All About Him

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting a table at our church’s annual “get ready for the holidays” event.  It was so much fun.  You can see my table above – I did a Charlie Brown theme.  Walgreen’s has these little Charlie Brown Christmas trees for $9.99 if you are interested.  I’m excited to work it into my house decorations with the lines I have framed from the movie.  The Charlie Brown Christmas movie is one of my favorite things about Christmas.

Anyway, the speaker (Jeanne Beckman) did a great job and I LOVED what she said about being available.  This quote will forever stick in my head…

God is not as interested in our ability as He is in our availability.

God really used her as a confirmation to me with regard to the www.allaboutHim.cc ministry.  She said she gets her planning done ahead of time so she can be available during the holiday season.  Available to be the hands, eyes, ears, feet…of Christ.

Being buried in busyness steals that away from us.  What an amazing birthday gift we are giving Christ when we get the “pre” in prepare and leave ourselves available to go, serve, bless, host, listen to, help, hug and minister to those He puts in our path.

He wants to use us and I for one want to be available.

Here is what I have accomplished this week…

Monday – Christ-centered Christmas Day

I will be working on any preparations I need to make for the Christ-Centered Christmas ideas I want to include in our 2009 holiday.

Monday I worked on a new decoration that focuses on the true meaning of the season.  Stacey is helping me make it extra cute and fun.  It is still in progress, but I’m excited to show it to you once it’s finished.

Tuesday – Post Day

I will be working on my Christmas cards and packages I am planning to mail.

Tuesday I bought my cards and envelopes to start my assembly…I am really behind on these this year!

Wednesday – Gift List Day

I will be working on finishing off my gift list, stocking list and handmade gifts.

Wednesday I bought 1 gift and worked on 3 others I am making.

Thursday – Menu Day

I will be working on my holiday menus as well as holiday meal planning needs.

Called and ordered our Turkey.

Friday – Home Keeping/Traveling Day

I will work on my home decorating plans as well as my prep for guests.  If you will be traveling this holiday, work on travel plans on this day as well.

Today’s progress has mostly been in my mind – lol!  I’m working on a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  I bought the stuff yesterday and have been trying to figure out how I want to put it together.

Saturday – Major Progress Day

I will decide where I need it most and make some major progress on this day.

We have three weeks left to wrap up our holiday preparations and this is the way I am planning to accomplish mine…

Monday – Christ-centered Christmas Day

I will be working on any preparations I need to make for the Christ-Centered Christmas ideas I want to include in our 2009 holiday.

Tuesday – Post Day

I will be working on my Christmas cards and packages I am planning to mail.

Wednesday – Gift List Day

I will be working on finishing off my gift list, stocking list and handmade gifts.

Thursday – Menu Day

I will be working on my holiday menus as well as holiday meal planning needs.

Friday – Home Keeping/Traveling Day

I will work on my home decorating plans as well as my prep for guests.  If you will be traveling this holiday, work on travel plans on this day as well.

Saturday – Major Progress Day

I will decide where I need it most and make some major progress on this day.

Sunday – Rest!

I’ll be posting what I am doing as we go along these last three weeks for two main purposes.

I am hoping it will serve as a little extra motivation for all of you

AND it will serve as accountability for me – lol!

I shared on the forum that my daughter enjoys designing our Christmas cards each year.

I love that she does this.

I can look at each one of our cards and watch her growing up.

She takes great thought and care in her designs each year.

I love the conversations we have about what she is thinking and what each little detail she adds means to her.

She smiles so big whenever someone tells her how much they look forward to getting our cards.

I’m hoping to get them assembled and signed within the next week.

Getting my Christmas cards all ready to mail seems to always be the thing I want done first – lol!

After I finish my cards, I’ll get my gift list finished up.

Only three more weeks until Thanksgiving!

October – Time to take holiday planning inventory!

• We made our notes as a family about our Christmas
• We have our budget set
• I have about half my stocking stuffers purchased
• I am in progress on several of the gifts I am making
• I have several gifts purchased
• I have my menus planned
• Mom and I are planning to make our dressing on October 15^th

 My menus and our dressing recipe are posted on the www.allaboutHim.cc forum…

 You will find my Thanksgiving menu under the Thanksgiving Menus topic.

 You will find my Christmas menus under the Christmas Menu Planning topic.

 You will find Mom’s Amazing Corn Bread Dressing recipe under the Harvest-Inspired Recipes topic.

 As you can see, you could easily catch up with me in one week or even

in

one

 very

 busy

 and

productive

day – lol!

Blogs to come and the things on my October list of things to do:

• Christmas Cards
• Finish up handmade gifts
• Finish up stocking stuffers
• Finish off list of gifts to be purchased
• Plan 2 birthday parties
• Plan decorations for my Advent table (special event at our church)
• Get my kids involved with Angel Tree again
• My thankfulness November calendar
• All those things I will think of later to add to this list – lol!

Father God,

I lift my Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations up to You. I praise You that we have these special days to come together as a family and focus on Your goodness. I pray that our holiday season, from beginning to end, would glorify You. Give me Your wisdom to make Thanksgiving a time where we focus on Your goodness through the many blessings You have lavished on us this year. Give me Your wisdom to make Christmas all about celebrating the amazing gift of Your Son Jesus Christ.

It’s in His name that I pray,
Amen