Comments on: Tis the Season. . . http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/ Mon, 21 May 2012 18:06:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sharon http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2826 Sharon Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:48:28 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2826 You're such a younger version of me and who you are and what your heart desires is truly endearing. We use to give the kids tons of toys that lasted a short time til next season. I am an only child and my christmas gifts were endless.Looking back I would not have done that and would have given them just a few so they wouldn't be programmed to look forward to alot. Now that they are older we limit what they get for birthdays and how much they spend day to day. Their friends go shopping every weekend and buy, buy, buy even if they don't need it and sometimes the same item just different colors. That's wasteful. It hurts my heart that I don't give into the consumerism when I send my daughter to the mall with less than $10 but window shopping can be fun. So, I keep track of what they ask for and the one's that seem to be consistent are the one's they will get for Christmas. I've really asked myself and have been asked by others, why don't you just buy cheaper versions....I just can't do it. It's the real deal or nothing. It use to be that one would save up for quality items but today knockoffs made in China by underpaid and underfed workers, will suffice for alot of us. I feel the inkling for just a few moments to give in but who would I be if I didn't walk the talk? So, yes....I bought that ever so popluar, really expensive gift for my daughter. But, it will last for years to come. Really good food and really good friends make up for gifts. I don't want anything (because I have such high standards and I'd rather get it myself) but I do want to see the look on my children's faces when they get what they least expected. Whenever I want something I don't need I look around my house and feel blessed to just have a warm home with hot running water and a fridge full of food. It's also great to say that there's a kid in all of us. I say this because Jason is 17 and I was making paper snowflakes. At first they just looked at me, said no when I asked if they wanted to make one but as they kept watching my excitement caught on and there you go... seventeen, fifteen, and thirteen year olds including a thirty six year old dad, sitting together cutting out snowflakes. By far my best holiday family experience in Dec of 09. You’re such a younger version of me and who you are and what your heart desires is truly endearing.
We use to give the kids tons of toys that lasted a short time til next season. I am an only child and my christmas gifts were endless.Looking back I would not have done that and would have given them just a few so they wouldn’t be programmed to look forward to alot. Now that they are older we limit what they get for birthdays and how much they spend day to day. Their friends go shopping every weekend and buy, buy, buy even if they don’t need it and sometimes the same item just different colors. That’s wasteful. It hurts my heart that I don’t give into the consumerism when I send my daughter to the mall with less than $10 but window shopping can be fun. So, I keep track of what they ask for and the one’s that seem to be consistent are the one’s they will get for Christmas. I’ve really asked myself and have been asked by others, why don’t you just buy cheaper versions….I just can’t do it. It’s the real deal or nothing. It use to be that one would save up for quality items but today knockoffs made in China by underpaid and underfed workers, will suffice for alot of us. I feel the inkling for just a few moments to give in but who would I be if I didn’t walk the talk? So, yes….I bought that ever so popluar, really expensive gift for my daughter. But, it will last for years to come. Really good food and really good friends make up for gifts. I don’t want anything (because I have such high standards and I’d rather get it myself) but I do want to see the look on my children’s faces when they get what they least expected. Whenever I want something I don’t need I look around my house and feel blessed to just have a warm home with hot running water and a fridge full of food.
It’s also great to say that there’s a kid in all of us. I say this because Jason is 17 and I was making paper snowflakes. At first they just looked at me, said no when I asked if they wanted to make one but as they kept watching my excitement caught on and there you go… seventeen, fifteen, and thirteen year olds including a thirty six year old dad, sitting together cutting out snowflakes. By far my best holiday family experience in Dec of 09.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2825 Elizabeth Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:30:44 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2825 Ooh I like that. Three gifts and stockings - I may copy! I also love the idea of making things for those less fortunate than us... Things that are homemade are so special. Ooh I like that. Three gifts and stockings – I may copy! I also love the idea of making things for those less fortunate than us… Things that are homemade are so special.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2824 Elizabeth Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:28:15 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2824 Just made the half eaten gingerbread man ornament, way easy and super cute! Just made the half eaten gingerbread man ornament, way easy and super cute!

]]> By: sheri http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2823 sheri Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:24:41 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2823 Oh, and next year, if I get prepared enough in advance, I'd love to celebrate Advent with the kids. I was too behind this year. Oh, and next year, if I get prepared enough in advance, I’d love to celebrate Advent with the kids. I was too behind this year.

]]> By: sheri http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2822 sheri Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:21:25 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2822 This is such a great conversation, Elizabeth. Last year I honestly couldn't think of one thing I needed. Or wanted. This year is so different. Perhaps I look at my house and think of all it doesn't have, instead of all it has. We have shelter every night from the bitter cold, where there are many locally and beyond that don't even have that. Does my shelter need to be adorned while there are those hungry next door? What would Jesus do? In the spirit of Christmas and starting our own family traditions, one thing I would like to focus on is others - creating more community, giving to those around us, showing Jesus' love. Our small group is hoping to do a service project. Eden and I are going to take a day and make various types of cookies and breads, handing them out to our neighbors. We sponsor a snowflake (a family) at work. We've been talking over and over with Eden about Jesus' birthday, and how reading her toddler bible version of it. And as a side - we did the stocking thing growing up too, and I'm finding that we're gravitating toward it as our family unit. Eden's gifts are just a couple, and then her stocking is full of little things. Same with Lance. Rhys, well, he'll get our love Christmas morning. :) This is such a great conversation, Elizabeth. Last year I honestly couldn’t think of one thing I needed. Or wanted. This year is so different. Perhaps I look at my house and think of all it doesn’t have, instead of all it has. We have shelter every night from the bitter cold, where there are many locally and beyond that don’t even have that. Does my shelter need to be adorned while there are those hungry next door? What would Jesus do?

In the spirit of Christmas and starting our own family traditions, one thing I would like to focus on is others – creating more community, giving to those around us, showing Jesus’ love. Our small group is hoping to do a service project. Eden and I are going to take a day and make various types of cookies and breads, handing them out to our neighbors. We sponsor a snowflake (a family) at work. We’ve been talking over and over with Eden about Jesus’ birthday, and how reading her toddler bible version of it.

And as a side – we did the stocking thing growing up too, and I’m finding that we’re gravitating toward it as our family unit. Eden’s gifts are just a couple, and then her stocking is full of little things. Same with Lance. Rhys, well, he’ll get our love Christmas morning. :)

]]> By: Dana http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2821 Dana Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:34:00 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2821 We try to limit our daughter's gift to just three, therefore not giving her more than Jesus received on his birthday. It ends up being more than that with stockings and such, but by focusing on those 3 gifts and myself making the rest (she loves homemade dresses and nightgowns) I feel that we are staying on task and not bombarding her with the greed of Christmas. We also focus our energies on making things for others less fortunate than ourselves. We try to limit our daughter’s gift to just three, therefore not giving her more than Jesus received on his birthday. It ends up being more than that with stockings and such, but by focusing on those 3 gifts and myself making the rest (she loves homemade dresses and nightgowns) I feel that we are staying on task and not bombarding her with the greed of Christmas. We also focus our energies on making things for others less fortunate than ourselves.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2820 Elizabeth Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:40:54 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2820 That's too funny! I'll probably just make one for our tree. Maybe it can be the start of making Jude an ornament for each Christmas. :) That’s too funny! I’ll probably just make one for our tree. Maybe it can be the start of making Jude an ornament for each Christmas. :)

]]> By: Amanda http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2819 Amanda Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:39:42 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2819 I love this idea too!! I love this idea too!!

]]> By: Amanda http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2818 Amanda Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:38:20 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2818 ha ha -- that is the one I was gonna make this year!! LOL too funny! ha ha — that is the one I was gonna make this year!! LOL too funny!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thinkliz.com/2009/12/10/tis-the-season/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 Elizabeth Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:38:19 +0000 http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/?p=3662#comment-2817 I love that idea. 'Happy Birthday to Jesus' - what can we do to be Jesus to people in the city and celebrate his birth. Happiness. :) I love that idea. ‘Happy Birthday to Jesus’ – what can we do to be Jesus to people in the city and celebrate his birth. Happiness. :)

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