Does anyone ever feel that because we're so used to buying clever gifts and stuff for presents on christmas that the whole holiday has kinda lost some of the meaning?
I find myself wanting to give more of myself, and less of something imported from China. It's still okay for children to give you a picture drawn in crayon, but now with photoshop and such, you almost need professionally printed christmas cards to even keep up with the tradition... and while it's more sparkly, it just feels more distant... I was thinking about how I used to do things like carolling, Sure you'd freeze your tail off, spill hot cocoa all over your mittens, and it was always offkey, but now you just go download some music from your favorite music download site, or email youtube greetings to each other... :)
Just seems a bit more artificial... convenient... but also kinda... well... impersonal.
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
us too, we carol in our friends neighborhood cause the houses are closer... We go to "sing to the old folks", were hubby works... It's tradition and it's one of my favorites. We love elderly people... I wish we had more time to serve them as a family all throughout the year, but ESPECIALLY at Christmas I think they need to be reminded that they are loved.
My children need these opportunities if you ask me to connect with others that don't have strong family connections. This year we are combining an extended family get together with this service and joyful challenge. But we don't sound too bad... and we take requests... sometimes...
Interesting. I was thinking how lazy I was with Christmas because I wasn't going shopping.
Because I was making hot cinnamon rolls for a few choice neighbors instead of buying a hundred liters of sprite for everyone I ever met.
Because we decided on one family gift from Santa and individual gifts only from each other. Most of mine will be paintings....by me.
Because my son will decorate the Christmas tree with whatever he can find around the house. (toilet paper rolls?)
Because, if we do manage to send Christmas Cards, and that's a big if, they will be a big piece of paper my son played on with some watercolors... cut into card-sized pieces.
So what your saying, Ray, is that I'm the non-lazy one??
...Cool.
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"My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."
I agree that it's possible to be incredibly cheap on Christmas, but if you put effort into it, if you actually had to do more than click a mouse button, no matter the price difference, it almost feels more genuine to me, anyhow...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
It's usually quite balmy when we go caroling...always the Monday before Christmas Eve.
This year, wife and I will leave kiddies at home and we'll go to be hosts at the Temple.
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no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done
I'm feeling kind of lazy this Christmas too. I don't really have the desire to go out Christmas shopping (who says everyone needs a pile of presents under the tree?).
I'm feeling overwhelmed at the thought of digging out all my Christmas decorations. I thought today would be a good day to put up the tree. Although I did tell Cat last night when I came home from work that our outdoor Christmas lights were kind of wimpy. That's his territory, he just hasn't had the time to do more.
But, I'm not feeling bah humbug either. I'm feeling the Christmas Spirit, but I think it is possible to enjoy the holidays without going all out.
Last night our Relief Society had a Progressive dinner to different women's homes. Part of the advertising was, "Come visit some beautifully decorated homes." I'm kind of glad I had to work last night. I would have only felt like someone was rubbing it in my face. Not that anyone intends to do that, but I get that feeling sometimes.
But yesterday I invited another family to our home for Christmas Eve (as is our tradition) and my friend invited us to a tradition they started last year and I am all for it. Early in the day on Christmas Eve we thought it would be nice to go to an older person's nursing home and sing Christmas carols. She said her "little" family (five kids under the age of 8) went to a nursing home that was kind of run down and did that and it was great. I'm kind of thrilled at the prospect of doing that. I think it would be a good experience for my children so they understand a little more about spreading Christmas to people who may need it more.
My grandmother always made a huge deal about the Christmas tree. She had a silver tree, with a colorwheel and all sorts of shiny ornaments. Every year, She wanted that tree up, and my aunt would spend a day at her house setting it all up, and then she wanted everyone to come see it. I kinda have a soft spot in my heart for Christmas trees, now. They remind me of my beloved granny.
This year for family Home Evening right after Thanksgiving we put the tree up. (My wife has allergies to evergreens so we never have to worry about the "real" thing.) At first it seemed like a bother, but when we were done, it looked beautiful. There are certain ornaments I really like. One year we went out and got 20+ postcards with paintings from the life of Christ, and put them in nice silver frames, with a christmassy bow and wire loop and we hang these different images of Christ's life upon the tree. Those are my favorite ornaments.
At first the decorating efforts seemed tiresome. Wasn't there some way we could just purchase our festive spirits? We had to move some furniture, get out the big heavy box, put it all together, there were lights that were not working, but now that it's up, I'm really glad we can enjoy the Christmas tree.
I liked the quote I heard recently that suggested that rather than gifts, what better thing to give than a deeper witness of the Savior Jesus Christ for Christmas? I thought that was profound, for it really is one of those gifts that never grows old...
--Ray
-- Edited by rayb at 12:19, 2007-12-07
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
One year we went out and got 20+ postcards with paintings from the life of Christ, and put them in nice silver frames, with a christmassy bow and wire loop and we hang these different images of Christ's life upon the tree
I am sooo stealing that idea.
This Christmas is lazy, but that's because we're....Going to Disneyland!
uh-huh, oh yeah, uh-huh,
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They might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
Next week is crunchtime on the gift-making front around here. We are needing to spend less on gifts this year, so we decided to do mostly homemade gifts this year. Where has the time gone, though?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
Our YM YW made quilts and then delivered them. They sang Christmas carols while delivering the quilts. Our two teenaged sons really had fun. I'm sure grateful those kind of opportunities still exist.
I will say, however, that I enjoy a bit of internet shopping. One of our sons really wants a titanium spork for high adventures. I could probably carve a spork out of balsa, but I don't think it would be the same. We ordered one from thinkgeek.com
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
I've got pretty much all my outside shopping done. Next week is make-a-palooza. I'm making cinnamon roll wreaths, fudge, peanut brittle, toffee, dipped pretzels, candy eggs, chocolate mint cookies...along with some duct tape wallets. Hee.
Things I have made or am making (not all this year, though!):
*hand-painted stone tile coasters
*simple jewelry
*annual highlights scrapbook (I used 8x8 scrapbooks I found at the dollar store that had like 10 pages in them and designed the page layouts on the computer and then printed them and glued them to the scrapbook pages. This let me make a half dozen of them all at once. It did eat the ink cartridge, but considering that was the only real expense, they were still about $4-$5 each.)
*grandkid handprint apron for the grandmas
*bathsalts (I have a lot of different scents for this and can even make manly scented sore-muscle soak.)
*decorated/embellished or distressed picture frames with pictures *box of handmade greeting cards
*no sew fleece pillows (all my boys have a fine appreciation for extra pillows, lol. They love to pillow fight and also like a pillow to snuggle.)
*homemade salsa (I actually used to make salsa instead of paying utilities at a household where I rented a room many years ago.)
*I am making all the boys friendship bracelets this year. I think they will get a kick out of them.
*artwork
There's more, but that's all my tired brain will give out right now.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
My solution each year is to find someone truly in need either in the ward, or on the occassion a family friend is in need, and do something anonymously that will truly help out. Not just a plate of cookies or a nice card etc, but something that will have an impact on their Christmas. In some cases, be their Christmas. Helps me keep perspective. I usually add an extra Fast Offering this month too (I pay our Fast Offering all at the beginning of the year).
uh-huh, oh yeah, uh-huh, 
