grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Crafts
  • Farm
  • Food
  • Garden
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter
  • SHOP!

What I’m Giving Up for Advent

December 7, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 10 Comments

What I'm giving up for Advent

Wow. Can you believe we’re already in the second week of Advent? This year, more so than any other I can remember, I’ve been sitting with Advent, thinking about it, needing it. As I reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, I’m determined to make these days before Christmas simple and easy. To do that, I’m giving up things for Advent.

In case you think this “giving up of things” sounds more like Lent than Advent, let me elaborate.

Yes, Lent is about giving up things or taking on tasks as a form of sacrifice or penance, and Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for the birth of Christ. Waiting for the second coming.

Waiting and reflecting and resting is difficult when I feel weighted down with items on my to-do list. Items that really, in the scheme of thing, don’t add up to a hill of beans. So bye-bye to these things I’m eliminating for Advent…

Expectations. This is a biggie. I expect too much from myself. I expect to spend time every morning writing and producing content and some days, especially during December, it doesn’t always happen. 2016 has been a busy year for me. I’ve been in a constant state of emotion and busy-ness. I’m easing off on myself, at least during December.

Christmas Cards. About fifteen years ago I received a Christmas card from an attorney I worked with in Waco, Texas. It included a family picture with a note that said keep this card and display it every Christmas for the next ten years because we won’t be doing another one for a long time. Either they never did another one, or I got dropped from the list (or  both) because I never received another Christmas card from them. I appreciated the sentiment and the heads up.

This year I won’t be sending out Christmas cards. Instead, I’ll continue my efforts to send hand-written letters throughout the year. And yes, no matter the month, there will be a Christmas stamp affixed to the envelope because I’ve already bought Christmas stamps. I admit, I do love receiving Christmas cards, so there’s guilt and a bit of a double standard associated with this one. I’m going to let go of that, too.

Outside lights. It’s just not gonna happen. Other than my vintage snowman, my porch will be plain and dark. I did finally remove my Halloween lights, so that’s something.

The Voice. Okay, this may seem silly, but all season I’ve been watching The Voice on NBC and last night I decided WHYYYYYYY??? What a time drain. Done and done. I’d rather watch cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.

Shopping. Fair warning to my family—I’m keeping it small and local. The end.

Social Media. Oh, I’ll still be around, but in smaller doses. If I forget to wish you happy birthday on Facebook, it isn’t because I don’t want you to have a fantastic birthday. It’s because I’m doing other things. Like face-to-face things with people.

Waiting for snow.

Decorating. I discussed this in a prior post. Yes, I’m doing less. It already feels good.

Worry. The news wears me plumb out, especially political news. I’ve got to believe that as a country, one nation under God, we will be okay.Leaves

Sooooo, instead of subscribing to the day’s gloom and doom, I’ll be making homemade soup, listening to music, walking in the cold fresh air, raking leaves, reading, hanging with friends, going to the movies, playing with the dogs, looking through seed catalogs, watching for snow, doing a little writing.

Sitting still.

And drinking hot chocolate. There shall be hot chocolate.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]What I’m giving up for Advent. [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Gabriel’s Message, Good Shepherd Band

Filed Under: Holiday, Life, Nature & Seasons Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, holiday season

Wanna receive my monthly Newsletter? Sign up here!

Comments

  1. Colene says

    December 7, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    Sounds like a good plan. Cheers!

    Reply
  2. June Graham says

    December 7, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Sounds good to me!!!

    Reply
  3. Laurie says

    December 7, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    Hanging with WHAT friends!? *she asks in a selfishly derisive tone* ?

    I love ALL those ideas!! Can’t wait to hang out and do nothing with you!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 8, 2016 at 8:12 pm

      You. Of course. LOL.

      Reply
  4. Dorothy Johnson says

    December 8, 2016 at 8:18 am

    I think that’s a great plan. I have a feeling you’re going to truly enjoy the rest of the month.

    Reply
  5. Barbara Tate says

    December 8, 2016 at 9:00 am

    Love this.

    Reply
  6. Ian Holland says

    December 8, 2016 at 11:41 am

    Agree with you on most things listed, and am extremely happy that you will still be blogging!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 8, 2016 at 8:12 pm

      Oh absolutely! I’ll still be blogging. Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Georgeanne @ Southern Fried Soprano says

    December 8, 2016 at 4:34 pm

    Love this–especially the part about giving up expectation. We are enough.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 8, 2016 at 8:11 pm

      Yes we are! Thanks Georgeanne!

      Reply

COMMENT: Cancel reply

Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE

and

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law


Click to BUY NOW!

Gene, Everywhere

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Receive my not-very-regular Newsletter?

Most Popular Posts…

  • Yum Yum Cake - old southern recipe!
  • Homepage
  • How to make a clover bracelet
  • How to Repot an Orchid
  • How to harvest Coneflower Seeds

Most Recent

  • Sunday Letter: 06.19.22
  • Sunday Letter: 06.12.22
  • Book Reviews: April / May 2022
  • Sunday Letter: 05.29.22
  • Notes from a Garden Tour

Grace Grits index

Prior Posts

Search Categories

Tags

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Book Reviews childhood Christmas creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Eureka Springs Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween Hemingway-Pfeiffer home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta moving Munger Place Nana nature Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer sunday letter Talya Tate Boerner novel The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday
Follow on Bloglovin

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2022 · Web Hosting By StrataByte