It is December. I feel equal parts prepared and unprepared. I have been purchasing gifts on Amazon on a daily basis and stuffing the boxes that come a few days later into one of our front closets… furiously shouting at the children to look away whenever I open the accordion doors keeping all the treasures at bay. I need to assess where I am sometime soon, for all my advanced shopping, I am fearful I going to end up scrambling the week before Christmas because I have forgotten someone important (not you, Simon, you are taken care of… also, stay OUT of the front closet).
We decorated the house for Christmas over the weekend, putting up more Christmas lights than we ever have before thanks to the many handy indoor and outdoor plugs that are everywhere around the “new” house. Yesterday afternoon I wrapped the bannister going downstairs in garland and lights and when Simon got home he said, “I see Christmas threw up on the stairway.” What a scrooge.
I think I am a closet Christmas-aholic, I just never lived up to my potential in previous years but the “new” house as brought it out in me – I nearly gave in an got an Elf on the Shelf for the boys, but I held back because we already have an advent calendar (Star Wars Lego from last year), an advent book and Christmas books that we read daily but I was almost won over by the cute postures and posts I saw on Instagram. I’m not trying to be an overachiever, but cashing in on a little Christmas wonder is a beautiful thing.
I have so many happy memories of the season from my childhood and I hope my kids will as well. I hope they remember fondly playing with their Little People Nativity, their small tree all their own on their dresser, the glee of opening the advent calendar each morning and reading the real story of Christmas from our Advent book each evening.
Jesus’ birth brings us the ultimate reason for the season and we need to remember not to forget that in the hustle and bustle. It also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the wonder and joy beyond the religious in our every day lives. Nothing beats the warm glow of Christmas lights in a quiet, still house. A glass of egg nog or a mug of hot cocoa shared with friends. Annual gatherings of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family that just don’t happen the rest of the year. Making Christmas goodies and treats to be shared with the important people in our lives. All because a tiny baby was born one holy night, giving us the greatest gift on earth… faith and salvation.
If you like the artwork above, you can purchase your own here.
ememby 
I haven’t given in to “Elf on the Shelf” either (same reason- we have a lot of Christmas traditions as it is, although I do think it’s a cute idea). But I felt bad today when I was in Tyler’s class and his friend asked if we have an Elf on the Shelf. I said no and Tyler said “well, we probably do- we just don’t know where he is yet.”
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