Kicking off Christmas

12/3/2016

There are just no words for how much I just love Christmas. Yes my home has been decorated since November 3rd, but now the whole world is completely on board the Christmas train and I love life in December. I really believe the best, most joyful, and youthful part of every person comes out this time of year and the hustley bustley cheer of this whole month just lights up my heart. SO I have been littering this first week of December with Christmas activities and here are my top three recommendations to kick off your season!

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm

Even if you put up an artificial tree, just walking around a Christmas tree farm is the perfect kick-start to the season. My family drove up to Saum's Tree Farm, all the ladies wore blanket scarves, we took a zillion pictures (duh), and made the boys cut down the trees. The atmosphere was so precious with free cookies and hot chocolate, wreath making kits for your extra tree trimmings, and Santa and Mrs. Claus in the cabin for the kids (and me) to visit. Ben and I headed straight to the Anderson home to deck the first tree and then back to our own house to trim ours. It was the perfect Christmasy day.

When I got back to school on Monday my kids were so jazzed to tell me that they put up their Christmas trees over the weekend, but I think I might have been even more excited. My second graders and I probably spent a bit too long debating real vs. artifical trees.

Advent

Advent started super early this year with Thanksgiving falling so soon, so the first Advent Sunday was last week. BUT it's not too late to start celebrating the anticipation of Jesus's coming. My family has always celebrated Advent with our dinner table wreath, devotions, and a big birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Day. I love love love our family Advent traditions but this year I wanted to dive into studying God's words about Jesus and his humble arrival and let the Lord work in my heart in the quiet of this season and not just the hustle. So my mom, sister, and I are working through She Reads Truth's Advent Study together and I love the sacred pausing it has ushered into my life. I definitely recommend carving out minutes of reflection and calm to soak up the beauty this time. Click the link to buy the Advent study for yourself or the people you love.

Advent study

Shopping Small

I've written before about how valuable I think it is to support small businesses but that is especially true during the Christmas season when your money can go straight into the hand of a small business owner building up your local community or to a faceless corporation. Ben and I got to shop at the Worthington downtown open house (check out the clothes at Vernacular. I'm obsessed.) and sip coffee at the beautiful Paper City Coffee in Chillicothe. But even if you can't get into a physical store front to shop, click the link below to check out online small businesses that are doing good in the world AND making beautiful and giftable products. Spend and give wisely and compasisonately this Christmas!