Spreading that Cheer

We are approaching the holidays, and Thanksgiving is this coming week.

I am hosting this year, because I enjoy having family gather, and we haven’t been able to do that in a long time.

The kids and I will have some preparing to do, but I am more excited that we are just able to have down time, enjoying the days without hustling to and from places.

Right now, the kids are at their dad’s, (Except for my oldest, who’s here, but keeps to herself for the most part).

There have been so many things that have occurred over the past several months, I wish I could keep this blog up to date better, but I am also very busy, and things slip, such as this.

My hope for this holiday season for my family, in particular, is that we spend most of our time thinking about others, rather than ourselves.

Try to make something special for someone else.

Whether it’s a homemade gift, a well thought out purchase, or a hand-made card.. We need to bring joy into our hearts, with the gift of giving to someone else.

I am starting with the kids shopping for each other. Each sibling will have to buy for their other 3 siblings. Total of 16 gifts!! But, it’s going to be a fun, bonding type of experience, where they have to think about someone else. What to GIVE someone.

They have become so focused on “self” and what they can get, rather than the true meaning of Christmas. So, I hope they will gain something positive from this season.

We have a busy month ahead with all of the holiday cheer, I want us to experience.

Visiting the Fayetteville Square, getting hot chocolate, listening to the festive music, feeling that chilly air, making our cheeks rosy and bright.

Going to the Journey of Bethlehem in MO, which has become one our favorite traditions. This year, we will be going on a Thursday night! We get a LATE school night, ooh boy!

The next weekend, we will watch Christmas movies, and hopefully finish our shopping for one another.

The next weekend, we will go to a school where they put on a display of the manger and Jesus’ birth. The next night, it’s a company Christmas Party by the lake, and gifts and prizes will be spread around.

The next weekend is Christmas! So much to do before that time!

We will have to forego the Nutcracker this year, only because it falls on nights that we have other plans, and COVID is still present..

Sometimes, we get caught up with our daily routines of busy, that we forget about the little things that really count.

My goal this holiday season, is to really embrace the moments.

Take them in, be present, and hold them tight.