#10  Plan Ahead.  Years ago we invested in new kitchen cabinets and appliances.  The cabinet installer was one of the slowest workers I’ve ever encountered.  He’d work until he needed a special part and then went to the hardware store.  An hour or so later, he’d return, and work some more until he needed the next part, leave, go to the hardware store, and return.  This cycle was repeated several times daily until the project took three times longer to complete than the original estimate!  It was clear, to put it kindly, that good planning was not one of his gifts! 

We can learn something from the cabinet installer when it comes to the holidays. I’m sure ours weren’t the first cabinets he ever installed, so he could have used past experience to put together a list of parts and materials he’d need, and in what order, to expedite the process.  We’ve been through the holidays before, so we can revisit Christmases past and determine a plan for this year.

One of the first rules of good planning is to start with the end in mind; that is, have a clear idea of your goal.  What does a Great Christmas look like to you?  Set aside a block of time and envision the Great Christmas you’ll have with those you love.  Now, pull out your calendar, a pen and a pad of paper and write down your description.  Talk with family members and get their input, too.

Next, draft a list of actions to achieve your Great Christmas.  Looking at your calendar, plan backward from Christmas Day, setting small deadlines for yourself for all the projects and activities you intend to do.  Schedule time for shopping, cooking, social activities, and for yourself.  Get detailed! Break it down to daily to-do lists if you can.  Remember, the more you separate the projects into small, manageable tasks, the less overwhelmed you’ll be.

Now, sit back and review your list.  You’ve worked hard to put it together, but now comes the tough part!  Prioritize the projects and activities.  Take a hard look at the ones that fall toward the bottom of your list.  Are they really essential to a Great Christmas this year?  Make sure you’re directing your energies toward and focusing on the priorities.  For the sake of reducing your stress level, give yourself permission to narrow your list to the most important items! 

Here’s a story to illustrate what I mean.  My birthday is in December, and my mother will tell you it was the best Christmas she can remember.  My siblings sigh when she says it, but her comments have nothing to do with favoritism and everything to do with practicality!  Her doctor suggested she get all her Christmas preparations done ahead of time; the baby would arrive during the holiday season.  Mom took his advice, and brought her new baby home to a decorated house, with closets that hid treasures ready for Christmas morning.  She knew her priorities, and everything fell into place behind them.

We’re preparing for a special baby’s birth, too.  Plan ahead!  Now is the time to collect your thoughts, make a list, check it twice, and start working your plan for a Great Christmas!

The Advent weeks of preparation for Christmas are hectic, and the hustle and bustle distracts us from the true spirit of the season.  The stress can transform us from “wise man” to “grinch” before we know it!

But in the midst of this activity, peace and calm are available.  In just minutes a day, you can calm your heart and fill it with the Christmas spirit. Prepare Your Heart for A Great Christmas celebrates our loving God who is with us in all we do.  Through scripture, stories, gratitude and intention, the daily reflections recall Jesus’ instruction to “accept the Kingdom of God like a little child,” (Mark 10:13-16).  With the trust of a child, we welcome God anew into the manger of our hearts at Christmastime.  Daily quiet time will enhance the Advent season, and help us deeply discover the holy possibilities of Christmas.

Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas and keep the Christmas spirit all through the holidays! The holidays come with romantic ideas of evenings by the fire, reading special Christmas books, baking cookies, singing carols, and exchanging gifts while snowflakes gently fall outside the window. These ideal Christmas scenes don’t often match the reality of what it takes to create them, and mom is usually the one responsible for getting it all done.

This book is for perfect for all women who want to prepare for December 25th in the true Christmas spirit, and not only survive the holidays but enjoy them-with her mind, heart and soul intact!

You will discover:

• Peace in your heart throughout your busy days;
• Gratitude for the simple blessings in your life;
• Joy in rediscovering the anticipation of Christmas;
• Love for yourself, your family and everyone you touch;
• Insights to carry the spirit of Christmas into the New Year.

During the holiday season, already busy lives are loaded with more tasks, parties, special services at church, gifts to buy, folks to remember, etc. Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas combines unique reflections with real life, using daily prayer and to-do lists to inspire your heart and ease your mind. Through daily prayer, gratitude and intention, these demands are met with greater peace and humor. When entrusted to God, the challenges of daily life come into proper perspective.

Advent (with a capital “A”) means the time in preparation for Christmas. In addition to this, advent means coming into vision, time or being. Our efforts will bring into being wonderful Christmas and holiday celebrations. By holding these efforts in the context of gratitude and prayer, we will experience greater peace throughout the season. Our joy and gratitude will spread to those around us. Thus, both Advent and advent preparations are essential for you and those you love.

Give yourself the gift of a great Christmas by taking quiet time every day. The spirit of Christmas is alive and ready to fill your life with joy and blessings. Follow this book’s simple formula and prepare your heart for a great Christmas.