Hey sweet friends. I am so happy to share my Christmas home decor with you. I know, I know. I am that person. It has been up for two weeks. I have to admit that I did not go all out this. I actually scaled WAY back. Do not worry, I am not turning into a ba humbug, Ebenezer Scrooge. In fact I would actually love to be putting up more, however this year I just can’t. Life is in a bit of an area of uncertainty for us at the moment, so I just really can’t put up a ton. I still hope you enjoy seeing it just the same.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me talking a little bit about what is going on with our life right now. The time has come for us to make big decisions about our future in terms of our home but we just don’t really know what to do. A few months ago, I asked for specific prayers about possibly buying the rental that we are currently in. Well, that option is no longer on the table. Right after I asked you to pray, SO many things started going wrong with the home. It has almost become comical at this point. I try really hard to mask some of the issues in the home with decor, but I can’t anymore. Problems that just can’t be ignored. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but the house is basically falling down around us. So now we are just in a limbo of waiting on what the Lord has in store for us. We are excited about his plan for us.
It’s no longer a question of if we will move, it is a matter of when/where. It would mean the world to me if you would pray about the situation with us. We just had a contractor come out today to look over the house, and the verdict was a bit worse than I was expecting. Which is fine. We prayed for the Lord to show us if it was the right decision to try to purchase it, and he let us know that it wasn’t. He has something else in store and I am not worried about it. I know he will provide just exactly what we need.
Now, what that means in terms of decorating, I am not for sure. I have known that things could be uncertain for awhile. I decided that I needed to put the tree up early just in case we would be in a moving process at Christmas. Jereme and I both love Christmas time so much and it is so special to us. There is no way I was going to just let Christmas come and go with no decorations. I put it up early because it may have to come down early. I most likely wouldn’t have time to put up a tree at the new house if we do end up moving during that time. I just wanted it to feel a little bit like Christmas in the midst of the chaos that could ensue. I’m planning as best as I can for the uncertainty.
My favorite blog posts to share with you are my Christmas posts. It is such a magical time of year. I love for everything to be so pretty as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I have heard a few people get so up in arms about people (like myself) who go overboard at Christmas, and it always makes me so confused and a little sad when they do. I know I have heard the phrase “it’s suppose to be about Jesus not decorations and presents” a time or two. I always think to myself, "right. it is. “ I have never been to a birthday celebration where there were no gifts or decorations. It only makes sense to me that the celebration for our savior to be the most special and extravagant of than them all.
Something else I like to keep in mind during the holidays is the fact that this life is not guaranteed. I have lost some very special people in my life that I would no doubt love to celebrate one last holiday with. It reminds me to not take my time with my loved ones for granted. Life is always changing, and I want to cherish every moment of it. So, I celebrate as big as I can. Unfortunately, this year has to be a little less, but I will celebrate none the less.
As I was going through my everything trying to figure out what to use. I decided to make it as simple as possible by only putting up the tree, stockings, and a few tiny knickknacks. I opted out on all of the garlands, mini trees, and outdoor decor. It was actually hard for me to say no, because I love decorating so much. I had a plan for the tree, but that was about it. I wanted the tree to be reminiscent of my tree last year, without using any of my special ornaments. I thought it would make the potential move just that much easy to not have to carefully put away as many small things.
Also, to make it easier on myself, I wanted to utilize everything that was easiest to get to. I store my ribbons and larger ornaments in the dresser next to the tree. All of my special ornaments are packed away in storage. So my tree didn’t really have a “theme” this year. I hope that if yo are in a situation similar to mine that you will still decorate to the best of your abilities. It doesn’t have to be over the top to be beautiful.
This is the Christmas of using what I have. Well, it was suppose to be anyway. I did break my rule once… twice… okay three times. When the fall decor was out at Target, I snagged the wooden letters you see form the dollar section. Then I ran across these pine cone picks on a seventy percent off sale at Micheal’s. That was too good to pass up. Then I ran across the little lamb ornament at the Guess and Co sale. Lambs have a special meaning to me and my family. I only wish I would have gotten more.
You can see some of the same picks I used last year. I recycled the bows I used from previous years. I also asked for opinions on Instagram on the Santa Lists. It was a unanimous vote to put them back on the tree. So I did. There is one detail that is different than anything I have ever done before. Rather that the normal generic lights I usually use, I put three different types of lights on the tree. They are all the same color, just different shapes. I used the classic style, vintage style, and big round outdoor lights. The size difference makes it seem extra twinkly and bright and I love it.
The booth area is the only other area that I spruced up. I wanted to bring the red into this area so that it would flow. I added the red berry wreath over top of my painting for pop of color. It was simple, yet made a big impact. I added a few bottle brush trees to my built in shelves. Then I toped it off with a few small deer pillows, and my small mason jar snow globe. And that is the extent of what I did this year. It is simple, but I still love it.
I know it isn’t a ton, but this is where we are at the moment. Sometimes there times of plenty and sometimes there is just enough. This year is just enough. What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? I am looking to implement some new traditions. for our little fam. I hope you enjoyed, and that you have an amazing Thanksgiving tomorrow with your family. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Love always,
Sarah
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger”