I think this post is going to sound selfish, as if I’m happy this year because I get to celebrate Christmas my way. But shucks and all that…yeah for me! This year we’re celebrating a relaxed Christmas at home!!
We almost always travel at Christmas time, which is great in and of itself because it means we get to see many loved ones and spend great time with family. I love this, and we’ve made many a wonderful memory through the years. But this year, it worked out for us to be home. We’ll make a short trip later this week to see my side of the family, but for the most part, we’ll be home. Home. Home!!!
Because we’re not traveling, I can focus my energy on many of the fun Christmas ideas I haven’t always had time to do when planning and preparing for a trip. I’m having a blast in the kitchen, making fun Christmas snacks. I took my time wrapping presents – because it’s something I love to do, and I had time to enjoy it this year.
The six of us have planned fun meals for this week, and have a big stack of games we’ve already started playing. Matt and I have had a wonderful time planning the gifts we’re giving to the boys and all the great ways we’ll use these gifts on Christmas day and beyond. I’m keeping our Christmas dinner as simple as possible so that I can relax and enjoy the day with my men. Lasagna for Christmas dinner? Yep. It’s already made and ready to be baked. The boys thought this was a perfect idea.
Ahhhhhh…I am overjoyed with thanks to God for this gift of time at home this Christmas. Let the celebration begin!
Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for! Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!
This year I am thankful for so many things that I couldn’t possibly list them all! My family has a nice home with heat and food in the pantry. I have learned a lot of new things this year to help me prepare healthy meals for my family and God has blessed me with the ability to do so! My 3 yo daughter was finally able to get her kidney transplant recently. My sister was able to travel and spend a full 2 weeks with us to help us through that time. I have a hard working husband. He supports my decision to homeschool our girls, and doesn’t say a word about all of the books that I keep getting!!! (I love books.) … and I am so grateful for God’s love and grace!
Glad you get to be home for the holidays. Today I am thankful for birth #89. I wrote about it on my blog. God is good. Merry Christmas to you and your family Laura.
http://gratituesday.blogspot.com/
I am grateful for God’s Gift of Love to us in Jesus.
http://sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/what-are-you-doing-for-christmas-day-14.html
So thankful that Jesus came to earth as a babe, so that we may have salvation through Him!!
http://christintheclouds.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-holidaysreallylife-without-christ.html
Merry Christmas!!
Ann
Finally got around to making the rasberry oatmeal bars. It is now one of my very favorites! I used apricot preserves and it was so delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe!
So thankful for the faithfulness of our awesome God!
http://bit.ly/1fErQZ4
So thankful that my daughter gets what Christmas is really about. http://www.joyinthewilderness.com/out-of-the-mouths-of-babes/
I’m thankful to be celebrating Christmas at my house with my husband, boys and my parents. My parents were supposed to make the trip to our house yesterday but my dad developed a bad cough and difficulty breathing overnight Sunday. With lots of prayer and really good cough meds, plus a diagnosis of not pneumonia from the doctor, they decided to come today! I am thrilled. It’s been a rough few months for Dad. Praise Jesus the Healer!
Grateful HE is the REASON for ALL SEASONS!!!
MERRY CHRISTmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Great twist on plain popcorn! Thanks!
Oops. Wrong post. ;)
I am also grateful that we’re home on Christmas! A few years ago we vowed to not leave the house on Christmas day anymore. It’s been such a blessing to our family!
We had baked ziti for Christmas dinner for a similar reason: I was able to prep the day before, and just had to dump frozen meatballs and jars of sauce in the crockpot after breakfast, threw the pasta pan in the oven mid-afternoon to cook the ziti, and I got to do what everyone else was doing on Christmas day: play! I didn’t spend hours in the kitchen while everyone else played with their new toys; I didn’t miss out on newly learned card games with my daughter; I got to watch my mother in law and my son play “boom boom balloon”; I got to watch my recently widowed grandmother in law as she just took it all in, and I got to watch her precious smile creep back as the day progressed!