Being together is the best - Marla, son David & daughter Jessica

I take the first sip of my extra hot, no foam latte and turn to my daughter Jessica. It is a sunny Sunday afternoon and time for our traditional talk about Christmas! We cozy up, go into our hearts and start chattering away as only two girls can do.  Jessica is ready and jumps right in with wanting a carriage ride. She also wants to make it a new tradition. Well, that sounds great to me!  She then dives into her idea for the Christmas tree “theme”. We are both inspired from seeing my sister Sharon’s gorgeous tree in her new home. Jessica lands on the theme of wishes, stars, silver and gold.  We decide to head to Michaels when we’re done to get supplies.  She loves to make our tree decorations.  I treasure this about her. It  reminds me of when I was a growing up.  With a family of ten children, making our decorations and most of our gifts was a tradition.  Another favorite (and free) tradition was decorating refrigerator boxes making them into small houses that we camped out in hoping to catch Santa Clause in action. They would fill the living room. Honestly, I don’t know how my mother survived all this but we loved it!

A favorite memory of mine was getting all bundled up and heading out into the Montana mountains with my dad.  Our mission was to find the perfect Christmas tree, cut it down and haul it home. Then we would warm our bodies with hot chocolate while dancing to Christmas music and decorating the tree.

So my invitation to you this holiday season is to take time first with your loved ones to consciously choose what you most want. Let each member of your family or circle choose one thing and then agree on one for the group.  Enjoy giving these choices your full attention.  Get creative and stay in your heart.

Here are some SIMPLE ideas:

• Give the gift of yourself, your full attention for one hour, one phone call or one day to your loved ones – no distractions or stress allowed.  Watch out – this can be different.
• Begin your day with lighting a candle and making a wish
• End your day with expressing your gratitude out loud
• Give a big, long hug every day
• Create a celebration collage of your year
• Put on Christmas music and dance
• Host a talent show for Christmas day and let everyone share their gifts
• Let your loved ones know what would be most meaningful to you (simplifies their holiday)
• Go sledding or build a snow man
• Take a whole day and bake Christmas treats
• Read a book you’ve wanted to read all year, just for the pleasure of it (one of my favorites)
• Call a friend just to say “I Love You”
• Celebrate being alive – write a poem, hug a tree, make love, offer a prayer

Here is one of my favorite prayers – “May we be filled with loving kindness, may we be well, may we be peaceful and at ease, may we be happy.”

Jessica and I ended our Sunday at home, playing our new Michael Buble’ Christmas CD while she made decorations and I organized pictures for our love letter to family & friends. Then we watched “Miracle on 34th Street” shouting out “WE BELIEVE”.  I want to hear from you about what you choose to do.