Some of you may think I’m crazy but now is a good time to start preparing for the Christmas season.

Year after year I listen to myself complain about how the holidays are stressful and how I just can’t enjoy them.  I have visions of decorating the house with homemade decorations similar to the ones you see in Williamsburg.  I want to bake unique gifts for my list of friends.  I love caroling the neighborhood and  making gingerbread houses  and  Christmas cookies with the kids.  I dream of having wonderful and meaningful reflections of God’s generosity and love through the Advent season.

What happens?  My dreams are dashed.  I usually wait until after Thanksgiving to start getting ready for Christmas.  It is just too late!  If I look at the calendar there are only 3 weekends between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas day.  As of right now – the middle of October – my family has a Christmas dance, a drama performance, a drama party, a birthday celebration, a youth ministry event, a service project, a school Winter recital and a school Christmas program on the calendar.  I haven’t even added any Christmas parties or decorating the tree! 

If I wait until after Thanksgiving to start the planning, we will inevitably not be able to do some of the activities we want to do.  It is usually those activities that are spiritual or relational in nature that get dropped because they aren’t related to the gift giving. That’s when "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" goes out the door and the stressful season comes in!

Here is the plan:

Start by getting a 3 ring binder and divide it into the following sections:

1)  Planners.  I create a planning sheet for each activity and a list of tasks that need to be completed in order to make that activity happen.
2)  Master Gift List. 
3)  Menu Plans
4)  Budget

4 Steps that you can do NOW:

1 -  Brainstorm with the family about what activities they would like to do this Christmas season.  Ice skating? National Christmas Tree?  Caroling in the neighborhood or nursing home?  Service to the homeless?  Invite Guests?  Make Gingerbread house together?  Jesse Tree?

Create a planner page for each activity.  Set a date for each activity and put it on your calendar.  This is a sure fire way to make it happen.  Now that you have your activities planned on each planner page, write down all the things that need to be done in order to make that activity happen.  For example:  Go see the Nutcracker Ballet requires that you look up the dates of the performances and buy the tickets.  Do you need to buy anything to wear?  Do you need a babysitter?  Put those tasks on your ”To Do” list now.  Do you want to make a gingerbread house with the kids?  Put a date on the calendar and add the ingredients to you grocery list for the week prior.  Go through each activity this way and you will be miles ahead of last year.

2 – Determine your budget for gifts this year.  Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a lot of money for gifts this year.  There are some really amazing ideas for gifts that cost nothing or next to nothing.  I have some of these ideas on my website if you want to check them out.

3 – Create your gift list NOW.  No need to wait.  You know who you are buying for.  In one column list the names and in a second column list whether you are going to buy a gift or make a gift for them.  Does the person live out of town and you need to ship it?  If so, set a deadline date when you need to have it bought.  Additionally, have a third column listing your budget for each person.  Add it all up to make sure you haven’t gone over your total budget.  If you have, you may need to make some gifts or give some coupons for service.  I love babysitting coupons!  That is far more valuable to me than a candle.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love candles, but if my friend decided to give me a gift coupon for   babysitting or gardening, I would love such a gift.

4 – Evaluate your family’s wardrobe.  Check to see if anyone needs anything this year.  Do the girls have tights that aren’t ripped?  Do they need new shoes?  You can set a date to evaluate each child’s wardrobe and then set another date to go shopping.  Don’t get caught at the last minute without a dark suit coat for the school Christmas program!

Christmas is the most amazing time of year.  It is a time of great celebration.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16   About 2000 years ago God gave us a magnificent gift.  “...In the city of David there was born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. Luke 2:11  This gift was for US!  How immeasurable is God love for us that he would send his son to die for us so that we may know how to live! 

Consider including in your Christmas activities each evening of Advent, a time to read something to prepare our hearts for this magnificent gift.  Simple books can be found at your local Christian bookstore.

Sandra Forbes is a professional organizer and coach, speaker and writer on home management .  She is a mother of seven children ages ranging from 1 to 18.  She shares organizing tips and insights on her website Forbesorganizing.com

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