Christmas This Year

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. This December has been especially sweet. Our boys have been pretty well behaved, we still have jobs, a roof over our heads, can pay our bills, and we’re fairly healthy (a cold here and there, but no matter). This year I feel relief. I feel light and free. I’ve been pondering why I feel this way and I think it ties back into the stress of present buying.

Our boys received their Christmas early this year (as you may recall in a previous blog) and were told that this year they are receiving a small gift or two and their stockings. That’s it. The purchase of quads for our family was our Christmas. (I’m thinking of milking this for a couple of years, if possible.)

So as I’ve picked up small things for them, I haven’t been worrying about the boys. They’re happy with their gifts. I’ve been able to think about other people and actually remember folks I usually forget until the last minute!

I got Jenny’s present purchased and in the mail before I received hers. That’s a new record. (She always beats me to it.) I have already handed out cards and breads to our neighbors, put together a cute snowman filled with treats for Steve’s home teaching family, given my visiting teacher a gift, my visiting teachees their gifts, bought my students candy, my student aide and her mom presents, baked cookies for half of the staff at my school, got Carolyn’s family’s present ready, and bought stuff for Steve. My parents’ and grandma’s presents are even ready. I’m not tired of shopping. I’m not worried about Christmas morning.

Instead, this year I’m calm. So why am I usually a grumbly mess by December 19th? Why am I NOT a grumbly mess this year? I’m prepared, that’s the difference. This year I made a plan for presents and people and it’s working.

The only thing I forgot about was our Christmas card picture. We never took a picture of all 4 of us together this year. (Sigh.) Well, no one’s perfect.