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Christmas Cards completed and ready to mail
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:2,6
About Us
We are an ever increasing group of wives and mothers in Murfreesboro, TN coming together to encourage one another in our pursuit of a stress free and worshipful Christmas season. We have set individual goals from "all shopping completed" to "house decorated top to bottom", but share the common goal of being done with them by December 1st (or soon after)! Then we go out to a yummy breakfast to celebrate! Wouldn't you like to join us? We would love to hear from you in any comment section, whether sharing a recipe, a tip, or a question. It is a blessing to learn from one another! Hope you find some helpful information and maybe a little inspiration, we are so glad you are here!
Calendar
- October 22 Starbucks 8:15Am kick off get together
- November 25 midnight Black Friday online sales begin
- December 1 - breakfast celebrationat Cracker Barrel on Old Fort Parkway 8:15AM
- December 11-20 Nutcracker, TPAC (our very own Abigail and Elizabeth Bobo will be dancing in some performances, we will post specifics as soon as Rebecca finds out which ones!)
- December 17 Andrew Peterson Behold the Lamb of God concert, Ryman
Examples of our Goals by December 1
- that is not to say we ALL do ALL of these things, rather we all do some of these things!
All gifts wrapped and under the tree
House Decorated inside and outside
Christmas dishes in cabinet
Packages mailed or ready to mail
Decoration boxes put away
Parties planned
Family Holiday Activities planned on calendar
Tickets purchased
Shopping for children completed
All gifts except Santa purchased
Travel plans finalized, packing lists made
Fun Christmas events planned, tickets purchased
Stocking stuffers ready to stuff
Meaningful activities to serve others planned
Outfits planned for myself and children for holiday occasions
Teacher gifts ready to deliver
Gifts for extended family purchased and wrapped
Santa done
Plans made for "homemade gifts", materials purchased
Baking days on the calendar, recipes planned, containers/wrapping ready
Menus for Christmas morning and Christmas dinner planned
Tree cut and soaking, ready to decorate
Great places to go online
- Cards and Gifts - Shutterfly (photo books, cards, posters, etc.)
- Cards and Gifts - Snapfish (photo books, photo gifts, etc.)
- Cards and Gifts - Tiny Prints (Christmas Cards, stationary, invites)
- Cards and gifts - Vistaprints
- Gift - Christmas PJ's at Pajamagram
- Gift Wrap - Sally Foster (wrapping paper, etc)
- Gifts - Garnet Hill - Pj's, Gifts, linens, clothes, shoes, darling rugs
- Gifts, Shoes - Zappos (shoes, best service EVER, other things)
- Outings - Andrew Peterson (his website so you can decide if you want to go to the concert)
- Outings - Ryman (tickets for Andrew Peterson Christmas Concert)
- Outings - TPAC tickets for the Nutcracker
- Planning/Tips - Fly Lady (Christmas control journal that can be downloaded)
- Planning/Tips - Organized Christmas
- Recipes - Fifty Plus Friends Crockery Pot recipes (so that you can have something yummy cooking for dinner when you walk in the door after a long shopping day!)
- Recipes - North Pole - Mrs. Santa's cookbook
- Services - US Post Office - order stamps
Thoughts
"It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces in her heart." ~Marjorie Holmes
The best of all gifts around any tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. Burton Hillis
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~ Charles Dickens
"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?" ~ Dr. Suess
"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~Andy Rooney
"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe." ~ The Polar Express
Words of Wisdom from our Group
- "When setting up your holiday planner/control journal, see the Flylady website or Organized Christmas for great tips. At least include a master gift list, envelope for receipts, pen/pencil, and recipes/grocery lists. Consider using a plain binder or notebook, nothing too cutsie or Christmasy less you spark the interest of little curious eyes! Also, you may want to leave the first few pages blank in case the wrong little (or big) person opens your planner, the first page will not have all of your Christmas secrets right up front!"
- " When tagging gifts wrapped for your children, give each child a secret name or number so that the card reads To: #3, or secret name From Mom and Dad or Santa, whoever! This adds to the fun of guessing whose gifts are whose and takes away any tendency to see who has the most gifts under the tree. The same code names or numbers can also be used on shopping lists in case the list gets into the wrong hands!!
- "If you have a desire to simplify decorating for the holidays, limit your decorating efforts to five areas only: Christmas tree, front door, one mantle, one banister, and EITHER your dining room table or your kitchen table. Your house will feel festive and uncluttered through out and you will not be WORN out! Of course, if decorating is your thing and brings you joy, not stress, then decorate away!!!"
- " Order Chrsitas PJ's for your family now, when selection is good!"
- "I print a copy of my Christmas Card list from my computer with addresses and keep in in my planner. I am always surprised how often I need to refer to it for an address to mail a package, when I have a few minutes sitting in a pick up line and I can address a few cards, or to mail an invitation. I now keep this list in my planner year round".
- "Instead of saving entire catalogs, I buzz thru them daily and only keep the page I like with the gift idea I like circled. I put the name of who it would be appropriate for on it and I check to make sure there is a phone # or website address at the bottom of the page. Then I store it in my Christmas notebook." Tracy
- "My extended family always struggles with what to get my boys for Christmas. They don't want to get something they already have and are often just not sure what to get. I have started making a short list for each of them and emailing it by the end of October. I keep a list of this on my computer so that nothing is duplicated." Angi
- "Last year I made notes about how I decorated my house (and took pictures) kept my favorite and/or easy Christmas recipes and my favorite Christmas card styles so that I would have them for a quick reference when I started this year. My notes were very helpful and reminded me of some things I forgot about last year." Jennifer
- "Put out a holiday puzzle...I bought one on sale for half price after Christmas last year and can't wait for our family to sit by the fire and the tree and work it together. Isn't that why we are doing all of this?" Tracy
- "Wrap one side of your extended family with one side of your christmas paper and the other side for the other when using a 2 sided paper like Sally Foster. You could also accomplish this by using two different papers or different color ribbon with the same paper. It really helps when packing up to visit one side of the family to make sure you have not forgotten anyone's gift!." Jennifer
- "Using cute ribbon, tie Christmas Cards on a Christmas tree each day they arrive. You can then pray for the families on the tree...and after taking them down...continue to pray for a few of them each day all year long by scrolling through them each morning during your quiet time. " Tracy
- "As a former teacher, I always loved getting ornaments from my students. Each year when I hang them, I always think of that child. Make sure to write your child's name in permanent ink somewhere on the ornament." Angi
- "Limiting number of gifts children receive is the most common bit of advice passed along. Saves money, space, and unfailingly encourages appreciation for fewer well selected items."
- "Best tip from last year: Letting each of my four kids pick just one thing that is Christmas to them and then I am focused on only four special things instead of running around all Christmas trying to do all things." Tracy
Christmas Music from all of us- A Work in Progress
- James Taylor "A Christmas Album" ~ Karen
- Casting Crowns "Peace on Earth" ~ Laurie
- Harry Connick Jr "When My Heart Finds Christmas" ~ Tracy
- Andrew Peterson "Behold the Lamb" ~Laurie
- Josh Groban "Noel" ~ Karen
- Selah "Rose of Bethlehem" ~Jeanine
Labels
- Almost here (1)
- books (2)
- family activities (6)
- gift ideas (7)
- Goals (2)
- music (3)
- questions from us (2)
- quotes (3)
- Recipes (2)
- shopping tips (12)
- true meaning to the season (8)
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