Christmas is here again. How does a year fly by so quickly? It seems like the school year just started a couple weeks ago and now the holidays are here. I’ve had a hard time feeling Christmasy this year. Perhaps a trip to Florida after Thanksgiving interrupted the natural flow of Thanksgiving into Christmas. I skipped Black Friday and on Cyber Monday I was on a plane. If you’ve always lived in New England, its hard to get your holiday groove going when you’re hanging with the palm trees of Florida. Or maybe, it’s the money thing. We committed this year to paying for Christmas with cash, not credit, and while I will be glad for this in January, it is causing nothing but stress at the moment. I’ve always loved the holidays, but up until last week I’ve been wondering where, oh where, has my Christmas feeling gone?
Then something pretty amazing happened. I asked my 4 year old what is was she was hoping for this year. Her reply, “I want a doll to give to Mia, because she gave me so many of her toys this year.” To clarify, it is GOOD to be the littlest of all your sister’s friends. They pass on fabulous hand-me-down toys like entire collections of everything ‘Dora the Explorer’ ever made. Miss 4 Year Old was quite blessed this year by the cleaning out of playrooms and closets. It amazed us that she had internalized all the things she had been hearing about what the true meaning of Christmas is, and how it is better to give than to receive. I mean, come on, she’s four. But there it was, all summed up. Her greatest wish this Christmas is to have a gift to give to someone else.
This kick-started my holiday spirit. Waking it up from where it hibernated
somewhere within me. Suddenly I found myself in the kitchen making gifts.
Christmas doesn’t have to come from a store a little voice within me whispered in my ear. Cookies have been flying around my kitchen. The meat pies are made (yes, we have a bit of French Canadian in us). My girls have been busier than Santa’s elves making things to give to family and friends and each other. The ‘Battle of the Sibling’ was put on hold so they could work together with glue and felt and yarn. They have taken over the decorating with things they have made, and I have to say, it’s far more festive than any 12 foot blow up snowman in the front yard.
An interesting thing with the spirit of Christmas is once you find it, it’s
hard to stop. Last week we attended Miss 4 Year Old’s first Christmas Concert. Nothing cuter than 20 preschoolers singing ‘Deck the Halls’, while waving to their family members in the audience. Yesterday was the Christmas Pageant at church. The Sunday-Schoolers,’ who could not have been less enthusiastic four weeks ago when rehearsals started, did a fabulous job of revving up the holiday spirit in the entire congregation. This week we are looking forward to the Holiday Sing-a-long at our elementary school, followed by our first ever night of caroling as a family, with our friends and neighbors. There are lots of ways to get into Christmas that don’t cost a thing. Sometimes it requires stepping out of your box to find them.
Here are some other ideas about kicking yourself in the Christmas pants to get merrier:
-Host a potluck, inviting people you never thought about inviting before.
-Bring cookies to a neighbor you don’t know.
-Take a ride with your family to look at the lights.
-Try a Christmas Eve service in a church- even if you aren’t religious, the
music of those around you singing traditional carols (even off-key) is hard to resist. If you can’t get onboard with going to church, find music somewhere. Come caroling with us!
-Start a new family tradition: a new recipe, a story, an ornament, secret
Santa, etc.
- Cuddle up with someone to watch a Christmas special on TV and drink hot
cocoa with a candy cane in it.
-Make a gift, instead of buying one. It doesn't have to be elaborate.
-Seek out people. If you have no family or friends around this season,
connect with another human being in some way.
However you celebrate the season, think on this:
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages,
boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”
-Dr.Seuss
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays,
to you and to your family this season!
May your days be merry and bright!
Then something pretty amazing happened. I asked my 4 year old what is was she was hoping for this year. Her reply, “I want a doll to give to Mia, because she gave me so many of her toys this year.” To clarify, it is GOOD to be the littlest of all your sister’s friends. They pass on fabulous hand-me-down toys like entire collections of everything ‘Dora the Explorer’ ever made. Miss 4 Year Old was quite blessed this year by the cleaning out of playrooms and closets. It amazed us that she had internalized all the things she had been hearing about what the true meaning of Christmas is, and how it is better to give than to receive. I mean, come on, she’s four. But there it was, all summed up. Her greatest wish this Christmas is to have a gift to give to someone else.
This kick-started my holiday spirit. Waking it up from where it hibernated
somewhere within me. Suddenly I found myself in the kitchen making gifts.
Christmas doesn’t have to come from a store a little voice within me whispered in my ear. Cookies have been flying around my kitchen. The meat pies are made (yes, we have a bit of French Canadian in us). My girls have been busier than Santa’s elves making things to give to family and friends and each other. The ‘Battle of the Sibling’ was put on hold so they could work together with glue and felt and yarn. They have taken over the decorating with things they have made, and I have to say, it’s far more festive than any 12 foot blow up snowman in the front yard.
An interesting thing with the spirit of Christmas is once you find it, it’s
hard to stop. Last week we attended Miss 4 Year Old’s first Christmas Concert. Nothing cuter than 20 preschoolers singing ‘Deck the Halls’, while waving to their family members in the audience. Yesterday was the Christmas Pageant at church. The Sunday-Schoolers,’ who could not have been less enthusiastic four weeks ago when rehearsals started, did a fabulous job of revving up the holiday spirit in the entire congregation. This week we are looking forward to the Holiday Sing-a-long at our elementary school, followed by our first ever night of caroling as a family, with our friends and neighbors. There are lots of ways to get into Christmas that don’t cost a thing. Sometimes it requires stepping out of your box to find them.
Here are some other ideas about kicking yourself in the Christmas pants to get merrier:
-Host a potluck, inviting people you never thought about inviting before.
-Bring cookies to a neighbor you don’t know.
-Take a ride with your family to look at the lights.
-Try a Christmas Eve service in a church- even if you aren’t religious, the
music of those around you singing traditional carols (even off-key) is hard to resist. If you can’t get onboard with going to church, find music somewhere. Come caroling with us!
-Start a new family tradition: a new recipe, a story, an ornament, secret
Santa, etc.
- Cuddle up with someone to watch a Christmas special on TV and drink hot
cocoa with a candy cane in it.
-Make a gift, instead of buying one. It doesn't have to be elaborate.
-Seek out people. If you have no family or friends around this season,
connect with another human being in some way.
However you celebrate the season, think on this:
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages,
boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”
-Dr.Seuss
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays,
to you and to your family this season!
May your days be merry and bright!
RSS Feed