Developing an Attitude

What I work on continuously

Hello Friends,

Are you feeling stressed? This year I am doing less than ever and refusing the seasonal craziness. Now I know, this is easier for me to say. I no longer have small children in the home, school activities and programs to attend, and gift lists longer than my budget. I once was in that season. Now I can choose how I want to approach the trappings of Christmas and I feel that it is well earned. I try to remember how I felt while I listen to my daughter and daughter in law. I make myself available where possible and tell them they are doing a great job. Because they are! No matter how simple we try to make the holiday’s, the fact remains that much is added to our schedules during the final two months of the year. And to top it off, all that togetherness can lead to picking up a cold or other icky virus.

I have no excellent advice for you younger ladies. Muddle through seems to be the way it works out. And you will. Your children will love the decorations and the outings. They won’t care if all the cookies are baked at home or purchased from the bakery. (good chance to support a small bakery business if it fits your budget) Use a million gift bags from the dollar store, if wrapping paper takes too long. The house does not need to be completely decorated to be beautiful. Toss a string of lights on the shelf, add some greens and make some hot chocolate.

The most important things in your home at Christmas have nothing to do with decorations. A Charlie Brown style tree on a table can still be a memorable centerpiece for your family Christmas observance.

I am not a commercial person but when my kids were growing up, I confess that I did at times try to keep up with neighbors, friends and the growing advertising gimmicks. I don’t think that any of those things are what my grown children remember about our Christmas’s.

They recall grandparents visiting from out of town, Christmas morning breakfast, and the day after Christmas waffle tradition. They remember waking up early, being permitted to open their stockings while we groped our way from the bedroom. I loved watching their excitement. It wasn’t the gifts, it was the fact that they had been anticipating the excitement and the actual event was good!

Our small budget didn’t matter. Socks were wrapped, new toothbrushes pushed into stockings, everything became a gift at that time of year, and none of it cost a fortune. It was simple and yet beautiful.

Life evolved, teen age years were different and grandparents stopped being able to travel. Gifts were fewer but more dear. We tried to give each something they really wanted that would help them in their current interests. Riding boots, hunting gear, and technology replaced dolls, dump trucks and Fischer Price record players. Yet we still ate waffles on the day after Christmas.

Over the years of changes from young mom to seasoned grandmom, I have had days were gratitude was hard to find. When grown children couldn’t make it home for the holidays, I felt sad, not grateful. When did things change? We couldn’t recall the last time everyone was together. I had to actively remind myself that my empty chairs were someone else’s gift. I was grateful that if my kids were not here, it was because they had another family that also loved them and they needed to be with that family too. Gratitude evolves. What we once were grateful for has to ease it’s way into the future. I had to find gratitude as I sent a large box of gifts off to family we would not see in person over the holidays. I was grateful we could afford the postage!

Gratitude is something I am always working on. Being grateful is an active verb. Like remembering to drink water! What we think we want isn’t always the gift we receive, yet we can be grateful!

As we head deep into the holidays, I am focusing on the greatest gift of all, Jesus. We didn’t know we needed a savior but God did! He sent his only son, as a gift for all who choose to follow. Philippians 2: 5-11

5.You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶ Though he was God,^[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges^[b];
he took the humble position of a slave^[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,^[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The question for me: Can I have the same attitude of Christ Jesus? Can I be grateful for the gifts I receive from God, the gifts He knows I need in order to follow Him. I pray that my attitude continues to develop, even through the hard seasons, and the changing tides.

I pray you have the most wonderful Christmas, filled with meaningful gifts and love.

Merry Christmas

Janet

I’ll be taking a newsletter break through the remainder of December. Please feel free to shop our restocked yarn shop and our book shop. We will continue shipping without interruption.

The Wool Shop

There is a long awaited yarn shop reopening! It’s been well over a year since I had a restock of naturally dyed wool yarns. The Cheviot Yarn Collection is a limited drop of only a dozen skeins. The Indigo Collection is fresh off the dye pots and one of my historically favorite color pallets. Plus I updated some organic merino yarns too. Enjoy!

Around the Barnyard

Merry Christmas from the flocks! I always share our family Christmas card in the newsletter since I don’t have all of your mailing addresses!

This year’s card was simpler than most. I had a vision and when I received my photos from my photographer friend after a fall photo shoot, I knew what I wanted!

For Unto Us a Child is Born - Isaiah 9v6

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