A Simple Christmas

We did all our Christmas shopping today. Yes, I said all. In one day. And it was fun, relaxed and successful!

We decided to have a very simple Christmas this year. I didn't decorate the house. I didn't bake. Our families decided to skip the sibling gifts this year, so our shopping list was a lot shorter. We aren't getting a ton for each other.

Before you start to feel sorry for us, let me explain...

We are going home to Maryland this year (yay!!!), so we didn't feel the need to decorate. We figured we'd just go enjoy my mom's tree and everything, since: 1. All our decorations are in a storage unit on the other end of town and 2. this isn't our house and I just wasn't feeling the same motivation to deck the halls as I normally do.

I didn't bake because: 1. I am trying to be good. 2. Scott is trying to be good. 3. we'll have plenty of yummy treats in Maryland to ruin all our plans of trying to be good!

We're keeping the gifts smaller this year because: 1. I didn't want anything. (Remember, that's why I'm blogging about all my favorite things this month) 2. Scott never wants anything. Seriously. This man could live in a cabin in Alaska with nothing more than the shirt on his back and a pocketknife and be happy. (In fact, he has informed me more than once that were we not married, that is what he would be doing.)

I know every year won't be this simple. I don't want every year to be this simple. Especially when we have children, I want to do all the decorations, baking, trimmings, traditions and stuff.

But for this year, a simple Christmas just felt right to us.

It has been so blessedly peaceful.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Chivalry. I'm lucky to have husband who drops me off at the door before parking the car so that I don't get my hair wet in the drizzling rain. Because, you know, I might melt! He also always gets the door for me and is just generally a gentleman.

2. The mall at Christmastime. I just love the hustle and bustle. It reminds me of the song, "Silver Bells."

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

I could appreciate it even more this year because we were not hustling and bustling. We walked around leisurely, listening to the Christmas music, admiring the decorations and watching all the families and people buying gifts for their loved ones.

3. When things ring up at the register even cheaper than you thought they would be. Today our purchases rang up $7 less than what the tags said. When Scott asked the cashier about it she said that everything was an extra 20% off or something. Score!

4. "Merry Christmas!" I love to hear people wish each other a Merry Christmas. I'm not offended if someone says "Happy Holidays", but it warms my heart to hear people acknowledge the true meaning of the season, even if they're doing so subconsciously, and even if it's while we're all out participating in the commercial aspect of it all.

5. A simple Christmas. Not only are we not stressed out and rushed this year, but I feel like we have been able to spend more time thinking of our Savior and the wonderful gift of His birth... which is why we give gifts at this time of year in the first place- to remember His gifts to us.

Here's hoping that your Christmas - whether lavish or simple - is just what you need this year, and that you are able to feel our Savior's love during this season.

Merry Christmas!