It is funny that Carrie wrote about feeling like a failure during the holidays, as that is exactly what I was going to write about. Not only do I feel like my crafty DIY gifts are not good enough, I also don't throw enough parties, bake enough cookies, make enough perfectly handmade decorations, or handwrite as many beautiful, eloquent cards as I should (truth be told, I don't do any!).
When did Christmas (or the 'holiday season') become about showing off and one upping and shop,shop, shopping? Didn't it start out to be a Holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus? I LOVE Christmas, but every year I find myself more and more dissillusioned. At Starbucks, the week after Halloween had the stores in full Holiday gear. Thanksgiving has just become a day to eat before you shop on Friday. My family is even shopping tonight at midnight.
The holidays used to be about the cycle of life and the year. Thanksgiving was a day to enjoy and indulge after a long season of growing crops. Christmas was a time to give gifts and celebrate each other and remember our creator. Gifts were small and handmade with love and care. That is what I want this Christmas to be for me. I want my handmade gifts to show love and appreciation. I don't want to cringe every time someone opens a gift from me, embarrassed that is is the 'cheapest' present under the tree. that is going to take strength, and may not be well recieved, but every change has to start somewhere.
Here's to carols and cookies and hot chocolate and snuggling and fires and hugs...because we appreciate each other, and want to show it, not because that is the 'thing to do'.

I walked in the snow this morning in downtown Milwaukee to get coffee. It was my favorite part of my trip so far and only cost me $1.80. Being cheap is fun, when I let it.