Holidays over the years

After responding to Stacie's comment on my last post, I got to thinking about how I used to percieve and celebrate Christmas (and general holidays) versus how I celebrate them now.

For one thing, I'd stock up on sales and gifts throughout the year. Then, I'd forget about said gifts when it came time for the holiday, only to find it a week later when restocking on more things I got on sale for the next year. Mind you, some of these things I just bought on sale, regardless of whether or not the gift recipient might like them. And did I mention, I'd give some sort of gift to every friend or acquaintence I knew?

Then, I'd always think that I needed to add to my decor every year. You know, build it up. Regardless of whether or not I had too much stuff, or if I needed it or not.

When we got married, and my sweet hubby counted that I was planning on getting and giving over 60 some gifts to people, he gave me this "we need to talk" look. We then had a really long talk. I'm blessed with a wonderful hubby, who really gets me to think about things. (And visa versa I hope...) Was it really necessary to give to all these people? (Some of whom I hadn't seen in ages, or years.) Were these people going to appreciate the gifts I'd gotten, or would then end up regifted or given away? Did I have the time to put these things together? Etc. Etc.

The first year, we bought a tree (hub's allergic to the real deal), our own beautiful angel to top it, stockings to hang, and a few greens and things to go around the house. We'd owned our own house now, so there was more to decorate. However, I also inherited an entire box of ornaments, knick-knacks, and other things from my mom's house when we moved.

We put out all the decorations. The next year, there we still decorations in the box, yet, I'd managed to buy more. Thankfully, the gift list had been cut in half, and after calculating how much we had spent for everything, I began to cut it it down again for the next year.

Now, five years later, we have all the decor we need. (Although, there are always a few things I keep on the lookout for - like embroidered hand towels for the kitchen and bath.) We only exchange gifts with immediate family, and a few friends (as opposed to all), and have made other agreements with friends. (Instead of a physical gift, we just get together to spend time together.) Some people get baked goods, some get bought goods, and this year, I'm excited because we're giving a gift that keeps giving to others http://www.heifer.org/ .

I also really think about the gifts I want to give. This has been most prevalent in the last year or so. I try to keep them clutter free (unless it's something I'm sure they'll like and use or keep). If I'm baking, I'll do a bread for some, and I do have special cookie requests I give into each year. I also try to get all gifts ordered and taken care of by early November.

The day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas decor goes up, so I like to be finished with most stuff by then so that we can just kick back and enjoy December. Though I used to enjoy waiting until the mauls... er malls... we decorated in their seasonal glory, now, it's nice to just go and enjoy, without rushing around madly to find certain things.

Sometimes I wonder how my changes will effect our children. I hope in a good way. I learned my habits from my mom, and with the help of my beloved hubby, I've found what works best for me, and for us.

So, hubby, thank you. Thank you for being you, and thank you for encouraging me to be me, and helping me find the simplicity I've been seeking. Granted, I know there are times you'd rather not do gifts at all, but I also know that you know how important it is for me to give something during this time.

Tis a Gift to be Simple

It's been a hectic, but fun weekend. I am excited about Christmas this year, as we've seriously cut down on giftgiving, and found some neat gifts to give instead. For those of you who are just joining in, we are in the midst of house hunting, and saving. Thus, we are on a budget.

By mutual agreement, with are not exchanging gifts with the BILs, my SIL, and the SO. We are giving gifts to my sweet nephew though. And, I've been stocking his up for some time I admit. And, I didn't realize just how relaxing it is, as I don't have to worry about what to get anymore. It helps too, that we are all saving money at the moment.

I admit, we've already gone a bit off budget, when I found the Pook a doll house for Christmas, that was over budget, but at 50% off for the house and furniture, irresistable. Plus, I could just see in my head how I wanted to present it to her.

I am really excited about my latest discovery though: http://www.heifer.org/. You can check out the site to find out more about it.

This site has solved many things for me. I now have a gift for the people who have everything, and I feel that I'm doing something good with my gift. Plus, I like knowing that in someway, I'm making a contribution to someone who can really use it, in the name of another. Plus, it's just cool to donate honey-bees, chickens, or a llama. :)

For the lucky ones in our family, we'll be baking them mini loaves of gingerbread, zuchini bread, banana nut bread, and pumpkin bread. Complete with recipes. The breads are healthier then cookies, and for sweet grandmas who no longer can cook homeade things, a real treat. (Apparently, Dad's like them too!)

I want to teach Pook the importance behind the gift, not the gift itself. I've been craving simplicity (usually happens after a few weeks of choas), and last year was rather stressful figuring stuff out. This year, we are buying a few things, but, they are clutter free, something wanted, or things I'd picked up throughout the year.

This will be the last year, for a while, when we try to make it back for Christmas. And, I'm looking forward to Christmas at home for a change. I love seeing and spending time with the family, but, the Santa myth really looses something. Not that we've really done anything to encourage that myth...

On the homeschooling front, I'm really excited, because a friend of mine and I decided to start our own little support group. There are quite a few coops in the area, and I have connections, but to meet every week has been challenging with the other activities. So, we've decided on once a month; however, it might be twice a month. I'm also going to sign up for one of the field trips groups as well.

I am just so psyched about the whole process. I'm looking forward to learning with her, starting a nature journal, creating projects... I have decided, that if she ever decides she wants to attend regular school, she'll have that choice. However, most of the kids I know that are homeschooled love the freedom and choices they have.

So, today, I'm just filled with that sense of wonder and contentment. I've gotten confirmation I'm on the right path with Pook, and things are again falling into place.

Interesting quote

"Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong." -Lao-Tzu (600 B.C.)

Meanings of Flowers and herbs

I just posted on Stacie's blog about this, so thought I'd plop it here for my own reference.

And, what a neat way to give your significant other a message via flowers and herbs!

I recently found a site with the history and language of flowers and herbs, that includes the origins and meanings. It's very cool. For my wedding, I enjoyed placing little bits of florals and greenery about with special meanings.

There's also this one: http://www.lynnguistics.com/navigation/gardening/herbs/meanings.html but it only lists a few herbs in comparison to the first.

And then, I found more information in regards to wedding bouquets at this site: http://www.theherbaltouch.com/articles/wedbouquet.html.

So, I suppose I'm going to have to dig up a picture of my bouquet from my wedding. I included rosemary (for rembrance), lavender (devotion / best wishes ), roses (pink, dark pink, and white, here and there), tulips (friendship/ or the perfect lover), baby's breath (pure of heart) - oh my. It was a lot. :) And we had ivy planted through out the hall.

Yup, going to have to dig that up at some point.

Friday's Fancy

Soft rain has been dancing upon the house. I am filled with a feeling of peace, in the early moments of morning. It's quiet, and I am relishing each bit of quiet I get lately.

These past two months I've been running around a lot more than is comfortable to me. My plate is full again. How does this happen?

I want to dump it, clear it off, keep it clean, let it go. That's my way of regaining sanity you know - I clean and clear the physical, and hope it works on the mental. :)

I know that part of it is because I am out of routine. We have been tired in our household. Perhaps this weekend we shall be able to sleep in. There's a Poirot DVD waiting patiently for our indulging this weekend.

There are things that I want to get done, but don't want to do. Do they need to be done? They've not been done yet, and some would benefit from being done eventually I suppose.

The rain is soothing, as is the dark before the sunrise. I am ready to greet my day with open arms.

Attitude

I recently read this post by Ed over at his blog. First, it got me wondering if I'd told people - "Just you wait until... " in terms of babies. Hmmm... Ed, I think I might have said/written something along those lines, and if I did, I apologize.

I'm not one of those people sitting by, eating popcorn in wait for new parents to have issues, or to go through what we went through; however, I realize I've a tendency to blurt out my thoughts. I think it's just become a habit for me to say things like that, as there have been some people I know who've jumped into parenthood without a clue as to what to expect. In my own mind, I think I wanted to prepare them - life inevitably changes after baby. But then, in recent events, I suppose that's a judgement on my part.

What really strikes me about his post, and Ed in general, is the way he approaches life. He has FUN. In his words:

When faced with any responsibility we tend to see "fun" in those things that match our routines and see "work" in those things that do not. And, thus, there are those who suffer through and those who celebrate the very same things. Which is just a long-winded way of saying: it's all about attitude! After doing something I enjoy, I feel refreshed. After doing something that I just couldn't make myself enjoy, I feel exhausted, as if I have been swimming against a rip tide. So, I've found I get more done by doing things I enjoy.

I've learned to find stimulation in several otherwise mundane tasks. Far from being simple for it, I've found it takes a great deal of imagination, creativity, and energy. I've also found that thinking this way has made me often scratch my head when people warn me of the trials of most things in life.

So, please, let me adjust the Nike slogan of "Just Do It" and replace it with "Just Enjoy It".

Well written Ed (although, if you ever do get around to updating your post, let me know and I'll fix it here).

Perhaps I'll come up with a few other ponderings on this at another time. But right now, I just want to savor the words.

If you can't say something nice about someone...

don't say anything at all.

Recently, I've had an interesting email conversation with someone. The conversation revealed some things about myself that took me a bit off guard, as I didn't realize I was coming across in such a way, and then to realize how I was coming across bugged me.

Granted, it was this person's opinion and issue; however, it was something I wish I'd been aware of about myself early. Not so much how I come across to others, but the fact that I was acting in a manner that when others act, bothers me.

It has really been eye-opening, and it's given me a new perspective of who I am, and how I talk about things in general. I admit, seeing myself in this light has been rather sobering, especially because it bugs me when others have done those things. Then, you realize you've done them, and Ouch.

So, I'm a little more quiet as of late, trying to figure out how I want to change this, and be less judgemental. Hmmm...

Soft thoughts

I can hear the thunder, rolling through the night sky. The wind dances with the curtains, as it passes into the room. Today, I spent the day with my sweet little girl. We had a swimming lesson (she's doing SO well since her first class, now if only we can get her to blow bubbles...). We had lunch with her friends, then her Kindermusik class. She fell fast to sleep in the back car.

Today, I was blessed with good news, and reassurance from a dear friend, that I'm a good mom. And you know what, I know I'm a good mom.

My daughter is always smothering me with kisses, telling me she loves me, that she's proud of me. And I'm so proud of her. It was a tough weekend (we started toilet training), but she's been keeping her pants dry all this week, whenever she wears them. She has realized, however, that when in the diapers (bedtime and travel for now, she can get away without sitting on it).

In any case, each day I watch her grow and do new things. She is amazing, loving, and wonderful.

To a dear friend...

I'd like to take a moment, to congratulate a dear friend of mine on his impending fatherhood. I've known him for over a decade, and I know in my heart, he's going to be an awesome dad.

Congratulations dear friend, to you and your beautiful wife. What a wonderful journey to embark on.

I am SO HAPPY for you!

And, if you need any advice, you know where to find me. :)

Of course, this means that our friendship is now bumped up to that next level - sharing the kid experiences, and dishing out kid advice! Whoo hoo! Parenthood!

A Parent's Heart

I've been sitting here, trying to think of what I want to say in regards to the recent events in schools. Sometimes I wonder just what the world is coming to. How can a person just go in and kill like that?

I've seen the depths of negativity in people. I've seen how people can pretend to be one way, but they when you finally see who they really are, you can see the pain and the venom inside them.

I wish I had something really powerful to say about this, but words elude me.