Kristmas with Kara
- Kara Shaver
- Dec 25, 2018
- 5 min read
Christmas.
The time of year that every walk of life does extraordinary things. Whether it’s buying the perfect gifts for all of your special people in your life, getting the heck out of town away from all the noise and holiday parties, donating your time to the needy, reconciling with someone from your past, celebrate the birth of your Saviour, or taking some much needed time off to rest your tired, working bones; everyone looks forward to the holiday season for one reason or another.
In my case, I grew up in a Christian household. So we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. We also go ALL OUT on the gifts with my immidate family (myself, Paulette, Steve, and Bryce). We spoil each other because we’re a tribe. We uplift and encourage. Pick up on hints and deliver. We buy each other the things we wouldn’t necessarily buy ourselves. And we all can’t WAIT to watch each other open the gifts we've put so much thought into. I’m a terrible gift giver myself because I want them to open it NOW. I get too excited!
My mom has always made the house extra special around the holidays. The tree goes up the SECOND we get home from thanksgiving dinner (if not before) and she always has the entire yard decorated and lights draping the house that illuminates into your bedroom window at night. When my brother and I were little we would sleep in sleeping bags with our heads under the Christmas tree on the living room floor the first night it was up, and would fall asleep staring at the twinkling lights above us. Every year my moms Christmas display gets better and better. Have you ever seen the 2000 version of Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch”with Jim Carrey? Well my mother is the epitome of Martha Mae. She always has something twinkling or sparkling on her shirt, her jewelry, her leggings, red lipstick, glitter nailpolish, is always making hot chocolate, the whole 9. She always strives to make our Christmas the most festive and special as she physically can. And I wouldn't have her be any other way.
Last year we started a new tradition with my moms twin and her family. On Christmas Eve Eve we all get together (my dad, mom, brother, myself, Aunt Pauline, Uncle Jeff, Colby, Garrett, Karlee, Katy, and our boyfriends and girlfriends) and do a gift exchange with just us. We all grew up like the Brady bunch, constantly all together. So It seems almost unnatural not to get them a little “somethin somethin” for Christmas. We all see each other monthly, if not weekly and have our entire lives. They’re my other brothers and sisters "from another mister". Remember in a recent post when I said it’s like having two moms? Well here’s a perfect example of that!
We have a blast. We belly laugh until we’re blue in the face. The boys are hysterical when they all get together and they have us crying of laughter with tears for hours. These are my people! I love to love on them and create more snapshots to add to my library of 26 years of memories.
Every year we do Christmas Eve at my Mammaw’s house (dads mom). We literally just sit around and eat and watch football all day. And at some point when it gets dark we open gifts. It’s always been so amazing and magical, however, when the little kids got to be a certain age everyone kind of lost interest in the gifts. So instead we now sing Christmas carols, build gingerbread houses, bake Jesus a birthday cake, and we still sit around and eat and watch football with half a dozen naps in between. Everyone gets money or gift cards from my Mammaw, but we all get her special gifts from each one of us. Because she’s the queen, aren’t all grandmothers the queen of their families? It has really been refreshing to do the interactive things instead of just buying each other a bunch of gifts. It forces us to create memories with each other and to laugh together. We’re a FAMILY. That’s what we’re supposed to do.
And for the last 3 years, my boyfriend Billy and I wake up SUUUUUPER early (his choice) on Christmas morning and exchange gifts in our living room. He is like 8 going on 38 on Christmas morning. He has the tree and a fire lit, coffee going, a Christmas movie on, and all of my present laid out and ready to be torn into. He literally cannot wait for me to get out of bed and start the Christmas Day. After we exchange gifts, we head over to his sweet parents house in Orange, Texas and do Christmas with his family. They’re the sweetest people and they always surprise me by how much they spoil me!
It’s so nice to be able to spend full days with each group of my family. We don’t have to rush to the next house and get all stressed. We just take our time getting over there and relax with our people. Don’t lose sight of what the season is about. If you’re running around stressing about gifts and materialistic things, you’re missing the boat. Make a point to slow down, take a few deep breaths and just chill. Soak up the environment you’re in and record it in your mind. Put your iPhone down. Actually listen to your friends and family members when they’re talking to you. I find that so many people are so eager to just talk about themselves that sometimes I get caught in conversations that’s just a ping pong of “who’s who”. Listen, be genuinely there, smile, hug, laugh, and maybe even cry. Memories, moments and emotions you've felt will be far more valuable than an Instagram photo.
I love this time of year. It allows me to focus on my “WHY” in life. My “purpose” is what fuels my “Why”.
My purpose in life is to make women look and feel beautiful. I offer a service that provides an unbelievable feeling of confidence and beauty when you leave my chair. The reasons WHY I do it are for my family and friends. I want to be someone that they’re proud of. Someone that my little brother can truly admire and strive to be like. And also to build a life for myself that I created through my own hard work. My WHY promotes my PURPOSE. But not to get them confused. When you're pouring too much of yourself into your PURPOSE that you neglect your WHY, that's when it's time to course correct. When they start to get mixed up, things get fuzzy and you start to turn into a zombie when you get home from a long day. Whatever your WHY may be, whatever it may look like to you, you can't forget to invest in that more than anything. When they’re compartmentalized, everything will be in harmony and you’ll be clear on WHY you do what you do and what it is you’re doing.
This particular season of the year happens to be filled with my WHY; my parents, my brother, my boyfriend, other close family, my friends, dedication to disclosed goals I have in life, my health, and striving to be an inspiration to others. Every single day I am surrounded with different aspects and parts of my why. So being present emotionally and mentally is vital to getting the most out of Christmas for me.
When I’m at work, I’m at work. Throwing my entire being into my clients experience and outcome of their appointment. Working until the job is done. Making sure they’re leaving with a smile and a positive energy that is contagious. And when I’m at home, I’m home. I’m eating dinner with Billy and discussing our days, going to watch Bryce play music around town, spending time with my parents, asking my friends about what’s going on in their lives, just showing up for MYSELF and the people that love me away from the chair.
So ask yourself: what is your “WHY" that is fueling your "PURPOSE"?
Merry Christmas. ❤️
Photos by: Everlasting Images
This is so sweet Kara 💚♥️ I love how you described all of your special Kristmas celebrations with different family groups 🎅🏻🎄 we have made some great memories haven’t we? Love you bunches 🥰