Holiday traditions!

Isn't Christmas wonderful? When I think about Christmas as a whole, my body shivers with delight. But, when I see people around me around Christmas time, I am very saddened. Hustle and bustle = frowning, lines, traffic, and kids screaming they want, want, want. For the first time in my life, I am looking at Christmas in a totally new way. Joslyn, my soon to be one year old, is technically having her second Christmas this year, although she was 4 days old for her first one. And as my husband and I look at our budget, sadly, we are perplexxed on what we should do for Christmas. For the first time in a long time, none of my family will be coming over for Christmas day. Sure, we are having CHristmas with our families on other days, but it leaves Christmas Day completely open. So what do we do? Do we start a new tradition? Do we find a place to visit? Or do we maybe use this opportunity to serve God? After all isn't that what Christmas is about?

When I think of Christmas's past, the food, the presents, and the holiday hangovers, I can't believe that was my life. Before, John and I would drop a load of money on Christmas presents, that were barely remembered. Heck I don't even remember what we bought, but I remember that the surprise reaction we were hoping for never seemed to be as good as we imagined. The food hangovers that we were left with made us sleepy and grouchy. When everyone would go home, or we would go home we were tired and left with this sense of wanting. Well that is not how I want Joslyn to experience Christmas. What are the things I want her to feel? Excitement, love, peace, joy, happiness, and full of Christ. Well I know that those aren't things I can order on E-bay, so how do I give those gifts to my daughter. I am not 100 percent sure, but I do know that I have a few ideas. For starters I want to share with you somethings my friends are doing that I know are on that track.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the wonderful people of Oklahoma. And the one thing I can tell you is that they are giving people. If I observe these people carefully I can see so much of Christ in their hearts. Some of them and some of my other "family" members are doing some wonderful things this Christmas season that I want to share.

1. Put Christ back into Christmas. My new friend Megan is doing a Jesse Tree this year, to teach her kids about Christ and what Christmas is all about.
2. Invite someone new. We got invited to a Christmas party from some people we barely know. I was super excited to get an invite from them. The idea of spending Christmas with new friends intrigues me. I have no idea how it would turn out, but it seems like such an adventure. Super excited!
3. Give it away. My brother and his wonderful wife have bought a goat for a family across the world for Christmas. They are thinking globally. What better gift could you give then the gift of survival! This goat/ sheep (can't remember the exact animal), is going to provide revenue, food and so much more for a family that doesn't know what it is like to stuff themselves silly for Christmas. They just need to survive.
4. Do domething different. I have met families that serve the homeless on the holidays, have a scavenger hunt, play football, go to church, see a movie, go caroling and so much more. If you are stuck in a holiday rut, try some of these ideas, they are sure to liven up things.
5. For my side of the family, we are just getting some small gifts for the children and we are trying to come up with ways to serve each other for Christmas presents. Like my sister is going to give my dogs a haircut and I am going to babysit my nephew a couple of times. I have asked my husband for things like watch a girlie movie with me and play games with the family, which are things I love to do and I hope to find some things he likes to do also. Be Creative with your Christmas, when money is in short supply. After all, I really think those gifts will last longer.

So what will we be doing for Christmas? Stay tuned.... but I hope that it is full of God's love and joy, peace, happiness, .... you get the idea!
Merry Christmas!!!