Organize Christmas Plans

It is so easy to get out of control with spending around the holidays. This year there are sales everywhere and it looks like we are getting a deal but think about need before you purchase.
Are we buying more because we think we are getting a deal?

Think about focusing on the birth of Christ over the gift giving.
Keep everything simple. Don't get stressed!

Definitely set a budget and stay very close to it.
As far as your children go, think about what grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc will give them. You can cut back from what you give if they are getting a good bit from others.

If you are craft oriented you can make gifts. You can always make cookies or treats and package them in an attractive way.
I often do that and put them on a festive holiday plate. This year I found some really cute and colorful plates at CVS for $2.99. They had a snowman and Santa style. I will put my special bar cookies on them and give as gifts to neighbors, aunts, etc.

Look for fun, free activities in your community where you can take your family. My area just had "Dicken's Downtown."
It is a small, quaint, old fashion downtown and about 10,000 - 15,000 people crowded in there for Christmas activities. It is
really a fun evening.

By all means find some way to get your children involved in doing something for someone less fortunate. Take a toy to Toys for Tots, choose a angel from the salvation army angel tree or just put $1.00 or so in the kettle. Teach your children that it is important to help others.

Make this a year to keep Christ the center of all your activities.

A 1st Corinthians 13 Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautiful adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug a child.

Love sets aside decoration to kiss the husband.

Love, is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas.

Author unknown

Years ago I bought a rectangular shaped basket to use for holiday table decorating.
Actually I got one for the kitchen table and one for the dining room table.
They have been used over and over because it is an inexpensive way to have a very
attractive table arrangement. Usually I use Nadina cuttings with some of their
red berries and just stick them in the basket. It is quick, easy and very attractive.
Be careful with berries if you have young children since some of the berries are
poisonous. Another idea is to use small pots of pansies and put them in the
basket or any other small potting plant that is in season and later you can put
them in your yard. Just a note - deer eat pansies so don't put them where deer
can get to them. I use these baskets all year for any holiday or special meal.
Hope you holiday plans are headed in a smooth direction.

Thanksgiving table favors

Let the kids help you make these cute turkey favors for the table. You can also put a name on each one as place cards.

You will need fall colored construction paper, large tongue depressors, 9 oz. paper cups, marker, scissors, ruler, glue

Cut cups to be about 2" tall. (I use a gold colored cup). Cut a tongue depressor in half making 2 heads. Cut 5 pieces of various colored construction paper that are 5 inches by 1 inch for feathers. Make one end rounded.

On half of a tongue depressor make eyes with a marker. Cut a yellow beak and glue it under eyes. Glue the tongue depressor to the cup.

Cut two wings that are 1 inch by 1 inch (make one end round) and glue them on each side of the tongue depressor (rounded end facing back)

Glue the feathers to the back making them fan out.

Fill cups with candy maybe candy corn.