When we planned to move in October, I was genuinely only thinking of flying and arriving in plenty of time according to my pregnancy (I’m due January 6th). I didn’t realize that we would be so close to the holidays after moving! But, despite my lack of planning, the holidays have been sweet.
Thanksgiving
We did celebrate Thanksgiving even though it’s not celebrated here in England, obviously. I ordered some turkey legs and roasted them with some of the traditional sides. Then my husband came home for lunch and we feasted together just as our little family, it was fun! I borrowed a very autumnal puzzle from a friend and worked that into the evening on Thanksgiving eve and day with my 7-year-old. We always worked puzzles around the holidays in my family growing up, so it was a lot of fun to have this tradition in our family too this year. I wasn’t sure my daughter would enjoy a 1000-piece puzzle, but she did.
Advent and Christmas
In past years, I’ve really enjoyed reading special devotionals (like this one), lighting advent candles weekly, and filling our days with advent crafts and activities. But I knew that wasn’t going to happen this year. So, I’m very thankful and happy for the few things that we did get to do together. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be filled with many things in order for it to be special.
We managed to bake and build some sourdough gingerbread houses… so much fun! My 2-year-old loved rolling the dough and playing with it after. And my 7-year-old worked hard to construct and decorate her house well. It was a fun evening of baking and decorating. I prefer to use a sourdough gingerbread cookie so that we at least get the fermented grains in our sweets. And then we made our own royal icing with powdered sugar and egg whites… super simple! We did use store-bought candies to decorate, but how can you not?! And here in England, many of the nasty things I would normally avoid in candies are banned anyway, so that made that job simple.
We picked out a small, potted Christmas tree this year and added simple, white lights. Unpacking the ornaments with the children was great joy. And they look so sweet hanging on the tree! Some of them are from when I was a child… I’m so glad we packed those for this move. The plan with the tree is to keep it in its pot out in our garden (backyard) and bring it in again next year. A friend of mine does this with their Christmas tree and I love the idea! I’m excited to see how it grows over the next couple of years that we live in this house.
We found used bikes for the children a few days before Christmas. We did really need one for our oldest to ride into town. But Christmas was the perfect opportunity to give them as well. We kept the other gifts for the children small this year with mostly books, new art supplies, and a Thomas the Tank Engine for the toddler. We gave them the gifts on Christmas Eve so that they could play with their new things all day long, and they did. Again, the simple gifts at Christmastime are still so special.
Then on Christmas Morning, we bundled up and went to our church service in town. I did not grow up with services on Christmas day, but it is common here in England. I find it very special to actually be at church on Christmas day… why wouldn’t you gather together with other Christians to celebrate the Savior?! Directly after the service, we drove out into the countryside to another friend’s home for classic Christmas Dinner. It was lovely driving weather (though cold on our after dinner walk!) and lovely company. We ate together and watched the King’s Christmas day Speech followed by a Julia Donaldson animation. All felt quite British to me!
And now that Christmas Day has passed, we are in the 12 days of Christmas. They lead straight up to my due date this year! So, yes, I am counting down the days of Advent because that means I’m closer and closer to holding my baby.
Simple seemed to be a theme in this year’s holidays for our family and I’m very thankful. For one, I don’t think I could’ve managed anything more! And for another, it reflects the nature of our Savior’s birth. When He was born as a Savior it was in a lowly cattle stall. And He gave up all of His riches for hay and animals. I was reminded this year that it’s not all about flashy gifts or big parties, just the simple-ness of being together and celebrating is enough.
