Journey towards a peace-filled Christmas 2013

I woke up this morning, my mind bombarded in rapid succession by my “to do” list. You know, that list of things that just have to be done before Christmas Day.

Today, December 13^th, my list is:

·         Take down Thanksgiving decorations!

·         Go to Kmart, 30 miles away, to get that Black Friday online sale….only 2 left in W. PA and no shipping…have to pick it up today.

·         Write 2,000 words. Need to finish that novel!

·         Package gifts for readers like I said I’d do a few days ago.

·         Call _______, __________, & ___________ to see how they’re doing.  

·         BLOG!

When my mind races like this, usually going into overdrive around Mid-December, I remember being in the hospital with pneumonia two years ago…right smack dab in the middle of December. My doctor chided me that I was too run-down. Moi, yours truly, who preaches in her books about Amish simplicity? Jah, me. 

I also remember what I did two years ago…I slowed down and had a more Amish-like Christmas. I remember Lydia, my Amish friend, telling me the reason for the season is “just getting together and having fun”. I didn’t get it at first, but then I did. You can read about it here. 

The Amish don’t try to fit in everything in one day, too, having December 26^th as Second Christmas. Then, January 6^th, Old Christmas, is a fasting day for reflection. Sometimes they celebrate Christmas in February. Lydia and her husband couldn’t celebrate Christmas until February because they can’t go to Montana on the Big Day, December 25^th. 

I think I need more reflection today, look back at former blog posts when I took having a peace-filled Christmas to heart. It’s in my head at present, but getting it 18 inches lower is hard.

My sister, Maria, and her family in a live nativity. A busy woman who owns a business having 35 employees, but knows what's important around the Christmas season. faith, family...getting together and having fun.