Ho-Ho-Hodgepodging

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday  Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Hope your day is merry and bright! Now here we go...

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1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over?

It's disappointing but I don't know that I struggle with it. I stay in my circle this time of year. I concentrate on my family, and the people whose paths cross mine. Less news, more Jesus and the miracle of His birth.  

I enjoy the message of advent~hope-peace-love and I love the traditional Christmas hymns whose lyrics are timeless. I like sitting beside the tree in the early morning quiet with my Bible. I stay out of the stores as much as possible.  

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

The excitement my grandchildren feel about everything. We Facetimed with my youngest grandson the other day and when hubs asked him how he was he said 'Christmas isn't today.' : ) 

They love the lights and examining all the ornaments on the tree, spotting Santa, watching the Grinch, and sneaking a just baked cookie or three. It's all magical and their excitement is contagious. 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I love Christmas cards, both the giving and the receiving. We have friends and family scattered here there and everywhere and I enjoy hearing from them at Christmas especially. A photo included or as part of the card is nice too. 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

My least favorite holiday related task is the wrapping. Does anyone else get a backache when they wrap presents? I try hard not to save it all for the end, but I'm not always successful at wrapping ahead. 

My favorite is probably baking because I enjoy making cookies and I enjoy giving them away. I love choosing our Christmas card each year too. 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• shopping
• baking or decorating
• baking
• eggnog or wassail
• wassail
• real tree or artificial
• real, but we usually have artificial
• turkey or ham
• ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• both! 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• cinnamon
• presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
• Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Who watched the Kevin Costner special on the birth of Jesus (The First Christmas)? What did you think? There were about a million commercials but overall I thought it was very well done. I'm  happy (and not gonna lie, a little surprised) to see the gospel story presented on ABC of all places. If you missed it I think you can still find it on streaming services and Hulu. 

Merry Wednesday everyone!