Today while I was sitting at a red light I was checking my Facebook. I guess I got bored in that two minutes it took for the light to change. Ironically I found this blog post about slowing down, not multitasking, stopping to smell the roses..... It seems like it is always my goal to live a little slower. I am always reminding myself. I've been doing a lot of "soul searching" lately. I am contemplative...always going over things, analyzing, daydreaming.... I am trying to slow down. With a full time crazy job that is an hour away from my house and three growing kids I have to be very deliberate about it. I have to force myself. Notice I said, trying to slow down.
So, Christmas is coming up pretty quick. I love Christmas. I love Christmas carols and Christmas trees and decorations and Christmas cookies and Presents. I love Presents. I love planning and finding that perfect gift for that someone special. I love wrapping.....packaging.....sealing with a kiss. I love dipping candy canes in chocolate and putting them in pretty packages with shiny red bows. I love putting the girls in their red velvet dresses and Jude in his....shirt with a collar (lol) and taking silly pictures. I love Christmas cards....but only if they contain a little note. I am not that fond of a cheap card with a family signature. Just my thoughts. Anyways....back to what I was saying. Since I moved to TN, Jake and I split the holidays. This year I get the kids for Thanksgiving and he has them on Christmas. The kids get WAY too much on Christmas. I want to give them presents because like I said above....I love the whole gift giving thing. But.....I do not want to just give them STUFF. So I am thinking and planning and organizing. I wish they knew how privileged they really are.... I try to teach them to appreciate what they have and to be humble but I think I might be failing miserably. I should probably lead by example. I am really just over all the stuff. I am focusing on my blessings. Learning to be thankful and appreciate. The blog (http://www.aholyexperience.com/)I was reading talked about this (http://onethousandgifts.com/). I haven't bought the book but she was saying that she has been writing down things she feels are "gifts" to her every day. Not just 2 or 3. She has been writing 33 each day. 33 different ones each day. I like the idea a lot. I think I will try it myself. I have so many gifts....
I am going to start blogging again. I think I will show y'all a little of my Tennessee later this week. See you then!!!
I'm glad you decided to write again...I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteAunt D.
Welcome back! You don't need to read the book to get started, but it is a blessing. Reading about her background a bit, you can see how amazing God's work has been/is in her life. (So there's hope for us, too.)
ReplyDeleteYou're good at making memories with your kids. That could be a fun way to do Christmas! Or have them put together gifts for less fortunate kids? Kids can do gratitude journals, too.
Something I think would be fun is interviewing your kids. Here are a few websites that offer sample questions:
http://ati.iblp.org/ati/family/articles/family/questions/
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/200-Question-Cards-for-Discussion-and-Writing-Prompts-63407
http://crappypictures.com/interview-your-kids/
http://life.familyeducation.com/communication/family-time/36021.html?page=3
http://leladavidson.hubpages.com/hub/Top-50-Open-Ended-Questions-for-Sparking-Conversation-With-Kids
Yeah, I got a little carried away there. I just think it's such a fun idea!
Nancy