Life has thrown many a things at me in the last month. I have NOTHING done for Christmas. I am feeling quite stressed.
With every link that gets torn off of our paper chain and every chocolate eaten out of our Advent calendar my blood pressure goes up. There are cookies to be baked, cut outs to decorate as a family, gifts to be wrapped, groceries to be gotten, cups of hot cocoa and Christmas specials to snuggle and enjoy, and you know the list goes on and on.
So I start thinking, can I put Christmas together in just 2 days? What can be left out without taking away the joy and spirit?
Then I stop to think one more time, can I just do nothing but the snuggles and have it be great? Isn't it more about the quality time than the trimmings? Shouldn't we be focused on sitting down with our kids and reading the story of their Savior's birth? I think so. I mean I am going to try like the dickens to get the rest done too, but I am not going to stress about it. As long as my children know that they are mightily loved by J and I and their Heavenly Father hasn't Christmas been a success?
So here it is folks. The plan. I am going to run my rump shaker off and try to do all of the things that are tradition, but at anytime if I find myself doing things just because I feel I have to I am going to stop, sit down, hug one of my kids, and reconsider whether it's worth it. If it gets done cool, if not my kids get super lots of hugs super lots cool.
Sara, I think you're definitely on to something. I, too, usually run around like a crazy person trying to fulfill every expected Christmas tradition. This year I just stopped. No cookie exchange, no twenty-bagillion parties, a half decorated tree, and presents aren't nearly wrapped. I realized I was just filling the expectations of what I thought you're *supposed* to do for Christmas. Instead, Andy and I have made it a point each night to sit down together with no TV or distractions, plug in our half-lit tree, light our sugar cookie candle, turn on Kenny G Holiday (oh yes!) and just BE together. It's be even more amazing than I thought it would be. I think the amazing and magical feelings of Christmas are partially due to traditions, but probably more to the feeling of being loved, and heard, and together.
ReplyDeleteThat is AWESOME! You and your Kenny G! LOL I am so glad you have tried out my business model and it is working out! Faith in the new plan! WHOO HOO! Kristen, you are an unceasing source of encouragement and joy, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have made NO cookies... and I'm okay with that. :)
ReplyDelete~Hanna