reckless abandon

reckless abandon

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ghosts of Christmas present

I'm not sure why....but this year marks the first year of an awakening to the realization that Christmas isn't a happy festiveness amidst a season of merriment for everybody.

I know! I know! Pretty ridiculous on my part to just now be realizing this!
To explain....I've always been aware that there are "some who may not have much this Christmas" or that "this time of year can be hard for a lot of people;" but I never let the reality of those truths sink into my core.

Call it naivete....but the reality only just hit me earlier this month and has slowly but surely imprinted itself on my heart.  

...Maybe it's seeing firsthand that so many in my neighborhood and my childrens' schools will not have a Christmas that includes big dinners, lots of family, and a plethera of gifts...or really any Christmas at all; 
maybe it's the fact that I have stood by friends who have experienced so much loss in the past 11 months and are simply waiting for the year to end; 
maybe it's the nationwide mourning for the children and teachers lost in the Connecticut massacre, and the knowledge that there are parents who will never see Christmas the same again; 
maybe it's seeing so many people out of work, wondering how to cover the bills, trying anything they can to provide for their families; 
or maybe it's the fact that so many have come from or are in the midst of an abusive situation that just won't give them a reprieve on December 25th...
and for each of them, no amount of garland and tinsel will take away the cloud of oppression that has entrapped them in grief daily...only to be mocked by those complaining about having to wrap so many gifts this month. 


This season that I find to be such a beautiful expression of peace, love, joy, hope, cheer, and giving is a season of depression, bad memories, and magnification of desperation to many....only exasperated by the fact that most everyone else around them is singing along to "Here Comes Santa Claus" (that started taunting us from the radio over 2 months beforehand).


As a kid, my dad used to light up a huge homemade billboard-type sign across the front of our house. From the age of 3 to about 13, I would see the words "Jesus Lives. Merry Christmas" in bold lights every time I walked into my house...which, around the time I turned 13, was swapped out for the "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. Merry Christmas" greeting. 
I saw my dad painstakingly carve and drill and wire those structures to share Jesus with the world for that one month out of the year. And it was those signs that made me feel like I was doing my part in "remembering the true meaning of Christmas" simply by living in "that house with the huge Jesus sign."  Since I did my part by living with the signage, I felt it gave me permission to then enjoy my holiday, write long lists of presents I wanted, complain if my parents suggested we go serve at a food kitchen for the holiday, or compete with my siblings in unwrapping our nativity figures with the hope of being the one to unwrap baby Jesus, ultimately crowning one of us as the winner...the winner of....umm, i don't know, "winner of Christmas" maybe...?!  (as for the legacy of competitiveness in my family, that will be a separate blog at a later time) But while we were racing to unwrap that manger, I wasn't thinking of it's significance. (maybe once it was set up I'd stare at that angel hanging from the nail at the peak of the stable and sing a little "Away in a Manger," but during the sibling rivalry, none of that symbolism was crossing my mind.)



The hope of Christmas is historically and traditionally celebrated as the birth of God's Son...God in human form to experience life with the same limitations as each of us, but being perfect and blameless, overcoming all obstacles for our good...and ultimately becoming the sacrifice for our sin. The One who has walked in our shoes and understands our hearts!
...but placing that manger scene on the mantle doesn't mean we have honored the true meaning of the season.

so this Christmas my goal is to not just put in my time at the candlelight church service. I want to take some time to ponder the scene at the manger where Jesus lay alive and well, against all odds as Herod destroyed many-a-baby in hopes of depleting the hope of all those waiting for the King to be born. 
...Jesus...the "peace that passes understanding" ...the hope of nations....my reason for using this season to live outside of myself for once in my life.


This is not to say that people shouldn't enjoy the holiday (cause check out my last blog ...i'm loving me some advent adventures) or that you shouldn't grasp the spirit with all the force of Ebenezer the morning after his visit from the spirits....by all means, grasp away! I have come to realize through the tragedy in Connectict that there is something special in a child's excitement and hope in the magic of Christmas (and even Santa). I want my kids to have an innocence and joy of the fantasy while they are still unaware of the pain of the holidays for many. At the same time, I want them to think of actively loving others through service as a normal part of our holiday...our life.


Try to remember that Ebenezer's greatest joy was blessing those around him and passing along his "cup of cheer" to Tiny Tim and the others. I encourage you to reach out to a "Tiny Tim"....not because you want to put in your good deed before the year's end, but because sharing a little Christmas hope can go a long way...

...and because at some point in time, each of us will need the blessing of hope found in the random gift of a "Christmas goose" or "plumb pudding" given to us by a friend ...or better yet, a stranger!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

a very Robinson christmas calendar




a very Robinson Christmas calendar



I have a husband that could really do without all of my holiday
festivity and jolliness ... 
...but being born 2 days after Christmas
... and being a huge fan of Jesus
(who you may or may not realize is the reason we
celebrate December 25th),
I think I am required to be in love
with the Spirit of the Holiday! 



So when my husband mentioned that one of the few things he liked about Christmas
growing up (besides doing ministry with his dad like serving meals to the homeless) was an
advent calendar that his mom made (adorned with gift bows concealing holiday events for
many of the days leading up to Christmas), I embraced this idea with more force than was
necessary (as required by my obsessive-compulsive personality) ...and have gradually been
adding to the many opportunities to celebrate this season with my reluctantly-willing
husband and 3 ambitious kids.



Lots of friends have asked me to share my ideas over the year, so I thought,
"why not blog my list?!" 
(...since blogs are apparently "where it's at").

So here goes....THE LIST! 
(with the disclaimer that I have gathered many ideas from additional sources....shout out to all my creative peeps!)
AND MIGHT I ADD, there is no pressure to go overboard (the way I sometimes do).
Create your own traditions, and do it to whatever level
fits your schedule (and sanity).
"GRACE AND PEACE" to those who don't have time for more than 1 or 2 activities for the month.


1. make a Christmas wish list by cutting out items from a magazine
2. candy cane hunt at home (and the story of the meaning behind the candy
cane...google it!)
3. pass out treats at a nursing home


4. decorate a gingerbread house



5. make hand-made gifts for the kids' teachers
6. decorate your tree
(and take time to talk about any special ornaments)


7. "invite a friend to dinner" night
8. bake cookies/cake/anything from scratch
9. attend light up night downtown
10. visit daddy /mommy at work and decorate his/her desk
(...don't forget to pass out treats to all of their co-workers!)
11. dance to Christmas music*
12. Christmas movie night

13. buy a gift to donate
14. buy gloves and a blanket...and deliver to a homeless person/shelter
15. silly Christmas photos**
(make antlers or use some kind of fun props to use with pictures)
16. Christmas craft and deliver to grandma
(example: wreath made of their handprints)
17. read Christmas story from the Bible
18. hot cocoa day
(great chance to set up the hot cocoa bar with ground up candy canes, frozen whipped
cream hearts, etc as seen on pinterest! .....usually paired with dancing to christmas
music*)
19. make ornament for the tree
(and you can even use the silly pics taken on a previous day**)
20. trip to a dollar store to buy gifts
(kids pick out their own presents for grandparents and each other...and a dollar is a
small price to pay to see what random things they pick for everyone! :)
21. gift-wrapping day (let the kids ATTEMPT to wrap gifts)
22. Hang Christmas lights in the kids' bedrooms
23. make reindeer "food" to sprinkle on the snow 
(1/2 c uncooked oatmeal, 1/2 c sugar, and 1/4 c colored sugar crystals or glitter)
24. snowman sensory activity 
(shaving cream and glue mixed together and formed on construction paper)
25. build an actual snowman outside
26. sled riding



27. give the kids a roll of quarters and visit as many salvation army red kettles as is
necessary until they have had the chance to donate all their coins, letting them
decide how many they put in at each one
28. drive around to see Christmas lights
(taking turns picking and singing christmas carols together)
29. attend a church Christmas cantata
30. (my 6 yr old's addition to our list)
stand around the tree holding hands & singing Christmas songs
(in true "Whoville" fashion)
31. Christmas snack night
(popcorn/homemade chocolate covered pretzels/reindeer chow....
usually paired with Christmas movie night)



32. Christmas bath time
(where they are allowed to use as much shaving cream as they want to make
snowmen on the sides of the tub...and then add glow sticks and turn the lights out:)
33. send a card to widows(ers) to remind them that they are not forgotten during the
holiday
34. christmas story time at the library & barnes and nobles
35. hide a piece of the nativity in each room and send the kids on a scavenger hunt to
find them to complete the scene
36. make a  Birthday card for Jesus
(...great time to tell Him, in writing, what His life has meant to you)
37. Christmas caroling at grandma's
38. indoor snowball fight with rolled socks/pillows/soft balls
(this one is my boys' favorite!)
39. deliver groceries to families in need
40. let the kids pick a "gift" from the world vision/compassion international catalogue 
(where you can buy cows or sheep or healthcare or food, etc for a needy fam in another country)

41. make and deliver cookies to the neighbors

42. make "stained glass" candle holders (cover jars in tissue paper squares with a glue/water mixture) and give them as gifts from the kids

43. go to a Christmas orchestra or ballet

44. visit to NYC to see the tree and window displays 
(OR you can always schedule to just watch the broadcast on tv of the lighting of the tree!)



45. ride the mall train

46. bundle up and take a walk in the snow

47. go shovel snow for an elderly neighbor as a family

48. "kids choice" service project (no matter how big or little)
49. guess holiday scents while blind folded (cinnamon, peppermint, pine, etc.)
50. record the kids reenactment/telling of the Christmas story, in their own words (or answering the question, "what does Christmas mean to you?")

51. (attempt) iceskating 
52. make an angel or star tree-topper (using LOTS of glitter) 
53. Christmas scavenger hunt
54. make a pinecone bird feeder 
55. let kids pick which of their toys they'd like to donate
(it's a good way to make room for any new ones)
56. visit a christmas tree farm ....or open air public market  if you live in Rochester, NY
(you may be lucky enough to take a sleigh ride)



57.  visit santa at the mall

58. check out the gingerbread house/christmas village/train holiday displays
(many museums, libraries and community organizations have displays for the holiday)
59. go see a live nativity
60. donate groceries to a local food pantry
61. cut paper snowflakes
62. make a large felt Christmas tree on the wall for kids to decorate and redecorate
63. read Christmas books/verses with the kids every night
("do you see what i see? a devotional seek and find book for advent"
is great for younger kids and has something to read/find each day)
64. (for the girls) decorate fun Christmas nails
(pretty much painting nails Christmas colors and/or designs)
65. Christmas family game night
66. Collect coats for those in need
67. build a blanket fort
(use it for your nightly advent reading, or let the kids pretend its a stable for their
stuffed animals, or set it up in front of the tv for your Christmas family movie night,
or....)
68. schedule a potluck dinner for your friends to all bring a dish to pass
69. each person in the family picks someone to pray for every day during the month
of December
70. surprise visit to the school with snacks for office staff/teachers/classmates
71. serve a meal at a mission or volunteer to sort/deliver food
72. Christmas word search
(you can make your own or use a free printable download from the internet)
73. "I spy: Christmas Edition"
(AKA "The Christmas Tree Game" in the Pearson family...whoever finds the
appropriate ornament on the tree first from the clue given either gets a point or gets to
have the turn giving the next clue)
74. attend a "Breakfast with Santa" event
75. find a friend with a quad or snowmobile...
(shout out to Heather in Pittsburgh, PA!)
76. "Happy Birthday" Party for Jesus


77. Visit Family who lives out of town
(and take a family pic!)
78. Make an ethnic meal to celebrate your heritage and the holiday!
(you can even talk about the traditional "ST Nick" from that specific country)




79. Find a local Holiday Street Festival
(in Rochester, NY that would be Park Ave!)

80. By all means necessary, Let the Kids make Homemade gifts!



81. Attend a local, seasonal sports game...or maybe you're the type to just watch from home!
(basketball, hockey, football) 



82. at some point deep fry a turkey!
83. Pack a box for Operation Christmas Child
(they usually need to be delivered to a drop-off point in November, so you may need to plan an early calendar event!)
84. Visit a local bakery (support the little guy/small businesses!) and let the kids and the hubby pick out any treat they want
85. One word "Fireplace"
(and make sure there are marshmellows and Christmas music involved)
86. Christmas Carole Charades
(it is really funny watching the little kids try to act out some of the Christmas songs!)
87. "Pajama Run" -let the kids get dressed and ready for bed, and then surprise them with a late night outing...in their pajamas!

88. Easy bake
89. Build-a-Bear
90. make your own wrapping paper
(you can get a roll of plain wrapping paper or brown mailing paper from the dollar store and have the kids design their own wrapping)
91. Kids' Library book Christmas Reading
(let the kids pick a holiday book from the library and then have a family story night where they each get a turn reading their pick to the entire family)
92. Hide and Seek Mittens
(hide a bunch of mittens around the house and see how many the kids can find)
93. Christmas Countdown
(make a paper chain with the number of days til Christmas, and let the kids rip one off each morning)
94. deliver a wreath to someone's door anonymously
95. deliver holiday treats to the local firemen
(Christmas season is very busy for them with all the electrical lights and dry trees)
96. Phone Caroling
(I totally made this up! ...you basically have the kids surprise someone with a Facetime/Skype/Phone call where you call and sing a Christmas carol and then hang up)
97. pull out the old Christmas albums/home movies to reminisce about Christmases past
98. Kids' Sparkling Cider (AKA "Spider" in my house) Holiday Toast
(give the kids a fancy glass of something nonalcoholic and bubbly and let them make up their own toasts.... trust me, you will love it but not as much as they do!)
99. Santa hat Day ...and if possible, entire outfits!
(pick a day where everyone has to wear santa hats wherever they go...even if they don't leave them on!)
 100. Have a jar for spare change/donations that you save to donate to a specific organization at the end of the season
(great organizations to consider: Operation Smile, Sonshine Kitchen, medical missionaries)




and after all of that...
101. Get Yourself a Holiday Pedi! (You earned it!)

...So you probably get the gist now and realize that pretty much any intentional activity with your family during the month of December can become a Christmasy activity just by adding the word "Christmas" or "Holiday" in front of it.
(ie: "Christmas brunch," Christmas coloring time," "Christmas laundry folding adventure")
...then you can always throw in a snowman, a manager, or maybe some red & green if you're feeling really wild and crazy.


The point is, December is a chance to look around and see all that we are blessed with and thankful for (initiated by good old Thanksgiving), then celebrate our blessings and conclude a year of experience before beginning a new year with new resolutions. 
Finish Strong! Finish Well!  Tis the season!