Although I consider myself organized and structured, I can be a procrastinator when it comes to things I don’t do on a regular basis.  My christmas cards are a perfect example of that.  Every year, I have the best intentions with regards to sending out christmas cards.  I always type up a letter on festive stationary, giving an update on our family and what all has gone on in our lives that year.  Sometimes I even order photo cards with a few pictures of the boys to include with our letter.  However, many years have gone by when I put all of that effort into our cards and letter and never even get them in the mail.  I don’t know why I do that!  I love the holidays.  I love sharing tidbits of our life with friends and family we don’t get to see often, yet I fall short on the delivery.

Well I decided this year would be different!  Yesterday (11/18) I typed our letter and ordered my photo cards.  All I have left to do is address the envelopes and stick them in the mail.  I plan to do that this week, and I will let you know when it’s done, so I can have some accountability!  :) 

Another thing you can do to get ahead in the holiday season is to prepare your house for the decorating process.  Whatever room you put your tree in, make sure it is completely free of clutter.  If you take pieces of furniture out, go ahead and do that.  This is a great opportunity to do some deep cleaning; vacuum your baseboards, clean your ceiling fan, and dust your window sills.  When you pull out those decorations (for me, they’re in two rubbermaid bins in the garage), keep everything neat and organized.  Don’t just throw the empty ornament boxes back in the decor. box.  Keep everything tidy so it is easier for your to “undecorate” when it’s all over. 

Next is the gift giving process.  I cannot stress enough: plan, plan, plan!  You will be much less likely to overspend if you have a plan in place.  Just as you would not go to the grocery store to shop for a month without a list and menu, you never want to go out Christmas shopping without a plan and a list.  Better yet, give yourself a budget.  I don’t know what the exact statistics are, but Americans rack up TONS of debt over the holidays because we always end up getting the urge to overdo it.  Just when we think we’re finished, we see “just one more thing” that our child MUST have, or you add “just one more” friend or coworker to your gift list.  RESIST THAT URGE!  I start my Christmas list in January of each year!  As soon as I get a new planner for the year, I start a running list in the back as ideas come to me for specific people.  This really helps when November rolls around and I get a blank look on my face as I think about tackling my shopping. 

This year in particular, we’ve informed our kids that they will be getting one gift each from Mommy and Daddy, and two or three gifts from each set of grandparents.  You may be thinking that is a little harsh, but the last two Christmases in our family have been absolutely rediculous.  Our boys got so many gifts last year, they were just tossing stuff aside as soon as they opened it.  They didn’t care who it was from, and some gifts they even said, “I didn’t want this, can I have the next present?”  YEAH.  That infuriated my husband and me!  We want our kids to know the real meaning of Christmas and the reason we celebrate.  We’re tired of Christmas circling around the opening of presents and what time dinner starts.  Thus, we are attempting to simplify the selfish parts and emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. 

I encourage you to do as much as you can to get ahead on the things that have stressed you out in the past.  Make your desserts ahead and put them in the freezer, wrap your gifts as soon as you buy them.  Send you Christmas cards out the week after Thanksgiving.  All of these things will add up to quality time you can spend with your family rather than rushing around to get everything done.  Enjoy the holiday season for what it is.  A time to be thankful, generous, worshipful, and joyful.  Notice I didn’t include ‘stressed’! 

~audrey