Low-Stress Holidays

This time of the year brings family traditions, expectations, shopping lists, decorating, baking...and a whole lot more.

Is it possible to have a low-stress Christmas season?

I think so.  Here are a few tips I have for keeping JOY in this season.

1.  Plan ahead as much as possible.  If you know you are hosting a big dinner, do anything that you can ahead of time.  I love to get desserts in the freezer a week or two in advance.  That's one less thing to think about at the last minute.  I set my table the day before and set out serving dishes, my beverage station, and dessert dishes.  I make lists of what I need to do the day of the dinner.  It comforts me to know I'm not forgetting a bowl of fruit in the refrigerator, or something in the microwave.  

2.  Set a Budget.  Our culture revolves around marketing schemes that are aimed at our wallets.  Here's the truth:  You don't have to spend a lot of money to prove you care about people!  Be realistic about your finances and stick with your plan.  Sometimes a heartfelt card sent to a loved one means so much more than a store-bought gift.  The last thing you need is credit card debt piled on top of holiday stress.  Don't go into debt for Christmas shopping!!  There's no joy there, but there is joy in caring about the friends and family you love!

3.  Decorate with Joy.  I have a low tolerance for clutter, so I keep my decorations to a minimum.  It's what makes me happy.  But I have friends who "Christmas-up" their homes from one end to the other, and they love it!  It brings them such happiness to set out items that were gifts from friends.  They enjoy all the memories that come with those decorations.  Again, do what brings you joy, and forget all the rest.

This was a centerpiece for Angelo and Abba's reception.

This little tree covered with vintage red cardinals makes me smile.

My mother loved this ceramic Christmas tree, and now I do too:)

4.  Enjoy people.  If you are blessed with family and friends to celebrate with, be thankful!  There are plenty of people who don't have anyone to share holidays with.  Consider inviting some of them to your home - you'll never be sorry you did.  Start your own holiday traditions with love and laughter.  Don't get stressed about the mess in your house, you can clean later.  I never fuss about dishes while I have guests in my home.  I just want to enjoy them while they're around my table.  I can always do dishes the next day:)

Christmas Cactus

Full disclosure:  I'm not a houseplant person. 

I prefer to garden outside.  Any plant that requires water more than once a week or so won't make it in my house.

When I married Tony 34 years ago he had this rather ugly houseplant and a few others.  I killed all of them but this one.  I kept it in a low-light room and to me, this plant was just an odd,
homely greenish-brown plant.  

I never knew that I had a lovely Christmas Cactus! 

By chance I moved it into our well-lit office one fall 5 or 6 years ago.  In November, to my delight all these gorgeous red-pink blooms started appearing on it.  Now every year I expect the show to begin  just after Halloween.

This plant is very low maintenance, needs little water and lots of indirect light.  If you live in Indiana and would like a cutting, let me know!  It's easy to propagate.

Embroidering

I've been forced to do a lot of sitting lately to nurse a foot problem.  My mom taught me how to embroider when I was young.  Here's a sample of her lovely needlework:

Since I have lots of time to just sit and concentrate on counted cross stitch, here's what I'm learning from my embroidery:

1. patience - There's just no rushing needles and thread.  It's got to be done right, so I need to take my time and do good work.

2. precision - I more than a little OCD, just ask Tony, so if a stitch is a fraction of a millimeter off, I notice it and I have to redo it.  I'm getting better at putting my stitches right where they should go.

3.  underside of the tapestry - I can't stop thinking about my good friend Corrie Ten Boom.  She was an expert embroiderer.  She compared earth life to the underside of tapestry with its frays and knots, not really pretty.  Only when we are in heaven will we ever see the "good side" and understand life's sticky situations, troubles and hardships.