daily thought by mel

so, tis the season and all that glittery jazz. season for what? giving? sharing? buying? going into debt? baking? cooking? having ppl over to your house that you don't really like but better invite them anyways, at least you look good.

so, things are a wee bit different this year at the e's house.

i cancelled christmas. yep, tis true ya'll. no gift buying, giving for me/ us. a few months ago chris are i were talking and we decided for many reasons to not buy a thing for each other and then to take the bigger step of telling both sides of the family that we are not buying/exchanging gifts with them. why?

some how in the mad rush of life, we/i lost the reason to why we are doing all this. on a superficial level. i have everything that i want and if don't have something -i go buy it or i save money (or better yet-post stuff on kijiji) until i have enough and go buy it.

so then what is the reason why we are doing this? to get that fizzy-wussy feel good feelings that eventually go away? to run ourselves stupid with exhaustion? to buy the perfect gift for our kiddo's that will be forgotten about next month?

in the summer i was listening to that song, mary did you know. i was really listening to the words. then it hit me like a truck. mary knew that her baby boy would one day rule the world. she knew who her son was, she knew that he would do the greatest miracles known to man, that HER son would wrap people up in their arms, wipe tears, whisper words of love during a dark hour. she KNEW. if you are a mom can you even imagine knowing all that?

imagine knowing that you are raising, training and rearing the long awaited jesus. the pressure she most have felt. we think we have it tough as moms. hahaha. not even close. so, is this christmas season, all that it involves ,what mary would want to celebrate her son's birthday? would mary be proud of what i do? not so much i think.

(we have also cut wayyyy back on the get together, parties and general christmas fluff.)

so, with christmas being what 3 weeks away. there are no gifts under my tree, no shopping to do, no "what can i buy them" pressure on me, no what will i wear to this party thoughts. how much have i spent that i don't really have....how is it different?

day and night.

i LOVE THIS! i am actually enjoying the season this year! i love the extra time i have to spend with with chris and nate. most importantly i love the extra time i have at night to sit by my simple tree and reflect on the past, seek for the future. i love the thoughts and ideas that are coming to me for JUMP. i love that i am taking the time to hear that soft voice and actually hear something.

so, i won't be opening gifts christmas morning instead we will be sharing and enjoying the simplicity of this christmas.

side notes
- i did get a few things for nate. i think it would be mean to not buy him something
-we did exchange names for christmas socks with my imed. family and set a 20 max limit
-i am hosting a first ever family night christams eve with no dinner but snacks instead
-i am only attending 1 christmas party
-i only put up 1/4 of my normal decorations
-i will bake and share with family and friends
-i will not over spend/over buy

that is my thought for the day. i know it's not every one's cup-o-tea but for me/us this has been the best pre-christmas.

Posted by mel at 10:25 AM