What's Happening Wednesday

Today is December 23rd. It's the day before Christmas Eve. I'm sure that's what we all have on our minds this Wednesday.

Presents to buy. Presents to wrap. Decorations to put up. Food to make. Kids are out of school. Gotta entertain the kids. Gotta go see Santa. Gotta make cookies. Gotta decorate the cookies. Gotta go, gotta do, gotta be. A zillion things to do and a zillion places to go.

In this Christmas season parents have to make decisions about what is important all the time. We have to remember what the season is about and we have to remember the meaning of the season of Christmas . I'm a Mom too and I know that it's easy to get wrapped up in trees, presents, and parties. Sometimes Christmas becomes a burden rather then a blessing.

I've thought about this a bit and offer these tips to everyone out there.

1. Keep it simple -- Keep everything simple, including gift giving. Make home made gifts, especially ones that your children can help to make. Limit gift giving. Your second cousin twice removed that moved to Italy six years ago does not need to receive a gift from you. Don't stress about it, just focus on staying within your means and on giving gifts to those are really close to your heart.

2. Do things together -- Activities are more fun if everyone is involved. Bake those cookies together and have the kids decorate them. Put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house together. Volunteer for a local charity together. Wrap presents together. Visit elderly relatives together. Teach your children that Christmas is about more then gifts and Santa Claus.

3. Relax -- Take time out together as a family. Pick one day and do nothing but eat snacks and watch movies. Take an afternoon to go for a walk in the park. Attend any caroling or singing events at church. Laugh. have fun. Smile. Enjoy your time together. You'll find that if you take time out of the busy season to do relaxing activities that they will become traditions that your children will ask about in the coming years.

4. Say No -- That's right. Learn to say no. Realize that you and your family don't need to attend every Christmas party or every activity. The Scouts party, school party, work party, dance class party, Book Club party--somethings gotta give. Do you and your kids really want to go to their old babysitters Christmas Open House? Ask them and ask yourself. You just might want to...but you also might not want to. Prioritize what you do this Season and the Seasons after.

5. After December 25th -- Remember that the Christmas season only starts on December 25. It does not end then. Spread out what you do and when you do it. Not everything has to be finished by Christmas Day.

6. Pray & Celebrate -- Read the birth story in the Bible. Take time out and attend church service on Christmas morning. Read picture books about the Holy Birth. Pray. Sing Happy Birthday Jesus with your kids. Have a touchable nativity that your children can touch so can see the Gospel in action. Talk about all the characters. Answer questions and ask your children questions about the Holy Family and Birth. Continue with remembering Jesus, God, and the Bible after the Christmas Season has ended and decorations put away.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas Season.