While reading over my favorite blogs, I thought, perhaps you all would enjoy some of the Christmas fun I have been reading about.

First is one of my faves: Christy Jordan’s Southern Plate.  Not only does Christy share with us about delicious food, she gives ideas on how to have some Christmas fun.  Click on the cookies to find out how you can do 25 free & inexpensive things for the best Christmas ever.

 

Next, there is so much going on over at I should be mopping the floor.  Kristi has some adorable printables & ways to make your holidays less stressful.  Just don’t be mad at me if you spend A LOT of time there.

Then, my other fav, who is always keepin’ it real over at Only a Breath.  Melanie has announced she wants us to share reading the Bible in 2015.  I know she would love having you all join in to study God’s word together.  Just click on her messy kitchen to go to the blog post.  (And by the way, this was after a night of at the last minute reindeer cookie making.  I feel her pain.)

Now that I have shared some of my favorite blog stuff with you, I want to talk about how my taste in Christmas presents have changed.  When I was younger of course it was toys, toys, & more toys!  Then, as I became a teenager, it was a special piece of jewelry, clothes, or whatever it was everybody else was getting that year.  As I got older & had kids & now grandkids -it’s hard to buy my Christmas present.  Not that I am that hard to buy for.  You see, what I want for Christmas has become something you can’t buy in a store.  My kids will ask what I want, every year.

For the past several years, it’s been the same- nothing. 

 I just want them to take care of their own babies now.  To make sure they get what they want.  My Christmas present is my house full of people who I love & who love me.  Being able to open up my house to the ones who are dearest to me is a wonderful feeling.  In the past few years, people have become so much more important to me.  I think it’s just something that tends to happen when you lose those who are very dear to you.  Many of our loved ones have gone on & you start to really pay attention to the relationships you have.  My mama loved a get together.  I think I am getting more like her.  I love eating together, laughing together, & watching them all be excited for the season.  Seeing the little ones squeal & rip & romp through my house.   Having enough food for everybody & then some.  Being able to cook with my sweetie.  That is what I want for Christmas.  The feeling of contentment that right then, for a split second, my loved ones are fed, safe, & sound.  There, for the moment, there is peace on my earth, that I live in.  I wouldn’t take anything for all of that.  Now show me how to bottle & sell that & we will be gazillionaires!

What are you doing for Christmas?  Whatever it is, I hope you feel as blessed as I do.  Not with what’s under the tree, but being grateful for your family, friends, & spiritual blessings.  That’s what it’s all about anyway.  Until next time, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

A little Christmas perspective from Calvin & Hobbes