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Whether it’s your first time hosting family for the holidays, or the fiftieth; hosting everyone for Christmas can be extreme, and there’s about a million things to keep you busy. Between keeping the house clean, despite your children’s best attempts, cooking for the entire clan, getting the Christmas photo and cards done and sent out, (plus the 8×10 to Grandma), and buying and wrapping presents, you’re pretty busy. There’s not much time for you, or your family.
Fear not! There are a few things you can do to simplify this holiday season.
1 | Appreciate the Little Moments
The holidays are usually described as a whirlwind of events. And sometimes the only way you remember them is through pictures and videos. Make sure whether you’re decorating, sending out cards, cooking or cleaning to slow down, look out the window, appreciate the time you have. This season is all about thanks, not how much your house looks like a magazine.
2 | Keep It Simple
I see so many families get so stressed about decorating because they’ve got three and a half million boxes in the attic/basement/shed to pull out and put up. Don’t think you have to have those handmade napkin holders from Pinterest or the super cute kids crafts that you saw on there either.
Almost no one will even acknowledge the small details no matter how hard you work on them. In the past few years, I’ve tried to keep it simple. I have one box of decorations, which includes Christmas lights, and the ornaments on the tree are just a small box of wooden 2D ornaments that fill up even the largest of trees. A lot of our decorations are able to stay up all winter (all 6 months of it in Vermont) as they are not just for Christmas. My most favorite decoration to date was a paper village to go in the window of our living room and kitchen.
3 | Remember the Reason for the Season
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is a main theme for the holidays: THANKFULNESS. Be thankful that you are a daughter of the ONE TRUE KING. Be thankful for those who surround you. Be thankful for the things you have, whether it’s a little or a lot. Be thankful that a beautifully and perfectly made Jesus was given to us on Earth in order to save us from our sins! I am so grateful for Him and His blessings.
I hope this helps you remember that Jesus is the real reason for the season, not the commercials on your tv. Keep it simple, keep it sweet, keep it sincere. Your family would much rather spend the time with you than spend their time staring at those 102 Pinterest crafts you did.
What are your favorite simple holiday traditions? Leave them down below, or share over at The Homemaker’s Corner!
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Hello! I'm Amanda Elizabeth, creator of The Homemaker's Cottage. As a homemaker I have constantly felt the pull between old fashioned homemaking and the fast paced world we live in today. So I created The Homemaker's Cottage: a stress-free space between the old in the new, where there is no judgement and we can learn that homemaking can be relevant, easy and even enjoyable.
Join me on this journey to serve God, your family, and begin homemaking from where you are.
Loved these thoughts, especially keeping it simple and focused on Jesus. This my favorite time of year, but it can get so cluttered if I’m not careful and intentional. Great post, thank you!
I loved these ways to simplify Christmas! They really do help!
Thank you for sharing these tips! It can be such a stress to host people for christmas – but you hit the nail on the head with this post. It’s so important to keep the reason for the season at the core of everything. Thank you for sharing!
Jesus is the best reason for the season, and has made it so freeing to lose expectations!