So many of the things we commit to for Christmas are not even things we want to be doing. They are joy-stealers and white space-robbers. Old traditions, obligatory parties, things you feel like you should be doing because Pinterest says so. (By the way, let go of that immediately. Just let it go.)

If you see a fun idea on a blog about a new Christmas tradition, don’t let it steal your joy. If it seems like a good fit for your family, give it a try. If it seems like something that is too much for you and would cause too much stress? Let it go, sister.

Before the Christmas season begins, think of some things you really want to do together as a family. Sipping hot chocolate and watching all your favorite movies. Wrapping the grandparents’ gifts together. Driving around and looking at Christmas lights. Decorating the tree. Or attending a church’s Christmas pageant.

For me, if I’m having to get a babysitter more evenings than not, I should cut it out. Maybe it’s an office party, or a family member’s best friend’s party with people you don’t even know all that well. Or maybe it’s something that requires you buying an expensive ticket and you don’t even want to go in the first place. A few years ago, we used to attend three black tie functions during the Christmas season. That was before we had kids. We cut that out faster than you can say, “you serious, Clark?”

If making a gingerbread house causes more stress than it’s worth, don’t make it. But if it’s the highlight of your and your kids’ Christmas, then definitely making that gingerbread house. But I have to evaluate what works best for us. What steals the white space and what creates it?

I’m an introvert who likes community. I like close gatherings with family and friends. I like nights at home on the couch watching movies together and baking to the sounds of Tender Tennessee Christmas and Kentucky Homemade Christmas. (I never realized that both of my favorite Christmas songs mention specific states.)

When it comes to other obligations and commitments, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that will happen if I don’t do this?” Minimize your list of “have-tos for Christmas” so that it only includes what is life-giving and enjoyable for your family.

Take a long, hard look and what you want versus what you think is expected, and come up with ways to eliminate stress, save money, and just scale it back a little.

My goal for this year? I don’t want anything to be over-the-top. I want to enjoy the company of my family and our friends without rushing around all the time. As I said yesterday, it’s about removing the excess so God has room to move through us, and so that we can bless others in Jesus’ name.

This is Day 23 in 31 Days of Creating White Space

I love Christmas. I love every little thing about Christmas. But I want this Christmas to be different.

Gift-giving is one of my love languages (along with words of affirmation). I love giving gifts. I buy ahead in the summer, and when Christmas comes around, I buy and buy some more because I just get so excited thinking about giving the gifts. Searching for the perfect gift for someone is so fun for me, and when I find that perfect gift, I nearly combust with anticipation to give it!

For me, the answer is to stop trying to do it bigger and bigger each year.

As we’ve seen, I’ve been cleaning out closets and toys for the past few weeks, and I don’t want to undo all of that hard work. I also don’t want to put financial stress on my family because all of those gifts in December were just too good to resist.

One of our solutions for this year is to give “experiences” to the kids. We have a family trip for the big gift. Zoo memberships, museum memberships, a trip to a concert, and fun things that involve quality time.

Giving loved ones some guidelines also helps our family. Letting grandparents know how many gifts are too many and keeping it all within reason for the boys helps keeps things under control.

The greatest white space creator for us, though, is to be in the Word every day. To have an Advent calendar and have a family activity every day, to make sure our kids are learning about the birth of Christ. The Servant King.

Servant. King.

Our family mission statement is to be a blessing to others. So how can we give to others, serve them, be a blessing, show them the love of Christ, and not go completely overboard with spending?

My sweet friend Courtney hosts an incredible activity every year called Light ‘Em Up. It’s full of ideas for families and kids to light up their communities.

The truth is, my children don’t need anything. In fact, last Christmas, there were at least five gifts that they never got around to opening because they were having too much fun playing with that one gift. They don’t even want more.

It’s about community and relationship, as this whole white space challenge has been. Removing the excess so God has room to move through us, and so that we can bless others in Jesus’ name.

This is Day 22 of 31 Days of Creating White Space

God believed in us having rest so much that He made it one of his ten commandments.

This is the day that I look around and say, “Yes, God, it’s good. This is so good.”

While we’re tempted to keep pushing and growing and filling up our time and our home with stuff and obligations to stay afloat, he tells us to trust Him. Our peace depends on our trust in Him. And without any white space, we don’t have peace.

This week, I felt a little defeated when my laptop quit working…because I still have so much I’m learning that I want to share. I had a few things come up that added more to my to-do list that I’m been working so hard to cut back to basics.

But there was so much good. Here’s a little Insta-recap of the past week. (If you’re not following me on Instagram, you probably haven’t seen all of these yet.)

Our house got cabinets! Seriously. This was big stuff.

We had the opportunity to go on a really fun play date to the farm with pumpkins and animals and tractors and a hot dog roast. So much fun!

My precious husband sent me flowers.

We celebrated a sweet little friend’s second birthday.

I had a long FaceTime conversation with one of my best friends, Catherine.

Hudson and I made some fun Moon Pie Owls together.

We went to the South Carolina State Fair with some good friends and their kids, and everyone had a blast

Todd and Hudson got to play golf with some friends today.

We’ve had great family time together and we’ve been able to invest in other friends this week, as well.

All the white space has been so good. It hasn’t been used for productivity, but it’s been used for relationships.

What were the best things about your week this week?