Christmas is indeed coming. While
there's no goose getting fat at
this address, I've had this season on the brain for quite some time.
Early on in my adult Christmas
career I was accused of being a bit of a Scrooge; our house was even
"decorated" for us one year with the worst the holiday has to
offer (think glittered candy canes and windsock Santas).
My girls are both summer babies.
What this also means is that I was completely ill with both of them at
Christmastime. Evergreen has yet to be fully redeemed on the olfactory
level.
I have had the opportunity to
write four separate magazine and online articles on simplifying
and extracting meaning throughout this season. Those who know me well find it
ironic that I spent several hours of my summer and fall (much favored
seasons) writing about the one I struggle through the most.
The struggle for me is complicated.
It is part practicality, part painful memories and part earnest desire to do
right by my children in this area of life. Essentially
we are working to keep things simple, memorable and on message.
This as our guide we've revised
things fairly dramatically over the past few years. It took time to do this -
most thing do. We'll probably revise again in the future. I'm okay with that.
Here's more or less what we've settled in to doing this time of year.
1. We forgo a tree and Santa
This is not because we think they
are inherently bad. Please don't apologize when I come into your house that has a
beautiful tree on display. Also rest assured that our girls won't spill
the beans on Mr. Claus (we've let them know that lots of kids believe in Santa
and it is not for us to say otherwise).
Evergreens and Santa can both find their place within the holiday season in my mind. Still, in our house we
are working to keep things simple, memorable and on message. Omitting these two helped us do
this.
2. We enjoy our Christmas library
I love books. I know you know this. Christmas is no exception. We've begun to build a
nice library over the past few years that I hope to grow. The girls love
reading these special books that magically appear on December 1st. A few of our
favorite titles include:
3. We open our Advent Calendar
My mom bought this wooden calendar for us when
Hannah was three. She has loved it ever since. Each day you get to open a door and find a magnetic piece of the nativity. By the season's end you've created (and rearranged fifty-eight times) the entire scene.
4. We get creative
Today we spent the afternoon
creating a salt dough nativity scene. I'm guessing these little figures will be
baking for the next twenty four hours. Still, it was a great way to spend an
afternoon with my big girl.
5. We look forward to giving and
receiving Christmas Cards
This is one tradition that has
survived all other revisions. Phil and I have made a picture
card each year of our marriage. We save
one and put it in a book. Sometimes we write a letter, other years we don't.
Regardless, overtime this has turned into a really great keepsake.
We display the cards we receive on our backdoor throughout the season. Come January we collect them into a bowl and
place them on on our dining room table. Most winter and spring evenings we pull one
out at the beginning of dinner and talk a bit about that person or family. We
then say a prayer (and if the truth be known, we toss the card at that point embracing the notion that all good things must come to an end).
6. We hang stockings
I have no great reason behind
this decision. It somehow felt a bit more humane to big H to keep these
knitted treasures as I was carting the rest of our snowmen and Christmas
ornaments off to the Rescue Mission several years ago.
I like loading the toe with a fresh
orange. We've enjoyed picking several small, inexpensive yet meaningful gifts
for each other each year. Without Santa in the mix it has evolved into a fun
group-think in which Hannah gets to team with each of us as we work to fill our
respective socks with bits of wonder. This year Hannah's will contain
left-handed scissors, a roll of twine and a simple sewing kit.
I share this mostly to say that of
course we too are still in process. Revision takes time. It is far from
perfect. Be assured that I have and continue to be entirely human throughout this process.
7. We are trying out the Jesse Tree
Tradition
Over the past few years I've heard
about these trees. This year I decided to take a closer look. I printed Ann
Vaskomp's free Jesse Tree Advent Family Devotional. Those of you who are familiar with her work One Thousand Gifts will feel right at home with her artful prose.
Ann's writing requires thought on the part of the receiver; it is entirely worth it in my opinion. Most days Hannah seems to track just fine. Each day closes with the visual ornament to hang and a tangible take away.
Yesterday's account centered on the story of Isaac and God's ultimate and perfect provision through Christ. The application involved writing down a list of 10 different ways that God has provided for us today. Here's what Hannah and Hailey came up with over their morning oatmeal.
Hannah:
Daddy's job
Mommy and Daddy
Safe water to drink
A church to go to
That Jesus died on the cross for us
Books
Hailey:
For the monkey (not sure which monkey she's thinking of)
The Slettens (friends we had dinner with a few nights ago)
Milk
A pen, a bowl and some soy milk
Olivia and Sophia (kids from family mentioned above)
Mommy
May this Christmas season be one in which you experience simplicity's beauty and God's grace in new and unexpected ways.
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