Making a List and Checking It Twice – IT’S TIME!

Yeah, that sounds like the ideal way to commemorate the coming of our Lord and Savior into the world in human flesh to redeem us from our sins and give us eternal victory over sin and death!  Yeah, that sounds like a fun way to bond with our families and provide precious holiday memories for our children! 

Unfortunately, that is Christmas for far too many people.  The greed of commercialism and the loss of focus on what we are actually celebrating has robbed many of us of a meaningful and joyful holiday.  Lack of planning and expending massive amounts of money and energy on all the unnecessary fluff can distract us from enjoying the “good tidings of great joy” and “peace on earth and good will to men” as proclaimed by the angels on the night Christ was born.

There is hope!  I have a few basic ideas to help you prepare for a blessed and joyful holiday season without collapsing into a withered pool of exhaustion by December 26^th. 

My first bit of advice is to plan early and thoroughly.  I like to use a notebook with a separate page or section for such things as a calendar with parties and activities written in, gift lists, a card list, budget, meals and baking plans with shopping lists, and other plans and lists that would be meaningful to your family.

It is so easy to become overwhelmed and feel like you must do it all to have the “perfect Christmas.”  No, you don’t!  Don’t make yourself miserable!  As a family, decide which activities mean the most to you, and focus on those.  Just leave out the rest!  Keep it simple, and then you can truly enjoy the things that mean the most to you.

Calendar:  Start planning your calendar, and be sure to include some free nights to enjoy driving to see the Christmas lights, watching Christmas specials, baking, and family game nights.  Planning activities ahead of time will help you choose what you really want to do and to ensure no conflicts.  If you or your family chooses to be involved in a Christmas play or musical, be sure to write in all rehearsals into your calendar so you can be faithful to your commitment yet not miss out on favorite holiday events.  Have a family meeting and discuss what each person’s favorite holiday tradition is, and be sure to include those on your calendar.

Activities:  Besides planned events on the calendar, I like to make a list of every activity I want to be sure to include, such as crafts, reading books, lights, movies, caroling, serving in soup kitchens, visiting the ill and the elderly, family togetherness, etc. I especially make a point to include spiritual emphasis.  To me, Christmas is all about worship and being reminded of the purpose of Christ’s advent to the earth, and I make a point to plan a special night in reminder and special devotionals throughout the season.  We have always had communion as a family at Christmas as well because I want to remind them that Christmas is only the beginning of the story.

Decorating: What a ginormous chore sometimes! My only advice is to divide and conquer! One day is devoted to my china cabinet and my snowman collection. Another day is for the mantle and the rest of the house.The outside has a day all to itself. The trees are last, and we do nothing else the entire day because we like to make an event out of hunting for a real tree as well as putting up a couple of artificial ones. Once they are decorated, we rest! As matter of fact, rest is key. Start decorating early so that you are done before all the other demands pull at you. Do a little at a time and then rest between. Don’t get overwhelmed, but have fun filling your home with joy! Set the atmosphere!

Christmas Specials:  One of my favorite traditions during the Christmas season is to watch my favorite Christmas movies.  I check the TV listings and circle the ones I want to be sure not to miss.  You might want to include this in your Christmas notebook as well.

Shopping Lists:  A huge time saver is to shop online for Christmas presents.  If you do not trust having presents shipped, browsing online will still save you a heap of time before trekking to the stores. Make a thorough list of everyone to whom you will be buying gifts, and check each off as you complete the purchase.  Please begin early and try to finish as early as possible.  The only way to avoid the last minute rush is to plan and get busy ahead of time, and then pace yourself.  Besides, the sooner the presents are wrapped and under the tree, the more you can torture your kids with anticipation!

Budget:  Be sure to plan your budget ahead of time and stay within the confines.  You may have to settle for a little less than you hoped, but managing your finances well during the holidays will reduce your stress level by leaps and bounds.  Money is one of the biggest sources of stress and arguments at Christmas, but it is not worth it. Christmas is not about spending money you do not have to give presents that people do not really want.  Plan well, and you can make it work.  You can save money by shopping flea markets, auctions, and yard sales, using free gifts from purchases throughout the year, and taking advantage of holiday sales.

Christmas card list:  A good idea that my mother did every year as long as I can remember is that she did her Christmas cards on Thanksgiving night.  While we all watched a holiday special, she sat there and got it all done.  One stressor checked off the list before the season was fully underway! I’m not as diligent as my mom. I’m lucky to get any cards sent. Having that list organized and ready in my Christmas notebook helps alleviate the stress.

Baking and cooking:  Way ahead of time, I like to have my menus written down in detail for every holiday meal, including the shopping lists.  This makes it so much easier when the time comes!  I also like to buy a few things at a time for my holiday baking and cooking for weeks beforehand to keep my budget intact.  Be sure to include baking in your calendar so you don’t become stressed trying to get it all done at the last minute. 

Cleaning house for out of town company:  I usually have out of town family visiting during the holidays, and I perpetually fight the temptation to knock myself out trying to clean my entire house just before they arrive.  One thing that has helped me is to include a house cleaning list in my holiday notebook.  I organize my cleaning according to what can be done ahead of time and what needs to be done at the last minute.  I go so far as to write down exactly what I need to do each day for several days before they arrive.  For example, I always clean floors last because if I do them ahead of time, they are dirty again before my family arrives.  However, I can thoroughly clean the guest room ahead of time, for example, and it will stay clean.

The season may be in full swing, but it’s not too late to plan well before the holidays sneak upon you and you are thrust into a whirlwind of stress and misery.  Please do not let this happen to you this Christmas!