A Simple Christmas (By Laura)

It has been a season of waiting.  These past few months as the house has been on the market have been trying as we've felt drawn to a vision that we couldn't entirely realize without relying on a process.  This process, selling and downsizing, has been completely reliant on others.  We can do little to speed the process (well, I suppose we could ask a very, very low price...), nor can we lure buyers into our home who aren't ready to buy.  Around here, and in many places, spring is the big time to buy or sell a house.  Fall is a distant second.  We have, however, had a good number of showings, and even one offer - one very low offer which fell through and didn't seem too serious from the beginning.  Frustrating.  But so we have been forced to wait, to be patient while our hearts are aimed at something currently out of our grasp.

Thankfully, our process of simplification is so much deeper than changing our living situation.  There are THINGS to simplify, including clothes, toys, books, storage items, dishes, appliances, electronics, and all sorts of other things to pare down.  There are RHYTHMS to simplify, such as how much we allow ourselves to plan in one week, one day, one hour.  There are ACTIVITIES to simplify, and I think of how many things I try to get done at once, how complicated I make each meal, how frequently I check my various social media outlets, and how I'm using my iPhone.  And then there's THE BRAIN that also needs simplifying.  Wait.  That sounded weird.  Let me rephrase that.  THE BRAIN ACTIVITY.  This will need to be another blog post completely, but I'm starting to process something that I've caught myself needing to change, to simplify, and to improve myself on.  This thing I refer to is my constant irritation and grumbling caused by having too much on the go, whether scheduled or just packed into the brain.  I am learning to focus on one or two things at a time, to leave the other things unattended while I focus on the good, simple, real things.  As I said, more on that another time.

And so as we've been paring down on all these things, we've been finding ourselves in a really delightful place.  This place is one in which we are actually selecting and enjoying activities and moments that we choose to, simply because we love them!  When there's less junk around, there's less to constantly be sorting through and tidying.  When there's less on the "to do" list, there's more time to sit and read a book, read one to one of our daughters all snuggled on the couch, or make a nice cup of coffee or tea, or even write and record a silly song with a ukulele.  When there's less going on in a single day, there's more time to roll around on the floor and play with the kids.  We've been hearing so much laughter around here, and the sound of a two year old's hysterical belly laugh?  NOTHING BEATS IT.

This is the crux of it.  This is what we've read about and what we aim for.  A richness in life that is found in the backing away from distractions!  We are starting to see it!  To live it!  To bask in it!  It's nothing less than beautiful!

For the first year in a long time, Christmas preparations have been....dare I say delightful?  They haven't been overwhelming!  Even with my last minute remembering of some stocking stuffers I had planned, and my need to run across the border to pick up a few last gifts on Monday.  (Here's to hoping the border lineups aren't atrocious!)  The thing is, with our plan of 3 gifts per child, and then each of our families also doing it really low key, it has been absolutely enjoyable to sit and think and choose without the need to go overboard, or wonder whether we're spending enough on each person, or spending too much, or panic because we don't know what to get that one person.  The more expectation on these things there is, the more stress we add into the season, and what is the season all about anyway?  I mean, apart from the obvious roots of that Jewish baby, this season promises closeness, time with loved ones, enjoyment of music, lights, food, togetherness!  Not hustle and bustle and stress and Walmart open 24 hours and running out in a panic to just find SOMETHING for that person and worrying that it's never going to come together on time!  Why should Christmas day, or Eve, be a relief that it's all over? 

Anyway, I could go on and on, but the fact is, we seem to have hit on something this year.  In fact, I think we're really hitting on some big things in general.  Life isn't lived fully if it's lived in a distracted, stressed, overly booked, packed full, no extra time and spaces, no breathing room kind of way.  It just isn't.  Busyness does not become us.  Simplicity does.  Relationship does.  Love does.  And this is what we are trying to live.  May all the glory of the season, the actual beautiful and peaceful season, be upon you as you live through this week.  Peace, my friends.