I wonder if it's a new thing....many people changing how they celebrate Christmas. I've noticed alot of my friends asking advice on what to do about this Christmas thing. Do we do Santa or not, and how ellaboratly? Do we do gifts or not, and how much in debt should we go? Is it really going to even be about Jesus?! Robert and i talk about these things alot. We've had dear friends that believe that the Holy Spirit has lead them to not celebrate Christmas, and I say, bravo! Let the Spririt lead you! But as for me and my house, this is our thoughts THIS year.... We decorate. We LOVE decorating. I LOVE Christmas music, even the music about Santa! Robert has yearly traditions of making hot cocoa and sitting and watching a few old Christmas shows with the kids. Even Cal is getting into it this year! I love the weather at this time of year. Even though we are in Georgia now and it's not all that cold. We have a Christmas tree and I enjoy snowmen and they are all over the house. (grrr...I just lost a huge couple of paragraphs I typed, I'm retyping this now, hope I don't forget anything) I love that work places respect this time of year and give time off (not matter what their motives, we will take advantage and praise God for the blessing of having our Daddy home for two four day weekends) We do get the children gifts, but only about three apeice. This is because we don't want them to get the "gimme, gimme, gimme" bug! Yes, celebrating Christmas is a constant fight againt the world's superficiality, but isn't everything?! The other day in the van Darby said to me, "Mom, you know what I want for Christmas?" "What?" "Nothing, cuz, I love God and that is enough." So I thought, well, hopefully that is a sign we are doing something right! : )
Santa....we call it "playing santa". Ever since Darby was tiny, as she would go thru her stocking I would remind her that Santa isn't real, Mommy and Daddy just play santa. A couple years ago she became adiment about believing in Santa (probably because of some influence from the preschool she was attending), and that was fine. I didn't blow anything out of porportion. When she would ask if Santa was real, I would ask her what she thought, and then I would just listen to her logic on the subject. Never lying to her. It only lasted two years, and now she's back to wanting to know the real truth. We talk a lot about St. Nicholas. Who really loved Jesus and gave to the needy because of his heart for the Lord. What better example to show our children, right? So we have a book about him and read it every year many times. Darby basically has in memorized. Everything circles back to Christ. "Is Santa real?" "No. We play Santa in memory of St. Nicholas who was a giving man, because of his love for Jesus!" Seems to work for us for now and I enjoy it. Not REALLY Jesus's birthday. Ah...and I we don't ever really celebrate Darby's birthday on her actual birthday either. I don't see an issue with setting up a time to remind us to remember God sending His son to us even though it's not on the exact day or even the exact month. Details! ; ) Anyway, that is how we feel lead to do things for now. In the future, as always, we will follow the Lord as He leads us and always have a peace with those decisions! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Love you all!
4 Comments
Jessica Solberg
12/8/2009 12:22:49 am
Good job Lindsey....very well put. We are the same as you. We do the tree, decorate, gifts, etc. We don't do the Santa thing, but our oldest is just 4 so it hasn't been a real issue yet. When he asks, we just say he is "pretend"...but I like the way you have handled it as well..when he is a bit older I will remember that. Christmas has such special memories and traditions for me growing up, none of which are commercialized or out of focus, so I don't see why some are soo opposed, but to each their own I suppose. It's about giving, not receiving...I love to buy gifts for people. Some seem to think it's all about the receiving part. Anyway, we don't do anything for Halloween..and I am sure others think that is silly...so each person has to decide....
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Lona Farrell
12/8/2009 01:36:28 am
thank you for sharing Lindsey...I have a great deal of respect for you and our mutual friend in how you raise each of your families...I am paying close attention and I learn a great deal from you both. Thank you again...
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Christina
12/8/2009 05:21:23 am
Lindsay
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Dave
12/10/2009 02:31:57 pm
I don't have anything to say about Christmas;I just wanted to say,"Yo"! Tell Cal congrats on turning one and on his vocab skills. You'd be suprised how far a guy can advance by just noddnig and saying the word "ball". I'm diggin' this website thing, but I have to dig back through my e-mails to find the address. If Robert reads this, please tell him to watch Tommy Emmanuel on youtube.
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