Thursday, December 23, 2010

Breathe In, Breathe Out-It's Christmas

Add caption


By the time I actually get this post finished, Winter solstice will have past, and us Albertan's will have experienced one short day. I poked my head outside for the few minutes of sunshine we had, and then raced back in to continue wrapping gifts...no, I raced back into grab the last gingersnap.

Really, that is neither here nor there; let's get down to business. If I'm truly finished writing this by the 23rd, that leaves us two days till Christmas. Count 'em- T-W-O. How are you feeling about this? Are you pacing and hyperventilating? Do you feel like you're on a runaway treadmill and can't find the off switch? Maybe you are sitting in your green chair with your feet up laughing at all the people making their last minute trips to town to buy more gifts - gomers. Your gifts have been wrapped for weeks, months maybe, packed away in alphabetical order, beside your freezer full of Christmas baking.

You didn't really want to hear about those green chair folks anyway, did you? They are the gomers after all?!?! Right...

Back to business. I am not the latter type, a super organized person with Christmas powers in my hands to have everything all in perfect shape. Yet, I can assure you that I'm not the former either. There is no wildness in this house, okay, not about Christmas anyway. Honestly, dear readers, I've said it a few times this week, Christmas comes and Christmas goes. What get's done, get's done, and what doesn't, doesn't. No one's going to be angry that there aren't gingersnaps on the table - except maybe your diabetic Uncle, but does he really need an extra four pounds of gingersnaps anyway? Do you really think your four year old will notice that his gift is wrapped in Loonie Store paper and looks kind of like he wrapped it himself, instead of with natural packing paper, hand stamped with homemade ribbon that took you four months to make? Nah. Your child will be in wonder with the twinkly lights on the tree, and mercy, if a tree didn't get put up, they will be enthused that  you are enthused about the day. They will remember everyone was happy and excited, they will remember Daddy reading Luke 2, they will remember you teaching them to take baking to the neighbours and to remember to pray for those that don't have a Christmas meal that day. Let's not teach our kid's to be stressed, to be wild over preparation for an event that we've marked on the calendar and keep thinking, "EGADS, FOUR MORE DAYS LEFT, I HAVEN'T BAKED THE NINETIETH BATCH OF SUGAR COOKIES!"

 "Johnny, go play, your Mommy will come up for air in twenty hours after she has scrubbed the walls for company coming, repainted the living room, cooked the hardest candy to make ever, all for Christmas, Johnny, all for Christmas!"

Slow down. Again, it will come and it will go. We'll all be a little fatter afterward, and hopefully we won't all be burnt right out, we'll have remembered what Christmas is truly all about.





15 comments:

Missouri Gal said...

Actually, Christmas always makes me feel like I'm running on a treadmill and can't find the off button. HA HA! Great analogy though! Merry Christmas Cheyenne! Nicole

Crystal said...

I LOVE Christmas, and I am in neither category either, no need to panic for no reason, it will all happen whether we are ready or not. Of course I am ready and its even better cause we get to go to my moms for Christmas so we dont have to have a spotless house or all the food ready to cook.

Suzie Salmon said...

Ahhhh. So happy to hear someone else has this approach. I always start with the best of intentions, but then life creeps in. And as they say, life is in the messy bits not the preplanned perfect party. And, some of my best ideas have come from lastsecondsuzie ideas.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Suzie

Alicia said...

Merry Christmas with lots of love from our family to yours!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Amen, Cheyenne. Have a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy 2011 -

NaomiG said...

Oh, so true. I love it! It especially speaks to me this year as I have done virtually nothing to get ready for Christmas. I did make my daughters rag dolls though, and they LOVE them (they knew they were coming since I have to sew in front of them.) Makes it all worth it. Merry Christmas Friend!

BridgeEtta said...

Aaah, yes, the things we don't get done...

Hope you have blessed and peacefull Christmas Eve with you little family on the Alberta prairie.

Polly said...

Merry Christmas Cheyenne!

Love the little dress and bloomers!!

I'm right there with you. We're having a very quiet few days.

Hope you and your family stay safe and warm and cozy. Big hug for that little prairie baby.

Pauline

Anonymous said...

You are so right Cheyenne...that has been my philosophy for some time. Christmas is coming whether or not I think I am ready and what does it matter?? Relax and enjoy!!
Have a Merry Chriostmas at your house! JP

Shannan Martin said...

I like the way you think. :)

Anna said...

Preach it sister!! Hope you had a lovely weekend! God Bless!

Libbie said...

SO true isn't it? I didn't even bake one cookie this December & it felt so good...but did I tell you I did have my little sister bake me up a batch of your little tea cookies? With the sprinkles...loved 'em! Thanks for sharing that one!

But here we are on the other side of Christmas & you are right....what got done got done & it is filled with enough memories & pictures to last a lifetime :) Hope all went well for you guys way up there! Enjoy all that sunshine you can get!

Anonymous said...

You are sooooo right.... I love how you look at things. This year was nuts for us, but next year.... next year I will attempt to be a gomer in a green chair and if (when) I fail I will remember your advice!!! Hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!!!

LadySmith@CashmereandCarrotSticks said...

wise words

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

Haha, you really crack me up! So very true, girl. We do slow down nowadays (compared to the years when I was a new mom who wanted everything perfect for my little ones) and enjoy each other, our family, and the whole reason we celebrate... Jesus!

test
 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...