One year in particular I remember having to deliver some toys to our neighbors who lived behind us. A young couple with two small girls lived there (I now suspect the parents had some drug issues). I was mortified to have to go knock on their door and deliver the gifts. At the time I didn't particularly like the children who lived at that house and was feeling rather burdened by my mother's tender hearted gesture. In the end it was a simple delivery but obviously it turned out to be a tremendous lesson for me as I still remember and reflect on it each year as I contemplate what I can do for those who are wanting in my own community.
This year I wanted our own family Christmas to mean more. I was very disappointed last year as the children received so much "stuff" that they actually got bored of opening gifts and didn't take the time to appreciate each individual one. Christmas became very materialistic and made me very nauseated. As I contemplated how to still give gifts but have it mean more Mom told me of how it was when she was a young girl. She and her siblings would pour over the big thick catalog (the Sears catalog or some such massive monstrosity) and then picked one item to ask for. She said half the joy of the season was making that oh-so-tough decision and if you got "it" you definately cherished it.
This sounded like a perfect plan to implement with my own little ones this year and so I handed over a few catalogs and told them to pick out one item to request from Santa. Mr. B spent weeks memorizing his catalog and took it everywhere with him. He finally decided upon some "spy gear" and even went so far as to bring his catalog with him to show Santa exactly what he wanted. Though Beeb made her decision quickly she never wavered and stuck with it to the end.
The simplicity of it really made this season so much more meaningful to me. I was able to spend more time teaching my kiddo's about the true meaning of Christmas with books, videos and one fun FHE's where they got to dress up as Joseph and Mary while we read from the Bible; and I spent a lot less time shopping and worrying over gift selections just for the sake of giving them "more" than I got as a child. As it turned out I came to realize I have actually been giving them less of the past few years. Simplifying really enabled me to feel of the season, which I never expected, and brought the Spirit closer to my heart.
The nice side effect of our simplifying was the additional charitable contributions I was able to give this year. It was nice to give "more" to those who need it more and to start teaching my children that ever important value my mother taught me - Charity.
We've had a fantastic month - one of best yet. Here are some recent highlights:
During our many days of being stuck at home while it snowed, snowed, snowed, we put together a cute gingerbread house. Okay, really it was Beeb and AH who did all the work as Mr. B and I watched the Nutcracker ballet on PBS with an occasional quick trip to the kitchen to see the progress. Who knew Mr. B loved ballet more than a candy house?!
Of course Beeb had to sample the icing.
Ahhh, the finished product. It didn't last long; the kids started eating the candy off it right away and AH and I joined in as well (bad bad parents).
We got a surprise visit from Mr. B's morning bus driver, Chuck, who was out making holiday deliveries despite all the snow. His "Chuckleberry" jam only lasted a couple of days before we ran out. It was delicious! I adore Mr. B's bus drivers - they are the very best.
Christmas Eve found us having a nice dinner at AH's parents. Mr. B loves working with Grandpa on his trains. Grandpa started getting these from his own father in the 1940's and has collected them ever since. This is just a small sampling of his collection.
As part of the Christmas Eve program Grandma got out a little harp and had the children help strum it while she pressed the notes for some holiday songs. She was very popular.
It turned out to be a night full of music as Grandpa let Mr. B play his antique violin. I think the bow needs some work :-)
This morning after the chaos that is Christmas morning we had a couple of visitors. A sweet Doe and her fawn made their way through our backyard. Look at that snow on Christmas!
Mr. B was thrilled with his Christmas haul. He was so excited that Santa brought him his spy gear and new snow bibs but the pièce de résistance came from Grandpa. A few years ago our train buff decided all the grandson's need to have their own Lionel train collections and bought each one a set (or two). We have put off giving Mr. B his until he was old enough to properly care for this extravagant toy. This was Mr. B's year - oh what a Christmas he had!
Beeb asked Santa for a microphone and stand. He came through not only with a microphone with stand but it also amplifies and has music. She is our own little rock star now. Grandma's gift of a swim Dora (who has flippers too) was a big hit. Beeb asked me if she could take a bath after Grandma and Grandpa left and I told her she could. Then she proceeded to ask me "when will they leave?" over and over again. They didn't even make it into their car before I had the bath water running.
This year I also simplified my own gift list. There was just one item on my agenda and I was so happy to unwrap it. I can't believe I never saw the value in this before but after using my sister's recently I definitely had to get one.
We let the kids enjoy their gift indoors most of the day and then had to literally drag them outside for some supreme sledding on our fresh new powder (we have awesome hills in our neighborhood). We got several of the neighbor kids and parents out as well and had a really fun time sledding, snowboarding and talking. This was one of the best Christmases I've had in a long time (actually best December) and I am so thankful for all I've been blessed with.
