tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839866588118166315.post6654958473063846196..comments2024-01-25T12:50:59.045-08:00Comments on A Large Room: Thoughts about ChristmasPaulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409740378011990132noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839866588118166315.post-76950205812899867592009-12-29T23:47:06.089-08:002009-12-29T23:47:06.089-08:00It's wonderful that you are re-thinking how yo...It's wonderful that you are re-thinking how your family will celebrate the seasons of Christmas and Advent. <br /><br />Just after Christmas is a good time to be reassessing priorities and considering how family traditions can reinforce faith. I just wanted to encourage you to continue that process of re-evaluation.Romanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01725826881848148814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839866588118166315.post-6450148977013260402009-12-27T18:22:55.884-08:002009-12-27T18:22:55.884-08:00I am excited about this post because it's a to...I am excited about this post because it's a topic I've thought about a lot as well, and I've come up with a solution I am very happy with. <br /><br />Jason and I plan to reserve Christmas Eve as a religious holiday, reading the nativity story, singing and playing Christmas music, and spending time with family. <br /><br />We plan to have stockings on Christmas morning, but no other gifts, and instead focus on serving others as our gift to Christ--volunteering at soup kitchens, taking gifts to orphanages or families who have hit hard times, or just tying baby blankets at home. <br /><br />Then we plan to have New Years as our gift-giving holiday. It makes sense in a lot of ways--starting out a new year by expressing appreciation for each other and getting a few new things to use and enjoy through the year. There are a couple of additional advantages to this as well, such as 1. everything is on sale after Christmas, so last-minute shopping is cheap and 2. parents already plan to stay up late on New Year's Eve, so staying up to wrap presents isn't an extra hassle. <br /><br />Jason and I are starting off the tradition this year by exchanging simple New Year's gifts.Catherine Agneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11103493896531333511noreply@blogger.com