Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Toot Your Horn Tuesday - Christmas

I'm tooting about all the things I "haven't" done! I'm tooting because I'm stress free!
I've had the most wonderful few weeks leading up to Christmas. I have managed to put all the chaos of baking, shopping, card writing and such aside. It's just not necessary! Don't get me wrong though, I've definitely done my share of cooking and shopping, but I decided to make it simple. The food still taste good and my children will be getting a nice array of presents. We even hosted a beautiful party at my house.
I have learned that it doesn't all have to be perfect to be "perfect!"
And how about this jolly fellow? I've got a question for you...
I have allowed my children to believe in Santa Claus for the first half of their childhood. Does this make me a liar? Does God look down on the parents who buy presents for their children and place a tag on the gift that says "From Santa Claus?"
I got into a friendly debate this past week with a good friend of mine. She feels very strongly against Christians allowing Santa into their Christmas celebration. I understand her feelings, but I feel that it is a harmless fantasy which creates excitement and creativity in a child's mind. I believe Christ followers can find a balance that allows for all the "magic" of Christmas. What is your opinion? Look at these next two pictures. Glynis has distorted the story of Jesus' birth just a bit. She wants to be Mary. She insists that Jesus is a girl and that Daddy play Joseph! Talk about magical!!
Hope you all have a blessed, stress free, love-filled, Christmas!


Toot Your Horn Tuesday Participants
1. Lalaloopsy Necklace
2. Candy @ The Little Round Table
3. Jingle
4. Chocolate Pretzel Bites
5. personalized sanitizer
6. Family Getaway Guide
7. Blogging Hints
8. Busy Moms Tips
9. Wooden Photo Ornaments
10. Snowman Candy Bowl
11. palimer cookies @ my life as prose
12. Fun w/Royal Icing
13. Snazzy Zipper Necklace
14. Santa Tissue Box Cover
15. Parking Garage from a Box
16. Laundry Room Organization
17. Ruffled Christmas Tree Applique
18. Paper Christmas Tree
19. Candy Reindeer and Free party Ideas
20. Thrifter's Gift Guide
21. annies home - cinnamon roll christmas tree
22. Adult Xmas Cookies
23. Personalized Stocking and Giveaway!
24. Anthro Feather Tree Knockoff
25. ProtoDoom: Faux Tin Star of David
26. Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
27. 2 free Christmas applique templates
28. Digital Silhouette Print
29. My Crazy Simple Life
30. Naughty or Nice Stocking Stuffer Coupons
31. Dress Up Your Candy
32. Rocky Road BArs
33. New Year's Party Hats
34. Pillowcase Dress Tutorial with a twist
35. HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES
36. CHRISTMAS TABLE
37. KNITTED MITTEN ORNAMENTS
38. ruldolph noses
39. Just Thoughts on a Blog
40. Laura @ Ms Smartie Pants
41. Gift Card holder ideas
42. Super Easy Peppermint Patties
43. Cookie Exchange Party
44. Designs With Nature
45. Snow Globes
46. funky retro chair
47. Melting Snowman Cookies
48. cany cane mitten and bootie
49. DIY Girls Vanity
50. Blog Party with Tutorial and GIVEAWAYS!
51. I am the Parent of a 15 Year Old!
52. Campaigner Dresser
53. Toblerone Shortbread Cookies
54. Be Anthro-Inspired
55. Felt Gift Bags
56. Meet Me under the Mistletoe
57. S.W.A.{reindeer} K.
58. Easy Christmas Card Display
59. Teddy Bears
60. Live Action Silhouettes
61. *junkrestore*
62. greeting snowmen
63. New Years Goals
64. Snow Flake Cookies
65. Rad Rubberband Guns
66. J O Y
67. Holiday Trees
68. Circle Skirt
69. Valentine Favor
70. Under $10 Painted World Wall Art
71. Merry Christmas! Gifts!
72. felt kids craft
73. Lilywinkel Bridal Blossoms
74. Shawnees Tangled Tales - Cowboy Boot Purse Tute
75. My Boss is Teething
76. Digital Silhouette Necklace
77. How To on Vent Filters
78. Dr. Who Tardis Quilt
79. Custom Made Ottoman
80. Free Side Table
81. New Years Mantel & CSN GIVEAWAY
82. Christmas 2010
83. New Years FREE PRINTABLE
84. DIY-Finger Knitting
85. DIY-Fur Sleeve Shirt
86. Scrunchie Scarf
87. leather or not
88. One Drawer, Many Looks
89. Valentines Day Blocks
90. Tutorial and GIVEAWAYS! Ends 01-01
91. ** BEST DESSERTS OF 2010 at CREATE WITH JOY **
92. Bierocks (Sausage Stuffed Pastry)
93. Navy and Coral Pillows!
94. Michelle @ Creative-Outbursts
95. Top DIY's of 2010
96. The Fairy Child
97. The Grasshopper Project
98. Get Your Life Together for 2011
99. Green Momma
100. Valentine Carton
101. DIY Faux Wainscoting
102. Jalapeno Popper DIp
103. a get well soon treat
104. brittany@lovestitched
105. Mustache Mirror Tutorial
106. Handemade Hat and Brooch Giveaway
107. The Unexpected Mother
108. Wine Glass Chandelier
109. Recycled Greeting Cards
110. Christmas - Better late than never!
111. Brass chandalier makeover!
112. Family Bingo {Printable}
113. CREATIVE MIND
114. It's a Keeper - a great site for great recipes
115. Quick Mirror Makeover
116. "O" Scarves
117. Inside Out Chicken Cordon Bleu
118. Lace tip Socks
119. ghostwritermummy
120. Thank You Card
121. 5 Repurposed Home Organizers
122. Spinach Pepper & Mushroom Bake
123. I Love You Freebie
124. A Scrap of Time - Free Penguin Pattern
125. http://pittypatpaperie.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-smores.html
126. Paint a Ceramic Plate TUTORIAL
127. 2011 Home Goals
128. luvbuzz
129. Alphabet Wall
130. Magnet Boards at Family of Savages
131. Our Breezy Beach Life
132. Organizing The Kitchen
133. Pembroke Lane
134. Toddler Flannel Pajamas
135. Valentines Day Plaque
136. love nest

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

29 comments:

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Stress free is the way to go!!

I let my children believe in Santa.

Kristina @ A Home Made by Kiki said...

Just came across your blog....linked up.

We don't have our children believe in Santa, but that is only because Santa wasn't a big part of either my husband or my Christmas' growing up! We still take them to get pictures with Santa and still read all of the fun stories and watch the movies and get excited when we see him somewhere though. My 5 year old just says that it is a fun story

L Simonson said...

Thanks for hosting. I enjoyed your post :)

Rebekah Greiman said...

Santa? What's that? Us kids didn't believe in Santa when we were little. I don't know why. I just think we figured it out, early on. Much to the chagrin of my Grandpa. He still asks me every year what Santa should bring me. I just tell him, 'Whatever Santa has left over, Grandpa. I don't need a thing but love from my family.' He never believes me though....

Vanessa said...

For as long as I can remember I could never believe there was such thing as "Santa". It was too far-fetched to be belivable! Not to mention, my parents were not convincing. They're condecending tone gave them away. They tried, but when they said things like, "See, told you she would say that." when I opened gifts, made it allt he more obvious :)

I do not begrudge their sincere efforts though.

Have a happy holiday!

Autumn said...

Santa is all in good fun. We always had fun with the idea of Santa when we were little but knew that Christmas was to celebrate Jesus' birth. We are passing along that same idea to our children.

Between3Sisters.com said...

Love the kids in blankets...just too cute. Hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday Season!

The Path Traveled said...

I had my own Christmas Miracle to share today! I am very blessed! I have to toot my horn loud today!

Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants said...

We always did the Santa thing when my kids were young. However I think some families get too carried away to the point that they have to explain everything and then they end up really telling one lie after another. My 2nd son was devastated when he learned the truth about Santa and that changed how he was represented in our house for future children. My advice... you know your children better than anyone and you know what they can handle and how you can best teach them about Santa and the birth of Jesus. Do what works for you! I think your suggestion of balance is certainly the key!

taradara made it said...

thank you for having this link party, being so close to Christmas and all! You rock!

Anonymous said...

We allow our children to believe in the magic of Santa...we have but one rule {for our oldest}. Believe {or not} as you may, but you do not have the right to take the magic away from others. We also have an Elf on the Shelf to add to the magic!
Again, thanks for the opportunity to link up!
Merry Christmas!
Theresa

taradara made it said...

Thanks so much for having the linky party! Merry Christmas!

Crafts a la Mode said...

Merry Christmas. i had a nice visit to your blog. God bless!

Christy said...

I love your living simple approach to Christmas. I know that Santa is so controversial among believers. We place the focus of Christmas on the birth of Christ. For all of the cultural traditions we celebrate we talk about the way that tradition unifies our family, celebrates the birth of Christ or how Santa for example embodied the characteristics of Christ ie: charity for others.
Love your blog!

Lilywinkel said...

Merry Christmas! Thank you for teaching about God's good gifts.

Shawnee said...

My first time linking!

Andi said...

First time linking!

Katherine said...

I still believe in Santa!!! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I too learned that it doesn't have to be perfect. Who an I kidding it never is perfect anyway. The kids still had fun and I survived.

Billie Poteet said...

Hello! I am your newest follower!

Billie Jean
www.TheUnexpectedMother.net

Sheri@childmade.com said...

Thanks for hosting! I always like to drop in and see what's happening.

Debbie said...

I just found your party - thanks for hosting. I'm linking up and also going to start following you. We always told our kids that Santa was a "fun" part of Christmas. Being a "Preacher's Daughter" my parents never did the Santa thing, but they would take us to see him (as we did our kids). I mean, come on... EVERYONE has to have a picture with Santa don't they??!?!!?? If you check out my blog you'll see that I LOVE Santa - I have them all over my house! LOL

raven said...

Hi,

What a cute blog. Stress free holiday is the only way to be! When you have time I hope you get to check out this award for you.

http://pacifierspumpstheworld.com/2011/01/10/ive-got-style/

Happy Monday!

Anonymous said...

So what about the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny???? I grew up knowing that Jesus was the reason for the season and why, but still was allowed to believe in all the mythical pieces of childhood...you know.....prince charming.....princesses...that Mickey Mouse is real.....I am still a believer in my faith as an adult...none of the beliefs of childhood got in the way of that.....but you have to decide that for your own children........ Happy Holidays and a Healthy and happy new year!
Andrea
AndeM1@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I think Santa is an innocent, fun things for kids to enjoy. My kids believe, and still know the true meaning of Christmas. There is a balance.

bj said...

Hi..are you still doing Toot Your Horn Tues. ?
If so, I will add your link to a post coming up at 5.
Thanks..bj

bj said...

I am linked with your meme but not sure when you post. I'll try to come back in the morning.
thanks...bj

bj said...

http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/2011/02/happy-little-valentine-breakfastwhat.html

Thank you

Kristina said...

I'm a new follower from the blog hop! I can't wait to read more of your posts.

~Kristina
www.cobbled-stone.blogspot.com