Slow Down and Enjoy the Holidays

The older I get the more I see the pressure adults feel around the holidays. 

                          

With work parties to go to, social parties to attend, family celebrations to attend, decorations to get up, food to shop for and cook, meals to plan, the house to clean, cards to get out, presents to buy and wrap and sometimes even travel arrangements to make... it's no wonder people are flat out exhausted.

Whew.... I'm tired just saying that!


 I'm acting as your Fairy Godmother and telling you to slow down and enjoy the little moments.


Did you notice the older couple holding hands at the mall while you were busy shopping for your gifts. They make me think of the wonderful Christmases I spent with my grandparents growing up. Did you have some great Christmas memories growing up? I did and they were wonderful I loved my Grandparents house.

                                       

What about seeing all the kids eyes light up. Children's eyes are so fun when they light up and see Santa or the Christmas lights. Do you remember the first time you met Santa or road around in the car with your family and friends to look at Christmas lights?

                                 

Have you stood back, turned off the lights in your house, sipped on a cup of hot cocoa and really looked at how pretty those Christmas lights on the tree are?  What about taking time to make some homemade smores with your kids and sit down and do some giggling. 

                                       

Do you still have the different decorations you have made and collected over the years? I remember those little colored crystals that you used to sprinkle in the pre-made forms and bake in the oven and they came out looking like stained-glass ornaments. Did you make those too? They are so hard to find now. Most of them are plastic forms instead of metal and don't hold up.

                             

Maybe you used to go and cut down your own tree with the family? At our house we always have had a fake one due to allergies but now they make sprays you can use that smell like the real ones but don't have all the needles.

Here is the thing I've learned 


The older I get I realize Christmas isn't about getting it all done but it's about enjoying each and every little moment during the season. Yes your kids will remember that new Play Station you got them but do you want to remember how long you paid on your credit cards to pay that thing off? Does your 8 year old really need another video game?  Do the older kids really need a North Face jacket? Will my computer last one more year until another sale? Does my hubby really want another tie or even like that cologne?

Have you ever sat down and wrote a letter to the person you are wanting to give an gift to and just told them all the reasons you love them and why they are important to you?

I'm not saying don't give your family and friends gifts I'm just saying maybe the big gifts can be reserved for the birthday and maybe we can go back to when Christmas was about loving and giving to those in need.

In our house we celebrate Christmas as Jesus' Birthday. For us Jesus is the Reason for the Season, maybe in your house it's something different. 

We still do all the Christmas lights and I try to get the Christmas cards out and I love baking homemade goodies for my neighbors and friends but we are done with extravagant over the top Christmases. 

For me nothing says somebody loves me more than them taking the time to sit down and visit with me. Making me homemade goodies works pretty well too, wink.

Don' t forget and get too busy with the activities of the season that you are just checking off boxes on a to-do list but that you are really spending time making memories.

Have you had your kids and family go through your old stuff to donate off to your local rescue mission for those in need? 

I still remember my first trip to Mexico with my mom and one of my brothers. I was in jr. high and we stopped in Laredo, TX and walked over the long bridge into Mexico to shop. There were so many cool goods to buy and they were so cheap. We hauled this $5 ceramic Santa that goes outside back over the bridge to the hotel. On the way back over the bridge it was dark and freezing and there was this little girl, she couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 and she was barefoot and freezing and had a little plastic cup in between her knees begging for some change. I remember all of a sudden that $5 Santa and all those other goodies weren't as important. I got to go back to the hotel for a nice dinner and a warm bed. She was stuck as a child on a bridge, barefoot and freezing, begging for some change. 

My mom rushed us back to the hotel as the beggers were coming out in droves and started chasing us. Once back to the hotel, we headed for dinner. We were on vacation so my mom ordered us steaks. My mom kept asking me what was wrong. I think she already knew. I wanted to package up my steak and take it back out to that little girl on the bridge. 

My mom informed me that wasn't safe and it wasn't possible.

I've always remembered that little girl. 

The point of my story to you is that there are lots of little girls and big girls and boys and girls and women and men of all ages that don't have extravagant Christmases either. In my house I want us to be thankful for what God has given us and I want our family to give back. 

The bible says, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“

This Christmas you may not have a lot of money or even time to give but maybe this holiday season will be the one that you sit back, relax, and just be thankful for all that has been provided to you.

From my home to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

Valerie

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