Episode 12: How can I make the holidays more meaningful?
EPISODE SUMMARY
It’s a stressful time of year, isn’t it? Do you feel as stretched thin as we do? So, how can we make the holidays a more meaningful time? Join Kara-Kae & Elizabeth as they pause to discuss the crazy season we are in, and how we can find some margin, peace, and meaning in it all.
THE LITTLE THINGS
We like to start each episode by talking about “the little things” in life that made a big impact that week. This week we are talking about the Christmas gift we are most excited about giving.
Kara-Kae said she is excited to give Kendrick a bike.
Elizabeth is giving her oldest son and her husband a pair of crazy socks . . . her husband is getting Alexander Hamilton socks.
THE CONVERSATION
Kara-Kae and Elizabeth began the discussion by talking about how they are feeling around this time of year . . . Elizabeth always feels like life is out of control so Christmas time is nothing new.
Kara-Kae made us all jealous when she talked about how she is already done Christmas shopping.
The co-hosts then shared a few ways they make the holidays more meaningful -- and for both of them having large families, they’ve found the more meaningful the better.
Kara-Kae said they use the time to serve people, which helps them put the focus on someone else instead of themselves.
Elizabeth said they are doing Operation Christmas Child and the twelve trees at Christmas through her church. In the past, her family has worked at a Mission Waco Toy Store.
Kara-Kae’s church does a similar angel tree where they buy gifts but let the parents give their kids the gift. They have joined forces with their life group to adopt a family and provided Christmas for that one particular family.
Elizabeth reminds listeners that another way to make the holidays more meaningful is to SLOW DOWN and saying NO to things.
Kara-Kae said when her kids were little they did an advent calendar together. Now that her kids are older, they say no to a lot of activity so they have margin.
Elizabeth says no the Elf on the Shelf.
Kara-Kae’s family incorporates Santa into their Christmas tradition: Santa brings one main gift and fills the stockings.
Growing up, Elizabeth said her Christmas was very Santa-centric. Now, as a parent, she doesn’t want to wipe Santa from the narrative completely, but they focus more on Jesus.
Kara-Kae pointed out that sometimes when Christians rid their lives of all things secular, it can appear stand-offish to nonbelievers. If we don’t dress up for Halloween or incorporate Santa, it can create a barrier between us and nonbelievers.
The co-hosts then talked about holiday traditions, which don’t have to be expensive.
Last year Kara-Kae wrote an article that included “10 mostly free Christmas traditions.”
When Elizabeth got married at the ripe old age of 24, she and her husband had to simplify the number of traditions they would incorporate into their new little family. They landed on three:
Watching their favorite Christmas movies
Decorating a gingerbread house with their cousins
Give gifts: something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read (plus one gift from Santa and stocking stuffers)
Kara-Kae’s traditions include:
Getting hot chocolate and driving around to look at Christmas lights
Cookie decorating party for kids and friends
Kids’ gift exchange among the siblings
Another thing you can do around the holidays is feed your SOUL. This is especially important for busy and overwhelmed moms (like us!) Even if it’s just 5-10 minutes a day to do some yoga, read a book, drink an entire hot cup of coffee. When there is SO much going on, it’s important to take the time to sit, remember what it’s all about, and take time for you to refuel your soul
Kara-Kae feeds her soul by turning on a Christmas movie for the kids and sneaking off into her bedroom to read for a little bit (Ok, friends, now we know how she gets so much reading done throughout the year!).
Elizabeth plays instrumental Christmas music playing in the kitchen (this is her attempt to create a calm atmosphere). She also escapes to her bedroom to fold laundry while listening to a podcast or watching a show.
Another thing that helps Kara-Kae’s family relieve stress is that they set aside money throughout the year so they are not financially burdened at Christmas time. It also helps her remember that the holidays are not about spending money.
Elizabeth simplifies by limiting the number of gifts they buy their kids (want, need, wear, read), but she also knows some people who give their kids 3 gifts for the 3 wisemen (which isn’t even Biblically accurate - haha!)
Online shopping also helps to cut down errands.
RESOURCES TO REFRAME OUR THINKING
Kara-Kae recommends a book called Postcards from Babylon: The Church in American Exile. It dives into American Christianity and things that make us think hard about our culture vs. what Jesus taught.
Elizabeth recommends the book When to Walk Away by Gary Thomas. This book offers the idea that God has given each of us a specific mission and if we waste energy and time engaging with a toxic mission, then we can’t participate in the mission God has given us.