Two of my friends complete their Christmas shopping and wrapping by August every year. That’s four stinkin’ months early! Impressive. Not me.

But, I did purchase my first  gift the other day. I texted my sister to tell her and we were pretty proud of me.

We have two months People and I, for one, want to walk intentionally into the upcoming holiday season. I want to simplify yet again this year and my way of doing that is by beginning with a plan.

My initial step is to get my Christmas notebook down. I know, I’m a nerd. I put this together a few years ago and it’s where I house my lists, stamps, ideas, gift receipts, Christmas quotes, verses and past Christmas card letters that I have sent. Nerdy but incredibly helpful.

First, I’ll make my “giving” Christmas list- there are oodles of opportunities to give during the holidays. But I can’t give to every need that crops up can I? Can you? No. So, here I list the charities we usually give to. Then, I will talk with my family and see where they would like to give monetarily and physically this year.

Second, I’ll write the “buying” list- brainstorm ideas for my friends and family and budget amounts for each one. My boys don’t know what they want for Christmas yet, so I write stocking ideas and add those to my weekly shopping. Socks and underwear are always a staple as are fast food gift cards (how thrilled they’ll be to know I added the underwear thing).

Third, I make a preliminary budget. Then I scrap the preliminary budget because I can’t and shouldn’t spend that much and do it again.

Once this initial planning takes place, I can build on it. I can look at the upcoming holidays with a sense of peace and tackle a project every week or so, Lord willing.

Are you ready to think about Christmas? If not, I get it and that’s cool.  My nerdy notebook and I are going to move  ahead with intention and take Christmas by storm, we’d love to have you join us.

“We are ready for any unforeseen event which may or may not happen”  

~G.W. Bush