Trying to simplify Christmas... just a little bit!

Good morning everyone!!!  We woke up this morning to a tiny little covering of snow...  So pretty - and even better, it will be melted by noon.  No shoveling today!!!

We've had a delightfully quiet weekend... Lucia is still fighting pneumonia, but thankfully getting better each day.  However, as the doctor reminded us, lots of rest is what is going to kick this, so since we're traveling to FL this upcoming weekend, we need to get in the rest now!  Thankfully she's cooperating on that front.

I decided that I am going to do my best to simplify Christmas this year.  I don't need anything.  Honestly, we all have too much stuff. We are blessed that if we need something, we get it.  And I'm at that point where what I really want is a magic wand to clean out the excess, NOT more stuff... so Dennis and I agreed that this year we are going to just do stockings for each other, and get new flooring in our kitchen which we've been talking about for years.  Maybe a new toilet in the bathroom too (not a very exciting gift, but exciting to me if that makes sense!). When it will happen, who knows - but there is a plan now!  What a relief to me it is to know that I don't have to figure out what to buy him that he doesn't need/want!!!  Plus, we're going to CA on Xmas day to see dear friends, so I didn't really want to deal with decorating up the house when we weren't going to be there.  Instead, Lucia and I decided to decorate our pre-lit palm tree with ornaments, and you can see the outcome below.  Not half bad!  In fact, as Dennis said, there is way more room for presents underneath (which isn't going to be an issue anyways)!!!

We went to a Christmas Play on Friday night, which tied Santa and Jesus together in a wonderful way, and was just amazing.  I think even Lucia got the message that Christmas is about giving to others, and about the gift that God gave us...  Yesterday was quiet - errands and dinner with friends, and then church today, a few more errands, then the afternoon at home.  I am going to try to get everything wrapped so that I can enjoy the next few weeks, and really focus on the quality of the season vs. the rushing and stress....  I hope you all have had a great weekend, and (for fellow bandsters) if you pray, please send Barbara and her family prayers...