🎄 A Simple Christmas

Happily, those over the top marathon decorating situations are a thing of the past. And this creates space for what matters most. Plus I'm unpacking my holiday toolbelt for you.

‘This is just enough for me,’ my mom declared, looking around the room with satisfaction.

Two fragrant pine wreaths with pink velvet bows from the local supermarket hung on the doors. She directed me to dig out a few specific Christmas tablecloths and wanted her prized two foot tall gold metal tree with gleaming ornaments put right in the center of the table she seldom was able to eat at any more. A little side table held a dainty miniature poinsettia from a friend.

That was it. Mom was done decorating her home for Christmas.

It’s been nine years since that little holiday scenario unfolded. Mom’s sheer delight, gratitude, and relief in the simplest of decor has stayed with me since that day when I happily did her bidding in the midst of a very hard season.

With every passing year, I better understand that yearning for a minimalist holiday scenario, although minimalist is a word she never would have used.

For years, I could keep up with the best of them.

I have a lovely collection of glass ornaments that were my Grandmother’s. There’s three or four vintage manger scenes and enough homemade ornaments to sponsor my very own craft fair. We’ve got mugs galore and worn out stockings. Strings of wooden beads and bells and garland. China cups and saucers. Hand stitched table runners. Beautifully ancient vintage Santas along with a lovely collection of 1950s ceramic objects to fill a room over and over again.

Plus more.

Yes, my Christmas cup overflows.

And it’s all just too much.

🎄

The days of exhausting marathon Christmas activities, lugging huge totes of stuff up and down stairs, endless baking, and purposeless shopping are gone. Instead, I am very slowly easing into this Advent season.

Cherishing room to breathe. White space. Margin. A cozy yet simple home. Candles in the window. Quiet music in the background. An evergreen candle burning. There’s only so much energy to go around and so I’m choosing to invest my emotional, physical, and spiritual energy carefully.

Joyfully.

In the process, I’m finding that with each passing year, more of these precious collectibles end up resting quietly in the big ol’ totes down on the basement shelves.

I’m guessing that someday my daughters and grandkids and maybe some greatgrands will want a piece of Grandma that reminds them of the good ol’ days when we all celebrated together.

So yes, I’m keeping most everything that I love.

And knowing that they are there, wrapped in old newspaper in labeled bins is good enough for me. Each year I seem to select a different array of goodies to bring upstairs. Some years it’s all about the fragile, vintage stuff. Other years it’s the handcrafted ornaments, each with her own unique story to tell.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, I can happily say, with Mom’s signature sheer delight and relief, this is just enough for me.

All is calm, all is bright.

I’m easing slowly and purposefully into an Advent state of mind and heart. Here’s 6 tools in this year’s Holiday Tool Belt -

✅ The Lazy Genius Podcast
Kendra Adachi is smart, fun, and engaging. You’ll find the practical help you’ve been craving to get you through this busiest of seasons. My favorite Monday listen.

✅ 12: The Secret to Simple Christmas Decor
Myquillan Smith, my go-to cozy minimalist guru, walks us through getting our homes ready for winter. She’s charming and creative and I’ve been following her forever.

✅ The Weary World Rejoices
The awesome Kate Bowler invites us daily ‘to sit with the messiness of life while still holding on to the promise of what’s to come.’ Free guidebook downloads, too.

✅ A 25-Day Journey Through the Christmas Story
This is the second year I’m getting Hannah Brencher’s daily Advent email. I love her soothing, biblical, practical perspective that much.

✅ Wonder in the Waiting: An Advent Devotional
A unique devotional memoir written by my crazy-about-Christmas and deeply-in-love-with-Jesus friend Angela Burtis. Click here for our cozy chat together.

✅ A 4 Day Advent Scripture Challenge: Memorize & Meditate on Isaiah 9:6
I count Michele Morin as one of my spiritual mentors as well as a dear writing pal. She’s created a solidly biblical mini-series over on YouVersion. A rich feast indeed.

Now comes the best part.

We’re chatting, commiserating over our plans, dilemmas, prep, and hopes. Join us in the comment section to glean from what others are doing - or are letting go of - in this season!

THANKS FOR . . .
* tapping on that little 🤍 below, friends. I feel the warmth of your support, encouragement, and loving kindness, big time. You’re getting the word out and I am beyond grateful.

* clicking on Amazon links here. I make a small percentage on most of what you buy while you’re there. Think Christmas! And these candles! Dozens of you have bought them so far and I’d love to hear about how they look in your home!

Linda 🎄

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