Well, here we go again. The holidays are coming!
I know it’s only November 11th, but Christmas has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re putting away the Halloween decorations, and the next we’re wondering how on earth it’s December 23rd!
Not this year. At least, that’s the plan. 😂
This year, I’m determined to get a head start on things. Not because I’m trying to create some picture-perfect Christmas, but because I’d really like to enjoy the season instead of spending half of it rushing around.
And believe it or not, I’m actually making progress!
A Little at a Time
My plan this year is simple. Do a little bit every day.
The Christmas tree is up, the Christmas cards are ordered, and I’ve already tackled some of the cleaning. Even the oven got its first self-cleaning cycle, which involved five hours of questionable smells and wondering whether I should open every window in the house.
Nothing says holiday spirit quite like a house that smells like a science experiment! 😂
We usually send photo Christmas cards, sometimes featuring Lou and me, other years our dog Moose. Frankly, Moose is pretty photogenic, so the competition is tough! When the kids were young, they were always on the Christmas cards! We would dress them up in fancy clothes and drove to the Mall for those annual photo sessions. Always fun to get them all smiling over at Mama!
Great memories. And you will have to wait to see what this year’s cards look like!
I’d much rather get things done now so I can relax and enjoy the season when we return.
Christmas Isn’t a Competition
It’s so easy to get caught up in everything we think we’re supposed to do during the holidays. The decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping, and planning.
And then there’s social media, where everyone seems to have perfectly decorated homes, beautifully wrapped gifts, and cookies that look like they belong in a bakery window.
Meanwhile, I’m just happy my oven is clean.
Well, cleaner. Let’s not get carried away.
But here’s the thing. Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
I’d rather have a comfortable home, good food, and people I love around the table than spend the entire season worrying about whether everything looks just right.
Looking Forward to Our Traditions
Of course, I’m already thinking about Christmas Eve!
We have so many wonderful memories of celebrating with Lou’s family over the years, especially those big gatherings at my in-laws’ house.
We still carry on some of those traditions, particularly when it comes to the food. And hopefully, we’ll have all three of our kids home this Christmas.
I’ll be sharing more about our Christmas Eve traditions and menu planning soon. You know I can’t talk about Christmas without talking about food!
Enjoying the Season
I’m sure there will still be some last-minute scrambling. There always is. And I’ll probably decide at the last minute that I absolutely need to bake one more batch of cookies.
But this year, I’m hoping that doing a little more now will allow me to slow down later.
I want to enjoy the decorations, the traditions, the family time, and those quiet moments with my coffee and the Christmas tree lights glowing.
And, of course, make room for the peace and meaning of Advent along the way.
Because when Christmas finally arrives, I don’t want to be exhausted from preparing for it.
I want to be ready to enjoy it.
Now I’m curious. Are you an early decorator and planner, or do you wait until after Thanksgiving? And what’s one thing you do to keep the holidays from becoming overwhelming?
I’d love to hear! ❤️
