Christmas in July??? Why???

   It may sound crazy to talk about Christmas in the midst of summer. I am the Princess of Christmas, though ;) All kidding aside, I love to celebrate Christmas because of WHAT we are celebrating - JESUS. All His work on earth began with the birth of a helpless babe. For the Adam Fleischfresser Family, Christmas preparations begin in July for a variety of reasons.

   First, we give gifts as a reminder and symbol of the gift God gave us. I truly ENJOY these preparations. I truly ENJOY making special things from the heart. That takes time. So... I start in July and everything gets done in time.

   We also begin preparing in July for budgetary purposes. Yup, we know we could save money and shop in December but did you know summer sales are often better? I recently found some wonderful, thoughtful gifts for our kids online that were on sale from last Christmas! It isn't about how much you spend, how many wrapped packages are under the tree... It's about WHY they are there and WHO we are celebrating.

   Our society has commercialized the season, put the emphasis on all the wrong things, and drives many Americans further into debt.  However, Jesus can be found, even in the secular world, if you CHOOSE to put Him there.  For us, starting our preparations now helps us to avoid the commercialized hustle and bustle, to an extent. It's a choice that allows us to focus on The Baby, come December.  It's been a wonderful thing for our little family and perhaps it's something that you might find beneficial, too.

   In the coming months, I hope to share with you exactly how we incorporate our Savior into all of our holiday celebrations.  Yes, even the secular ones.  Stay tuned for craft projects, tips, and ideas. Giving handmade gifts from the heart means so much and you have plenty of time! Thank you for following me along another wonderful season!

Cheers,
Alyssa & Family