Being “Present”

I’ve read so much recently in the blogosphere, online, and on Facebook about simplifying as it applies to the Christmas season.  My  spiritual self, and heart longs for it, and knows it is what God calls me to do.   However my physical self lives here in a secular world where at every turn activities, to-do lists, and the case of the “I shoulds” grab at me demanding my time, attention, and sometimes tears.  Not all of these are bad things either, or even secular, some are quite spiritual, and of God, but there is only one of me to meet all of the demands, as I’m sure all of us are feeling this time of year.

So, where is the balance? I really want to instill in Madalynn an understanding, and appreciation for the Christmas season that goes beyond Santa, and a ton of presents under the Christmas tree.  I want to create traditions she’ll carry on to her children, I want her to understand, and know the true gift of Christmas that came in Christ. 

I read a blog post today… HERE about a woman who downsized Christmas by giving her children 3 gifts just like the wise men brought to Jesus…

Three gifts of increasing value. myrrh, frankincense and gold. So starting that year, that’s what we did. Each of our kids received one gold present (the big one, like an X-box game or Lego set), one frankincense present (the middle one, like a DVD or book set) and one myrrh present (the small one, like a new outfit or CD). Three. And we encouraged the grandparents to consider paring down their ebullient over-gifting as well.  And we upped the fun value of the stockings by putting more thought into finding inexpensive, creative things to put inside them so that they would grow to love simple, little things.

I love the idea of that, but am challenged in my heart if I could really do it.  I get so caught up in seeing something I know Madalynn would love (within reason… I start in August/September so I’m not putting myself into debt to get her presents). 

Something else I saw recently (I’m sorry I can’t give the reference… it may have been a friend on Facebook or another blogger… Hannah was it you?) talking about being present for her kids.  That has stuck with me since I read it.  I want to be ‘present’ with Madalynn to stop, and enjoy the little things about this season.  Doing one ornament on her advent calendar each morning, and how excited she gets with something so simple.  Getting so excited each night when we notice the outside lights have turned on.  Sitting, and watching Christmas movies with her instead of putting them on while I get other things done.  My biggest challenge is going to be in the baking department though…. for me to STOP, and really enjoy making cookies with her instead of worrying about the mess, or making sure we get each step right. Twenty to thirty years from now she won’t remember what happened while we made the cookies… she’ll just remember making them.

Busy Christmas Filled Weekend

Yesterday, was a busy filled day with 2 Christmas themed activities, and celebrating my niece’s 12th birthday (how did THAT happen?)  I know I’m a completely biased Auntie, but I’m so proud of my niece.  She has always had a sweetness in her heart, and spirit that goes far beyond her years… she is the definition of a sweet heart, and does not have an unkind thought in her heart or mind.  Happy Birthday pumpkin pie! (That’s what I called her when she was a baby).

Before that we went to my parents early for our gingerbread house tradition.  Before the kids got into decorating the houses my Mom had a little devotion with the kids to remind them the reason for the season. 

Madalynn’s three year old attention span didn’t last long, especially when Chatham was in the room…  I do love the look on her face in this picture… they’re such good buddies.

Then it was on to the decorating…

Chatham was hoping for a spill…

 

 

Then we went to a “Polar Express” event at a local childrens/science museum.  First they read the story, and then they took us on a train ride around the grounds, followed by hot chocolate, cookies, and Santa.  It was sweet.  Definitely geared toward younger kids.

She wasn’t too sure about meeting Santa… we observed him for a long time before she would go up to him… then she finally told him she wants a bike w/ 2 wheels… hmmm… I don’t know if that will fit in Santa’s sleigh.

Then on to the Birthday party…

 

Do You See What I See?

I posted on Facebook the other day that I think there are way too many twinkly lights in my living room, and I’m not kidding… there’s A LOT going on in here.

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child is just so magical.  I think especially at the age of three where she’s just really beginning to ‘get’ it.   She is so excited.

I’m also finding it challenging to bring things/traditions into our home that reflect the true meaning of Christmas, and not just make it all about Santa.  Most of the movies center around Santa, and it’s difficult to find age appropriate movies that tell the story of Christ’s birth.

One however that was a treasure to me when I grew up was “Nestor The Long Eared Christmas Donkey”.  A sweet story about a little donkey who was born, and didn’t know why God would give him long ears that caused him to be mocked, and persecuted.  Of course, God did have a precious purpose in giving him long ears… a purpose that no one else could do.   This movie also holds a special place in my heart because as a young child I watched it at my grandparents house, and was so upset by it, and cried so inconsolably that my grandfather was ready to call the TV network to give them a piece of his mind about showing things like that for kids.  Thankfully, my sensitive heart handles it better these days.

I did the tour of my home last year, and everything is pretty much the same this year with a few additions…

These candy canes were on our Christmas tree for about 20 minutes until Madalynn went through two of them… now they’re in a glass on the window sill in my kitchen.  Also, this year we have “Elf On The Shelf”… which Madalynn in all her literalness named “Elf On The Shelf”.  Every morning at 5:30am… we go on a hunt to find where he landed today on his journey home from the North Pole.

When I was little my grandmother made me a felt advent calendar with a Christmas tree, and ornaments in 24 pockets at the bottom, and each day you hung an ornament on the tree with the star as the final touch on Christmas Eve.  I LOVED this advent calendar, and of course I had my favorite ornaments each year.  While, somehow as the years passed we lost it… much to my dismay.  Last year I bought all the materials to make one for Madalynn… this is the end result.  I’m so thrilled to have it for her.  So, each morning after we find the elf we have to hang an ornament on her advent calendar.

What would Christmas be without Starbucks Christmas blend?  Much to my delight… this year they have an ESPRESSO Christmas blend… it has been yummy making it as an egg nog latte the last week… YUM.

We hope the Christmas spirit has arrived at your

home too!!

Busy Christmas Mode…

We’re full on Christmas mode over here… this will be a quick post… hope to update soon with all our goings on…

Madalynn loves the movie “White Christmas”, and does the “Sisters” number whenever it comes on… in this video the magazine serves as the feathers…  The password is “white”

Sisters 2010.

Fun senior photo shoot yesterday... pics on my photo business blog...
StarrLit Photography

Halloween

I said it last year & I’ll say it again this year… I don’t like Halloween… I know I’m an old crumudgeon but I just don’t like it… I LOVE the costumes (well the cute ones… I could do w/out the gory ones, as could Madalynn). 

With that said I will say that I think Madalynn was made to wear this Snow White costume.

We kept it low key, and just went to the neighbors, Aunty & Uncles, and Ga-Ga & Grandpa’s.  Then we hid out at my parents house (and watched the Patriots win) as our neighborhood gets mobbed.  That must have been enough for Madalynn b/c at 6:30pm in the 3 minute drive back from my parents she fell asleep.

Fall Catch Up

The other day I got to pick Madalynn up early from pre-school so I could see their Harvest Parade… they were all dressed up as farm animals… it was so cute…

I got Madalynn up & out of the house early today to scope out a new place for photo shoots, and off we went on our adventure… I’m convinced God gave me a child who hates the camera to help me hone my photography skills, as the child REFUSES to look at the camera… I’m so glad we went though because it’s a great place to shoot.

It was freezing, this is as she’s about to take off her jacket…

This was the reaction to me saying “Madalynn don’t take off your jacket… it’s cold”… can you say strong-willed?

Also, this past week Madalynn had her first ride on Grandpa’s green tractor…. Grandpa didn’t clear this with myself or Ga-Ga… my memory serves that the other grandkids rode in the wagon at this age, but Grandpa says no…