Yet another online class I am taking through Shimelle.com!
I am so thrilled for this class to start tomorrow! I want a way to remember and cherish the holidays, and this seems to be a great fit for me.
In the past few years I have grown so disenchanted with the consumerism during the holidays. Besides the fact that I am not a shopper--I would much rather make gifts than buy them, and would also rather receive handmade gifts as well, thank you very much--it just seems to me that the lists, the shopping, the busy-ness of the holidays becomes this ridiculous, unavoidable plague that makes us dislike Christmas. I would do away with all the shopping and getting and receiving if I could... But what kind of schmuck would I be to show up to the relatives' and have nothing to give anyone?
Such a vicious cycle. This year, I am breaking it. I want the shopping and going and doing to mean something, to be more, to be an aside to what else I am doing this Christmas. I want Christmas not to be so empty. I want to celebrate all that Christmas is, and all that it means for us as humans--that God gave His Son, and His Grace and abundance are real in our lives because of it. That HOPE is found in that little baby boy Jesus, and it is a hope to be shared throughout the generations. So Journal Your Christmas is a way for me to stop. To think about the Hope that is in Him. To take it all in. to delight in the joy of who God is, and that He was one of us. To celebrate CHRIST. My journal this year will be a way for me to share and express my joy and praise for the God who came to Earth so he could have relationships with us.
I will post once a week or so some of the entries I make in my journal. I plan to do the pages later, when I have a week off from work after Christmas. It will go bit by bit, but I am committing to the journaling daily, so that I am stopping to reflect and celebrate the season. I hope you enjoy what I share and are inspired to give glory to the Newborn King!
Oh, I hear you! I agree about the disenchanted feelings at this time of year. I hate buying a gift because I feel obligated to do so. Yet, like you said, who wants to be the shmuck? Unfortunately, the hand-made gifts we've done in years past have not been appreciated. So we do what we can and hope that our recipients remember that it is the thought that counts. Oh, well...I know you will enjoy this class...the prompts you get each day are there for you to use or not. That is what is so awesome about this class...you get to make it what you want it to be. Can't wait to see your pages when you do them.
ReplyDeleteLove, ya
LB
Looking forward to reading your thoughts! For future reference, there is something special about Christmas with young children. They have helped me focus on the real meaning and joy of Christmas. Our kids are making paper chains to count down the days until our "Birthday part for Jesus". Who doesn't love a great Birthday party - and for our King, no less?! We'll be baking a cake together, lighting candles, and singing. :) The children keep my heart anticipating as we get excited together about celebrating Jesus every day. This year, we are starting an advent calendar that each day places a new piece of the nativity and an opportunity to tell Jesus story every day of December! I can hardly wait.
ReplyDeleteAll that to say, I think journaling is a fabulous idea. And someday...you can also look forward to the wonder of Christmas that little ones open your eyes and heart to during this season.
love this. you go jolly journaler!
ReplyDeleteLola-- I know what you mean about the handmade gifts not being appreciated. We still are doing some this year. It is so much more fun and meaningful to me!
ReplyDeleteMelissa--I was just telling my husband the other day that I look forward to having kids around at Christmastime. They bring a magic and anticipation to it that just makes it more fun. I'm glad next year I will have at least a couple nieces and nephews to spend it with to add to the magic! Thanks for the tips!