For the first time in years I decided to cross off the list handmade cards, handmade holiday dresses for my girls, baked goodies for the neighbors, teacher & friend gifts, etc., etc. The cards are 15 for $1.00 from Walmart, the neighbor treats are cheesy & caramel corn store bought (which I think I’m already fine with crossing off the list altogether next year), the holiday dresses are not needed and are being skipped completely, and the teacher & friend gifts are being skipped as well. Frankly, I would be happy if we didn’t receive one more plate or tin of goodies (and so would my waistline). I just want to stay at home with my family and spend our time away from all the hustle and bustle of the stores and social events. This year more than ever before Troy and I really just want to avoid anything extra that really does detract from what Christmas is all about. And it feels so nice already with the changes we’ve made so far.

I think that a plate full of 10 different goodies are a waste of time because by the time they are given to the neighbor and sit on the same plate for an hour…they all start tasting the same! I don’t want any Avon tree ornaments, or Santa salt and pepper shakers or Christmas dish towels. I just don’t want anymore ‘stuff’. There’s no easy answers to stopping the madness we make of the holidays, but if any of my neighbors are reading this…I’ve just done my part to simplify your life!

Some years, I really get into it, other years I just can’t, for whatever reason. It just ends up being one more thing in the million that I feel compelled to do.

We’ve also put the Kibosh on our annual couples Christmas party. I honestly expected one of the other couples to pick it up and run with it, but it hasn’t happened. So I’m trying not to feel regret about that.

Several years ago our bishop suggested that instead of distributing gifts throughout the neighborhood that we contribute money to a collective service project. “We all love each other, ” he declared, “let’s just give each other a hug or a handshake and put our money towards people who truly need it.” It’s been a wonderful system. Besides saving the women(always the women) a lot of fuss trying to deliver presents to dozens of homes and fretting over forgotten friends, our collective contributions have replenished the food pantry, dug wells in Africa and put shoes on calloused feet.

This year, I’m especially grateful for our communal gift. For the many people in my neighborhood who are out of work or simply struggling, there is no pressure to “keep up.” Everyone gives generously whether their donation is $200 or $2. Because no matter how small the amount– it’s full of love for our neighbors. And that’s priceless.

Homemade gifts? Yea right. Homemade treats? Yea right. Perfectly aligned lights on the house? Yea right. I think I put a lot of unnecessary expectations on myself. I do want everything to be picture perfect and yet the reality is that I can’t get nearly enough done. I swore this year would be different and yet here I am with a rash from stress. Why do we do this to ourselves? I think it’s because we care. We care about traditions, family, neighbors, etc. I just wish Christmas elves were real and could do it all for me.