So, here we are. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are over. They flew by, didn’t they?
I wish I had tons of pictures to share with you, but we were grossly inadequate on the documentation front this year. We videoed the Christmas play at church, then couldn’t quite get it together to record much more. I couldn’t bring myself to spend time clearing off memory sticks and recharging batteries. Our camera has been behaving badly, so we didn’t take many pictures, either.
So you can just take me on my word that it was a great one, okay? (Aside from the terrible cold I have been suffering with, that is.)
Over the last couple of years, as children have been added to our families and we have lost our grandmothers, our Christmas traditions have gone through some changes. While it is sad to let go of some traditions that we have had throughout our childhoods, it is also exciting to begin new things within our little family.
This Christmas Eve we opened up a Christmas Eve box here at the house. Inside were matching PJ’s for the kids, Jason, and me, along with a tin of popcorn. We put on our new jammies (thankfully the camera wasn’t working!:)) and ate popcorn while watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It was a fun way to spend the night.
Since this Christmas (and the entire Holiday season) has been so great for us, I am trying to take the next few days slowly. Usually I put up all of the decorations on December 26, ready to get the house cleaned up and uncluttered. I am a lover of a new year and the feelings of starting over with the clean slate that it brings, so it has never been a problem for me to rush Christmas on so I can get started on new things.
Last year, however, Charlie dealt with a little sadness after Christmas. He was disappointed that it was over and protested when I did my usual December 26th cleansing. I regretted rushing the season on.
This year I have done things differently, not just for Charlie, but for me. I found myself experiencing a little sadness when I began taking our decorations down, so I decided to take it very slowly to make it a little easier on us all. The kids and I have been taking down just a thing or two every day, in between time spent playing their new board games or watching new movies. They have spent days in costumes, playing with their new toys.
Today, we turned our Christmas tree into a New Year’s Tree. Isn’t it gorgeous?
We took off the Christmas ornaments and the colored lights, then added these beautiful large white lights and put some silver sprigs and ribbons at the top. It’s simple and pretty, and when we’re ready to take the tree out (probably over the weekend) it won’t take long to take the decorations off. We all love it, and we can enjoy the warm glow of Christmas lights a little longer.
Another thing I have been doing to try to draw out the Christmas cheer is discuss the idea of giving all year long with Charlie and Maddie. John 3:16 teaches us “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him wouldn’t perish, but would have eternal life.” This is the Christmas message, and one we are going to try to emphasize this year.
Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” God gave us the greatest gift when He gave us his Son, and we should spread that message of giving when we are given the opportunity. When we do this, the spirit of Christmas will last the entire year through.
How do you keep the Christmas spirit alive in your home?
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