rachel jenae: the spirit of the holidays...

So about a month ago I thought I would get on the ball and send out my christmas list to my family members. The last two years I have extremely procrastinated and gift shopping was torturous and too rushed for any enjoyment. I like to think about each gift for each individual and not let it be just a check off of my list of things to get, but something that they will really enjoy and feel blessed with. Several years ago, I'm not sure exactly when, somewhere into college or after when my immediate family started doing more Christmas' at my parents house instead of driving to my grandparents and being with tons of extended family, something about the holidays became hard for my mind to understand. It was hard to wrap around the idea that I wouldn't have more family around than my small family and we had to now create our own traditions and ideals for the holidays. I hated the idea that we were just getting together to just exchange gifts of which none of us really needed, but were just extra 'stuff' in our lives.

When the nephew and niece came along it made it much easier to get into the 'holiday spirit' because of their excitement, but also just time and growing up into an understanding that things change. It's weird how the older you get the more you realize that everyone has gone through the same thing you do in some form or fashion. Some may not have recognized it or fought against the flow as much, but they can relate.
Like how the older you get the younger it is :)

Well yesterday I got an email from my sister-in-law, of whom I greatly love, and I just wanted to give her a high-five because she was saying what I whole-heartedly agree with in our American culture and that we can choose to go against the grain if we dare. The email included her christmas list and a list for the kids and then she prefaced the ending with the following (Heidi if you happen to read this, I hope you don't mind I shared, I just love your thinking outside of the box! )

Just an update on our "toy" status. I have just cleaned out 2/3 of our toy closet, and had my ENTIRE back vehicle filled with toys which I hauled to a garage sale at Andrew's school to raise money for a chicken coup. I couldn't help but to reflect on what has been created as "normal" for the standard American family in regards to collecting "stuff."In lieu of this, and our gradual family shift to less is much, much more, I just wanted to throw a few thoughts out:I am not against the happiness/fun that a child has when he receives toys for birthday/Christmas, but I am against this crazy culture pushes for us to always have more more more toys toys toys. If you so feel compelled to buy the kiddos some toys, check out some thrift stores/garage sales, or perhaps a friend you know with children the same age, looking to clear some closet space like I did. Then, at least we are recycling toys and not feeding the "plastic junk" frenzy that is so prevalent and out of control in this culture.We did that last year for Andrew's birthday, and he was awesome with it, as were all party attenders, I know it was refreshing to save a little $$$ too. Please don't feel compelled to adopt my philosophies, but I do throw out the challenge for us to go against the grain.

I seriously loved this letter! Recently I was talking to one of my roommates about how much I enjoyed our apartment. Just about everything in our apartment has been either given to me or I have bought second-hand. Ever piece of furniture reminds me of friends near and far that have impacted my life. Like the new couch I bought from my friends Jon and Des who are about to move to Belgium and be full-time missionaries. Like the bed and mirror in my room that I got from my close friends family. Like the chair and tons of kitchen utensils I got from my friends who moved to Germany. And it's nice stuff! It's not brand new, but our apartment is cozy and cute! It has character and a story to tell. And somewhere in the last few years I've realized I'd much rather value and sow into the lives of those I'm getting things from than actually sow into having brand new things.

So this holiday season... as my sister-in-law said... try going against the grain. Try living differently than the culture and society says you 'must'. Try writing a personal letter of encouragement with each gift and telling those you love the great things you see in them and believe for them in the next year. Try making things that are creative and a personal gift that will have lasting value. Take the time to think how you and the giftings in your life can encourage and uplift the lives of those you are giving to. Heaven knows I'm not against getting or having nice things :), but just try thinking outside the box!

And here are just a few pictures from last Christmas... I can't believe how fast this year has come and gone!

The cutest nephew and niece! Oh this year is going to be fun!