….for what?
Overcrowded shopping malls. Endless holiday parties. Too many sugary treats calling your name. Presents to buy, wrap, and hide. Even decking out the family dog in bows until he looks ready to howl, “Bah Humbug.”
Or could this holiday season be different?
I care deeply about creating a holiday season that feels meaningful and full of genuine joy. So when Folgers and BlogHer invited me to share how I spend the holidays and to hear your traditions, I happily accepted. Below I share a few of my favorite ways to celebrate, and I’d love to hear yours.
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Here are a few of my thoughts and highlights on how I love to spend the holidays…
Thanksgiving – I can’t imagine a better way to begin the holiday season than with a day focused on gratitude. It’s wonderful that we have a holiday set aside to recognize what we’ve been given and to gather with the people we love.
My family still spends every Thanksgiving together. We all return to Wichita and enjoy a slow, relaxed day with three generations catching up, watching football, laughing, and sharing an amazing meal. My family includes some excellent cooks, so the table is always full of traditional dishes, a few creative twists, and even mac-and-cheese for my younger cousin. The unhurried pace lets us savor both the food and the time together.
On Thanksgiving night I try to make it to Kansas City to see the Plaza lights. Even when I’m in Wichita, I look forward to returning home soon after to see that historic area near my house lit up with beautiful displays that make the season feel magical.
Advent – In recent years my church has joined the Advent Conspiracy movement, which aims to reshape the Christmas season away from consumerism and toward purpose. The movement encourages four guiding principles:
- Worship fully
- Spend less
- Give more
- Love all
Participating in Advent Conspiracy has been transformative. It’s taught our community to be intentional about how we spend time and money, to create meaningful gifts, and to focus on how to love others well. It’s also drawn me deeper into the Advent story—the themes of waiting, hope, and expectation feel especially powerful this time of year.
Practically, that intentionality has led to fun community activities: I help lead a gift-making workshop where we repurpose Altoid tins into magnet or lipstick holders, and my annual Christmas party now asks guests to bring children’s books for a local nonprofit instead of a surplus of dishes. One of the most rewarding outcomes has been supporting well projects in western Kenya. Clean water was a key focus for the Advent Conspiracy, and seeing wells bring fresh water to communities has been incredibly moving.
Advent has become one of the most meaningful parts of my year. I look forward to it every season.
Christmas – Christmas is the culmination of the season: the celebration of Emmanuel—God with us. That truth is reason to celebrate.
As a worship leader, I help lead a series of Christmas services that span many styles: gospel, rock, traditional carols, and the peaceful moment of singing “Silent Night” with thousands of candles. Those gatherings—full of music, reflection, and community—are a highlight each year.
I usually drive back to Wichita late on Christmas Eve to spend the night with family. We share a special dinner, open a few gifts over coffee, and attend the midnight service at my parents’ church. The service, with its candles and carols, always brings reflection on the mystery and miracle of Christmas.
On Christmas morning we wake to stockings and a few thoughtful gifts from “Santa,” then enjoy a leisurely brunch and a relaxed afternoon of family time. We always do a puzzle together—one of our longstanding traditions—alongside football and homemade treats.
After a few days at home, I drive back to Kansas City to begin the new year, often feeling refreshed and quietly changed by the season.
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What are your favorite parts of the holiday season? I’d love to hear how you make the holidays meaningful—whether through traditions you already keep or new practices you hope to try. Leave a comment and share your ideas.
If you want to take part in something more, consider entering Folgers’ “Best Part of Wakin’ Up at Home for the Holidays” essay contest. It invites people to share what makes waking up at home for the holidays special, and winners receive trips home to see their families. If you enter, I hope your story brings warmth to someone’s season.
Thanks for reading. I look forward to sharing another holiday season and some new recipes with you here at Gimme Some Oven.