Yes- it’s that time of year and Christmas will be here before we want it to be.

But there is no reason to fear! With a little planning and a few steps along the way (OK, 21. But I promise they will be easy…) you will have a saner and more sacred celebration this year.

All you have to do is sign up for the blog here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/kathilipp/KUHK and you will join all of us to get your Christmas under control, and be able to focus on Christ this season!

Wait for that first email to show up in your inbox on Monday to get started!

Project #1 – What Do You Want Your Christmas to Look Like

Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

I know, I know. You want to dive in and start checking things off your list since it’s going to be a busy few weeks.  I get it.

But, I want you to spend ten minutes determining how you are going to spend those next few weeks.

If we can go into the holidays being intentional about how we spend our time, physical and emotional energy, it truly will be the key to a more sane and sacred celebration.

Brainstorm about what is important to you. Some years, I’m looking for Joy.  I want to experience that deep, abiding Joy that only comes from God and being with His people.

This year, it’s a little bit different;  I’m all about the Peace. Between chaos in my ministry, chaos in our home lives, chaos in my husband’s job and a triple shot of chaos with my mom’s health, I need that peace that passes understanding. Here is what my mission statement looks like:

For Christmas 2011 I will share God’s peace with my family, my friends, and people I meet and I will to be done with my prep by December 20th so that I can experience peace during our celebration. I will read the Christmas story each morning of December.

And yes – I believe that God can deliver that – even during while at the mall. In December.

I’ve got a free resource to help you brainstorm and come up with a sentence (or two) about your intention this Christmas. Just go to my Facebook Author Page to download it (we’ll be putting all of our goodies up there!)

For a chance to win a copy of THE HUSBAND PROJECT sent to any address on your Christmas list (and it will be wrapped and a gift enclosure card will be added with your note!)  tell me on my FB author page or here at the blog write your one sentence mission statement in the comments by Friday, November 25th. I’ll announce the winner next Monday!

Hey girls – can you believe that you are ten days in? If no one else is saying it, I’m really, really proud of you. I love that so many of you are posting the benefits that you are already enjoying:

• Feeling ahead for this year
• Feeling ahead for next year
• Knowing what you are going to get each person on your list
• A feeling of accomplishment

Here are just a few of the comments that I’m hearing:

“Thanks for helping me keep it simple, Kathi. Doing photo Christmas cards for the first time ever and they are done and ready to go. I am smiling and ready to start sending…:)” Catha

“It’s so fun to get out of bed this week and see what I get to do today to get ready for Christmas!” Renee

Y’all have made my season – I love that you are encouraging me, as I try to encourage you. I am way ahead this year and a LOT of it is due to you.

OK – enough of the love in. Time to get to today’s project. Simple: Gather your stuff.

Originally this project was going to be “Buy your stuff”, but I know that all of us probably have enough gift wrap, tags and ribbon to supply Santa’s workshop. Problem is, most of us find it December 26th.

So dig through your basement, garage, spare closet or under the bed and gather together:

• wrapping paper
• ribbon
• tissue paper
• tags, etc.
• Scotch tape
• scissors

Get all this stuff in one place so that when you have to go into elf mode you’re not running all over the house.

This would be the time to also purchase anything that you are short on (I end up buying tape every single year.)

I would love to see what you do to make your wrapping special or how you save money on wrapping for Christmas. Send me a picture of your how you make your packages special, and if I feature your pic on the blog, I will send you one of my books as a thank you! Send the pics to info@kathilipp.com

You have a tab in your Holiday Binder for your family favorite recipes. Now is the time to fill up that tab with the tradtional recipes your family love.

Each of our kids has a favorite food that they confirm in advance will be prepared by me or my hubby. Here is just a partial list of what is on the must list:

• canberry no-bake ceesecake
• pumpkin no-bake ceesecake
• artichoke dip
• bruchetta
• broccoli casserole
• ratatouille
• drunken turkey (turkey brined in white wine and spices)

In year’s past I’ve spent a lot of time and ennergy going through various cookbooks, computer searches and junk drawer layers looking for all these recipes – but no more! This year they were all sitting in the Holiday binder just where they were supposed to be.

The other wonderful thing aobut having all your recieps together is that when your kids start to want to bring your family recipes to their future in-law’s homes, you can copy everything at once.

And so we can spread a little pre-holiday cheer, I’ve asked Roger to share his No-Bake Cheesecake recipes over at my Facebook Author Page.

OK -now it’s your turn. Tell me what is the one recipe your family would boycot Christmas without. (I love to hear other people’s favorite foods, especially if they’re weird.)

Today is the day to catch up! I know that I will be working hard on sending out Christmas cards. What will you be working on?

• Wrapping gifts
• Ordering gifts
• Pulling together your recipes
• Creating a shopping list

Let me know here on the blog or on my Facebook Author Page what you will be catching up on and I will enter you into the drawing to win THE “WHAT’S FOR DINNER?” SOLUTION for yourself or as a wrapped gift that I will send to someone on your list.