Friday, December 11, 2009

Celebrate the Small Things

It's Friday! Wahoo!

Has the holiday season caught up with you? Are you beginning to get panicky about the lack of presents purchased, the boxes of Christmas cards unopened in the closet, or the non-existent cookies needed for the exchange?

Eh. Don't sweat it.

Why not celebrate the small things? And forget, for a minute, the big ones?

Do you have a favorite ornament? Is it on display? Congratulations--you've taken a step at bringing joy to your holidays.



Have you received a Christmas card? Sent any? Look at the postmarks on this one. It's been all over the world! I wonder if the sender ever realized it would be so well traveled. Let's celebrate this card today. It made a few detours, but it found its way home.



How do you feel about the Salvation Army kettles? The incessant dinging of the bell can wear thin on my nerves, but I'm impressed with any organization so willing to collect funds to help others. I'm not endorsing this charity, but I am holding it up as a terrific example of sharing the joy of the season by giving to those less fortunate.



This card jumped out at me. It's so easy to get wrapped up in my own concerns that I forget all of the people who help me through daily problems. Sometimes it's a friendly store clerk at the grocery store who will make all the difference in my mood. I'm celebrating all of the people who smile at strangers, who let other cars ahead of them even in heavy traffic, and who bring a ray of sunshine everywhere they go.


What small thing will you celebrate today?

Have a wonderful weekend!

36 comments:

  1. I love celebrating the little things in life. They are the things that really bring smiles to faces daily. We can really get bogged down in big things, so we must find joy in the small ones. Thanks, Jill, for the reminder.

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  2. Good morning!

    Heather: I do too, but I'm terrible about acknowledging them. I take so much for granted.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  3. I really love how my christmas tree looks when it's lit. Very peaceful. I'll try to enjoy my little guys today and not get caught up in my chores. :-)

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  4. I'm celebrating my mom and sisters today. We're heading out for massages and a leisurely lunch.

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  5. I'm going to look at my little figurine differently today...with more gratitude for all the years God's brought me through. My mom kept four little glass girls all in different colored coats, one skating, one sledding, one throwing a snowball and one with skis. Mine is in a blue coat sledding. Each one of my sisters has theirs.

    Thanks, Jill.
    ~ Wendy

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  6. The tree is up. The ornaments waiting to go up. The little Hummel creche is up including the other figurines that come to visit: the Beanie Baby camel, the turqoise bear, and the giant chickie dish. All are welcome. And the candy house is filled! Also looking at your photos, the one for the Salvation Army,I thought that looks like it was taken in front of City Hall Plaza, Bostonm and it was!

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  7. We'll be putting up our tree today, so I'll be celebrating that beautiful tradition, the whole decorating essence, with my daughters. Special ornaments will come out of their boxes, memories lifted, stories told. It's a nice time, indeed.

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  8. I love the idea of celebrating the small things. SOmetimes it's easy to overlook them, especially in this age of instant gratification. This morning I'm ridiculously excited about a great cup of coffee on a frigid morning!

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  9. I have a stack of unopened Christmas cards we've received in the mail this week. I'm going to sit down and open them and smile at every single one.

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  10. Jessica: Yes! Enjoy those little ones!

    Angie M.: Is there room for one more? Massages sound heavenly!

    Wendy: Aww, that's so sweet. Do the figurines fit your personalities? I'm curious about the sister who got the snowball-tossing one. Enjoy!

    CJ: I'm so glad the Beanie Baby camel came to visit the Hummels, and please tell me the chickie dish is filled with treats? :)

    Joanne: What a great plan! And I'm guessing no one fights over who gets to put the angel on top of the tree!

    Georgiana: My cup of coffee was delightful this morning. And now, I'm celebrating my Diet Dr. Pepper!

    Susan: I love getting Christmas cards. They make me feel loved. Have fun reading them all!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  11. Thank God for the small things! I'm celebrating peace this holiday. Just enjoying the day without fear or regret, full of appreciation for family and friends.

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  12. All those little things form together to make up such important life!

    Today I'm celebrating the first day back to "normalcy" after three snow days from school - and the chance to get out into the fresh air and run some errands.

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  13. This is such a great, uplifting post. I needed it. Thanks, Jill!

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  14. Hmm... I went to the eye doctor today and saw a lab tech that I got to know a lot when I was in college. It was great to see her again and catch up for a few moments!

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  15. Hmm... I went to the eye doctor today and saw a lab tech that I got to know a lot when I was in college. It was great to see her again and catch up for a few moments!

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  16. Very nice! I'm going to celebrate today by listening to Christmas music and taking photos of beautiful creches on display where I work.
    Thanks for the reminder to stop and savor the season.

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  17. I miss my favorite ornament. I lost it years ago. It was one of those "Dear God" girls. Does anyone remember those books? Anyways the woman who lived around the corner gave it to me and I just adored it.

    Sigh...

    Great Christmas gift idea for the hubs...anyone want to pass it along to him?

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  18. I really needed this today. So far the only Christmas decoration I have up is the tree, sans ornaments. Thank goodness it's pre-lit!
    Today is my baby's 12th birthday. I think I'll celebrate that instead of stressing out.
    Blessings!
    Niki

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  19. Tamika: Nicely said!

    Janna: Three days!! Yikes! Get out of the house and enjoy yourself!

    Melissa: I did too. Silly, huh?

    Kristen T: Don't you love running into old friends? That's how I feel when I write a Christmas card to someone I haven't seen in years.

    Sallyo: Oh, what a great plan! Hope you enjoy!

    Marybeth: I'm sorry you lost your ornament. I had a weird drummer bear that I loved, but it's gone too. Boo-hoo.

    Niki: See? You've got the lights on! I would totally take credit for that. Happy birthday to your baby!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  20. I got a GREAT Christmas card sent to me yesterday that just made me smile the whole evening.

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  21. I'm really enjoying this series of posts. I'm going to celebrate the amazing fragrance of my apple cinnamon candle, and a cup of hot chocolate.

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  22. Celebrating the small things is always fun. I am celebrating spending some time with my sister and nephew tonight. I am cooking steak and potatoes and trying out a pumpkin cheesecake recipe--it's in the oven right now!

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  23. I enjoyed this post very much. I have several favorite ornaments which I put on the tree first. My two frosty plastic deer, leaping across the tree are sensational and they start the process. I like to take a few quiet moments each day and just look at the tree.

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  24. Today I am happy for my sanity. Busy, crazy, unhappy time of year for so many.

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  25. Printing off our Christmas letter and get some Christmas cards out in the mail (not all of them, just some of them!)

    I love celebrating the season by enjoying the little things like sitting on the couch sipping hot mulled cider and admiring the nostalgic ornaments on our Christmas tree (there's the one my husband & I got our 1st Christmas together, and the homemade ones our daughter gave us throughout the years...)

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  26. I know exactly where that Salvation Army guy is standing! Yay, Boston!

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  27. You're so right. Sometimes the little things, small moments are the best & most important.

    As for the "big" stuff? I'm not doing cards or even putting up the tree and decorations this year. :)

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  28. Jennifer: Put that one in the keeper pile!

    Erica: It's funny, but Glade makes an amazing apple-cinnamon candle. I love it more than even Yankee candles! Enjoy your slice of respite!

    Cindy: Uh, can I come over for dinner? Yum!

    Nancy: And this year, you can REALLy see the reindeer, how great is that!

    Diane: I hear ya! Sending some calmness your way :)

    Maria: I love doing that. We had to throw a few of our homemade ornaments away this year due to stickiness, but most of them survived.

    CKHB: I've always wanted to travel to Boston. I didn't know that's where the picture was taken until you guys filled me in!

    Angie: Throw a chili-pepper wreath on your door and you're done!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  29. The perfect air puffs I make when I jog in sub-freezing weather.

    Hey, I've got sun and a loyal running partner, dog Laura.

    Great post.

    Patti
    www.pattilacy.com/blog

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  30. My 3 nephews and niece are coming over to spend the weekend with me. Slumber party it is! Celebrating time with the little ones. :) Enjoy your weekend!

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  31. I will celebrate brief but intense sunshine that slices thru my living room this time of year.

    Tonite I'll be sharing a meal with a few close friends.

    Thanks for the reminder!

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  32. Patti: You are brave! I'm a treadmill gal in the winter :)

    Ellie: Sounds like a blast! Have fun giggling!

    Paul: We have many, many overcast days here--enjoy that sunshine and your friends!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  33. I make it a point to call (not email) a few friends I haven't seen in years.

    My Mom has a 92 year old, glass Christmas ornament passed down from her mother. We enjoy telling its history and marveling that it survived all these years.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  34. Susan J.R.: I love reconnecting with friends this time of year, and that ornament sounds pretty special!

    Katie: Absolutely!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  35. Thanks for this reminder, Jill. I need it when life gets crazy!

    I decorated my mantel last week, and try to just stop and look at it for a few seconds for pure enjoyment.

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