My friend Rachel is a minimalist.
Every time I read one of her posts, I'm inspired to do the same.
(Let's just pretend like my junky bathroom closet doesn't exist. And let's forget about the slew of old wrapping paper, gigantic travel bags, loner socks, and need-to-be-retired work boots that are shoved under our bed. Oh, and let's also not open up my pantry. Ever. Ok?)
Though, in all fairness, what I love about Rachel's approach is that it's not about sitting on pillows in your living room, ridding yourself of any convenience, or only owning three shirts. Rather, it's about finding that beautiful balance between possessions… and obligations… and living.
The possessions can easily overwhelm the living. As can the obligations. And all too easily, if we're not careful.
I've been thinking about Rachel often – and not just because I baaaaadly need to organize my office closet space. But rather, as the time of year rolls around, and the ‘things' start to roll in with it (as they inevitably do), it's easy to get bogged down in it all. It's a time of excess.
Part of that excess (the celebration, the feasting, the parties, the merriment) is very much in line with what I believe to be true about this Advent season as a Christian. Christmas is a time for GREAT celebration! And how do we celebrate? We feast! We throw parties! We eat delicious food! We give each other gifts! This celebration is a great way to celebrate the birth of our Savior! And I'm all for it.
That being said, finding that beautiful balance between celebration and cray-cray is challenging. As I found myself wandering a local store the other morning, picking out a few goodies for the kids, I began to stress about (insert practically anything holiday related here).
Did I remember to send out a Christmas card to our friends in Missouri?
Do I have all the ingredients I need to make those holiday cookies?
Would the kids enjoy their presents? Would they be ‘enough'?
…and this is where the minimalist in me kicked in. The entire mess of this celebration needed some regulation. Thankfully, a few years back, Stuart and I decided to adhere to a wonderful gift-giving ‘standard' for our family that makes it easy and fair. 4 presents each. Always.
1. Something you want
2. Something you need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read
This guide has been wonderful for us, as we're wanting to celebrate this joyous season with our children while making sure the focus is on celebrating the birth of Christ. Taking a cue from one of Rachel's gift-giving posts, we opted for stockings filled with treats this year instead of little toys.
What can I say? Good food speaks to my heart.
We filled them with some of these… a few of these… and a box of these. Treats are the ultimate celebration in our house because they're rare. And I love that they'll get enjoyed and savored instead of piled up in the toy box.
Their ‘something you want' gift was a combined gift this year – a wooden ‘workshop' stand that is high-quality and should last for years to come. I love that this toy will give them something to create with – together.
Along the same minimalist line comes our Christmas tree – decorated with second-hand ornaments, a birds nest from my parents willow tree, and moss, bark, and branches we collected from the forest. It's topped with a paper star that Georgia colored red. It's nothing fancy. But it's perfect.
We're making one variety of Christmas cookie this year – sugar. Organic, unbleached white flour, whole cane sugar, and butter from Sally Belle. They'll be smothered in homemade organic frosting and organic sprinkles – the only Christmas treat we'll make this year.
Even the menu, while delicious, will be simple.
These are moments for savoring – for sharing – for enjoying. If I'm running around like a madwoman grabbing toys off shelves, arguing in line at the grocery store, and so burnt out from all the commitments by the time I get to Christmas morning, what good is that?
No good.
That was a rhetorical question.
I'm eager to carry this minimalist perspective with me into the New Year. To focus my energy on a few things that I love so desperately – my family (naturally), my farm (of course), the blog (my baby!), my newest cookbook (should be out in the fall!), and my essential oil business (which has been so much more successful than I could have imagined!). I want to do them well. To do them with passion, organization, and efficiency. I want to invest in them, savor them, and enjoy my work in them!
There will inevitably be messy moments. At Christmas time. At every time. But I'm thankful to feel so at peace with our small, farmstead Christmas. To be thankful for the blessings of each day rather than the gigantic presents under the Christmas tree. And to be focusing on the birth of our Savior, our King, our Messiah, rather than the hottest toy, the gigantic dinner menu, or the 72 social obligations that popped up this month.
To take a step back.
To breathe.
To intentionally simplify this hectic life.
There is great peace there. And that's where I want to be.
Jen @ The Easy Homestead
We have been doing the same thing for Christmas for many years (something you want, need, wear, and read). It just makes Christmas that much simpler. We also get to buy the kids things they really need and not just a bunch of junk and toys (they get that from other family members). ๐
In this cray-cray lifestyle we live in we chose to simplify Christmas. It took a couple years for me to get used to it because my mom always had huge Christmas’s for us. But, now we appreciate the true meaning of Christmas and our children do too.
Jen
Jenna
It has been so nice since we simplified Christmas, especially with 6 kiddos. Lol We like to do some homemade gifts and things that the kids want and something practical. ๐
Jen @ The Easy Homestead
We have been doing that for years for Christmas (something you want, need, wear, and read). It really makes sense. It simplifies Christmas for us and for the kiddos. They know that they get a few gifts but also know that the meaning of Christmas is not to just get gifts, but to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Jen
Pam Moore
I the beauty and simplicity in your approach to Christmas. I know I’ve been guilty in getting so wrapped up the festivities of it all that it stresses me out. I’ve been working on that and this year has been our least stressful/most enjoyable of all. I decided that I would only send out a very small number of Christmas cards to our closest of family and friends. If they moved or something and I didn’t have their address – they didn’t get a card. I decided not to try to track the elusive address down. I refuse to feel guilty about it, too. That just means that they didn’t send us one, either. ๐ The guilt of not doing as much to make a spectacular holiday has been my biggest hurdle to overcome. The thing is, no one cares about all the “stuff” that much anyway. I’m loving a more relaxed, let’s focus on the reason that we’re celebrating approach. I think it’s here to stay. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Beks
We celebrated Christmas with my mom’s family this past weekend, and it felt far from the simple celebration of Jesus’ birth. It felt like the only people who were truly appreciative were those who didn’t expect much. We do Secret Santa, and my cousin’s husband got me this year. I loved both of the gifts I got (which spoke to my nerdy nature), and thanked him profusely, but he didn’t watch me unwrap them (we take turns), and he didn’t acknowledge my thanks. It wasn’t until my cousin told me that she did the shopping for me, that I saw the look of pure joy of someone who watched a gift they picked out be cherished. I thanked her profusely, instead, but I got her in the name draw, and saw nothing but disappointment in her presents.
It’s not that I hate giving, but I hate giving to people who expect things. I can’t wait until tomorrow morning when my mom opens her present from me. My dad broke one of her favorite coffee cups, a Snow White and the Seven Dwarves mug that she’d gotten on her first trip to Disney World in 1981, and when I found out, I found that exact same mug on eBay. I can’t wait to see her face, and I only hope that she’s as overjoyed as I was to find it for her.
Next year with my family’s secret Santa, I want to follow the same guidelines as you and your husband, and get my uncle someone he wants, something he needs, something to wear, and something to read. He’s a good soul, and will appreciate whatever he’s given, but that makes me want to do well for him.
Merry Christmas!
T. Gene Davis
I agree that burning yourself out by Christmas morning makes no sense. We go into the holiday with the belief that if we don’t have the time or the money for something, then we’re not going to stress over it. No sense turning a fun holiday into a depressing and stress filled one.
Beth
I love your idea about the 4 gifts. Just perfect. Christmas this year for us was minimal as well and after witnessing other’s having “excessive” Christmases it made me really appreciate what we did this year. When I look back on the past days of celebrating, the highlights were watching the children’s Christmas program at church and spending a day with just my husband and kids, not gifts or shopping. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to your family.
Angi
We had a very minimalist Christmas as well, and we loved it! No christmas cards, no parties, just a quiet Christmas morning with some simple but beautiful decor that we foraged from outside, and few meaningful and useful gifts, and a christmas dinner with family. Perfect. Love it that you enjoyed a minimalist Christmas too!
HappinessSavouredHot
Wonderful post! And I love the 4 presents idea.
Minimalism is what you make it. One step at a time. Which is why I launched my Less is More project. ๐
Marge
For our 7 we did 3 gifts: to play with, to wear, and to read. It was plenty!
homesteadorgus
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the wonderful post. ๐
Keep it up.