becoming sandy
Sharing what I am learning, unlearning and relearning as I navigate my way through a midlife unraveling and awakening, becoming the woman I was meant to be all along.
Do you save the cards and letters that you receive at the holidays? I love reading about my friends and their families and the highlights of their year. I often save them inside of our Christmas boxes so that we can look back at them from year to year, especially the ones that include pictures. This year, even though we have done zero actual decorating (aside from some light up garland and trees in my bedroom), I remembered to review a very special letter. This letter reminded me that there is still hope for the holiday in spite of knowing that our tree remains inside of it's boxy cardboard cocoon, the outdoor lights continue to be tangled together nearby along with the reindeer, snowflakes and "baby Jesus", and even our Christmas village, with it's snow and townspeople, are all still boxed away on the storage shelves in the basement. Gabriel and Darrian have located and placed our inflatable polar bear and penguin outside, but that is where they will lay until we find the time, energy and Holiday spirit to connect them to their life giving power source. The hope I found in that letter reminded me that this isn't the first holiday season that has felt this way, and it will undoubtedly not be the last. Right after the new year in 2016, in an attempt to simplify and minimize the inundation of stress that inevitably invaded my brain each and every Holiday season, I polled each family member in our home and asked them to share only one thing/activity that was necessary for them to enjoy the Holiday season and then, I wrote my future self a letter and tucked it away. I am so grateful that I took the time to write it and remembered to find it, as it is the perfect reminder for my sometimes over-do-it self, and it outlines what my family really craves during the holidays. I reviewed and edited the letter, but it is still mostly the same one that I wrote to myself several years ago. I'm sharing it now, because if you are anything like me, then you just may need this reminder as well. I hope that this letter ministers to your heart and refreshes your mind as you dig into the trimmings and wrappings of this Holiday season... "The entire Christmas season just felt "off". I felt "off". I just could NOT get into it. It didn't feel like Christmas, at all. It felt like obligations, disappointments and busy-ness wrapped up in a hap-hazard bow of burned out and tangled Christmas lights. There were moments of joy! I will always remember seeing the kids faces light up when we finally decorated the outside of the house with lights and polar bears! Sweet mama, there are a few things that you want to remember each holiday season... These are the activities that speak "Christmas love" to your children. Schedule these first and do your best to make sure that they are a priority.
That's it! That is our list. You do not need to DO another solitary thing in order to feel the seasonal JOY of Christmas. Don't be overly disappointed if you can not make it to the Christmas Pageant at First Baptist of Raytown or even Christmas Eve service). Remember that the kids get sick at this time nearly every year. Try to be grateful for any unscheduled rest in the midst of this busy season. Remember that YOU LOVE JESUS! There are no hard and fast rules that say that you have to participate in anything in particular to prove it. If you find the energy and decide that you want to do something elaborately amazing or just simply extra, and you've already set aside the time and energy for the list above, GO FOR IT! But, there is no pressure. Seriously! You do not even have to spend the last few weeks of the year doing that amazing Advent Bible Study that you've wanted to do all year. Give yourself permission to embrace the sights, sounds, smells, people and experiences that God has provided and rejoice that He is good. Do not force yourself to do anything that you don't love, especially in an attempt to satisfy someone's perceived notion of the "perfect Christmas", even if it's your own. Do not dismay or allow discouragement to settle in and rob you of the joy of this season. Lastly and maybe even most importantly, remember to reach out to your people. It is absolutely possible (and dare I say normal) to feel lonely or sad during this time, even though it is the "happiest season of all". Have a plan in place. Be honest about your physical, spiritual and emotional needs with yourself and your inner circle. If you need help, encouragement or coffee, just ask." There you have it! I'm going to take my own advice this year. If it doesn't bring us joy, it will not wiggle it's way into our list of priorities. What are your must do's around the holidays? As promised, I have included our Neighbor Treat Favorites along with links to a few of the recipes below. I would love to hear about your families favorite treats to make and/or enjoy this time of year? Our Must Have, Go-To Neighbor treats: Crock Pot Chocolate covered peanuts (prepared in mini paper cupcake cups) Almond Bark pretzels and Rods Peanut Butter Kiss cookies Don't forget the Rolo Turtles
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About the AuthorSandy is a parent educator, enneagram aficionado, conscious parenting advocate, self trained and proclaimed home chef, and mother of 4 amazing kids. Archives
May 2022
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