As I am writing this I am surrounded by “lists” of all the things needed to be done in preparation for my two upcoming favorite holidays of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we only have forty shopping days left until Christmas! Does that statement make you feel excitement and joy or overwhelmed and stressed? When I was a little girl I loved the countdown to Christmas, it seemed like it took forever to get here! Stress was not in my vocabulary. What was there to be stressed out about? As a child it was all about the gifts, great food, getting to play Mary in the Christmas play at church and no school! So why as an adult is it so hard to have that same exuberant joy about this time of year? Because I am now the one doing all the planning and the perfectionist in me has to have everything done perfectly down to the little detail. The “lists” I mentioned above have to be completed by midnight on Christmas Eve. The problem is that they get longer every year trying to “outdo” what I did the year before. The new recipes, better decorations, more interesting Christmas card, finding the perfect outfit for the Christmas party, etc. In conversation over coffee with girlfriends I find that I am part of a big club, made up of women from all over the nation. We do not have a name yet, however there are certain requirements to claim membership. They are that by Christmas morning you wake up feeling exhausted and are stressing out because you realize there is one thing you missed on “the list”. You have to remind yourself what we are actually celebrating! You do your best to put your game face on for the day but inside you are just glad when it is over and can get some much needed sleep.
So I made a decision. I am resigning from the club. Oh I still have my lists but I have shortened them to be a little more realistic. I will decorate, listen to and sing the wonderful Carols, enjoy the lights and smells. Send out Christmas cards. I will still shop and purchase gifts because I love to give and Christmas is all about giving to others, reflecting upon and giving thanks for the best gift that we have been given. Jesus our Savior. In order to fully resign from this “club” I choose to not allow myself to become overwhelmed or stress out about the little details that only I notice. I am reminded of the scripture from childhood…This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24. On the mornings when I rise out of bed and see the “lists” staring at me in the face I will remind myself of this simple scripture and tackle those lists with joy and excitement about the day and upcoming celebration. Instead of my focus being placed on the “list” for the celebration I will instead place it on the “reason” for it. I will attempt to get the list checked off but not at the expense of spending time with my family and be in a good mood while doing it! More importantly I choose to make each day about the excitement of the true reason why we set aside December 25 to decorate, give gifts and have a party instead of the party itself. Would you like to join me?
I am taking on something I have never done before. I am hosting both Thanksgiving and Christmas at my house! I’m super excited. You know what this means? I get to use my good plates and silverware, which I never get to do! My husband’s family, who are all in town, will come to our house for Thanksgiving, and my family, who are all out of town, will come for Christmas. This means that Thanksgiving is basically a one day ordeal, while Christmas will be a one week event.
I am nothing less than thrilled to be hosting the holidays at my house! I love our family, and I know it will be wonderful. Both my mom and mother in-law will “coach” me along the way, but our families hold strong to their traditions. And this is where a little anxiety has crept in.
My husband is amazing, and I love him more than anything, but he can be, well, particular. For example, I am no longer allowed to make the Green Bean Casserole for any holiday because I don’t make it the right way. No worries, his mom is going to make the beans! And along with food, in the back of my mind, I would be lying if I said I was completely confident in my turkey cooking capabilities! I keep seeing the Christmas Vacation turkey exploding in dry bits on my fancy plates.
Christmas will be a whole new experience for us. We’ve been at our house for Christmas before, but we’ve never had anyone with us. I want so badly for our memories to be good ones, just like when I was a little girl. But, I must admit, I’ve got a case of the “buts”. But this and but that. I know in my head that I am probably the only one with expectations in my mind, but they’re there, and now I’m stressed.
Here’s the thing. This is my year to do things my way, and although it’s overwhelming, it’s going to be exciting. Plus, this is the year that my mom and my mother in-law get a break!
My point. We put the holiday stress on ourselves. So, no matter what stresses you out during the holiday season, there is something YOU can do about it! Take control of yourself, and like Donna said, remember what the holidays truly are about. Let’s celebrate our family, our friends, and our Savior!
