It’s getting down to the wire, just 14 more days until Christmas. Just 5 more days until my daughter’s birthday. Just 17 more days until my wedding anniversary. Just 19 more days until my daughter arrives here from Kansas. I’m just tired writing all that!

My Christmas wish is a vacation after Christmas. If I could wave a magic wand, I’d go for a trip to Branson. If I go then we can keep our promise (hopefully, if Mother Nature agrees) to show my youngest daughter snow. We’d have more of a chance of that happening if we chose to stay at the Cabins at Grand Mountain.

If my wishes were to keep on coming, I’d go with a package that includes our accommodations, some meals, show tickets and even a shopping spree. After all what’s a vacation without going to a mall? This is a family friendly area so the shows would be just perfect for us to take our daughter. I’d love to see the Amazing Pets show and the Acrobats of China. My husband would like the Dixie Stampede and the Happy Trails Museum. And I know our daughter would pick the Silver Dollar theme park. While my dd and I go shopping, my dear could play golf.

It sounds like I have all this planned in my head. Now to see if I can make my wishes come true. Anyone have a magic lamp I can borrow?

I’ve been working at keeping my stress levels low this Christmas season so that I don’t end up getting sick like I usually do around this time of year. I’ve devised a system that’s been working for me. I want to pass on a few pointers in the hopes that you will gain from my experiences.

1. Writing Lists for everything. I began to keep lists back in mid-November. It started with my Thanksgiving plans and continued from there. I have gift lists, budgets for gifts, food lists including what meals will be made and the ingredients needed, Christmas card lists, etc. If there’s something that I need to remember, I’m writing it down.
2. Staying Organized – All those lists go into a special file along with a calendar. I’ve transferred this info onto my online calendar too. Every piece of mail that comes into my house is opened by the trash can. If it doesn’t have sensitive information, in it goes. If it does, it’s shredded. My daughter can’t leave anything lying around any more. Everything is in its place.
3. Finances – We are spending less and doing more. Even though there seems to be less hours in a day now, volunteer time is our way of giving back. We are doing as much as possible as a family to keep it fun. We are sticking to our budget too on presents and food. Don’t forget the food, it adds up quickly!
4. My Outlook – I have a tendency to get down around the holidays due to family members’ losses.  To add to it, this year is the first year I will be without my daughter, who now lives in Kansas. I knew this would make it even more difficult for me.  I listen to  Christmas music, try to be around other people as much as I can, read books and watch shows that are cheerful, read other people’s blogs, look for the humorous side of things and try to keep a smile on my face.
5. Decorations – We have always decorated our home for Christmas. We go overboard.  This year we aren’t holding back at all. We are taking every decoration we have and using it. It’s been fun looking at some things we haven’t seen in years.

I’d love to hear what you are doing to relieve stress this season. Or is it difficult for you and you’re having problems getting through it all? I hope not, but we can “talk” about it here and share.