Third Pause in Advent

It's time for the third pause in Advent linking up with Floss at Troc. Broc and Recup.

I've been thinking about expectations at this time of year.

I'm constantly amazed these days about the long list of presents that some of our children in school expect on Christmas morning .... and the object of most longing is an i-phone or i-pad, or the latest games console. I don't know how Father Christmas can afford to keep up at times.

And 'keeping up' is part of the problem .... because children learn to expect what everyone else is getting as Christmas is sold to them by the media for months and months. It becomes normal to expect everything they see on the screens.

And as adults we are sold the Christmas Dream too, and we fall into the trap of expecting a "Perfect Christmas" .... all cosy like the ones on the adverts.

We are expected to cook the perfect meal ... with a new twist on cooking the turkey because that's what the TV chefs are doing.

Our homes are expected to look like the pages of the stylish magazines.

We are expected to have cupboards overflowing with food and drink to serve up to the hordes of guests who will arrive on our perfect doorsteps, wearing red cashmere scarves, and carrying perfectly wrapped presents to add to the piles under our perfectly decorated trees.

We are expected to have a range of sparkling cocktail dresses to wear to all the glittering parties we will be attending.

We expect it to snow, and the sky to be swirling with glitter and magic!!!!

As I've got older and hopefully wiser, I've learned that those dreams of the "Perfect Christmas" are so unrealistic and can leave you feeling disappointed if yours doesn't quite match up.  I've had times in the past when I've been so exhausted and stressed when the big day comes that I haven't been able to enjoy it at all.

So now I try not to be sucked in to the lure of the "Perfect Christmas" and we do it our own way. Our Christmas is more about taking time to enjoy the experience rather than having expensive presents. This afternoon, for example, we've been to a carol service in Chester Cathedral

Our turkey will be cooked the way we always do it, no fancy twists,  and our dog will be sitting by the oven checking it all out. Everyone will say it was lovely, because they always do.

Our decorations are the ones we get out every year, with a home made fairy on top of the tree.

Yes, we've got presents under the tree ... but they're all lumpy and the bows keep falling off.

I'm not going to any parties and I don't have a cocktail dress.

And I would be very, very surprised if it was snowing on Christmas morning!

But ...... I am expecting my Christmas to be wonderful because our children will be coming home soon, and there will be four places around the table again. That will make a "Perfect Christmas' for me!

Nothing else matters.

Tonight we will light the third candle on our Advent wreath.

It symbolises .....

Wishing you lots of simple joys this Christmas xxx