Minimalist Christmas

We are having a minimalist Christmas this year. Usually the weekend following Thanksgiving I spend three days decorating the house with a Christmas tree in almost every room, lights everywhere, my growing Santa collection, silver bells on the bannister... Brad comments that it looks like a Christmas elf threw-up. But, I usually love to deck the halls.

Not this year. I'm not sure if it's because of the one year anniversary of losing Andrea on Christmas eve, or that Brad lost his job a year ago during the holidays, or that everyone I know is tightening their Christmas budgets and making Christmas wishes to keep jobs and homes. Whatever the reason, there is one tree, no bells, no extras. The Santa collection is displayed because I love Santa and he represents the childlike innocence and hope of Christmas. And my nativity.

 Brad was thrilled with this new minimalist approach to decorating and to be honest, I'm enjoying it too. First, it only took one day to decorate instead of three whole days. And despite the fact that there is less, I feel more. I have a different sense of Christmas this year.

It has been a tough year, but when I look back we have so much to be truly grateful for and there is this presence of peace within me. Sure, we're buying less presents, but we will spend more time together. Which is what we did Thanksgiving. We talked and laughed and talked and laughed and enjoyed one another's company. We rejoiced in family and that is what I plan to continue during the Christmas season.

Family has alway been important in my life, but it seems in our busy lives we have taken one another for granted. We assumed that our huge family base would always be the same, that after the jobs, friends, sports, and other activities, we would always be there. As we added to the home that is our family, we seemed to lose each other in all of the extras.

So, no extras this year. Just family. And a sense of profound peace in the blessing that is family and the recognition of the true season as we join our families together with the birth of that beautiful, saving child.

A minimalist Christmas, I truly recommend.

Comments

[Fairy Convent]

I understand about having a minimalist holiday. People are cutting back and even me and Mon won't spend much this holiday season. We will enjoy each other's company and play host to our friends who have become our family. They are not the same by any means, no one can ever be as loud or crazy! But the simplicity of things is what I have come to appreciate. And the connection to family this holiday season has become more important this year.
Just remember "Randy layed there like a slug, It was his only defense".
Love You!