Oh, my it's been over a week....

Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 12:11

It's been over a week since I have posted anything.  I have checked in periodically to see what was going on and made a few comments.  However, I have been so busy I could not put together a post.  I guess that is what Deanna was talking about on her post No obligation to blog.  I like the thoughts of that!! 

Anyway, I have really been trying to get all of the gift buying done.  I hate to even say this but if it is legal to say you hate something about this season then I am saying it!!  I can not stand the whole having to buy a gift for this person or that!!!  For those of you who do not participate in this, I sooo envy you.  I would love to get off this train and just sit back and watch.  I don't know how we could do that.  Nevertheless, we have cut it down tremendously.  I remember Christmas's in the past where my children sat for hours opening up gifts.  This year they have a few things under the tree but the majority are joint gifts like games and movies.  I use to have to clean out toys to make room for new toys.  Insane right?!  We have made it so much simpler.  However, I do still have to buy my brother and his family one $50.00 gift.  I need to pick up my mom's gift, my dad's gift, and DH's parents gift.  I would like to pick up one more individual thing for each of my kiddos.  I only have 1  thing a piece for them right now.  As for DH and I, we do not get each other anything.  Christmas puts a hard enough financial strain on me to have to add anything else to it!!!  Lord willing, I hope to get all of my shopping done on Monday.  Dh will be off and we will go together and finish up.  That way we will have the rest of the month to put Christmas in it's proper place. We can focus on the real reason for the season.  We can also spend that time ministering to friends and family.  I love to bake things and take them to the neighbors and to friends.  Those are the things I love about Christmas, trully showing the love of Jesus to others.  The giving from the heart part of it all. 

Well, I am off to buy groceries.... Have a great day!!

Blessings,

Trixi

I hear your heart

Posted by blessedmomof10 on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 02:48 - Link

Trixi,

I understand how you feel... I once felt the same way...... I felt "obligated" to purchase gifts....... I remember when we told extended family we were not doing Christmas gifts...... it was not well received.

I tried to explain to them that it is Jesus' Bday and we should be thinking of gifts for HIM! I encouraged them to change gears and think about sending gifts for bdays instead of Christmas........it took a lot of prodding, but finally after years they don't send gifts anymore...... I also received calls from them asking if I had received a gift -- it's as if they wanted to make sure I knew they had sent one, and why didn't I say thank you right away. I kindly would explain to them that I am grateful -- but if they are doing just for a "thank you" please don't do it for the heart is not in the gift giving.........

If you can do the gift giving with pure motives, then blessings to you -- but if you find you are doing it out of obligation, there is a lack of joy....... some find great joy in doing it, and that is great but so many do not like to do it and I wonder "why" do it?

IN any case, the children and family know that they will receive gifts on their bday but Christmas is Jesus' day! A day to celebrate what HIS life has meant to us. They understand now..... but oh it did take time to break away from the chains of tradition......

Now I know why the Puritans outlawed Christmas for years and years..........

Exsuse my ramblings -

Gloria

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No, please ramble on, I glean so much from you. I do wish that we could get to this same point but needless to say it wont be this year.
Blessings,
Trixi

Edited by homesteadinthemaking on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 04:28

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