Keeping it simple

I tend to put too much busyness into the holidays and too little into just being present in the moment. It happens every year...it's like I'm trying to make it so perfect that it's nothing but a stressful mess. I always have big dreams of baking up a storm and doing all this great stuff that takes so much time and energy. In the end I always look back and feel like I have missed something and say that "next year will be different". Well this year is or at least that is what I am hoping for. The plan- I am trying not to over decorate which makes a big mess and a lot of clean up. In fact, I let the kids put up AND decorate the tree! That was a big step for me… considering that they are 8, 6 and 3. They did great and loved it! I am also giving up my dreams of all day baking of yummy treats, because it just isn't going to happen without a lot of stress.. Instead I bought some frozen cookie dough, yes I know....but hey my kids still love it, it's quick, the house smells great and the cookie jar is full. I pulled out some of the kids Christmas books and put them on the shelf so that we can read them together. I found some easy craft ideas for the kids and I to do and hope to make enough crafty things to take to the nursing home with the kids. That is one thing we have not done during the holiday season and I would like to teach my kids to reach out to others. I want to be present in the moment and enjoy each day. When my kids get home from school I want them to feel like home is an awesome place to be. I have been playing Christmas music and am trying to do some advent reading with the kids. It hasn't happened each day but it is happening and I am not going to stress over what is not happening. It just seems like simple is the best plan for my family. I don't think that God wants us to over complicate things and I tend to do that from time to time. So I hope that when my family remembers this holiday season they remember times of sipping hot coco and telling stories, spaghetti dinners with candle light that ended in great encouraging discussions together. Most of all I hope they feel loved and remember how much God loves them and cherishes them. My desire is to share the simple love of Jesus with my family this season and every day.

~JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON AND EVERY SEASON!~