Motivation

I’ve been very motivated to make this year’s Christmas about experiences, rather than gifts.

That’s hard to do in this culture and I fight it every day.

So I am employing some new tactics for me.

1. All gifts must fall into my budget, and not go one cent over.

2. All gifts must be purchased with cash. If I don’t have the cash on me at that moment, I don’t get that great deal. It will have to wait.

3. I have put great thought and TIME into many of the gifts I am giving this year. I have decided that my time is worth more than a small savings on some ready bought gift.

4. Good Will has some amazing finds…I found beautiful coffee mugs with African huts on them for 40 cents a piece. These will go to our children’s wonderful teachers, along with a fun Starbucks card and homemade cookies.

5. I had no idea my closest had so many items that could be reused, re purposed or given away. Funny how that works when you clean!

6. I am putting our artist, Caroline, to work this year. She is now our chief card maker, Christmas letter decorator and gift tag maker.

7. Homemade…people love homemade things. So I’m slapping on the apron, holing up in the kitchen and making homemade.

8. Focus: I collect manger scenes from all over the world. I have them out this time of year and I am constantly reminded of why we celebrate this holiday. It’s about Christ’s birth. I am also finding myself explaining to Tobin on a regular basis why we give gifts.

9. I am enjoying music much more this year. I made a play list of all my favorite Christmas songs, ones that I really love, not just what I hear on the radio. I love hearing The Messiah sung by a 100 voice choir!

10. When it’s all said and done, I want to have given of my time, receieved my family’s love in return and celebrated the birth of our Savior!

PS I’ve included Caroline’s Christmas list this year (it is too cute to not have posted for years to come) and one of my manger sets from Liberia, West Africa.