Get posts by email
Keeping This Season Simple. Really ~ A Simple Homeschool Post
November 23, 2011
From my post at Simple Homeschool today...
For several weeks now, and even months in some cases, bloggers have been posting about preparing for a simpler holiday.
Tsh has a countdown series, Plan Your Peaceful Christmas and fellow contributor Jessica (from Life as Mom) also offers a free Simpler Season planning resource.
I haven’t done any planning whatsoever, except for pinning a few wishful thinking, “maybe I’ll find extra energy next month” crafty ideas on a Pinterest board.
November was an unreal crazy month for our family. Another move. Our second in six months. The worst cold we’ve had in years, the same time as our move. And now, in two days we celebrate our youngest daughter’s 9th birthday.
Christmas has not been on the radar. At all.
... can anyone relate? Not to the moving, sickness and birthday part but to Christmas not being on the radar yet? I feel like I'm the only one coming late to the game.
This year for our family a simple Christmas isn't a trendy catch phrase, it's reality. In my post today at Simple Homeschool I share more about what that looks like for us this season.
For my American friends tomorrow is Thanksgiving and the official start of the holidays. For us, the Christmas season kicks off post-Brienne's birthday. I've got a few plans, but like I talk about in my SH post, not many.
What efforts are you making to keep the season simple but meaningful at the same time? (Stark minimalism is not my idea of a fun Christmas)
Filed Under
-
Amanda on Nov. 23, 2011, 1:55 p.m.
Christmas is most definitely not yet on my radar. I need to figure out what we are doing for Thanksgiving tomorrow, first. We were supposed to go to my husband's mother's house, but she cancelled. Not a problem for us - and hopefully it will mean I get to take the whole crew out on a Thanksgiving day hike!
-
Michelle on Nov. 23, 2011, 2:08 p.m.
My best idea of ways to keep Christmas simple is to AVOID THE MALLS. And second year in a row, I have done just that. I do all of my shopping online. Etsy, Ebay, Stay at home Mama shops, Amazon, Indigo, LLBean and Lands End. Then I wait for the packages to show up in the mail. I finish my shopping by mid November and then I have more time to focus on the good stuff... family and food and the excitement of the children!
-
Emily on Nov. 23, 2011, 2:16 p.m.
I haven't given much thought to Christmas, either, Renee. I hope this makes you feel a teensy bit better! In fact, I'm bugged when I see decorations out already in the stores and even hearing Christmas music on the radio. I'm just not in the mood.--does this make me a little Grinchy?--I honestly don't think so. I just want to enjoy and be present in this season of Thanksgiving and let each holiday have its place. (I could get on my soapbox, but I won't.) I'm surprised that I don't feel the sense of panic, stress, or "performance" in all the upcoming preparations- in years past, that's been my normal. Maybe I'm mellowing out as I'm getting older and my kids are getting older. I do hope that I'll feel the true spirit, the simple beauty of Christmas, soon, which I love and which means the most to me.
-
Mel on Nov. 23, 2011, 3:04 p.m.
I don't start thinking about Christmas/winter holidays until after American Thanksgiving. As much as I love the winter holidays, if they are stretched out over two or three months, well, it's just too much-- they aren't as special anymore.
-
kyndale on Nov. 23, 2011, 3:47 p.m.
Yes, I've actually thought about the holidays. We picked out a few presents the kids will get. Legos for the boys and backpacking things for Amelia. Other than that, I plan on going to the hot springs on Christmas day. We've also done the Christmas pageant at church. Hopefully the weather will let us go up into the foothills to cut a tree. It's pretty much the same every year. Like Michelle said up there, I totally avoid malls. I'm not good with chaos. :)
-
Naomi on Nov. 24, 2011, 3:34 a.m.
Christmas music is a must in our home! Especially calming classics, and those that encourage worship to our King. We listen to them throughout the year just for fun, and they replace the shopping season with anticipation!
-
Claudia on Nov. 24, 2011, 12:48 p.m.
We're right there with you. We'll be making our second move since August just a few days before Christmas, so yeah, it will be a short and simple season around here as well.
Glad you are getting settled and feeling better, Renee!
-
Coach Outlet Online on Feb. 21, 2012, 12:16 p.m.
Coach Factory Online Coach Outlet Store Online Louis Vuitton Handbag Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Outlet Discount Louis Vuitton Coach Handbag Outlet Sale Coach Store Online Coach Handbag Louis Vuitton Bags Louis Vuitton Outlet Coach Online Outlet Store Coach Factory Outlet Online Louis Vuitton Bags Louis Vuitton Sunglasses Louis Vuitton Handbag Outlet Louis Vuitton Bags Louis Vuitton Outlet Stores Louis Vuitton Outlet Online Coach Outlet Store Coach Handbag Factory Outlet Louis Vuitton Wallets Louis Vuitton Purse Burberry Outlet Louis Vuitton Handbags Louis Vuitton Handbags Louis Vuitton Outlet Coach Outlet Louis Vuitton Purses Coach Purse Outlet Coach Outlet Store Online Louis Vuitton Purses Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton 2012 Louis Vuitton Handbag Coach Outlet Stores Louis Vuitton Coach Outlet Stores Online Coach Outlet Online Louis Vuitton Outlet Store Coach Outlet Online Store Coach Handbags Coach Outlet Handbags Louis Vuitton Outlet www.louisvuitton.com Authentic Louis Vuitton Coach Handbag Outlet Louis Vuitton Purses Louis Vuitton Handbags Outlet Louis Vuitton Coach Outlet Store Online Coach Purses Louis Vuitton Outlet Store Louis Vuitton Purses Louis Vuitton Bags Coach Purse Cheap Louis Vuitton handbags Louis Vuitton Bag Burberry Bags Louis Vuitton 2012 www.louisvuitton.com Louis Vuitton Purse Coach Outlet Store Online Coach Store Online Coach Handbag Outlet Coach Outlet Store Coach Wallets Coach Outlet Stores Online Louis Vuitton Handbags Authentic Burberry Burberry Scarves Coach Handbag Louis Vuitton Sale Coach Purses Outlet Coach Handbags Outlet Coach Factory Outlet Louis Vuitton Coach Outlet Online Coach Purse Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Store www.coachoutlet.com Louis Vuitton Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag Coach Factory Handbag Outlet Store Louis Vuitton Bags Cheap Louis Vuitton Coach Outlet Stores Online Louis Vuitton Bag Coach Bags Cheap Louis Vuitton Purses Burberry Handbags louis vuitton.com Coach Outlet Online Store Louis Vuitton Outlet Online Coach Purse Outlet Coach Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Purse Burberry Scarf Outlet Discount Louis Vuitton Handbags Louis Vuitton Handbags Coach Purses Outlet Coach Outlet Online Coach Outlet Stores Louis Vuitton Sunglasses Burberry Bag Louis Vuitton Bags Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton USA Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Outlet Stores Louis Vuitton Handbag Louis Vuitton Purses Louis Vuitton Handbags Authentic Louis Vuitton Handbags www.louisvuitton.com Louis Vuitton Handbags Coach Outlet Stores Coach Factory Outlet Store Coach Factory Handbag Outlet Store Coach Outlet Online Louis Vuitton Outlet Online Coach Outlet Online Coach Factory Store Online www.louisvuitton.com Cheap Louis Vuitton Bags www.louisvuitton.com Burberry Scarf Authentic Louis Vuitton Bags Coach Purses Coach Online Outlet
You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.
If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.
Aaron on Nov. 23, 2011, 1:46 p.m.
A simple holiday season, as you say, shouldn't be meagre. It should be rich and meaningful, something lost in the swirling chaos of a typical North American holiday, in which the focus is lost in all the glitz. The word holiday comes from "holy day", and holy days are not about minimalism but about focus on some particular aspect of faith. They are intentional, centred, but involve as much joyful noise as they do silent contemplation.
I find that observing Advent in some meaningful way helps keep the insanity out of Christmas. Pick up an Advent devotional (there are loads on line) or create one of your own. Make an Advent wreath, and either find or write a short liturgy for lighting a new candle every Sunday. Gather every day for a short morning prayer (you can tell I'm Anglican) and/or evening prayer after dinner. Make patience a virtue. Put the focus on seeking the King in the here and now - through works of charity, Bible study, prayer - so that when we greet the Christ child you'll have a manger prepared in your heart.