The Christmas Club

Speaking of Christmas (yep, I was...a few blogs back) my garage sale loot from last week included some free little Christmas trees and a 25 cent basket.  What riches!

A week or so ago I blogged about starting NOW to prepare for Christmas.  The reason that I am thinking about Christmas when it is 90 degrees outside is that I want to enjoy the time with friends and family without being frazzled to the point of a meltdown...and I want the Christmas season to be a spiritually rich time where God is my focus, and not my 'to do' list. 

My sister and I were drinking coffee and discussing this over the phone last week, and we decided to start a Christmas Club.  Knowing that we both have good intentions but tend to get a little sidetracked, we decided that we would each make weekly goals on Christmas preparations, and tell each other what those goals are.  Then we would call each other the following Monday to make sure that we followed through.  In other words, we are making each other accountable!

We both went out and got a special little notebook, and made the following headings:  Christmas and Thanksgiving Menu, Christmas and Thanksgiving Grocery List, Christmas Gift List, Christmas Card List and a To Do list. 

Each week we make goals.  Last week my goal was to buy one  present, scout out another present, and make a tentative menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  This week I am going to make a Christmas grocery list, get a laundry basket and put it in my pantry.  As I do my weekly grocery shopping, I can start getting that can of pumpkin for pumpkin pie, or the pudding for my husband's favorite coconut creme pie, and throw it in the basket.  Hopefully this will prevent those last minute trips to Walmart looking for things like poultry seasoning!  Another goal for this week was to set up a wrapping center...making sure I have enough Christmas wrapping paper, tape, tags, etc. I also want to check out the Susan Branch books from the library for any new holiday recipes I might want to try. 

Our goal (hope) is to be done with Christmas preparations by Veteran's Day.  Time will tell if we do this, but being accountable to someone does help keep me on track.  I am going to do the shopping and wrapping anyway, so I may as well do it a little at a time...while I have the time.  This way I will actually be able to focus on Jesus at the Christmas Eve service, instead of praying that Walmart will be open when the service is over...because I forgot to buy batteries for the camera!

Would a Christmas Club work for you?  Grab a friend and start planning...the only thing you have to lose is that panicky feeling come December when your pantry is bare, you missed the Post Office deadline for mailing packages out of state...and you know you have got to go out in the cold and ice to brave the crowds of cranky people at Walmart!  DLB