Some years, I know exactly what we are doing for Christmas two months in advance, and some years, like this one, I wait until the last minute. Actually, this year I’m sort of in between. I picked out what I was making for gifts back in November; I just haven’t made them yet.  I made arrangements for my 9 year old’s gift back in November as well. But, I’m little off schedule for a gift for my nearly 5 year old, and my other two children.

Christmas is only two weeks away. In reality I have 13 days to get my act together. Food wise, I know what I”m doing. At Thanksgiving, I typed up a Holiday menu and grocery list, so that just gets re-used. But I’m feeling the stress today over the gifts for three of my four children.  Therefore, it’s time to sit down and write up a plan: Who, What or Budget, and Timing.

And it’s time to pull out the sewing machine and get busy!

This week over at Tip Junkie, the Talk to Me Tuesday theme is How to do you keep Christ in Christmas? A very good question.

Here at our house, we spend the season discussing what Christmas really is, and the most important gift that Christ has given us. We refer to Christmas as Jesus’ birthday, and when the kids were younger explained that Christ perfers that instead of giving gifts to him, the best gift we can give our love and gifts to others.

Each year we choose a ministry that helps distribute gifts to children who may not otherwise get them, and each child chooses the gifts to donate. This is an exercise in being able to think of others while in the toy department.

We emphasize thinking up and making gifts and cards for each other. If gifts are to be purchased, we go in secret to do the purchasing keeping the focus on the other person. On Christmas day, we do a birthday cake for Jesus and discuss the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and ministry on earth.

So, how do you keep Christ in Christmas?