no, i'm not going to talk about kissing under a twig at christmas BUT it is november 11 and i cannot get enough of christmas.
bring on the hallmark movies.
bring on the christmas tree.
i may have already bought a few christmas gifts.
this may not seem strange to some of you but for me, it is. i've always been one of those people who didn't start thinking about christmas until the day after thanksgiving. i was talking to my mom the other day and telling her i couldn't believe how smitten i was with the thought of christmas this year when it hit me...christmas was typically a very stressful, busy time of the year for us: do we have enough money, did we buy enough gifts, what in the world do i get for so-and-so, but as of last year we really simplified christmas...and it was beautiful. it became clear to me that by simplifying christmas last year we were able to truly enjoy the season and able to reflect on the true reason for celebrating. after a great year last year, i'm especially looking forward to this one.
so how did we simplify christmas last year? first of all, we by no means wanted to downplay the significance of christmas, but instead wanted to quiet the other aspects of the season so that the celebration of our savior and the love of our family could be heard...loud & clear.
the simplification of our christmas:
somewhat unintentionally, our decorations were minimal. i suppose i was inspired by a simple swedish christmas (preferably full of snow & gluten free sweets). not that i have anything against big, full-on christmas decorations, it's just that last year was all about the quaint.
more intentionally, we changed the way we did gifts for our 3 kids. we decided they would each receive 3 gifts just as the magi brought for jesus. more specifically, each gift would represent a need, a wish & a surprise for each child. (i've since read about other families who add a "read" gift which we may do this year...our littles love books!) their need is an outfit of some kind. i've tried to find something special that can be worn both for church and for school. for their wish, they get to ask for that one special item they would like to have. (this is also their wish from santa.) and for their surprise, we like to plan a little overnight trip each year. something where the kids have to pack their bags that night & we leave the next morning. at least something we get to do together as a family. something where we make memories. spending time instead of just money.
on the subject of santa: in our house we believe santa is whoever you need him to be. for us, he's the hands & feet of Jesus...just as we we should be. he spreads love to others by giving & by showing compassion. he is not the focus of the season & our kids know that. so yes, there are cookies & milk for santa (more like lemon bars for our santa). yes, there are stockings magically filled on christmas eve. but it's not the whole focus. last year we enjoyed a few minutes each evening reading verses, having discussion & doing a family activity together for advent. it was a great way to keep the focus on Jesus throughout the often busy hype of the christmas season. now, mind you, there were nights when it just didn't happen...and our kids definitely let us know about it. ;)
now, i'd be lying if i said i had no reservation last year about scaling back our gifts to just 3 per child. i specifically recall a moment of panic, "is this really all we're getting them?! is this enough??" beforehand we explained what we were doing & why we were doing it, so there weren't any surprises. but i think deep down i was expecting some sort of backlash. some moment after christmas morning where the kids would sit there with sad, disappointed faces & i'd regret ever making the decision...but the truth is...that never happened. we never missed a beat. the kids opened their gifts. we took the morning slow. everything had meaning & we were grateful.
also, i have to share. one of my favorite parts of our christmas morning is our little family gift exchange. it's when we each open our secret santa workshop gifts from the kids. if you don't know what that is, our schools typically have a (dollar) shop set up for the kids to buy for parents & siblings. it's always one of my favorite things...to see what our kids have found & thought that each of us would just love. (i got a sweet mary figurine last year from lincoln.)
so, i'm not saying that our christmas is perfect & we're not looking for perfection; but it's become slower, sweeter & so much more meaningful. simplifying the "fuss" of christmas has given us more time and energy to be spent on rest & reflection. we are more intentional & purposefully thankful. and the reality is, we have more than we need. we are blessed beyond anything we deserve. our God is so good to us. and i want our kids to not only hear that, but to know it, to feel it in their lives. i want them to know that joy doesn't come in a package & that it only comes from Christ. i want them to hold Jesus closely & intimately & never let go.
i don't want a christmas you can buy. i don't want a christmas you can make. what i want is a christmas you can hold. a christmas that holds me, remakes me, revives me. i want a christmas that whispers JESUS.
i hope you all embrace the upcoming season with each of your families. i hope you all see a sweet time with family & friends.
follow our christmas story on instagram at #shamblinchristmas.
(also happy veteran's day! thank you to all our past & present veterans for living a life of service & sacrifice. you are much appreciated.)
photo creds here.
