Over at RevGalBlogPals, Sally writes:
I am reading a wonderful little book for Advent. Its title: Do Nothing, Christmas is Coming!
So this week's Friday Five is simple. List five things you won't be doing to prepare for Christmas.
1. We are pretty sure we're going to skip putting up the tree this time around. I haven't been too excited about it for several years now, and it feels like such an unnecessary chore.
2. No other decorations, either -- other than the gigantic Advent wreath that's already in the front yard.
3. No aimless shopping. We're pretty good at having an idea of what we're going to buy for a person before we go looking for it, thereby minimizing our time lost on attention to retail. Also, we are donating to organizations like Nothing But Nets, Heifer International, and Arkansas Rice Depot as part of our gifts to family members.
4. No cooking special foods. We always eat way too much when we go to visit family during the holidays, so there's no need to go overboard here at home. (Besides, we got sent home from Thanksgiving with peanut brittle and fudge, and I suspect there will be something else to take with us after Christmas.)
5. I will not be one of the people insisting that this is "the most wonderful time of the year" and that everyone should be happy. I'm attending a funeral tomorrow for the husband of a friend. I'm singing at the Blue Christmas worship service our church is offering in a couple of weeks. I'm praying for those dealing with loss and uncertainty in the face of forced joy.
Bonus: Things I will be doing include obsessing about musical obligations (not the Blue Christmas one, but the other stuff that's more complicated), traveling, and being intentional about keeping my stress level down in the middle of it all. (I have a massage scheduled for this evening.)
Also, some time this weekend I'm going to blog about last weekend's wonderful wedding of my niece and nephew-in-law!
8 comments:
We didn't put a tree up one year, or decorate at all, for that matter, and I couldn't bear it. I would love to be able to wave a wand and be done with the toting, the long hours putting things up and all that, but it must be in my dna to "do" Christmas. There are lots of good, warm, happy memories from growing up that get revived with decorating, and with other stresses at this time of year I am thankful for the peace that comes with the trappings. For me. I totally get, however, the freedom of not doing it, and celebrate that choice for you!
I would mourn the loss of a tree. I want one quicker than my husband I'm afraid. It is so grey outside that if I don't, I'm afraid I'd just start the January gloom early. But I do hope I don't force Christmas cheer on my husband especially--he is depressed and his family is facing some huge losses this year.
Great list. I haven't put up a tree in years...at least 4. Guess I should get rid of the thing...
I love the colors and symbols of Christmas, but not the work. Plus WonderMutt + tree (even artificial) = mess.
Sigh.
At least he's cute.
I've skipped the tree and interior decorating for 2 years now, and it really does free up time and feel less like a chore. Plus there's not the big clean-up-put-away let down later. I'll be intrigued to see how it goes for you!
I'm with Angela and altar ego, but I also can see the freedom of treelessness. We didn't do one last year because we went to the Midwest for Christmas, but it was disorienting for me. (As are the 50+degree temps we're having in Maine right now!) You seem to have a good feel for what's important to you and your family, and that's the wise way.
I am not putting up a tree this year. With my daddy's surgery and going back and forth...it is just not worth it.
Now if someone would just come over and take down the fall stuff!
I think with little kids in the house, we will be forced into the tree thing. But, normally I put it up every Black Friday without fail, but not this year. I'm just not in the mood. And I hate the idea of forcing myself to do it.
Maybe I'll just put it up and not worry about all the extra stuff. Good luck to you on staying stress free.
At least we have a puppy coming over tomorrow for a visit.
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