In this post, I want to motivate you not to be so motivated. I know, right? Well, I just want to remind us that we don't have to "do it all."
This time of year, especially, I think we can be hard on ourselves. I have to get out the cards, I have to bake, I have to go shopping, I have to get this person a present, that person one, I have to set up the tree, the outside decorations....on and on. STOP.
If creating the "perfect Christmas" is what makes you happy, well, by all means go ahead. If trying to create the "perfect Christmas" is pushing you over the edge and you are becoming crabby with your family - then stop it. We have to examine the reasons why we are doing it. Are we creating good memories or masterpieces?
Years ago, when I did shows almost every weekend from September to the first weekend in December, I would get tired of the holiday seasons. Once you set up a booth that many times....you don't feel like decorating at home. It was one of those years that I learned a valuable lesson.
I was tired of setting up trees, decorating and creating. I had already done that since September. My girls were smaller, I knew I had to get a tree, it is Christmas after all. I really "couldn't stand" to go downstairs and dig for all the lights, ornaments and such. So, I didn't. I found a couple of strings of blue lights in one of my "buy out" boxes that was on the top of my hoarded mess out in my shop. So, I put those on the tree. In the same box were some blue silk ornaments, so I brought those in too. I still had my crafting stash in the house, so I told the girls that we would have a homemade Christmas. I let them come up with the idea and away they went. They made the cutest silver snowflakes with sequins. The whole tree was blue and silver. It was actually really pretty. It kept them busy for hours, we shared time in making them. They decorated the whole tree themselves.
Was it a masterpiece? No. Did we create memories? Yes. My greatest masterpieces are my girls. No "perfect Christmas" could ever be more important than them.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://timewarpwife.com/?p=1330
http://www.raisingmightyarrows.net/2013/12/proverbs-31-thursdays-link-4.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:
This time of year, especially, I think we can be hard on ourselves. I have to get out the cards, I have to bake, I have to go shopping, I have to get this person a present, that person one, I have to set up the tree, the outside decorations....on and on. STOP.
If creating the "perfect Christmas" is what makes you happy, well, by all means go ahead. If trying to create the "perfect Christmas" is pushing you over the edge and you are becoming crabby with your family - then stop it. We have to examine the reasons why we are doing it. Are we creating good memories or masterpieces?
Years ago, when I did shows almost every weekend from September to the first weekend in December, I would get tired of the holiday seasons. Once you set up a booth that many times....you don't feel like decorating at home. It was one of those years that I learned a valuable lesson.
I was tired of setting up trees, decorating and creating. I had already done that since September. My girls were smaller, I knew I had to get a tree, it is Christmas after all. I really "couldn't stand" to go downstairs and dig for all the lights, ornaments and such. So, I didn't. I found a couple of strings of blue lights in one of my "buy out" boxes that was on the top of my hoarded mess out in my shop. So, I put those on the tree. In the same box were some blue silk ornaments, so I brought those in too. I still had my crafting stash in the house, so I told the girls that we would have a homemade Christmas. I let them come up with the idea and away they went. They made the cutest silver snowflakes with sequins. The whole tree was blue and silver. It was actually really pretty. It kept them busy for hours, we shared time in making them. They decorated the whole tree themselves.
Was it a masterpiece? No. Did we create memories? Yes. My greatest masterpieces are my girls. No "perfect Christmas" could ever be more important than them.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://timewarpwife.com/?p=1330
http://www.raisingmightyarrows.net/2013/12/proverbs-31-thursdays-link-4.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:
What a great reminder after a busy family weekend here. I wondered myself why I still put up a tree... in fact, two trees in this year when we lost a child and gained a new grandson.... and it's for the memories and the children, after all. I'm glad I did, and I'll keep doing it until I die... but not in a huge rush anymore!
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice post, Jacky! I love how you inspired us today! I don't send out cards anymore; and we don't get any either. Tit for tat, I guess! I'm like you; I don't want to forget why we celebrate! Jesus is the reason for the season, after all! Thanks for helping us to realize that we should slow down and think about Him! Happy Holidays! Blessings from Bama!
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