I tried something new this year. Several weeks before my friend Karen wrote this post about simplifying Christmas, she wrote about how she and several friends encouraged each other to finish their Christmas shopping, wrapping and cards by December 1. When I read that, I knew immediately that it would be a great idea for me. Since having kids (maybe before, but I can’t remember life before kids), I find myself stressed out every December. By Christmas day, I am exhausted and overwhelmed, I haven’t cracked a Bible open in weeks, and I know I’ve been too consumed by all the work to spend time talking to my children about Christ’s birth. Not exactly how I should be preparing my heart or my family to celebrate the birth of our Savior!
This December, I was going to visit my sister and newborn nephew for 5 days right before Christmas, so I had already gotten an early start. When I read Karen’s December 1 goal, I kicked it into high gear and got it done. Here’s my timeline:
- Early October: Asked for wish lists from family members
- Mid-October: Started shopping (was almost entirely done by mid-November), using Amazon.com and other sites with free shipping to save time
- Late October: Bought outfits for kids’ Christmas picture
- Early November: Took Christmas card picture, updated Christmas card address list
- Mid-November: Started wrapping gifts; wrote Christmas letter, got cards printed, got return address labels, stamps, etc.
- Thanksgiving week: Addressed Christmas cards, finished wrapping gifts
- Weekend after Thanksgiving: Decorated house, cards were ready to mail
- December: Talked about Advent with the kids, Christmas crafts with kids, baking, holiday gatherings, school parties, cleaning, travelled to Utah
As you can see, December was still pretty full. It was a little more chaotic than I thought it would be, due in part to my pre-Christmas travels. But I knew it would have been so much worse if my shopping, wrapping and cards hadn’t been done!
Next year, I’d like to do some baking in October and put things in the freezer. This year, I found myself constantly running to the store because I had to bake something for one of several holiday gatherings. My friend Lynette made multiple batches of cinnamon rolls, froze them, and pulled a pan out for each gathering. Genius! I’m not a good freezer girl, so I’m going to experiment between now and October and find some things that freeze well and can serve as my signature item next December.
If you found yourself overwhelmed and exhausted this Christmas, consider joining me for the December 1 Challenge 2010! Make a timeline now so you are ready in October or September or whenever you need to start to give yourself time to enjoy Advent and prepare your heart to celebrate Christ’s birth. I want that to be my purpose: not to impress others with my organizational skills or be the first Christmas card you receive, but to make time for me and my family to mediate on the incarnation, the Word made flesh, God coming to earth to save His people from their sins.
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what great ideas! I love it. I will take up that challenge next year!
That’s a great idea! I find, though, that some of the tasks actually help me focus on Advent, even if they are more Santa-centered. Of course, my life this Christmas was a bit different from yours – fewer children, very few holiday gatherings (due in part to the fewer children and the germ lock-down we’re on this winter), no church attendance (germs again) etc., so maybe I needed the gift-buying to focus on Christmas at all…if it weren’t for the music, I could have totally forgotten Christmas, which is horrible! Next year, though, my chaos will likely resemble yours more (hopefully!), so I’m taking notes on this post! Thanks for the suggestions!
Thank you for sharing. I did better this Christmas that usual, but this is encouraging. I’m putting a note in my calendar and a set of To-Dos on my list to start Christmas prep this October. I’m joining the challenge for 2010. 🙂
Brilliant, I too was saddened that the fatigue of the world was a stumbling block for this amazing celebration.
Thanks for sharing! Did you find that people complied with your requests for lists in October, or did you have to ask multiple times? Also, did planning earlier interfere with enjoying Thanksgiving for you and your family, or were your kids oblivious to the fact that you were starting Christmas stuff so early? I am inspired! Thanks again.
What a great idea! I will take up the challenge next year too. I’ve actually already gotten started… after Christmas sales are great! 🙂