It was a very pleasant Christmas day after a long night of sleepy stuffiness, coughing, and toddlers awake in the wee hours of the morning needing comfort and love. After warm baths and showers all around to ease away some of the sniffles and soothing milk bottles and fresh coffee, we sat down to open the “peh-sants Santa!” as my daughter put it.

Tyler can recognize his written name and knows that his sister’s name begins with letter “S”. I proudly watched my 3 1/2 year old tell his sister which gifts were hers and which were his. Sydney loves to rip the paper. (I wasn’t going to use wrapping paper this year, but my husband graciously took on the responsibility as head-gift-wrapper, and decided to use paper. Next year perhaps we will add a bit less to the landfills and stick to crafted ornaments and luxurious woven ribbons.) Nevertheless, Sydney is a ripper. Tyler-second-name-is-perfectionist, likes the paper off with no tearing whatsoever. Slightly impossible, but almost doable.

I was so filled with joy when I saw T & S smile broadly at my handmade creations. When Tyler saw his felt applique playmat lovingly named “Tyler Town” he immediately fetched his bin of cars to line up on the “race track road.” Trains also soon were running on the railroad past trees and the police station, and cars were lining up for a fill-up at the gas station.

Sydney hugged her stuffed flannel ladybugs close, squishing them with all her little might. And she even tried to feed her “baby” doll a felted strawberry from her new felt food collection.

One of the two gifts I purchased was for my husband. His gift was a certificate for a 90 minute professional massage and a coffee-shop gift card for a bit more relaxation and indulgence, free from the stress of kids, work, and chores. He is so wonderful to me, helping me get out the house for my own bit of peaceful-time-away, but he seldom gets the opportunity to just get-away. I believe everyone needs a bit of their own time, just for themselves.

He purchased for me just the thing I had been wanting for months now. I am wearing my new sporty, low-cost, kid-proof, watch as I am typing this. I am sure to be on time more often now that I have a timepiece again. Knowing the time is something I can’t live without.

I gave “rainchecks” to a few people whose gifts aren’t yet finished. As I sit on the sofa, with a box of tissues with lotion and a cup of hot tea, I am knitting that second sock in blue alpaca wool, and needle felting the last of my pine tree/chickadee design on that cashmere throw blanket, and tucking in those ends on the many mittens I knit for those who have grown close to our family this year.

As this year draws to a close I am reflecting on what I have learned, and what I am looking forward to in the new year. Blogging this year has taught me so much. Other bloggers have taught me how to feel, how to write, how to connect with others, how to explore many passions and avenues of creativity, how to remember others in this world, and how to live in the moment. I have learned that stress is my drug. I have learned perfection isn’t who I want to be. I have learned that as a parent I am still a student. I have learned that passion and enthusiasm are wonderful. And I have learned to reevaluate daily what I am putting first in my life.

I hope to continue writing in this space for me, and for you reading. I hope to share with you my travels as I organize what is meaningful in my life by exploring creativity, craftiness, nature, soulful living, and family life. We here at the Park household wish those of you reading a very happy, joyous, and prosperous new year. Keep Creating.

Photo by allerleirau

I think the last time I hand-made my holiday gifts I was a child. I remember crayon drawn pennants of the New York Giants NFL logo (my dad is a huge fan), sewn pouches, coupon booklets for extra hugs, and decorated paper boxes of treasures collected. As an adult, with many more relatives to give to, I can certainly see why so many shop for already made gifts. Although I have to say, finding the “right gift” in the sea of commercial excess isn’t always easy either.

I didn’t always celebrate Christmas. I am adopted and my parents are of different religions, and didn’t practice when I was a child. To spread the commercial-gift-giving-cheer, our family exchanged presents on New Years day. (It was great to always catch the after-Christmas-store sales for purchased gifts.) My mom took extra time to make her special meatballs, cardamon spiced sticky buns, and home-made egg-nog. My dad’s culinary specialties were cole-slaw and fruit cup salad.

I remember the night before my dad would tuck me in and say “see you next year.” I’d panic until I realized that was only tomorrow, a few hours away. I’d awake early of course, excited to add my presents to the pile of gifts in our living room next to the antique steamer trunk. My parents’ home is solar heated in part, so holes cut in the floor are covered with antique floor iron grates with vent panels that open and shut. When I opened my grate I could take a peek and see the pile of wrapped gifts just waiting to be opened.

I had to wait until 8 am (although when I was younger I suspect the hour was a bit earlier) to wake the parents to go downstairs and open gifts. I remember my mom would wear her fuzzy robe and slippers, and my dad, an early riser, would already be dressed for the day.

We’d head downstairs, and marvel with excitement and anticipation at the stack of presents on the floor. Somehow the dog was never interested in the gifts. We’d open presents, call far-away relatives on the phone, play with our new toys, and eat wonderful foods. I always loved jig-saw puzzles, so there was always one to piece together with my dad. I think we also watched football since it was New Years day. The Giants of course.

As I grew older, traditions changed. By the time I was in college, my family started to exchange gifts on Christmas, although we didn’t attend church. When I moved to Washington, D.C. for my first professional job, I returned home for Christmas vacation.

But after meeting my husband, and joining the Catholic faith, I now celebrate Christmas with my young family.

I hope to start many traditions my children will remember (and blog about) when they are older. I am eager to make gifts along side them, decorate cookies with them, and reach out to those less fortunate with them. My rediscovered passion for hand-making gifts is definitely from my childhood. I am lucky to have had parents who encouraged personal creativity, who grew value in natural awareness, and who nurtured a sense of organic generosity.

To make a long story short, I am not going to be able to finish every gift I set out to make this Christmas. Everyone will eventually receive their intended hand-made gift, but maybe this year a little after the celebration of Christ. Nevertheless, I am ever so thankful this year we will gather together in warmth, love, hope, and prosperity. We all wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year.