Christmas Planning

A friend gave me some great Christmas planning information years back, so I thought I'd share some great information and tips on holiday planning...

"It takes a few minutes of quiet time and a cup of cocoa or two, but planning ahead for the holidays will help you feel organized and in control." ~Lea Schneider

What to Schedule in December?

1. family gatherings

2. work activities

3. church activities

4. school activities

5. clubs/sports activities

Areas to Plan/Shedule/Make Time for...

Budget - Decide how much you can spend on

(the holiday spending calculator - www.xcelsius.com/holiday)

1. gifts

2. food

3. decorations

4. clothes

Home:

1. decorating the tree

2. decorating outside

3. decorating inside

Cards:

1. update list (possibly use labels printed from computer)

2. buy cards and stamps

3. order copies of family picture

4. pick up pictures

5. address cards

6. sign/stuff/mail cards

Clothes:

purchase items needed for concerts, parties, church, etc.

*We have found that in the past years, we've spent too much money on "pretty clothes" for Christmas Eve and pictures, when in reality, we didn't need to. This year, we'll be taking our family portrait in regular clothing with the kids in their jammies. At our church, the kids join the adults in the Christmas Eve service and they also wear their jammies on this night. It's really sweet. We also have dismissed the 'going out to dinner tradition' and we just eat a nice dinner at home before the service. Saves time and money.

Gifts:

1. List for out of town gifts - shop and mail first

2. list for famiy, friends, parties, kids' classmates, etc.

3. schedule times to shop in store or on line

Wrapping:

1. Check supplies of paper, tissue, bows, ribbons, tags, bags, tape

2. possibly set up a wrapping area and wrap as you buy

Food:

1. Make December dinner menu (don't forget soups, quick casseroles, freeze ahead items)

2. Make list of food needed to take to parties, school, church

3. Plan for baking - what is needed and when

*Print out THIS worksheet for a holiday gift list and holiday budgeting.

*Take time to ponder and focus on what is important about Christmas for you.

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

1. How do we celebrate Christ's coming? Finish the sentence...

"This year I want my Christmas to be....(peaceful, happy, hospitable, simple, elegant, homespun, etc.)"

2. What are my traditions?

3. Christmas would not be Christmas if I didn't...

4. Christmas would not be Christmas if I didn't do __________ with ______________ .

5. Christmas would not be Christmas if I didn't ______________ for ____________ .

Things to do:

1. Each day, focus on one name or aspect of Jesus.

2. Take 10 minute breaks each day to regain focus and relax.

3. Attend worship services to keep your focus on Christ, the true meaning of Christmas.

Print out your free December calendar at http://www.freeprintablecalendar.net/ and make sure you keep your events written down.

Get your Advent wreath made and plan out your verses and traditions.

(The picture above is missing the middle, white candle.)

1st Sunday (11/29/09):

light one purple candle to symbolize HOPE

prayer/read Isaiah 60:2-3

Extinguish the flame

2nd Sunday (12/06/09):

light two purple candles to symbolize HOPE and PEACE

prayer/read Mark 1:4

Extinguish the flames

3rd Sunday (12/13/09):

light two purple candles for HOPE and PEACE and one pink to symbolize JOY

prayer/read Isaiah 35:10

Extinguish the flames

4th Sunday (12/20/09):

light three purple candles for HOPE, PEACE and LOVE and pink to symbolize JOY

prayer/read Isaiah 9:6-7

Extinguish the flames

Christmas Eve:

After sunset, light all four candles and add the fifth white candle (in the middle) which stands for the light of Christ

prayer/read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20

Keep the candles lit a bit longer, or safely throughout the evening

In addition to the Advent season, you can find some great daily readings HERE. Be sure to print them off and slip them into your Bible.

One more tradition that we definately enjoy is making a birthday cake for Jesus. You can find some great ideas HERE.

One last suggestion, if you haven't started holiday binders yet for your family, now would be a great time to do so with 'Christmas right around the corner' (as my husband always says!). Add it to your shopping list along with some plastic sleeves and as you print things out or tear out of magazines, add them to your Christmas binder. You can decorate it too! I have one for each holiday and it's so easy. I keep all my recipes, craft ideas, planning ideas, etc. in mine and all I have to do for each holiday is take it off the shelf and use it.

Merry (early) Christmas everyone!!!! =)