I seem to be rather slow on the Christmas spirit side of things. I haven't baked any goodies. I haven't gone shopping for anyone. We just got our tree last night. I haven't even turned on Christmas music for the last few days. All completely uncharacteristic of me.
I suppose I'm just having a hard time tuning into Christmas this year with everything that's been going on. I love Christmas time. It's always been my favorite time of year and I'm usually prepared and ready to go the first week of December.
I can't even say it's because of a new baby. I was all excited to make Christmas memories with little Katie and then I lost the energy or something.
I am hoping I can rescue my Christmas spirit over the next few days. I have plans to bake with a friend and get some shopping done today. I've been trying to read a Christmas story to Katie every night and pull out a new figurine in the advent calendar with her. She loves the calendar and sits patiently while I read her stories. Maybe by Saturday I will be in good spirits again and can enjoy the rest of the holiday month. Or maybe I could just throw in the towel and be a scrooge this year. What do you think?
Here's my advice:
ReplyDeleteIf decorations= stress, say no!
If baking goodies = stress, say no!
If decorations = happiness, say yes!
I think that sometimes we pile all of our good intentions/inclinations into Christmas to try and get through the yucky winter months, but I don't think that Christ would want us to celebrate his birth by getting way stressed out. Christmas is for remembering Christ, for gathering with family, and for feeling joy. If any part of Christmas traditions don't leave you feeling joyful, then I say don't do them!
I never realized how important it was for me to give presents to my family members until our family decided not to do an official gift exchange one year. You would think it would be a relief (and I think that maybe for some members of our family it was), but I was really sad about it. I didn't care that others might not be giving me presents, but I realized that I really wanted to give them! So that's a tradition that I still get excited for even though we don't do a lot of others (last year, we didn't decorate at all. It was still a nice Christmas).
I think join spirit of the season and find the quality activities that inspire you to fill that spirit.
ReplyDeleteKay... hang in there.I totally know how you feel. Maybe keep things simple this year, and find peace in that. And... maybe your hubs can help out too. Sometimes it's more fun when someone else decorates.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you.