Planning for Peace in December

I wrote a post once about leaving November alone.  Like it was the only month that got the short shift, because everyone was all "Go away November, I want it to be Christmas!!"  But what about that month of December?  What about those 23 days before its officially Holiday time?

Don't those days deserve some love too?

I vote yes.  

I read recently about a family who did their darndest to get all of their Christmas shopping and making done by Dec. 1 so that they could rest and enjoy the holiday month.  They even went so far as to tell their kids that Santa stops taking orders on Thanksgiving.  While I know that I'm definitely not on target for that deadline, it is giving me something to shoot for.  I'm trying to get as much of the bustle part of the holidays out of the way early so that I can live slow and intentionally in December.

Now, of course, you may think that I'm just transferring all of the stressful things to November.  And yes, this does load November with some extra concerns.  But since the actual deadline is so far off, its not nearly as pressing to complete something  by November 21, as it is to complete it by December 21.  Plus, there's less parties, less events, less of everything happening in November, so I don't think its a trivial move.

Available here

In order to get more out of the days leading up to Christmas, I've also decided to snag an Advent devotional.  I've "missed" Christmas before, and I don't want to do it again.  You know that I hate being told when to feel moved, I do recognize that Christmas is a celebration, a set-aside season for remembering all that is Holy about my faith.  Yes, it can all be remembered on other days too, but it really should be contemplated during this time.  (Since this post is up after the deadline for getting the hard copy by Dec. 1, a printable copy is available! Details here..)  If you want to join in with me, I'd love to know!  Want to take a moment or two each day to get super excited about Jesus and the miracle of God with us?  Let's do it to it!

<3 M.