Am I alone? I don't decorate for holidays

[dragonlaurel]

Holy cow!! . . .

As for decorating, I decorate seasonally. I like fall and winter decorations and have a beautiful wooden bowl on the dining table that we fill with whatever is going on. It had been full of beautiful empty honeycomb, bluejay feathers, special stones, etc. Probably now we'll find pinecombs, beautiful winter berries and other decorations. When it's really, truly winter I get out all my snowman stuff. Summer and spring has so much of their own beauty going on that I let them speak for themselves.

Thanks for the idea - I love it. My decorations are usually nature stuff too but this place is a challenge. Think small, concrete box. I get 4-wall-itis in places that are too cut off from nature. At least I can easily see the forest from our window.

 

[Bettacreek]

I'm not a decorator either. I'll have to at least start putting up a tree now though, since the oldest is two now.

 

[Farmfresh]

I think that decorations tend to morph as your life does. When the kids were little we had both the big tree and the excessive grandma!

One year my mom bought the kids about 10 Breyer horses EACH!! She was a collector and was trying to get my kids collection started. At the time we were poor living with three kids on one small income and really had no space to store a 30 horse collection of valuable collector horses. (I mean really.) After Christmas I let the kids each pick two horses and returned the rest to the store. With the money I was able to buy new bedskirts, sheets, comforters and curtains for the children's rooms. They were much happier with a redecorated beautiful room than the would have ever been with a collection.

During those years we always had garland everywhere, a big tree, we even decorated the kitchen and bathroom! It was loads of fun for everyone.

These days we have toned down a LOT. A small real tree that sits on my buffet and a snowman that lights up are my indoor decorations and a nativity and a few lights for the outside. I still enjoy the season and have less cost and clean up.

Now it is the kids turn to have the big tree!

 

[Ldychef2k]

After it got dark last night, I strung up some green lights and tinsel garland around part of the kitchen. Along with DGD's gold and white tree, it is gorgeous in there, with a beautiful soft light. The oldest DGD did the bathroom, and I checked it out at night as well (I am old, give me a break) and it just glows like a pearl in there. I called them both and told them how much I appreciated them adding such beauty to my environment.

Thing is, I have been seriously down in the dumps this past two weeks. Been working through it, praying and crying a lot, trying to do some healing of some long time hurts. This has been a long process, a couple of years overall, but there has been steady progress in forgiveness and healing. (Divorce issues.)

Still, it was a real effort to be cheerful yesterday while we were decorating. But last night when I had only the Christmas lights and candles going, I think I started to get a handle on my feelings and this morning I am feeling positive and less tender in the heart area ! The peace of the house, the joy of knowing my Savior loves me even though I am a little nuts, and the effect of decorations on the enviornment are helpful, I think.

ETA picture of the 10 yo's tree:

 

[lorihadams]

That is so pretty! I have a friend that I used to work with and she has 2 trees, one downstairs for all the "good" ornaments and one upstairs that she lets the kids do all by themselves. They love that they have their own tree.

 

[FarmerChick]

Glad you are feeling better Ldy.

Forgive others and you will lighten your own personal load on your shoulders. I found that to be sooooo true. The more you won't forgive, the harder the poison is in your system.

Letting the past go is hard to do....but it is the past, the present can and will make you smile and enjoy life if you allow it!!!!!! You go girl!!!!

 

[Ldychef2k]

.

 

[savingdogs]

I was drawn to this subject title because I've been toying with not decorating for Christmas this year. My boys are teenagers and have pretty much ruined most of my Christmas collectables and I haven't been able to replace things much. I never have extra money during the holidays! Most of what I have were Christmas gifts from friends.

I was wondering if I'd feel real guilty if I just left it all in its carefully packed away boxes this year, I just don't have the energy to pull the stuff out and sigh over the broken or missing parts and such. It dampens that holiday feeling for me.

We live so far out in the boonies now, no one ever comes to our house!

 

[hikerchick]

I was drawn to this subject title because I've been toying with not decorating for Christmas this year. My boys are teenagers and have pretty much ruined most of my Christmas collectables and I haven't been able to replace things much. I never have extra money during the holidays! Most of what I have were Christmas gifts from friends.

I was wondering if I'd feel real guilty if I just left it all in its carefully packed away boxes this year, I just don't have the energy to pull the stuff out and sigh over the broken or missing parts and such. It dampens that holiday feeling for me.

We live so far out in the boonies now, no one ever comes to our house!

Well, that's it for me too. No one is going to see those decorations; my child is 19- so if I did it, it would have to be for myself. And I really don't want them.

I actually gave most of my decorations to the Goodwill this year. That is how committed I am to not decorating anymore.

Don't feel guilty. life is short and you really have to weed out the things that consume your resources of time and money and don't make you happy.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would do what is best for you. It is a personal choice and sometimes you have to choose what to do with your time.

I decorate mainly for the season. I have a few Christmas decorations but not many. We haven't put up a tree in years. It takes too much time and space.

I like changing my decorations but it is done on a quarterly basis.

No one comes to our house as well but I enjoy changing the decorations for the season for my own pleasure.