Keeping Christmas

This December I had all sorts of ideas about how I was going to prepare for Christmas.  I was going to stick to my Christmas shopping budget.  I was going to buy practical presents and shop local.  I was going to try to attend more of the town of Greenville's community Christmas events and the musical events put on by Greenville University.  Thereby spending less time traveling and more time with my friends and family.  And I was going to try and not gain weight with all of my Christmas baking.  So far I am actually adhering to these rules fairly well. 

One of the ways to stick to my Christmas budget would have been to make my Christmas gifts.  I just could not find the time to do any sewing though.  However, when my young neighbor Allison asked to do some sewing with me I took the opportunity to talk her into a Christmas project.  She wanted to begin work on some doll clothes but I convinced her to make a Christmas table runner from my scrap fabric for her family's new kitchen.  It took us a few evenings but the table runner turned out rather well and Allison can now say she has made her first quilt.  She used the quilt to display some home made goodies and the miniature Lego train set I gave them for Advent. 

Next on my schedule was to attend the sixth annual Christmas by the Fireside at Greenville University.  This is when the University band joined by talented locals present old Christmas favorites and newer holiday songs as well.  However, while I was doing my Christmas shopping at a local store the sales clerk who happens to go to my church mentioned that they needed help with refreshments for that night.   So the next thing I knew I was volunteering to bring cookies!  Although unexpected I made this new development work with my holiday plans.  I made three different kinds of Christmas cookies, got to nibble on them and then gave all the rest of them all away!  That way I did not gain weight from my Christmas baking.

To help remember the reason for the season, my Sunday School class and I have been learning about Advent and researching Christmas traditions like the Christmas tree.  We learned that Martin Luther saw star light reflected off of icicles on an evergreen tree on his walk home from church one evening. He recreated the look with an evergreen tree in his house and lighted candles on the branches.  The light of the candles was to remind his children of the birth of Jesus, the light of the world.  To help us remember all we were learning we made star ornaments.                                                                                                                                                                    This past weekend Laura came to our house to make Christmas goodies to give to her colleagues and friends.  Once again I got to nibble on some fudge and Chex Mix knowing that most of it was going to be given away.  Besides the baking, Laura actually got into decorating her gifts.  At least it looks like she is enjoying herself in the picture below.  

Of course, the month is only half over so maybe I am patting myself on the back a bit too soon.  The shopping and Christmas baking is only going to get more intense when the rest of my girls show up for the holiday.  All I can say is at least I am on track with my goals so far.