Posted in Simple and Frugal Living

Hi All!  I know this time is crazy for all!  There is baking, shopping, wrapping, food prep, prayer time, activities, etc.  Too much to do and little time to do it.  This can surely leave you haggard (as it does me).  However our family has come up with a plan that has really helped us to manage our Christmas season better, and give us more time to focus on Jesus. 

Several years ago, our oldest discovered the true identity of Santa.  I had been afraid of the let down, so I planned a few things to help it continue to be special.  For one thing, we allowed him to stay up on Christmas Eve and put out the presents.  His being allowed to share in the joy of Santa fromt he giving side really gave him something to look forward to and has become a tradition.  Secondly, we determined that this was a perfect idea to scale back on presents.  While we enjoy our litteltons waking up with mesmerized eyes at the gifts under the tree, we decided that when the gig was up with Santa, that would be the time to focus more intently on Christ.  To help us accomplish this we  narrowed the gifts down to no gifts from Santa and 3 from us; a need, a want, and something just for fun.  These are to represent the 3 gifts from the Magi.  Oh, and they get 2 stocking gifts.

As the years have gone by we have noticed certain changes.  For one, the lists the children who have moved on give us are much more thoughtful.  They truly consider what it is they really want, because they don't want us picking something off a list that is greed oriented.  We feel much better about gifting, because we know that we are getting something the children truly want and will have longevity.  Also, the more kids that crossover, the more special Christmas Eve is from the gifting standpoint.  They truly think of the littletons when placing gifts around the tree and in stockings.  Oddly, we just dumped out without a thought.  However, they use their childhood memories and aestetic desires to set each present in precisely the right place.  lol!

All of this downsizing has allowed our family to place an emphasis on Christ.  We have even noticed that our littletons have a more Christ focus than the eldertons did at their age.  This plan can work for families who do not use Santa, as well.  Simply pick an age that the gifting situation will change.  This is a great tradition.  While the littletons will not have something to look farward too, as they don't know what is coming, the eldertons have a tremendous amount to look froward to. 

Downsizing for Christmas is a way to continue to incorporate simplicity in your lifestyle, but more importantly it promotes a more meaningful holiday.  This is a great example of less is MORE!

I wish each of you all the joy and blessings of this wonderful holoiday to honor the birth of our Lord!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.  2 Cor 9:15

Merry Christmas!

Leslie