by Christina Renee | Christmas, Holidays
Rethinking Christmas Traditions
I have been working on the H
oliday Grand Plan and one of the weeks they have you question the values, activities, etc. that make Christmas important to you. We have a large family, 10 children, grandchildren, spouses, parents, etc. I thought by now I knew all the Christmas traditions that they loved.
But some things that I thought were important; to my family were not. So use this time to talk over with your family and you may find out some of the things that you are wearing yourself out over are just not that important to them. So I am rethinking our Christmas traditions; to keep or change?
Changing Christmas Traditions
You may find that they don’t want to go to the Nutcracker every year but would rather stay home and make snowball fights.
That they want to use (gasp!) decorated paper plates for Christmas rather than china.
Find out Their Favorites
That your youngest daughter’s 2 favorite things are caroling to the neighbors and bringing them cookies and having the family picture taken for cards. (Now that is strange. Have you ever tried to get 10 people to match, not let anyone get dirty before we leave, all the hair and make up done, we have 7 daughters. It takes hours and we haven’t even left the house yet. Then get everyone to smile at the same time.) And this? is her favorite thing? Strange bird.
That your other daughter’s favorite is the Grinch Night (more to come). And she hates going to the Live Nativity. Except for the hot chocolate and cookies.
As They Grow
You might need to change Christmas traditions as your children grow up and what was once fun is not now. Or rotating some and doing them every other year instead of every year.
So we are making adjustments this year. I am trying to simplify a little so I can enjoy Christmas as much as the rest of my family.
by Christina Renee | Christmas, Holidays
I love Christmas, the sights, the smells, the decorations, the feeling of expectation. There is something wonderful about having a whole season focused on…..Christ. Christmas is Christ Coming.
Focus
What is your focus? If you go into the world,; it is presents, the gimmee’s, Santa, shopping, rushing, doing and all the stuff that goes along with it. The decorating, the tree and themselves. Smile. Or do you focus on Christmas as Christ Coming?
But to have a whole season to be able to be focused on Jesus, that is a gift. Yes, I know we should do that every day, but to have this season of anticipation… Can you imagine so long ago the anticipation they had waiting for Jesus to come? Knowing He would change our lives forever. Do you anticipate His second coming as much as you do Christmas?
Giving
My children joke I am the biggest child at Christmas. I love to decorate for my family, to bake, to buy presents and look forward to how much they will enjoy them. I love to teach my children why we do the things we do at Christmas. Why do we give presents and decorate and bake. Each year we bake a lot. We carol and give cookies to out neighbors. It is my son’s favorite activity for this time of year. He has been repeatedly asking when they can go give cookies out. And sing, loudly to the neighbors. I have been telling him he needs to wait within a week of Christmas. So we looking forward to delivering cookies and having a wonderful time. Giving, not getting.
Anticipation- Christmas is Christ Coming
Don’t you imagine that Jesus is having a wonderful time anticipating us coming to heaven. We know He is getting a place ready for us. Don’t you think it will be wonderfully decorated with a feast waiting for us. Isn’t it hard to wait for that?
by Christina Renee | Children, Parenting
My mother told me many times while my children were growing up was “Write it down”. I did a few things but she’s right, many I forgot. Here are a few funny things kids say to make you laugh. Maybe you’ll realize your kids just aren’t that bad. Smile.
WOW
Our oldest son has always like tools. He started taking things apart from 18 months old. Many times taking him away from the outlets. One day we heard a noise. He had taken all the outlet covers off with his sister barrette! The noise we heard was him shocking himself. Wow! was all he said.
Cooking
My two sons then (11 & 12) were cooking supper and were making sloppy joes and baked beans. The 11 yo just wanted to dump it all together and get it done. The 12 yo replied “that’s not the way you do it, you put the beans in this pan and add just a hint of bbq sauce.” (He loves to cook.) But, my older daughter thought he might just be watching too much Martha Stewart with me.
My 3 and 5 year olds were outside hungry. My 5yo daughter proceeded to make a “salad” for her brother out of grass and leaves. It must not have been to good because he came in quite indignantly and stated” SERENE CAN’T COOK!” Unfortunately, it’s still not her strong suit.
Gross
We were on the way to the library and I heard a voice yell” Ooooh don’t eat that, have my abc gum instead.” I, of course, thought this was awful and asked what was going on. “Mom, Zach found gum on the bottom of his shoe and ate it so I gave him my abc gum instead since that was gross.” Aren’t these awful?
Then another daughter said “that’s nothing. ” He was on sisters bed and whizzed on her pillow and I knew if she found out she’d be mad so I stuck in in the dryer and then sprayed it with perfume.”
Dad Helped
My son was 2 when my husband was dry-walling the ceiling in our garage. Of course, he has to help. He came inside, “I did it all, but Dad helped.”
Buy His Wife A House
I took my oldest ( 11yo) son to the bank with me today. I try to rotate children on errands so I can spend some one on one time with each of them. We were driving from the bank and he tells me “Mom, when I get my shoveling business, I’m going to open a bank account. That way I can buy my wife a house when I get married.” Before you think he is too mature, this is the same son who later that afternoon, chased his sister with a dead mouse.
Dress Up
My 5yo daughter loves to play dress up. Her older sister just recently made her a play dress, forgetting about seam allowances and preshrinking. Needless to say this is now a very tight short dress, you can see she has monkeys on her undies, that short. She can downstairs batting her eyelashes, asking how she looked. My oldest daughter was there visiting and suggested more clothing on. So she went back up and later came down wrapped up in a coat. “Does this make me look like a granny?” “Nooooo“, my oldest daughter replied. “What else do you have on?” “THIS!” she states, waving the coat wide open showing money undies.
Quiet
The same oldest daughter visiting likes it quiet. Her home is quiet, they have one little girl. She is sitting in the chair, I have 1 daughter practicing the piano, 2 toddlers, (hers and mine) with the 5 yo playing and squealing, children making other noises and a son using a drill to tighten screws in a stool. She tells me in a low voice” I think I will start twitching now.”
by Christina Renee | Health, Thoughts
Living with chronic pain can make me focus on everything I can’t do. I can’t go on the hayride with the kids. Or walk with them. I’ll never take dance lessons. I can’t climb stairs. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. Since having a pity party doesn’t help me or anyone else I need to try to learn to deal with limitations in a positive way.
Accept Your Limitations
I am in a temporary wheelchair or knee scooter. . Temporary as in most of the year, but hope that it’s not permanent. It gets very frustrating trying to get things done. I am over 6 feet tall so my cupboards are arranged for tall people. I’d like to stand for a little bit but I know that would actually set me back. Everyone has limitations in one way or another. I have to focus on what I can do not what I can’t.
Modify What You Can
I have limitations with my hands that prevent me doing a lot of crafts, which I love. However, I do have a daughter that will cut out material so I can sew. I machine sew instead of hand sew since it is so painful. Cook sitting down. I use a paper cutter instead of scissors. And use a grabber to pick things up off the floor.
I’ve asked at my physical therapy for them to find new ways for exercises that I can do sitting. I wrote about living with charcot.
Pace Yourself
I find I have to take a lot of breaks. There are only do so many seated activities before I need to elevate my foot. Learning to alternate between activities I use my hands for and seated ones have been trial and error. Now I know how many breaks I need to take between activiteis such as typing or cooking. Then I need to do something different like read or watch a webinar.
Count the Cost
I know ahead of time if I do this I won’t have enough that. Choices I have to make daily, and sometimes hourly. The best way I’ve found to describe it is called the spoon theory.
Look for the Silver Lining
While living with chronic pain is debilitating in many ways, in all things there is a silver lining if you just look for it. I would never have started this blog if I could go and do more. Appreciate the small things. I really have a pretty great family. They take me places, help me around the house. My kids have had to do way more than other kids for years. They’ve taken my place for younger children school activities when I can’t. They’ve taken me to countless dr appt., tests and visited me in the hospital. And unfortunately, learned to sort pills, use nebulizers, change bandages and give meds in a pic line. I have a great family.
by Christina Renee | Thoughts
When I am choosing my best here are some words I use to evaluate if it’s the right choice.Do I consider the material I am examining essential for my children’s pursuit of God and godliness, or is it merely peripheral? Is this idea or that thought indispensable for their walk in the Spirit, or is it only incidental? And most important, will it stir within them a thirst for God, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to represent Him well as salt in the earth.”
Changed into His Image by Jim Berg
Choosing Your Best
I have had many times through out all the respiratory infections unable to not only breath easily, but also unable to speak. Through these times I not haven’t had a voice above a whisper. So I have to choose very carefully the things I need to say since I can’t say it all. I also have paper and pen but I still don’t write as fast as I could talk. It is very limiting. But also, I am limited to the necessary. My children have been wonderful about pitching in together and meals, housework. They have brought me tea, water, books and movies. But I have looked at the superfluous that I have been doing. When it is hard to breathe; many, many things are unnecessary. So I am looking for what changes I need to be making. Where do I need to cut and what?
Pace Yourself
Life goes on at it’s own pace whether we do or not. I have had a lot of health problems this summer, again. My children have been tremendous helps with all the extra chores and cooking that I have not been able to keep pace with. Some days I have more energy than others. One of the hardest things for me is pacing myself. I tend to flat out run until I can’t and find that is no longer a possibility. So I have been pondering what God is teaching me and my family through this.
His Best
Because even though I am the one who is ill, my family bares a lot of the brunt of the effects. I do not have the stamina so have had so I am having to be more careful in the choices I am making. Good, better, best has new meaning when you know that only is not only the best choice but physically possible. If I can only read for a little while without going hoarse, you can bet I am trying to choose the best book and not just a good one. I love to cook, and I love to make elaborate meals too but if I am too tired afterward to visit with my family and hold an intelligent conversation, a simpler meal is the best choice. Besides, all meals look fancy by candlelight. So, daily, hourly, I find myself seeking God for His best instead of my best and I think that is what I needed all along.
When you go into a store they have listings for items; good, better and best. We have those same choices. But so many times we fall into a pattern or a rut and just do what we have always done. So God has given me this time to evaluate the good, better or best in my life and I am planning some changes. I want things in my life, my husbands, life and my children’s lives that will stir up a thirst for God, that will cause them to pursue Him and represent Him all of our lives and I am willing to do whatever I can to change that. Examine your life, don’t wait for God to take you in hand so you are dependant on Him for your next breath. (We are anyway but you don’t have to sound like Darth Vader doing so.) Ask Him where you need to change, what priorities are only good and not the best for you and your family. What is the best?
