Monday, November 28, 2016

A Few Small Christmas Thoughts

I have been reading about Fred Harvey, and it is extremely interesting!

I've also had the opportunity to read two separate blog posts written by homeschool moms, about the spirit of Christmas and avoiding entitlement/consumerism. They both echoed my sentiments very accurately, along with pointing out a couple things I hadn't thought of before. I have been putting more thought into Christmas of this year than any previous years I recall. Each year, I seem to think about it a little more deeply, and for a little longer before Christmas actually rolls around.

My Man and I have always aimed the same direction concerning the entitlement/consumerism of Christmas, and also our limited budget. But we both have trouble coming to a concrete idea of exactly what feels right for our family during the joyous Christmas season. It isn't an argument between him and I, it's an argument between us and the rest of the world - and yet we don't even know where we stand, so our argument isn't firm within our own minds.

I feel like I've personally made a lot of progress this year, in finding what I feel comfortable with. I haven't yet shared with my Man, because without comfortable guidelines, this has (sadly) been a depressing subject for us to talk about in the past. I don't want it to be like that this time, so maybe we'll just concentrate on the spirit of doing our Christmas (e.g. decorating, taking cookies to the police & fire departments, etc), and worry about the finer details later, after the season is over. :-) I think it would be easier for both of us to discuss it then anyway. But we'll see what the flow of life brings us this year. :-)

We have tentatively discussed something drastically different than ever before, for this one year. We only mentioned it once or twice, and it happened to be in front of the children, so we ran the idea by them, too. They are gung-ho for it. It is this: We might, and I repeat, might, as a family, build ourselves a chicken coop this year as a Christmas gift to all of us. I had plans for gifts I wanted to make for the children, and on what I could help them make for each other. I had not discussed those plans with them. It is still up in the air, what we are going to do. However, we would like to get chicks this spring, and will need somewhere to put them. And the one Christmas idea that is already cemented in our mind, and has been ever since our first child was born, is that at least some of our Christmas giving must be homemade. Making a chicken coop together, while untraditional, would also still fit the bill in our tradition... if that makes sense to you. :-) Anyway, it is all still up in the air.

Friday, November 18, 2016

A Little Update

I have accomplished a great deal today. I cleaned the laundry room (our worst catch-all area), which was in horrible condition because I'd been dreading doing it, and putting it off for longer and longer and longer. I cleaned out the refrigerator, which also was in great need. Orange juice had been spilled in there. And I have done regular housework.

My mother-in-law should be in tonight, Lord willing. She would've been here by about 4, but they ran into car trouble. :-( The guest room is all ready and waiting. We are all ready and waiting. My Man went to pick up his deer antlers, which he accidentally left with the friends he went hunting with. So groceries will be bought tomorrow. I should be able to go by myself. That will be nice.