It’s generally a great day for me when I’m able to cross a number of items off my “To Do” list and feel organized in the process. This might amount to running errands in a circular direction around town so I’m not criss-crossing routes, therefore wasting gas and time. This is certainly not earth shattering stuff; I simply like to take mundane tasks and streamline my efforts.

It will therefore come as no surprise that when I saw an article in November’s Women’s Day Magazine, presenting a weekly planning countdown for the holidays, I was all over that article. My kids are rarely home at the same time and I want this holiday to be fun, relaxing, and bonding. I want to make a sweet memory for them and those who spend time with us during the coming weeks.

These goals are my answers to the article’s first question posed to readers: What is your goal for this holiday season? Even more intriguing is the second question posed in the article: What don’t you want to do this year?

To get us thinking, Cynthia Ewer, founder of www.christmas.organizedhome.com, suggests that if you were up until midnight on Christmas Eve wrapping gifts in misery, this might top your list. Amazing. Did she see me wrapping gifts up in our bedroom last year until late, our bed completely covered in wrapping so we couldn’t crawl in until the task was done?

That’s on my list. I’m not going to wrap all at once or at the last minute this year. As I bring things into the house, they are getting wrapped. That means I’d better set up a wrapping station and get my supplies now. That also means I’d better declutter my work space and take a few things to the local thrift before I bring anything else into this house. As big as my young adult children are, they still love seeing gifts under the tree before Christmas morning.

I don’t want to be the queen of good intentions this year. This means scheduling, along with necessary errands, a time to pick up a couple holiday “Meal Deals” and donating them to Help House or writing a check for their purchases. It also means dropping a toy in the Toys for Tots box or purchasing personal gifts for a child who is part of the Soroptimists’ Tree of Hope Christmas giving program. To date there are over 200 children on the list. How great it will feel to make a child’s simple wishes come true this year.

I don’t want to build unrealistic expectations into this holiday either. When you hope peope will act outside the scope of their abilities, you end up stressed, sad, and disappointed. You will be tempted to over eat, drink too much, over spend, grump your way through the holiday, and depleat your own emotional reserves.

Let’s say “Yes!” to simple goals and creating the kind of holiday season that builds relationships and fills our hearts with joy.

Reach Joan Bay Klope, faithfulliving@hotmail.