Sunday, December 17, 2006

Enjoying the Holidays

This time of year is very busy for us. In the space of just over two weeks we have Christmas, New Year's Eve, our Wedding anniversary, and 2 birthdays.

There have been years where this combination was dangerous. Bene' was feeling the stress of trying to make everything work perfectly. She was working her more than full time job, planning Christmas, and trying to plan the biggest 1 year old birthday party anyone has ever seen. She was driving home with soon-to-be-one-year-old asleep in the back seat. The problem is that Bene' was asleep in the driver's seat. Unrealistic expectations of perfection almost made one of the happiest times of the year into one of the worst. Thank God the mailbox she hit woke her before she went head on with a cement truck.

We see it all the time at the weddings we photograph. What is supposed to be a happy day is ruined or at least hindered by unrealistic goals of perfection. Instead of being happy that the wedding is going to happen, people obsess over tiny details that will be forgotten in a few months anyhow.

The happiest brides we work with are the ones who do not let a problem with the flowers or the cake make them angry or sad. The brides who enjoy their wedding the most tend to focus on the big picture and let all the little stuff just fall where it may. They remember that family and friends have gathered together to celebrate one of the biggest days in her life and having the wrong color baby's breath in her bouquet or a stain on the dress just doesn't matter in comparison.

Celebrating the holidays this time of year can be much the same way. Who cares if the turkey is dry, so long as the people you love are suffering through it with you, telling embarrassing stories about your childhood and laughing about that thing you did in high school.

In our house, we celebrate Christmas. The ultimate Gift was given to mankind by God about 2000 years ago. Jesus came to live among us and die for us. For a Christian, just remembering that is enough to eclipse anything that might go wrong with the meal preparations or gifts.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, even if it's Festivus, enjoy the good times, and don't let unrealistic expectations bring you down.

Finally, here is a list of 25 tips to help you enjoy the holidays, written by a friend of mine, Tony Cooke.

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