Six days to go

A week before Thanksgiving I felt like I had the holiday season well in hand. I had two weeks’ worth of menus written, the groceries purchased for the Thanksgiving dinner and the aforementioned menus, had ordered a few Christmas presents, and was confident I would not, the week before Christmas, be thinking, “Holy cow, where did December go?!”

I was wrong.

Holy cow, where did December go?

Even Rebecca, my 11 year old, said yesterday, “Usually it takes forever for Christmas to get here but this year Christmas came really fast!” Out of the mouths of babes.

You may remember I wrote about my intent to be calm and focused this holiday season. I said,

This December I am actually going to make to-do lists (I’m sure my husband is thrilled and amazed and skeptical). And to avoid letting Madison Avenue steal the joy of the birthday celebration from me, I’m going to read a bit of Luke every day this December. The story of the baby born in a manger, who grows up to lay down his life – pretty sure focusing on that will keep the reason for the season front and center.

I’m happy to say I have been reading Luke every day, but those to-do lists… Let’s just say Sean was correct to be skeptical. I really did make a few but I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I have any idea where they are.

So today, I intend to make a list of things I have to do this week before my sister’s family and our parents fly up to spend the weekend with us. I may have to pin it on my coat like a kindergartener so I can keep up with it.