5 Ways to make it through the Holiday Season

Christmas time is my favorite time of year even though I don’t bake all that well, I’m not an awesome cook, my decorating skills are limited… 

I grew up in a family, that celebrated Christmas with the decorations & food galore. Holiday parties around the clock, even my Uncle came dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve to let us open one present early. My mother always hid all the presents in a box by the door ( as if she were mailing it to a friend) and I had no idea until I was a teenager! Ha, she was good. 

We always had a manger that was quite big and we covered the baby with a blanket until Christmas morning. Every year we had a different advent calendar with a small scripture, gift or surprise.  

My favorite part of Christmas, when I lived up North was the snow.  My goodness, do I love snow. Now living in the South, it's quite different without it.  No mittens with dried ice on them and having to hang them by the fireplace to drip dry. No hot chocolate after hours of sledding and making igloo's.

However, what I have for Christmas is family & friends! Time with those I love is the most important thing to me about Christmas.  If it wasn't for my family, children and grandchildren, I don't know what I would do!!!

Taking on too much, expecting too much, or putting pressure on yourself will make for a very stressed holiday.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Let's not lose sight of that!

Here are 5 simple ways to make it through the holiday season.

1. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare ahead of time. Don't wait until the last minute to do your shopping. I like to start early, so I don't I find myself in a tizzy!  I even wrap the presents and put under the tree. First of all it makes my heart happy that I have something to give and Secondly, it's done early!

2. Enlist Help. I am horrible at putting the tree up and especially those lights, oh dear those lights...  I always ask someone to help me with the Tree! If you need someone to help you shop, ask! Someone likes shopping, even if you don't.

3. Pray. Find what works for you, an advent calendar, a prayer book or just put some instrumental music on and start with thanking the Lord for all He has done in your life. Prayer will get you through any situation with Grace abounding.

4. Relax. Take some time just for you. After all the decorations are up, I love to turn off all the lights except the tree lights and sit and just breathe. Maybe meditate on some words of encouragement, maybe listen to music. But just relax my body. What a better time then at Christmas time.

5. Enjoy. Enjoy your family & friends, if you can. If you have loved ones that live far away, use Facetime or Marco Polo. The technology today can help you stay in touch! 
  
  If you can, make extra time to spend together going to the movies, baking cookies. 

Now that you have all your busy work done, you can enjoy time with friends and loved ones!