November 10, 2015

This Christmas

I've talked, in the years past, about how we do Christmas.

We use traditional, red and green, in our decor.

We wrap stocking stuffers.

We visit Santa.

We do the whole Elf on the Shelf thing.

Over the years I've thought about starting new traditions with my kids so we've adopted the Advent calendar and filled it with ways to make memories {rather than gifts or candy}.  I often think about starting the new jammies and a book on Christmas Eve tradition that I've seen {and loved} so many people do.  My problem with that is buying Christmas PJs and only having the one night to wear them.  Sure we wear Christmas jammies long past Christmas but...you know what I mean.

This year I feel like I have grown so much in my faith and have come a long way in my relationship with God.  I pray more/harder than ever before.  We have real conversations with the kids {mainly Kendall} about God and the bible.  We pray as a family now.  It's really been an amazing year, spiritually.

I've been talking to Kendall about the true meaning of Christmas a lot lately.  She's starting to get it even if not 100%. She actually has been getting excited when we talk about it and that makes me excited.  She's going to learn about Christmas at a much younger age than I did and I can't help but feel proud about that.

We have decided that this year we are going to focus on just that, the true meaning of Christmas.  We have been talking about Jesus's birthday a lot and about Santa very little.  In sticking with this we have decided that presents are going to be limited this year.  My friend, who has been a nanny for several years, told me about a tradition one of her nanny families started and I loved it.  The kids get four gifts.

1.  Something you want
2.  Something you need
3.  Something you wear
4.  Something you read

She told me about this idea years ago and I always thought it was a great idea and always wanted to adopt it but I just couldn't bring myself to stick to it.  I wanted to get them more. I wanted the tree to filled with gifts underneath.  I wanted them to have it all.  And why?  I do not know.

It's going to be hard to stick to just four gifts for each kid.  We are going to have to be very selective about what that 'want' present is.  But it's going to be worth it.  Our kids will learn that Christmas isn't about Santa, it isn't about getting more.  It's about celebrating Jesus and all that he did for us.

In preparation for Christmas we have done a toy overhaul.  I've tossed things that are broken, missing pieces and just plain junk. The good stuff we will donate and the rest will go to the curb.  Normally we do this to make room for more toys so it feels good knowing that we won't just be replacing what we're getting rid of

We are so blessed already.  We have so much we are already thankful for.  We don't do without and we certainly have more than we need.  We will focus on that this year and we will count our blessings.

10 comments:

  1. YES! Times a million over again! Seriously, when you grow in your faith in Jesus and allow Him to grow your heart, you realize so many things on so many different levels. We are moving towards a minimalist lifestyle and have been for the past 8 months. Our house does not have the junk in it, we are moving towards the basics, and what we need versus what we want. We have also rid ourselves of the junk in our homes, the clutter, and yes, NO MORE toys. Both of my kids took their toys to a women's shelter for battered women to give toys to the kids who have to live their with their mothers for safety. We serve in a couple of different ministries that are local and worldwide and have now involved my chidlren in these efforts, and we are ALL realizing there is so much we are given and blessed with that others simply do not have. I am telling you ... the book that changed me was "7" by Jen Hatmaker ... if you haven't read it, you really should. I have rid myself and everyone else in the house of a lot of our unworn clothes, shoes, etc. and have personally given those items to people I know need them more than I do versus just dropping them off at the Goodwill. That's good too, but I found it so powerful to connect with those and meet those who receive face to face. Bottom line: we DO have enough, and we need to be the light in the lives of others as Jesus has been in ours. End of story. I used to get so wrapped up in the decorations, creating a Pinterest home, the traditions, creating, creating, and creating for Christmas. Not this year. Christmas does NOT need to any more "creation" ... we don't need 5 trees in our home with different "themes", we don't need junk all over the place to show our love to Jesus, etc. God has already done the "creating" for us, so why are we consuming ourselves in the nonsense and losing our focus on Him? I find the more consumed I am in the nonsense, the more I lose sight of Him. No more overdoing it on the decorations, no more overdoing it on the toys, our Advent calendar will be LOVING and serving in minintries to help others and bring the light of Jesus into their lives every day until Christmas as Jesus does for us as opposed to "what am I getting now? It's day 5...am I getting chocolate or popcorn tonight?" Get, get, get. NO. NO. NO. We are not doing this...every day on my Advent calendar will be doing something for someone we live around, serving in a ministry that is local, participating in a worldwide ministry, etc. Bottomline is: It is not about us, you, or me ... it is about Jesus. Keeping our eyes on Him and more importantly, living for HIm and bringing His light to others.

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    1. Thank you! After I read your post I went through our closets {still have Jimmy's to do but kinda want him to be a part of that ;-)} and filled two trash bags with clothes and got rid of 32 pair of shoes! Now I'm looking for a women's shelter in our area because that sounds like an amazing opportunity. I think it'd be nice as a part of our advent activities too! We always donate to the food pantry but this would be awesome too!

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  2. If you do Elf on the Shelf I always have our Elf bring a book and PJ's on the day he arrives. That way you get to use them longer! Just an idea
    Plus I love this idea of getting back to the true meaning of Christmas. My son is a little young (2.5) but he knows that Santa comes because Jesus was born so it's a start. Plus Santa brings one toy that we don't wrap and then we give other more practical gifts (clothes, books puzzles)

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    1. OK that makes a lot of sense! I love that! And the Elf bringing the jammies is a GREAT idea! I think I'll do that!

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  3. I love the 4 items idea and I bet it will be hard!! Here's a holiday tradition we do .... we did this when I was little and now we do it with the kids ... we celebrate Jesus's birthday and have a cake and sing happy birthday to him.

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    1. Yes! I love that! I've seen a few blog posts where people do that and I love the idea! I think I'll adopt that this year too!

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  4. We do what Katlin does with Elf on a Shelf. He brings Christmas jammies when he comes!!!
    Way to go on getting back to the spirit of the season.

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    1. That's a great idea! Then they can wear them longer!!!

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  5. LOVE this. We noticed at my mom and dad's one year that the kids were miserable opening so many presents- they just want ONE thing to play with. So now they do one toy for each kid and one or two clothing related items. Then we have more time to play together and enjoy each other.

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    1. Yes! Once they open that *one* toy it's all over! That's all they want to play with. Love it!

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