Making a Christmas List

Photo of our living room at Christmas 2014.
At this busy time of year I like to make a list of what I choose to do.
That gives me freedom to consider not doing things that no longer need doing, since one year is different from another.
Here are some things I will do this Christmas season.
I love to attend live performances of the Nutcracker Ballet each year, but will decide if I will do that this year.
Set up our festive Christmas tree with lots of old ornaments for the sparkly centerpiece of our holiday decor.
Buy an amaryllis bulb. I did that and planted it in the pot that came with it, on November 17. The color will be a surprise since the kit says it will be red, white or red and white.
Put up our collection of wooden nutcrackers on the fireplace mantle. My parents started this tradition.
Buy a new Christmas book each year. One sweet book is "A Cup of Christmas Tea", for children and adults, about a young man visiting his lonely senior aunt.
Display our two manger scenes.
Holiday meal and gift exchange on Christmas day with family.
Spend time at church.
Mail 30 or 40 Christmas cards to family and friends near and far, some who live in other countries.
New activity this year.
I will attend a holiday lunch and show where my friend is singing and dancing.
Tradition I will not do this year.
Bake Christmas cookies. This year I won't do any baking since I don't have little children around to bake for and we avoid excess sugar and white flour. We do love sweet treats though.
Are there any Christmas traditions at your house that you will enjoy this year, and any you will drop?
This post written by Terra Hangen
Here is a link with info about our co-authored Christmas book:
Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

All I Want For Christmas. . .

Thankfully, I still have my two front teeth but it won't be long and I'll be asked what I want for Christmas. It's always such a hard question to answer. After all, there's that looming shadow called a budget that casts gloom and doom some years.

Given no limit, I'd ask Santa for a cruise with all my kids and grandkids aboard. I've seen other families on cruises for the holidays and yes, been a little envious.

Bringing it down more into the realm of reality and yet not worrying about that budget thing, I'd opt for a new laptop computer. While not as old as I am--face it, computers weren't around when I was born--in computer years mine is getting up there. Computer years are calculated faster than doggie years. I think I've heard that before you get it out of the box it could be obsolete.

I think about last year's gifts and realize one of the most treasured is a calendar my daughter-in-law made with all the pictures of our grandchildren on it and little pictures of them on their birth dates. And it was "free" with some sort of redemption from Coke products. I'd love another.

While it's nice to wish and dream, at this stage of life, I am happiest to give more than receive. Still, the kid in me loves a little something to rip paper off of.

Making a List and Checking it Twice

Making a list and checking it twice,
for all friends and relations, whether naughty or nice!
When my sons ask what my husband, Will, and I want for Christmas, I have some budget minded ideas. Sometimes our sons improvise and give me gift certificates to a plant nursery or to a book store, always a wise choice for me, and to a bike store for my mountain biking husband. He loves that gift!
Some years one of our sons will give us one of those entertainment coupon books, with lots of great deals for restaurant meals. One year a son gave us an air popper for popcorn which was very welcome and gets alot of use.
Do I write out a gift list for my Christmas gift giving ideas?
Actually, post-it notes are a part of my day to day life, full of things to do and buy, and I still jot down holiday gift ideas. However, this is not a structured list, just brilliant (hopefully brilliant) ideas.
I ask my favorite people, what would you like for Christmas, and am happy when they give me several ideas so I can choose one.
Also, I am on the lookout for small items that will be put in the Christmas stockings.
Our cats get the same gifts every year, and are well content with our selections: catnip grown by my sister and a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna (not the pet food variety).
Since we don't want or need anything, the best thing our sons give us is their hugs and presence back home for the holidays.
Being together with our loved ones is like a glimpse of heaven, for me, and a super gift.