It’s no secret how much our family enjoys the holiday season starting as soon as the weather turns cooler in September or October.  By Novemeber, we are in full Thanksgiving mode and thinking ahead to Christmas.

Every year we strive for one thing – a slow-paced season focused on Christ.

We want to be grateful and generous.  We want to recognize our blessings and focus our hearts on what truly matters.

It grieves my heart to hear others lament the pace of the season and how they either wish it would slow down or just be over with.

Slowing down during the holidays takes conscious effort, but it can be done.  Here are a few of the things our family has done to create a slow-paced holiday season:

-Avoid a lot of “have to” events.  This may mean not joining a Christmas choir or saying no to a party or simply learning to weigh everything according to the stress level it causes in your household.

-Focus on family togetherness.  Our family already has a family-first policy, but this becomes even more important during the holidays.  Try to choose your activities based on how many of the family members can participate.  Try not to scatter the family as it tends to make life more hectic.

-Use your energy to create memories.  I like to use my energy to do things that create lasting memories for my family rather than on petty things that are here today and gone tomorrow.  We do crafts, pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, create a Blessing Tree, go on outings as a family, eat festive foods, and so much more!  For many years, we have done a Jesse Tree devotional every night in December, but this year, we are changing over to Truth in the Tinsel (I’ll be talking more about this in an upcoming post).  We also have a family Christmas Eve service every year that has become a memory my children dearly cherish.

-Plan the big stuff.  I’ve mentioned before how lost I would be without my Holiday Planner.  I use it for so much, but it is especially helpful in planning those big things that can easily become stressful like sending out Christmas cards or holiday baking.  There are other ways you can make sure you plan the big stuff like using a calendar or a notebook, or taking part in Organized Christmas.

-Slow down school if you homeschool.  I’ll be talking more about homeschooling during the holidays in a future post, but my biggest piece of advice here is to not feel as if you have to choose school over the season.  Stay focused on Jesus’ birth and what that event means to us as Christians and also what it means for the entire world.  Live gratitude.  Let the rest be secondary.

-Create a relaxing atmosphere.  In Day 7 of my ebook 10 Days to a Peaceful Home, I talk about making home a haven.  This is something I have found to be very important in keeping a slow pace for the holidays.  If life at home is chaotic, all seems chaotic.  I also see where this is so important for my husband.  He works long hours during this time of year and they are stressful hours.  I want him to come home to peace.  I also try to include him in our daily holiday activities by sending him photos of the kids crafting or baking or decorating.  He appreciates seeing them in action even if he can’t be here.

I want so badly for all of you to really breathe in this time of year.  It is so beautiful and so rich and there is so much to be thankful for.  Don’t squander it by running at breakneck speed right through it all!