Blog Day Planner

Do you Hear those Jingle Bells a Ringing?

Am I getting a little over excited about Christmas this year? Maybe. But that's a good thing!

Do you know why?

This year I'll be in my own house close to lots of family. The key words here are "own house", which means I can decorate any way I choose and have tons of fun doing it. I have not decorated for Christmas in my own place in fifteen years! The closest I came to actually putting up Christmas decorations was two years ago at our daughter Kelly's in Idaho. I put huge ribbons all over the house and on the tree. It was fun and it was my own personal touch.

I can't wait to string some lights, hang some tinsel and garlands and place ribbons and decorations throughout the house. It will be fun to make some home made decorations like I did when the children were young and still living at home. We used to string popcorn, gather pine cones and make cute ornaments with them and we gathered bows of pine to make wreaths. I also made many styles of decorative wreaths using lace, ribbon, straw, bells, reindeer, and all sorts of little ornaments. I was a very craft loving person. I still am. So this year will be a time to get reacquainted with the crafty artistic side of me again.

Baking is another part of the holidays that is absolutely a delight for me. My mom used to bake dozens of cookies and pies for every holiday. She made fancy ginger bread houses which I helped to decorate. Oh, how I miss Mom this year. If she were here, we'd be making those lists already and we'd be out shopping for the different supplies to make all our home made crafts. We'd be in the woods already gathering all that neat green and earthy material for our special projects.

Make some home made Christmas decorations this year to keep it simple and to save some money. The benefits are multiple, to include the heart warming satisfaction you will feel at your sense of accomplishment. The fun of gathering materials and fashioning your artistic displays with family and friends adds to the spirit of the season. After all, isn't it about togetherness and sharing the love of Christ with everyone? This is a good way to make time with your loved ones.

Since Mom is not here, I want to take this opportunity to share with my children and grandchildren some of the traditions that Mom taught me. Then we can go find and cut our own Christmas tree like Dad did every year until he reached his late eighties. I miss my dear Dad. I'll be thinking of you this year when my husband helps me put up the tree and hang all those lights like you used to do.

It promises to be an exciting holiday season this year. What are your plans?

The Midnight Writer

Tags: Christmas , Dad , keep it simple , Mom , pies , Tree