Christmas spirit, where are you?

[sonshinemommy]

Normally at this time of year, I am full of Christmas spirit. I can't wait to make cut-out cookies, decorate, shop, send out cards, sing songs; but, this year, I am sooooo overwhelmed that I am not feeling the spirit. How can I get in the spirit? I listen to music everyday in hopes of feeling the bright cheery spirit of Christmas. Somehow all the demands of the season, rennovating a house, decorating, just finished finals at college this past week, planning my son's 3rd grade class party, shopping, among many other things has taken my spirit away. Not to mention someone recently tried to attack my family. I am not sure if that last part is the reason or if I am just overwhelmed. My hubby works six days a week and goes to school full-time also. When he is out of work, he is tired, sore, or has school work to finish. We have so much to do in the next week. Don't you wish you had some of Santa's elves to help you??? I just want to feel the spirit of Christmas. What's even worse is that Christmas isn't all about all these things that I am having to do. Christmas is about Jesus' birth on earth in order to save us. It's about celebrating our family and being together. It's not about presents and yet I am getting sucked into the black hole of gift buying, decorating, and the pressures of being a blended family. My son still believes in Santa and he is 9. I know it won't be long before he finds out the truth. I hate the thought of the let down he will feel when he finds out and yet, it's harder to pretend there is a Santa as he gets older. He continues to talk about a Christmas at his bio father's house where the gifts were piled so high. It causes me to feel bad. The thing is I buy good quality gifts; we only have one child and they had two that year. Also, my ex owes me thousands of dollars in credit card bills and hasn't paid me on them in three years. Of course, I don't and can't explain any of this to him and so it makes me feel bad, unappreciated. My husband ALWAYS tells me what he wants so there is no way for me to surprise him. Even if I wanted to surprise him, it is very hard and I don't think I would be able to anyways. He already has his gift because he picked it out a month ago and I ordered it a week and half ago. He usually shops for me at the very last minute and, for the first time this year, he decided to ask me what I want for Christmas. Ohhh....how I need the spirit.

[jennanicole]

Dec. 14, 2008 at 8:06 PM

HEY ! You are such a good person, and this year, you do have a lot going on. The SPIRIT, just might hit you when you least expect it. HO HO HO HO....................Merry Christmas !!

[cmarielin]

Jan. 1, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Aw... I wish I had seen this earlier on!  I was feeling this way this year for Christmas too.  What happened to Christmas?  You're right - I did feel like we were sucked into the black hole of buying, shopping, gifts, gifts, stuff, more stuff....when this day isn't supposed to be about all that at all.  Not to mention, people were so crabby shopping all around, and the road rage was terrible....  Man, I didn't even get to bake anything this year at all.

You were also super-busy this Christmas season.  I had finals on the week of Christmas too, and it really did not feel like Christmas.  I wonder how hard it would be to change the way we do things at Christmas time, and put less emphasis on all the stuff, and more on Jesus?  What a peaceful holiday it could be...I wonder how hard it would be to change things?

I hope your Christmas day was a good one!