Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most ~ Ruth Carter Stapleton
I’ve heard some people write about their Grinch attitude toward those stores having the Christmas sales...like it’s just another way to tempt them to buy more of the things they don’t need and shouldn’t want. But, and here’s the biggie...the idea of peace, goodwill, no gifts, snd plenty of goodness and good cheer....Never too much of that, is there? Some days, we just need a good ole attitude adjustment! I choose not to buy for the most part, but, I still love Christmas with all of my heart. How can that be wrong? Wouldn't it be nice to spread some of that cheer around the whole year?
I am touched by the way the kindness has just radiated outward, wherever I went, whatever I did this season. My neighbor is being transfered, so they are moving, the week before Christmas so that the kids can be settled when school starts up again in January. Many of us in the neighborhood got together and made a basket with mini board games a fun snacks for the trip out to Tennessee.The kids were excited!We even got them an ornament from the White House. I will miss them,but, we may see each other again... Can we please do this kind thing all year round? It never gets old! I promise it won't wear out!
I am so sad that my stores that I shop at are barely breathing, having to give them CPR every couple of weeks, all the while the internet sales are playing it up big! They have been having Black Friday sales for weeks. All of them are always on sale, although, not really. This is being taken way out of control. Methinks it is just a sales ploy without the click and bait. They don't need to! It's Christmas!! Can't we go back to the way we used to do it? I don't think the Black Friday specials are anything more than overstocked items.
I stepped outside to get a snippet of the green, in celebration of this wonderful day. It is barely a week before Christmas and I can feel the excitement in the air. Can you feel it too? The words are weaving and the heart is growing softer, I can almost feel the sprinkling of magic covering me. Watch out! It almost got you!
I do love my ornaments, each and every one. Some the kids made, this one in particular, one of my daughters made out of clay. It took here a week or so to do and each piece was carefull sculpted. She was only 10 at the time, but, it has a great likeness to her. I have three of them as each of the kids made one after they saw the first one go up.
Undoubtedly, most of us give some thoughts to being grateful as the year winds down and we become reflective around Christmas and heading into New Years Eve. But those thoughts may be brief and transient as we focus more on the fun with friends and relatives that dominate the days leading up to it. I hope that everyone enjoys this very beautiful time of year, but, lets keep the reason for the season in our hearts. Peace on earth and goodwill towards man.
The Christmas countdown is making good time. Officially, there are 6 days, 21 hours, 45 minutes and 12 seconds. I give you the Christmas countdown and one Christmas photo.
All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.
It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.
source
Pucker up, baby!! It's almost Christmas I carry my own mistletoe
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
…So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn't sad! Why this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”…
Dr. Suess
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May the joy of Christmas be spread to the whole world no matter how many black Friday sales that we have.... Hehehehe
You guys did such a lovely thing for your neighbor's family. I can only imagine the happiness on their faces and that of their kids.
Merry Christmas to you ma'am.
I have to agree, we need to keep it spreading!
Thank you, they appreciated it and are halfway to Tennessee now! I will miss them, but, know it is a good move for them.
Merry Christmas to you!
I am glad you agree and that they appreciated the gesture too. 🥰
Thank you for the repost @pixresteemer! Much appreciated!
So ornamental indeed and I love this concept as well
Thank you.
In Romania, many crafts disappeared with the death of the last people who were taught to make different things or objects. Their knowledge was passed on to young people who were interested. Now nobody is interested anymore. That's how I see you. Trying to keep the classic tradition of Christmas, the joy of preparation, and the joy of the family gathering under the tree to hand out presents... Soon, probably, that will be gone. Gifts will be brought by couriers.
I'm not sure about that, Dan. Most people I know are very big into the traditional Christmas, but, perhaps that is only the people I know.
Like so many other things in life, it doesn't really matter to me. I love the Joy of the Season and will celebrate it until I die. :) You misunderstand about the gifts. I love buying for people that need it, but, we don't get gifts just because it is Christmas. The gift of time, perhaps. Little kids are exempt from all this. I gift with great joy and it is never anything extravagant or expensive. Peoples needs are met easily with a reasonable amount of money. I do spend a lot of time seeking out a perfect gift, but, it is actually rare for me to buy. It is rare for me to go into a store (unless it is for food!) and spend moeny. I rarely do that.
I hope it never turns out as you predict. That sounds horrible!
Well, I exaggerated a bit!
Yes, and I think gifts should especially reach the children. Things have degenerated a bit in our house and everyone gives presents to everyone present at the celebration. It's getting harder and harder...
We stopped giving gifts in my family a few years ago and took up a tradition of playing games together. Giving gifts became more and more pointless over the years. We all sort of took a minimalist approach to life and didn't want to receive things we couldn't use so we started telling each other exactly what we wanted to receive and no one was allowed to deviate. That obviously became very silly over time so we just dropped the gift giving altogether. The games are a great way to spend time with one another and interact though. We still do full decorations as well because they are fun and create a festive atmosphere.
I like your ornaments and the gift basket for the neighbor was a really nice gesture.
Very few gifts are actually exchanged on Christmas, save for the young kids in the family. We would rather invest in our relationships with each other and fun to be had.
We did almost the same thing and found it ridiculous. Of course, I buy for my family because I know what they need, but, that is separate from the family Christmas party!
Thank you! I love happy sendoffs, especially for nice people!Thanks so much for stopping by!
The Christmas is stressful for some people. They feel that buying gifts is "obligatory/mandatory/required". A must. They feel forced to buy gifts.
Christmas is (or should be) about being together in love, and it should not be stressful at all for nobody.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Have a nice day and have a nice weekend. All the best. Greetings and much love from Hungary.
Christmas is exactly that. While some people stress over gift buying, I believe most of that is from days gone by. Many people, myself included will buy what is needed, but, just to buy a gift? I just don't. People have too much frivolous stuff they don't really need and I will not be adding to it.
The gift of time. That is always fun. We enjoy getting together and there are gifts, I won't lie, but, not everyone brings them and many times it is for the elders or the kids. Always the kids. :)
While I am not a minimalist, I don't collect extras. Thanks so much for your words!
Greetings from Washington, DC!
Oh dear Dr Suess how I love his analogy!
Festive season comes in so many guises, the only one I know is sharing a table and enjoying everyone being together.
Gift of self is the best gift of all, when children were younger, their Gran showed them how to make tree decorations with beautiful paper and ribbons covering matchboxes, writing letters and posting them the excitement was tangible.
Some matchboxes held wishes within to hand out to others for their trees. Tickey and Sixpence hidden in Christmas Pudding baked by my Mom (Gran), yes the coins were boiled and sterilized, used for many years... a tradition!
Wishing you a festive season with family and friends enjoying precious moments together even through these odd days and events.
!LUV
@joanstewart(1/5) gave you
Thanks for the LUV!
I won't argue with you there! ❤️ It's the one I love best!Aren't grandmothers the best? They really are. I have no idea why, but, their heart just grows larger as the generations multiply.
I like the coin tradition! We do something similar but use little plastic babies. Yes. Don't ask. :)
Thank you for the well wishes! You know I wish the same for you! ❤️
Little ones always got a small present, adults it is all about getting together.
Gran's were the best, recycle paper each year, make decorations, my Mom even dressed the fairy on top of the tree being excellent at sewing. We all sent Christmas cards those days to family and friends around the world.
One year the four current little ones in the home all had homemade superman Pajamas as grandmas gift, wore them Christmas day... and the next!
Enjoy Denise, let your hair down and savour each moment 💞
Christmas is one of the colorful festivals I know. Also, it is celebrated with much charm and interest all over the world. waiting for more posts from you.
Most excellent.
It is indeed sad to see local shop barely breathing. Online shops are taking over. Back then you hunt for rare finds in local shops, a small chat with the owners and the experience when you visit a physical store. A few more days to go and it's Christmas!
Isn't that the truth! That makes me sad as the day-to-day chats with small shop owners are disappearing! I disliked when everything started going online, then was okay during the pandemic, but, that is where the big takeover came.
It just makes me sad for the USA.
Hi @watersnake101 and @mhel !
Sometimes I imagine living in an old sleepy quiet town. Where time slows down. You get all you need from the local shops, visiting old family businesses. You can never buy that charm online.
There are many of those towns like this here. It is such a nice existence. I have every intention of moving to one when I quit work and don't have to worry about being close to anything. Even NYC has many of them, funny enough. Those are the hearts of the neighborhoods.
Been thinking about you. How have you been lately? xo
I feel much better now but things doesn't seem to go right these days. Car won't start when you need it. We have an upcoming plan for the holidays and I need to worry about the car this week to get it fixed. I'm ranting lol.
Stress less. If you don't get the car fixed, alternate plans. Stay home. Not the end of the world. You are healthy and you are together!
Glad you are feeling better!
True. Breath in breath out 😊. I won't let it ruin the holidays.
Thats right, my friend. Where er you go, whatever you do, you'll be together.
That's the best.