plans/have you done this year? i would truly love to hear!!
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