Do you hear what I hear???

I am slowly getting some things decorated for the holidays, but I have a story to tell you.....and it's affecting just how much decorating I am actually doing this year.....
Sunday night, I had successfully taken down all of my fall decorations and made way for the Christmas decorations to come out in full force. It was time to dust and straighten and then out would come all the boxes of Christmas decor my son had pulled down from the attic for me before he left to go back to college.
My husband walked thru the house and came to me and said, "hey this is nice.....there are areas that aren't cluttered, nor decorated to the hilt.....I LIKE this."


Did you hear me....did you read that??? I have to say things have been a little stressful at work for him....things are cluttered everywhere with ugly details that he has to pay attention to. Things are mentally challenging as he faces his world. He comes home every night (for which I am ever so thankful!!!) and this is his haven, his safe place from a world that bombards him with stuff. So at that very moment, I vowed to simplify my Christmas decor this year to make it a restful place for him. It is my little secret sacrifice (well, except that each of you now knows it...how secret is THAT??? LOL)...It is MY GIFT TO HIM......I will still do some decorating, but all the snowmen will stay tucked away in the box, the village will not be placed on the table; I will not have as many chotskes (sp?) this year. I will work to make it as uncluttered, yet festive as I possibly can. I will work to make our home a place of peace and rest for him, rather than the commercialization of a miracle. Now, I LOVE Christmas decorating and the way it makes the holidays special. But this year, we are going simple and next year we'll see if we're ready for more.....one step at a time......
Merry Christmas, honey.