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Subject: Taming The Busyness: Uncluttering Christmas
Date: December 7, 2000
Taming The Busyness : Uncluttering Christmas
During the Christmas season, it seems we often need to stop amidst the flurry of activity and remind ourselves of the true purpose of Christmas. As women it is easy to feel overwhelmed with guilt for the frenzy we find ourselves in. Please join us as we share ideas as to how we can tame the busyness of this season.
1. How do we keep Christ central in Christmas during the busyness?
2. What are some practical tips to stay organized?
3. How can we reduce the shopping times during the season?
4. Share some easy tips for preparing food for friends over the holiday season.
5. How do we include our family in this whole process of uncluttering?
6. How do we maintain a joyful attitude at all times
welcome to tonights session on Taming The Busyness: Uncluttering Christmas
cwt
let's begin with prayer
cwt
Lord we thank for this time tonight and we ask that you would be honored in all that is said tonight. May your Holy Spirit direct us and teach us, amen
cwt
well here we go, it is already becoming busy with the Christmas season
cwt
so our first question for discussion is how do we keep Christ central in the Christmas busyness?
cwt
do you find this a problem?
cwt
or have you all your gifts purchased, meals planned, and cards written?
Shey
by being involved in thing that Christ as the center
Shey
but that is easier said than done
............................ Teddybear joined.............
cwt
yes, that is the key, but I certainly find it easy to get sidetracked
cwt
welcome teddybeat
cwt
we are discussing how to keep Christ central in Christmas
Shey
all the lights and decoration can be very distracting
cwt
yes, and buying of things seem to distract from the true meaning of the season
Teddybear
hello there
cwt
so what kinds of things could be become involved in to help keep us on track?
Teddybear
hello Is54
Shey
church christmas banquets
cwt
welcome Karing
cwt
we are discussing keeping Christ central during the busy season of Christmas
cwt
simply saying that Christ is central wont make it happen
Shey
I think things like church Christmas banquets or ladies craft nights are good ways to do this
cwt
yes, that is a good idea, to keep involved with the church
IS54
Off the subject, CWT, but the email says the list of scheduled discussions like this & times are on the website. I tried to find it but couldn't. Can you tell
me how?
IS54
cwt
the schedule is right below us
karing
You know the focus of Christmas can go become distorted.
cwt
great, now lets move on with our discussion
so some tips about staying focused...
karing
IS54 ... what are some of your secrets to staying focused at Christmas?
cwt
when my kids were younger we used to have a birthday party for Jesus
karing
Kids sure love that cwt.
cwt
have any of you ever done this?
karing
We have ...
karing
The birthday cake is a real hit.
cwt
yes, and then you have a reason to share the true meaning of Christmas
Shey
I've heard of it but never did t
karing
I know I always like to make the nativity scene a part of my decorating .... and that helps with some of the focus as well.
cwt
it is a great time, we always did a craft of some sort as well
cwt
what are some practical tips to stay organized at Christmas?
karing
Planning ahead and scheduling.
cwt
yes, using the daytimer for sure
cwt
keeping updated lists as well
karing
Yet .... that said, it still seems I don't ever really have enough time to get everything done.
Shey
only getting involved in as many things as makes you comfortable
karing
That is good too.
cwt
yes, that is a good idea, Shey, to set those boundaries and keep them
karing
Somehow the calendar looks so bare when I plan into the future.
cwt
but it fills up so fast during Christmas
cwt
I have to guard our family times carefully during this time
cwt
they have to remain a priority
karing
I find for some of the gifts I get - you can do really well in early January ... and then pack them away with the decorating items.
cwt
yes, that is a great shopping tip..
karing
In fact I would love to make better use of doing that.
karing
It's always so hard to think of buying gifts in January.
cwt
I shop all year round, and it makes the gift buying so much less stressful
Teddybear
now that' good
karing
Teddybear - do you have children at home?
Teddybear
i have to remember that one
cwt
you can get good busy too
............................ IS54 left.............
cwt
I meant buys too
cwt
often I keep an going list of what people can use for gifts
Teddybear
no all grown but have 2 grands and a godbaby
cwt
I keep my ears open for hints too and write them down
cwt
do any of you do this?
karing
That is a great point ... I think I should start doing that.
karing
I have a sister-in-law who memorizes those things.
karing
She knows what everybody needs all the time!
cwt
good for her!
karing
I know!
............................ Spud joined.............
cwt
sometimes you just have to ask what they would like
karing
Hi Spud
cwt
welcome spud
Spud
Hi!
cwt
we are talking about saving time with shopping tips
Teddybear
hell0
Shey
hi spud
karing
I think we need to lessen the pressure of all the gifts we think we need to buy.
cwt
it is less stressful to do the shopping before the busy season
karing
Sometimes we get carried away with that whole area.
cwt
also things like gift certificates can be bought at any time of year, and certainly we do it can consuem us!!
Teddybear
yes but it not Christmas if i'm not i'm not in the rush
karing
You like that busyness?
Teddybear
yes
karing
I think I do ... but not when it feels frenzied and out of hand.
cwt
lets share some tips on easy meal ideas or food preparation during the Christmas season
karing
I know my mom likes it too when everyone comes home
Teddybear
when my children were younger i would shop in aug and sept
karing
Oh I love planning menus for a great dinner and even dessert times.
karing
Christmas is such a fun time to make food and to entertain.
cwt
great, some ideas?
cwt
I like make ahead thnbgs
karing
My mom always makes great hor dearves on Christmas Eve .... it is such a beautiful "feast"
Teddybear
well can't help much with that because i don't cook any more
karing
What did you used to do?
cwt
what were some of your family favorites?
Teddybear
oh i have never cooked on
karing
I sometimes wish I could get ideas from my Grandma .... she did amazing things when the family all came.
Spud
My moms stuffed potatoes
Teddybear
Christmas
karing
Who did?
Teddybear
that a day i did one thing that was spent the day with my kids
karing
That sounds like fun.
Teddybear
and cooking was the last thing they wanted to do
cwt
what makes the stuffed potatoes so different spud?
Spud
She would only make once a year because of the time it takes for her to make them
Teddybear
well i guess leave you lady . good night may
Teddybear
God bless all of u bye
karing
bye
cwt
dwe are sorry to see you go, please join us in the future
Teddybear
oh i will
cwt
How do we include our family in this whole process of uncluttering Christmas?
cwt
I find that the big jobs my kids can help. like decorating the tree or the house
Shey
by helping them to remember the true meaning of Christmas
cwt
or making a gingerbread house
karing
Last night I was at an event where I was reminded about the heritage of Christmas.
cwt
even with cards, they could address or stamp the envelopes
karing
I realized that things that really last are the memories of the fun and meaningful things.
karing
It is good to get the kids involved in those things and make them meaningful.
cwt
so true, it is important to build those memories, and one can begin them at any time
Spud
Having some traditions like go look at Christmas light displays
cwt
yes, we actually began that last year
cwt
we had fun!
karing
Today my 2 year old tried to help decorate my tree ....and I let her have a special time ... then fixed it later.
karing
She really enjoyed it.
cwt
yes, when they cant see you!
cwt
also kids can help with baking. they love to do that
karing
I find though it is better to get one kid at a time.
karing
It can make the time a little more meaningful and less chaotic.
cwt
yes, could be more stressful having your kitchen full of kids!
karing
Then it becomes a situation where you say "hey kids ... this is supposed to be fun" and that is not the best
cwt
we like to make popcorn balls at Christmas , its messy and everyone is involved but it is fun!
karing
Last year I had everyone join me for cookie making and decorating - wow! That got pretty wild.
karing
That would be fun .... my kids like helping with caramel popcorn too.
cwt
another thing we like to do as a family is the secret santa idea, does anyone know what this is?
karing
Then I put it into gift bags (plastic) and we bring it out to the neighbors in our cul de sac.
Shey
no
karing
This year I want to include the Christmas Digest - a great "mini-mag" from Campus Crusade.
karing
The kids love doing the delivery with me.
cwt
we ask a pastor at our church to give us the name of a needy family, then as a group we put together a hamper for them and give it to them anonymously
karing
I like that ....
cwt
this really teaches kids about the giving aspect of Christmas
cwt
in fact this year on one side of the family instead of giving gifts we are doing this as an extended family
Shey
that's a neat idea. I was involved in something like that one year. It was alot of fun
karing
If you haven't heard of these Christmas Digests, they really are great to give to unchurched people .
Spud
Another idea is to do the samaritan Christamas shoe box
cwt
yes, the shoeboxes are fantastic!
karing
That is such a successful program.
karing
Our kids love doing that.
cwt
I have seen schools get involved doing that as a large group
Shey
my six year old class at school did that this year
karing
I think even Santa Anonymous is helping our society focus on others.
karing
The question then is - how do we take these kind and good deeds like Food Bank .... and help people see Christ?
cwt
these are great ideas! To try to keep the focus off ourselves and on giving. We also try to find a unique way to share the Christmas story each year
karing
There are a lot of great outreaches at Christmas.
cwt
yes, churches do a good job at making these very evangelical and easy to invite non believers
karing
Last night I was at a church outreach where over 50% of those attending were unchurched.
cwt
it is such a good time to give out Christian magazines, or books
Shey
our church has a singing Christmas tree every year. lots of unchurched people come
cwt
they go well in gift baskets for friends and neighbours
Spud
It's hard sometime when it comes to nonchristian family!
cwt
this particular website actually has a great women's magazine that is easy to share with other women
Shey
that seems to be the hardest spud
cwt
what do you mean spud?
karing
What do you think about the idea that SOMETIMES Christmas is the time to not push religion onto our unchurched relatives?
karing
Christmas can be a painful time for people.
cwt
Christmas can sometimes be a very difficult time for many people
cwt
we have to be sensitive about this
Spud
I've each of them a Jesus film
cwt
if people had a difficult upbringing then their Christmas traditions and memories may not be happy ones
cwt
great idea spud! I have done that myself, giving out the Jesus film at Christ,as
karing
It is always important to be sensitive.
Spud
This is true
cwt
well this has been a good time of swapping ideas, lets pray and ask the Lord to keep us Christ centered at Christmas time this year
karing
great idea
cwt
Lord we thank you for this time to chat, and we ask that you would help us through your Holy spirit to keep Christ as center of our lives
karing
"Lord I thank you so much for your direction. We praise you for this Christmas season and ask that our homes honor and glorify you and that we
remain joyful throughout the season."
cwt
we ask that you would help us to reach out to others and to help those in need over this season of celebrating your birth. Amen
Spud
father may we not be so caught up with all the tinsel but may we be focused on your Son
cwt
amen to that!
karing
amen
cwt
thanks to all of you for joining us, we are on again Monday with a single parenting series and then again on Thursday with another topic related to
Christmas, see you all then!
cwt
God bless you all!
karing
Thanks so much
