Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Wishes.......

The holidays always seem to sneak up on me and leave me feeling anxious rather than excited. As a working mom I still have to put in at least a 40-hour work week and then be one who organizes Christmas - planning the dinner, shopping for the gifts, sending out the Christmas cards, decorating the tree, etc. I love it all, but it can be overwhelming. More than anything, I am tired of the bombardment of commercialism that seems to never end, stripping away the real meaning of Christmas. Every year my children scribble down their Christmas wishes and my husband and I try to figure out what each of us want. But what I really want is to step away from the trappings of the holidays and just enjoy them. If I could step off the carousel that is my life and plan Christmas just the way I wanted it to be, I think these are some of the ways I would want to spend Christmas with my family....

I've always wanted to go on a horse drawn sleigh ride in the snow. It seems like such a magical thing to do...clip clop through the snow. I think I would love an evening sleigh ride even more.
I would love to attend the Bracebridge Dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. This is a 4-hour holiday event that is world-renowned and has been a tradition at the hotel since 1927.

I would love to NOT darken the doorstep of any mall or store and just buy or make one handmade item for each person I love. Something that shows them that I 'get' them.

I would love to take the money I would normally spend on gifts and give it to random people who need a little help but would never dream of standing on a corner with a sign asking for it. It would take time and prayer to find these people but I know it would be worth it. When we have done things like this in past it makes us absolutely giddy with excitement. It really is better to give than to receive!
I would love to have my whole family together in one big cabin for a family reunion, and everyone would be nice, play games, and enjoy good food and each other. There wouldn't be any rifts or mishaps, just lots of fun. We haven't done this as a family in years.
I have always enjoyed the Living Nativity presentations that many churches have during Christmas. This is what Christmas is all about and I love sharing this with my family.
Sipping cocoa in front of my fire, in my comfy sweats, listening to Christmas music or watching "It's A Wonderful Life" with my husband. Because you know what? It really is!

Seeing all the different light shows that my town has to offer. I usually see a couple, but it would be so fun to venture off the beaten path and take them all in. We love Christmas Tree Lane. And finally, I would love to just be still and enjoy the moments of Christmas. You know, the sounds, the smells, the energy in the air -- all of it. I feel like I might miss it sometimes because I am busy or tired or because it comes so fast and with such commercialism. I hope to someday do a few of these things on my Christmas Wish List, to make it more than a wish. Someday....

3 comments:

Madi said...

Great post Jen! These are the things we should all be thinking about during Christmastime. Thanks for the reminder!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful wish list. I want all of the same and sadly, I know my list is more like a dream because it will never be. Yes, I can do some of those things but when it comes to family, mine is broken beyond repair and it breaks my heart!! I actually cried reading your list. :'(... I hope all of your wishes and dreams come true. I will continue to pray about mine. :) Thank you for such beautiful thoughts.

L

The Trend Spot said...

My heart goes out to you......because I, too, am struggling with heavy issues. But you know what--nothing is broken beyond repair, at least not with our Lord. His love and faithfulness is revealed in our brokeness. That is a hard concept to accept, but I know that I am able to reach out and help others with greater love and compassion because I have been broken and restored. Life seems to be about our ongoing brokeness and restoration so that we can truly be what God created us to be, not what we have made of ourselves. Be encouraged that your present hardships will pass, and that you can lay down your heartache at the feet of Jesus, and He will comfort and restore you. I trust Him to do the same for me. Have a blessed Christmas.

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