Consider starting a 12 Days of Christmas Tradition. Celebrate with some fun little gifts or activities leading up to Christmas Day. If you have a big celebration on the 24th you might want to start on the 11th to culminate at your celebration. Do just one act of kindness a day or give a small token to family members or friends. A great alternative to the calendars you open each day.
A few movies to enjoy--A Christmas to Remember-Jason Robards; A Christmas Affair-Robert Mitchum; The Christmas Box-Richard Thomas; Christmas in Connecticut-Barbara Stanwyck; Miracle on 34th Street-Original or 1994 version; Little Women-Original or Susan Sarandon version. Discover some new ones for a your Christmas tradition.
Tradition-Tevia sang of it in Fiddler on the Roof and this time of year is perfect for traditions. They can be a source of comfort. Movies are a popular tradition, but this year try reading some Holiday Short Stories as a new tradition. A good resource is a series of books compiled by Joe L. Wheeler "Christmas in my Heart." There are numerous volumes containing many Old Fashioned stories.
Start some new traditions this December. We started one many years ago from the example of our friends Bill and Mary, we call it Decembered Prayer. During the month we seek guidance for our family and Church and do not make any major decisions. After Christmas we share with each other what we believe the Lord has shown us for the coming year and move into the year with new focus.
We all like the ambiance the decor of Christmas brings and part of that is due to the lighting we use. An easy way to have those pretty lights throughout your home is to use the LED battery operated strings of lights. The ones with timers are awesome and they also make candles that look just like the real thing. It is nice to not have to be concerned a candle is put out and lights off.
Consider an artificial tree. I miss the fragrance of the real one, but I don't miss the mess. There are plenty of ways to still have the fragrance and there are many beautiful trees to choose from. To enjoy the fragrance, this year we purchased a bag of Balsam Fir needles. I put them in containers around the house and in tea balls hanging in both trees. Try a florist or tree lot for the needles. A wreath is another way to enjoy the fragrance without as much mess.
When decorating your home for the season do a thorough cleaning as you go. Dust all the surfaces and then dust each item as you put it in place. Blow the dust out of the greenery before you place on the mantle or staircase, wipe down all of the glass items as well. By cleaning as you decorate you should be able to go through the season with just light touch-ups, cleaning the floors and bathrooms, and be able to enjoy your break from the ordinary.
