How I Planned My Ideal Christmas Season

I have always loved Christmas. Unlike many people, I’ve ALWAYS looked forward to it. The lights, the decorations, the music, the movies, the family time, the traditions, the spirit of giving—it all warms my heart. (Notice that I did not list snow as something I love. I’m not someone who needs a white Christmas. Snow=COLD! 😂)

Even though I love Christmas, I’m just as guilty as the next person of getting sucked into the hustle, bustle, and expectations of the season and getting overwhelmed. I love having my house decorated for Christmas, but I don’t enjoy the in-depth cleaning I feel like I need to do beforehand. I love buying gifts for people, but my procrastination often leaves me shopping and wrapping right up until the very last minute, making me stressed and unable to fully soak in the season. I love having get-togethers with friends and family, but I can get frustrated with December’s tightly-packed schedule. Does this sound familiar to anyone? (I hope there aren’t crickets…)

Years ago I purchased the book The Christmas Experiment: 6 Ways to Include Christ in Your Family Christmas by Denise Wamsley. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it in an attempt to simplify Christmas and focus on what really matters. It seems like I’m always in need of a refresher and ideas for how I can make my family’s Christmas season what I truly want it to be.

Early this October I started looking ahead to Christmas, eager to plan out what I wanted this year to look like. I knew one thing: I wanted this year’s Christmas to be simple and peaceful. I didn’t want to put things off and then feel rushed and overwhelmed. I also didn’t want to bring a truckload of new gifts into our home.

I already feel like we’re drowning in our boys’ toys. I’ve been trying to declutter and organize our home all year, and I still have a LONG way to go! Plus I want to teach our kids the importance of giving and serving over getting. I knew that we’d be freshly home from Lincoln’s Make-a-Wish trip to Florida, where I knew we’d all get gifts and souvenirs.

I knew all of these things, but I still didn’t know how I wanted to reach my Christmas goals. As part of my morning routine, I always try to read something uplifting before or after I say my prayer. I’d been reading, praying, and pondering how we could make Christmas this year as close to my version of “perfect” as possible, but I was still turning things over in my head.

Near the beginning of November, I went to an incredible retreat for Utah moms with kids who have/have had cancer. During my morning prayer the day I left for the retreat, I asked for my Heavenly Father’s help to know what my family should do for Christmas this year. I felt like the cancer moms retreat was the perfect time for me to have some peace and quiet and to be led to divinely-inspired ideas. The Spirit whispered to me to pack my copy of The Christmas Experiment and a notebook and reassured me that answers would come.

My weekend up at Bear Lake with about 40 other cancer moms was incredible. It deserves a post of its own, but I haven’t had time to write one yet. I’ll share a piece of it that’s close to my heart here, though. The first night I was at the retreat I found some free time along with a quiet space (well, quiet-er—there were 40 women in the same house, after all😉). I pulled out my book and notebook and started reading and taking notes. I jotted down ideas for what we could do to not only make Christmas magical for us but also how we could serve others. The ideas flowed, and I was filled with peace and the Spirit. My beautiful weekend was just beginning, though.

The following morning I was able to read and write down ideas again. Then we were all invited to participate in a group yoga session. Before we started, we all sat on the floor as our instructor introduced herself. Her name is Jackie Culley, and very soon after she started speaking, I felt like I had been led to being there in that moment.

Jackie is a fellow cancer mom. Her angel, Riley, gained his wings in January 2020. Like so many other mothers in the cancer world, Jackie—along with her family—chose to use her knowledge and experience to help others. They founded Christmas for Cancer Families. This amazing non-profit brings light to families in the dark cancer trenches every Christmas season. You can read more about Jackie’s non-profit as well as how you can help here:

https://christmasforcancerfamilies.org/

While Jackie talked about her experiences and shared what her organization has already done and hopes to do in the future, I silently praised my Heavenly Father and thanked Him for answering my prayers. I knew I was supposed to meet Jackie. I knew my family was supposed to contribute to Christmas for Cancer Families this year—and perhaps every year from now on! Jackie said that she doesn’t believe in coincidences anymore. Neither do I. I met Jackie the very weekend I was seeking ideas for how my family could make this Christmas more meaningful.

I talked to Jackie after our INCREDIBLE yoga session and volunteered to put together the stockings for a family this year. I can’t even begin to describe everything this mother and her two daughters have already gone through. Now the mom is fighting aggressive cervical cancer. I wish it were possible for me to take their pain and suffering away, but at least I can try to put some smiles on their faces. I had so much fun buying cute stockings and filling them with things I thought the family would enjoy. Yesterday Josh delivered the stockings and a few extra things to the person who’s coordinating Christmas for this family. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

I am also happy to report that my goal to procrastinate less this year has been going well! As I finish writing this post on December 16th, I am proud to say that I am 100% done with my Christmas shopping! I really don’t think that’s ever happened before. I know plenty of people get done with their shopping and wrapping well in advance, but that has never been me before. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this will make the last week before Christmas less chaotic and more serene. I can already tell a difference!

Do you have a desire in your heart to simplify Christmas? To focus more on the Savior’s miraculous birth? To change something about your December traditions and routines, but you don’t know what to change or how to go about it? I promise you that if you turn to God for guidance, He will help you know what to do. I wish you the very happiest of holidays, everyone!!!