Many people feel so pressured by the
expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and
confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple,
joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy
Spirit, not the traditions or expectations of man. ~Joyce Meyer
So, remember that last blog? All that talk about
His plan? I didn’t even have a clue! Hahaha I mean, I knew He had something
good up His sleeve for me, but I had no idea it would be like this! Of course,
it was NOTHING like I thought it was, or what I ‘thought’ was His plan. I
thought that I would be staying home this year, taking some time, etc. Oh no,
He knew that was not what I needed. I needed a slight career change for sure; I
needed to be with my ‘core’ and my sweet girl. He knew and He provided. I have
been blessed to return to elementary school, teaching 5th grade
science; leaving the Special Education world behind. I get to work with some of
my best friends every day AND my sweet girl is there with me too! I could not
be happier, my kids are precious and I absolutely adore them (some are a little
bit easier to adore than others ;) But there is not one thing about this
transition that I would change.
Build traditions of family vacations and
trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children. ~Ezra Taft Benson
This brings us to the holiday season around here
and the REAL reason for this blog. We’ve pretty much always done things a
little ‘different’ in our house. We’ve tried to raise our kids to be thankful
on a daily basis and to live a life of service to others. So we have never
really made a HUGE deal about Thanksgiving, Christmas, or their
birthdays. Actually, we stopped ‘doing’ Christmas years ago (long-time readers
already know this ;) and started ‘Giving Away Christmas’. Santa has continued
to bring them each a stocking, but otherwise all of our efforts have been
towards making, creating, or purchasing gifts for others. For the first time in
many years they received gifts last year, with each receiving a pair of boots. In
the past they would always spend weekends making little ornaments and gifts to
give away. However, this year we are changing things up a bit as they get
older. We really feel that they can take a more active part in serving others,
and choosing whom to serve.
To that end we have started several new family
traditions at the Norton house. This Thanksgiving we had a simple family meal
and everyone made a part. We had a turkey of course, but then Savy made sweet
potatoes (topped ½ with marshmallows and ½ with pecans), Justice made mashed
potatoes (like Mom-mom used to make), I made green bean casserole (by request
of Savy), and Jay made rolls, homemade gravy, dessert, (and the turkey).
Tomorrow we have plans to go to Marbles
Children’s Museum and to watch the Lemur movie at the iMax. Then we are going
to an Angel Tree so the kids can pick out a child to buy presents for. Saturday
we are going to the Duke Lemur Center and shopping for their Angel child. We
have also talked to them about this Christmas, as we are planning on doing the
4 Gifts:
Something they Want
Something they Need
Something to Wear
Something to Read
We had a talk the other day about how this time
of year can be hard for many people, and difficult for them because of how we
do things differently. We talked about how they may feel when other people are
talking about getting lots of ‘stuff’ or expensive things. We also talked about
things to say, how they truly do not go without anything they need, and how
they get many things throughout the year so getting a bunch more ‘stuff’ on one
day really isn’t necessary. I know our kids are NOT perfect. But conversations
like this just warm my heart. They get it. They truly understand that there is
a difference between wants and needs. They understand that sometimes, actually
more often than not…we have to wait for wants. Sometimes we have to wait a very
long time. They get this; they really get this now at 8 and 12. I hope they are
still getting it at 12 and 16, and then still at 16 and 20 because if so their
transition into adulthood will be so much smoother.
As always, Blessed to be the Nortons4
One of the characteristics of North American
culture is that you can always start again. You can always move forward, cross
a border of a state or a city or a county, and move West, most of the time
West. You leave behind guilt, past traditions, memories. ~Isabel Allende
