Family Is Where's It's At

Our family was so blessed to be able to host our big annual family Christmas party this past Saturday. Over the last few years, we've all agreed that celebrating with our very big extended family BEFORE the actual holiday works out really nice, leaving the big day more relaxed and quiet and meant for quality time with our little families.  With each passing year, our family just keeps growing and growing, more babies around every corner, my little cousins not so little anymore, girlfriends and boyfriends that will soon become official spouses.  But we still get together despite the growing guest list, knowing how special this time together is and appreciating each other and the gift that is family.

I think I counted 50 heads in our house that night.  Fifty LOUDLY talking heads full of life and love. The little kids serenaded us with Christmas carols, our cousin Daniel impressing us with his skills on the piano.  The women all chimed in for a heartfelt round of "Silent Night" and I was overcome with emotion as I took it all in.  The food was amazing, as usual, and I ate my weight in meatballs and honey baked ham and spinach dip.  The adults played a rowdy game of "Dirty Santa" and Shawn and I were stoked when we ended up with a hand painted lamp for the kitchen. There was a fire in the outdoor fireplace, mistletoe for stealing kisses, and girl talk around the dining room table. But the best part, by far, was the amazing fireworks show that Shawn and my uncles and cousins put together in our front yard.  We all gathered on the front porch and stood under the big country sky and watched in amazement as they lit up the night with color and sound.  It was magical.

We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and catching up, laughing until we cried. And when I finally made it to bed, exhausted and deliriously happy, it occurred to me that this is Christmas as an adult.  Not looking forward to surprises and gifts and receiving, but instead enjoying the people, the gift giving, the time spent together. These are the moments that make me feel like the richest girl in the world.

Keeping It Simple: Advent

I had the perfect family Advent all planned out: a beautiful calendar with scriptures, reflections, and activities, a devotional for Shawn and I to read together daily and map out our thoughts and hopes and dreams, and a calendar full of dates with friends and every single Christmas activity I could find within a 50 mile radius.

But December 1st came and went and I instantly knew that this year was just not going to be like that. This has been our year of devotion, our year of settling in, slowing down, and simplifying in every way.  This year will not be the year of the Pinterest worthy Advent.  This year will be the year of taking each day one step at a time, less activities and more prayers, family over hustle and bustle. We'll keep that pretty Advent calendar up just for inspiration but no stressing ourselves out over what day we're on or where we're supposed to be.  This year, we're going to spend more time focusing on the whole point of this magical time instead of getting overwhelmed by the energy that surrounds it.

This year, for Advent, we've been to the lighting of the Christmas tree in our little town's courthouse square.  We've been to the holiday light safari at the zoo with our friends, made gingerbread cookies, watched fireworks on a blanket by the bayou.  And we've prayed.  And spent a lot of time together as a family, reading about the birth of Jesus and what this holiday really means to us: Jesus is the light of the world and He was born so that we may live.  Our kids have enjoyed the simple nights in the kitchen, the fun trips out to see all of the twinkly lights, and the time that we are spending together all in the name of Christmas.  To me, this is the greatest gift that I could have received this holiday season: the gift of dying to myself and my unrealistic parental expectations, the gift of loving where I am right here and right now, of saying no to more and embracing the here and now.

This is our way of preparing Him room.

The Christmas Diaries: Light 'Em Up

We dropped Isabelle off at her piano lesson, 5 minutes early instead of 5 minutes late for a change. She knows the routine: I usually bide my time waiting to pick her up by bringing the two little kids to my office where we have snacks and play on the chalkboard.  This night, however, we went out for milkshakes, Isabelle's favorite treat, to prepare for the fun night ahead.  This night, instead of rushing home to finish homework and bath time and everything in between, we stayed out late and left our normal routine behind.

It was cold outside but they wanted milkshakes anyway. Typical.  "We're going to drive around and look at all of the Christmas lights!!" I called out from the front seat.  I have no idea what their response was because I couldn't hear anything over the sound of their little girl squeals.  Something so simple made them so happy.  As we drove through town, Christmas music playing on the radio, we took turns pointing out lights to each other.  We picked which houses we liked best: Isabelle likes multicolored lights, Brees like blue, I prefer classic white.  We parked our car and ran around the courthouse square, lights twinkling in every direction.  They were positively giddy, the crisp night air whipping through their hair as they ran and oohed and aahed their way around town.  River woke up just in time to see the lights, his big (still blue) eyes wide with curiosity as he took in the sights and sounds of his first Christmas season.

I felt so nostalgic that night, remembering the years my own mother would pack my brother and I into her car in our pajamas,driving us from one neighborhood to the next looking at lights.  Something so simple still measures up so big in my Christmas memory bank.  But, sometimes that's all it takes to make a big difference in a child's life: a break from routine, sparkles and glitter, being together. It was one of those nights that reminded me that my kids are happy when they see me happy.  They relax and really settle in deep to their inner joy when they see me do the same. I hope that's what they will remember: Mama singing along to the radio, smiling and telling them stories, reassuring them and encouraging them with a full and happy heart. I hope they never forget nights like these.

Advent

Advent is a time for our family to reflect on what Christmas really means to us.  It is a time for us to be together in prayer, to spend time making our hearts open and ready for the coming of Christ. Advent is a time for acts of service, it is a time to practice humility and compassion.  It is a way to teach our kids that the most rewarding thing a person can do is to serve another, to give of yourself, to spread love and light to those in need.  

I read an article this week that said that because we as Christians feel that the gift of Christmas is so great, because we feel such awe and wonder at what happened on that first Christmas, celebrating just one day is not enough.  The season of Advent is intended to serve as a preparation period for what is to come, it is meant to help us reflect on the true meaning of this very special holiday.  I love that perspective.  Taking time each day to do something special together, whether big or small, to spend extra time in prayer, to perform acts of service: it just makes this time that much more meaningful.

The Advent season is here and, to celebrate, I made an Advent calendar this weekend.  It was a very simple project inspired by Pinterest here and here.

First, I found an old frame in our barn that fit the rustic aesthetic I was going for.

  

I painted the frame using a primer/paint in one in a bright, minty green color.  I did a bit of distressing after the paint was on using a wire brush and sand paper.

Next, Shawn and I stapled 4 pieces of twine to the back of the frame.  I made half hitch knots on either side of the staples to prevent the twine from slipping out from under the staple.  We made sure to pull the twine very tight to prevent sagging.

I purchased these awesome tags and slipped a message inside each one.  I attached the tags to the twine using mini clothespins that I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

In less than two hours, we hung our sweet new Advent calendar up in our living room!

The girls were so excited and so was baby River!  They have loved opening up each day's message. So far, we have discussed Advent and shared our thoughts on what Christmas means to us, we've decorated our Christmas tree, and we've written letters to Santa.  

Of all the traditions Shawn and I have adopted since becoming parents, putting all of these ideas together and celebrating these special moments is by far my favorite.  I can't wait to watch our kids' eyes light up each day as they see what's in store for them next!

Some of the activities we have planned:

Write a letter of encouragement to someone in need

Visit Santa at the mall and have your photo taken

Family Christmas movie night

Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

Make handmade ornaments

Donate toys and clothes to a family in need

Read the Christmas story

Holiday light safari at the zoo

Make placemats to be used at Christmas dinner

Make salt dough ornaments

Decorate a gingerbread house

Pick out a gift for your siblings using your own money

Cook a meal and deliver it to someone in need

Send out Christmas cards to our loved ones