Stockings Were Hung …

I love filling Christmas stockings!

I’m not sure how it began. I don’t recall having Christmas stockings growing up. We had chimneys but stockings didn’t hang there. I have a hunch it just wasn’t part of my family’s German traditions. I don’t recall seeing my cousins have them, either. Have I mentioned I have close to 50 cousins? They covered a large sampling of our small town.

We opened presents on Christmas Eve after church… Santa came while we were gone. I guess someone had to be an early stop for him to make it around the world. It was US: we were the early birds he came to first!

Christmas morning, there may have been a few small gifts on our kitchen chair, but not always. I have a prominent memory of finding a Carpenter’s Album waiting on Christmas morning… I still listen to them!!

I don’t know when my fascination/love for them grew, but it did. Maybe it was after we moved to metro DC when I was six. I may have encountered different traditions in homes or heard friends talking about them. I’m not sure, but that would make sense.

So, as a Mom, I included stockings in my holiday preparations. Honestly, I enjoy finding fun things that are unexpected but will light up faces and bring small bits of happiness: ” little happies.” I don’t go overboard and don’t have large stockings: a modest amount can still be tons of fun.

At this point in December, if you haven’t finished shopping, a desire to “finish” is building. Goodness knows we can’t rely on finding things on shelves these days. Shopping in stores can be a huge time waster, although I still try some.

I’d love to help you, if your stockings are lacking this year. By the way, I wrap stocking gifts too… I like surprises!

I would love to stuff some more stockings…

General & Specific Ideas

Babies/Toddlers

1. Teethers

2. Mittens

3. Winter or Sun Hat

4. Bath Toy… LOVE THESE …

5. Little People (age appropriate)

6. Magic towels from $Tree (They are washcloths😉

7. Socks … fuzzies, funny, slipper, etc.

8. Bubbles for bath or outside

9. Small stuffed animal

10. PJs (roll the pieces and wrap/rubber)

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Toddlers – Elementary

1. Any of the above, age appropriate

2. Small book, here’s a good one …

3. Card game… I found this one, I remember it in game form and my kids loved it, now it’s more travel/space friendly.

4. Art supplies – markers, crayons, dot markers, chalk, small paint project ($Tree has many), reusable art like this one …

5. Manipulative Puzzle …. This one is great!

6. Cars (again $Tree has Hot Wheels)

7. Lip Balm… check these out …

8. Flashlight

9. A character T-shirt (pick their fav)

10. A magazine subscription like National Geographic’s for Kids, etc.

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Middle School/ High School

1. Gift card (video game, music, fav store, restaurant, etc.)

2. Hat/ gloves, scarf

4. Make-Up

3. Cologne/Perfume

5. Hair accessories/socks

6. Books

7. Tickets to have an experience with you

8. Jewelry

9. Travel game… this one has great ratings

10. Phone case, strap, accessories (Pop-It, photo light, etc.)

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Most of these can be adapted to adults as well. I rarely put candy in stockings, maybe a seasonal lollipop. We get enough sweet stuff and normally in December I’m throwing out Halloween candy that never got eaten.

There are a million other choices. Maybe these will spark getting started or finished!

Tis the season of giving … I certainly enjoy the giving.

How about you?

Stockings or NO Stockings?

Doing it, done, don’t do stockings?

Favorite stocking surprise you got or gave?

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For me, the giving is all about reflecting and celebrating the gift God gave us that first Christmas morning, a baby in Bethlehem. I give because He gave. My gifts are temporary … the gift of Jesus is eternal. Mine is pale and insignificant in comparison, but a glimpse of momentary joy on the faces I love is so rewarding. I can only imagine how God feels when he glimpses the joy on our faces when we appreciate His gift to us … Jesus, my Savior!

Filling Stockings,