Christmas 2022

Welcome back to Stamping with Buffy! This has been a whirlwind of a fall season! When my brothers and I were younger, Mom made a big deal out of our birthdays. We got to select the main dish for dinner as well as the type of dessert we wanted. Our grandparents were always there, and sometimes other extended family members joined us. I picked up on that tradition with my boys, and it’s been a lot of fun.

Now that the boys are grown and have families of their own, we all celebrate each birthday together, or at least with everyone who’s available. It can be as many as 12 or more around my dining table that (according to the chairs that came with it) seats six. It can be a squeeze, but we somehow fit.

Between six birthdays and one major holiday so far in three months, it’s been quite busy. Several nights my brain refused to stop for sleep and I spent most of my sleeping hours wide awake, thinking about what I needed to do in the coming days. Honestly, I was feeling neither peace nor joy this holiday season.

I decided that all the anxiety causing stuff wasn’t worth it. If I don’t get cards out, what’s the worst that can happen? If the kids get cash instead of gifts, will they really be disappointed? Who says we have to have turkey and stuffing at Christmas? What’s wrong with chili? And I don’t even know where my little Christmas tree is. It’s former home now has a whole house water filter in it, and I can’t remember where we relocated it.

I’m feeling much more at peace. So much so that I accomplished this today.

Thanks to the Stampin’ Up!® Paper Pumpkin Christmas card kit and the Cozy & Bright Kit, over half my cards were completed in a flash. The rest were leftover pieces from classes or cards I made for my blog. I’m not completely sure this is all I need, but it’s close! I still need to stamp the insides, but everyone will probably get the same sentiment, and thanks to my Stamparatus, it will go quickly.

The bottom line is, at least for me, family and friends are more important at Christmas (and every day) than the silly things we think are so important. In five years, I’m going to remember the love, laughter, and happiness we shared, not what was on the menu.

So if you’re like me and let things pile up while you “stress out,” do what you can and don’t worry about the rest. (Or be like my friend Susan and get everything done early so you can enjoy the season.)

Now I’m off to try to locate my tree. Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!