“He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more!” - The Grinch, Dr Seuss
I’ve often been a little bit of a grinch, I love buying for some of the little loves in my life but decorating the house, and doing all those traditional things does not excite me at all.
This year has been a little different, with a brand new niece celebrating her first Christmas and a re found love for sewing I’ve found myself sewing a bunch of Christmas love; so maybe the grinch is right, maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store and maybe with my handmade gifts this year that’s why I’m feeling more into the Christmas spirit.
I’ve been sewing stockings and Santa sacks, pyjamas and Christmas dresses, scrunchies and face masks (in this Covid era of course). I’ve wrapped chocolate bars in white paper and turned them into snowmen, made homemade body scrub and brownies shaped as Christmas trees.
My handmade Christmas has turned me into the festive spirit.
Christmas doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, people love their thrown together goodie bags with home made items, people love the words you write in a card you scribbled a Christmas tree on, people love that you are giving them a bit of cheer no matter the item.
Pinterest opens up a world of creation even for the least creative person in the world. This year I get to spend Christmas with my nieces and nephew. In their matching Christmas pjs with shorts I made and tees that my talented cousin made, I get to see my niece in her Winnie the Pooh dress with Santa hats all around,
I get to see stockings made with love hanging in my friends homes, I get to see a little bit of joy I was able to create with a little bit of love.
I am a Young Salvationist who lives in Upper Hutt, Wellington. I am passionate about enhancing the life experiences of others and do this in my paid employment as a Support worker for those with Intellectual Disabilities and as a volunteer leader for GirlGuiding New Zealand. I love to create, write and travel the world and have a passion for submerging myself in the cultures of each place I travel. I left my heart in Africa a month before Covid sent the world into lockdown and I cannot wait to be able to return and serve in a continent that stole so much of my heart.
