Christmas/Advent

This year we did something different with my family. We decided instead of buying each other gifts we should save our money and go on a vacation. We found a house in St. Thomas this past summer and decided to all meet up after Christmas.

As the holidays approached, I felt out of sorts a bit as my normal Christmas activities/habits were disrupted. I wasn't doing my Christmas gift shopping or baking cookies or anything. It didn't even feel like Christmas. That is when I realized that maybe my focus during the Christmas season has been off. I really wanted to participate in Advent this year and read Emerging Mummy's book list. I decided to order Waiting for the Light to use for my Advent reading. It was wonderful. Waiting for the Light was exactly what I needed for this Advent and this season of my life! I also tried to keep up with the Book of Common Prayer as much as I could.

I also read this article by Ann Voskamp and it really resonated with me. I shared it with Andrew and we are thinking about doing this in future years. Guess what I got for Christmas? A cow donated in my name! Andrew was looking at buying me some perfume but could not bring himself to spend the money on it and instead used the money to buy a cow in my name. I loved it. It was the best present I got for Christmas! I was so thankful too. I really wanted this Advent season to be about giving money to others and not spending it on myself.



My employers gave me a very generous Christmas gift: a Coach handbag. I have used it and am still figuring out how I like it. I feel like it says, "Look at me, I have a lot of money. I have a designer handbag. I am wealthy." However, that is not true of my life and I don't want my money to be spent on me. I want to be able to help those less fortunate instead of living a luxurious life.

Andrew and I are still figuring out our traditions throughout the holidays. We bought an Advent candle but we didn't do a very good job of burning it every day.

This Christmas was also the first Christmas that we spent in our own home. Since we live so close to New York City we spent Christmas Eve in the city! We had a wonderful time making memories!