It’s a madhouse out there! People running around with this crazed look in their eyes, they don’t even smile at each other anymore. In fact, I don’t think they even see each other!! It’s a mad dash to get everything they ‘need’! They are deep in the Christmas induced coma and, get out of their way, they are on a mission to find the perfect cashmere sweater for their mom!
All the hustle and bustle and stuff, stuff, stuff. Hey, I like Christmas presents as much as anyone, but this year we are taking a different approach. None. That’s right, Michael and I (and Jude) are doing a present free and Christmas tree free, Christmas. And boy is it wonderful! I feel so free! I don’t feel one bit stressed, or hurried, or worried or frantic.
I feel lighthearted and excited to spend the day together, enjoying one another’s company, reveling in the real reason for Christmas, and doing something memorable (we are still planning the memorable part).
Some of you may call us bah humbugs, and that’s ok. We will go back to the presents and a tree at some point, but for this year, ahhhh how wonderfully freeing it has been!
Along the lines of simplicity, I also wanted to share with you something that changed my view of gift giving. My family started a tradition about 4 years ago of making all of our gifts. It was a hard decision. It felt very intimidating because not everyone felt blessed with the gift of creativity, and after years of buying gifts it seemed impossible to think up gifts, or make any that would even compare to store bought ones. Our first year came and as each present was opened ooohhs and ahhhhs erupted and something happened that we didn’t expect. We had a blast! We totally amazed ourselves! Our creative juices started kicking in when we were forced to think outside the box and come up with something on our own rather than just running out to the store and picking something up. Other than the 5 wicked candle that almost engulfed the living room in flames (note to self, 5 wicks made of match sticks are not a good idea), the homemade presents were a complete success, and we have done it ever since! We now look forward to Christmas together with more anticipation than ever before!
I wrote this post as a challenge. I would challenge you to two things: one, someday try a present free Christmas. Instead, do something special with your family or for another family. I am willing to bet that it will be your most memorable Christmas ever (and it would make a much better story than the year you gave the cashmere sweater)!
Secondly, I would challenge you to think outside the box with presents. Try a year of making them. Trust me, you will surprise each other with your creativity and the presents somehow mean so much more when they aren’t just bought the night before at Gap (No, I have never done that)!
Do you have any ‘out of the ordinary’ Christmas traditions? If so, what are they? I would love to hear!
Let Christmas be for Christ. For years I have suggested we not get Christmas gifts, instead we get NEW YEARS gifts. We all usually go to New Years parties and what better time to have a gift exchange? You could make gifts or get them from your store, it really is the thought that matters.. I think you have 2 wins in this solution. 1) Christmas stays focused on Christ and 2) you save tons of money on things because the stores are getting rid of EVERYTHING!!
I really like this idea Brendie. You would keep the right focus that way, and I love getting things on sale!! wow. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I really like this idea Brendie. You would keep the right focus that way, and I love getting things on sale!! wow. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jarred and I tried this, Claudia, for Dylan’s first Christmas! It was wonderfully low-stress and still very special. For Christmas morning, we found a place that was serving a Christmas meal to people in need and helped serve there (while Dylan hung out in his car seat). I would like to do something like this again with our children now that they are older, but I don’t want to force it upon them. Perhaps when they are even a little older, they would be willing to skip the presents and give out even more. Last year Jarred’s extended family took an “offering” for a charitable organization (International Justice Mission) in lieu of gifts to one another. There are so many creative ways to share the Gift of Christmas; thanks for sharing yours!!!
This is cool Annette, I didn’t know you guys did that 🙂
I like that idea of giving a gift together like that as well instead of presents!