Happy December!  It’s so hard to believe we’re here.  Less than one month left in 2014.  The Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year.  Everything feels so festive and celebrated!

Let’s do a quick recap of my November goals…

1.  Devotions: I’m still enjoying this as a part of the morning routine.  This month, I’ve been working through a study on the book of Ruth and I’ve learned so much about this story that I never knew!

2.  Memorize a new verse: Colossians 3:23 is an especially good reminder during the busy seasons of life.

3.  Continue Christmas shopping: I didn’t do as much of this as I probably should have.  I actually need to pull out my list and figure out who’s left!

4.  Decorate for Christmas: yes!  I’ve never done it before Thanksgiving but I did this year.  The weekend was open so everything came down from the attic and the tree went up.  I actually put a lot of time and effort into the tree this year because I always step back from the tree and think, this looks like a seven year old decorated it.  Like… the ornaments are always clumped together and… I don’t know but I never like it.   So I went a little Pinterest crazy and researched how skilled decoraters do it.  And I’m in love with how it turned out.  The extra lights and the ribbon made a world of difference.

5.  Watch Corb and Kenz play: I’ll give myself half credit on this one.  When I wrote this goal for November, I didn’t realize that Kenzie only had one more home game on a weekend that we couldn’t make it to Greenville so we didn’t get to see her again.  Corbin, on the other hand, we’ve already watched twice!  It’s so great to watch him come alive on the court.   #proudbigsister

6.  Enjoy time off: yes!  We had Veteran’s Day off on a Tuesday.  That day was filled with basketball practice, a Sam’s Club run, {David chose} lunch at Zaxby’s, a hair appointment {my favorite!}, refrigerator shopping and then dinner out!  It was so busy but… it was filled with things that don’t normally get accomplished on a Tuesday.  And then at Thanksgiving we got the chance to see both sides of the family and celebrate the things we’re thankful for.  It was perfect.

7.  Win the first game: yes!  And it was so much fun!  Now for 4 straight away games in December.  Here we go!  I’m holding on for the ride because it’s non-stop.

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This was the most difficult list so far.  Part of me just wanted to write “survive” and call it a day. I love Christmastime and enjoying so many little things about this season but as a basketball coach and English teacher, there’s just not a lot of free time.  Actually, there’s hardly any.  I have to be really purposeful with my time.  Things like a load of laundry or cooking dinner suddenly become something worth celebrating.  But here are the things I’m hoping to accomplish this month!

{One} Make a new recipe again

I just realized that this didn’t actually make it on my November list but since I’ve been doing it every month, I found a new one to try.  This one was a new soup {aka lifesaver during basketball season} and it’s delicious… so delicious that David said it competes with chili!  Check back for the recipe later this week or early next week.

Anyone have any good ideas for this month?  Please share!

{Two} Have devotions on the weekend

You know that devotions has been on my list since I started these monthly goals.  And it really has become routine and it’s very rare that we miss a morning… during the week.  But now I want to do a better job of taking a few minutes to read and pray together even on the weekends or time off.

{Three} Bake Christmas goodies for gifts

I’m so pumped to start baking!  A few years ago, Angelica had a few girls over to do a breakfast and Christmas cookie decorating sesh.  We had so much fun and can’t figure out why we haven’t continued it that we’re bringing it back this year.  And we actually planned it weeks ago so I’m really excited to take some time with some of my best friends to do some Christmas baking.   Because it’s way more fun with friends, right?

{Four} Send Christmas cards + do a Christmas craft

You like how I’m combining these goals now?  I was running out of room on my cute little notepad.  I have the Christmas cards designed and ordered and yesterday I got an email that they’ve been shipped!  Next step is to get them out the door.  I love receiving Christmas cards from friends and family and I really enjoy sending them out also.  {Weird, I know.}

I have a vision of this Christmas craft I’m going to do and it’s going to completely change my Christmas decor.  If the vision becomes a reality, I’ll share!  #fingerscrossed

{Five} Finishing Christmas shopping ONLINE and wrap presents

I mean, some of the goals are on here so that I can cross them off.  {I can’t help it; I’m a list maker and nothing makes me happier than crossing things off a list.}  Because obviously, I have to finish buying the presents and then wrap them.  But the goal part of this is to do as much of it as possible ONLINE.

I’ve bought things here and there online but never truly shopped online.  {You know what I’m talking about?  The difference between the occasional purchase online vs. actually shopping for gifts and browsing until the perfect one is found?  Ok, anyway…}  I’ve been doing it a little more over the last couple of months and it would be great to sit by the tree with a cup of hot chocolate {or wine}, in my PJs, and finish shopping.

{Six} Drive to look at lights

We used to do this when I was a kid.  All 6 of us would pile into the van and drive around to look at the beautifully decorated homes.  {Maybe that’s where my obsession with outdoor lights started?}  But I don’t think David and I have ever done it together.  So we’re about to change that this year.  {He just doesn’t know it yet…}

{Seven} Remember to hang the advent ornament and enjoy this season

Before I even had a house or a Christmas tree, my grandmother gave me a set of advent ornaments that always hung on her tree.  They’re numbered and have a verse to go along with each day.  I always love adding to the tree and celebrating each day of the season.  Unfortunately, I have a terrible memory so some days I end up putting like four ornaments on.  And actually, as I write this on the morning of December 3rd, {yep, blogging in real time over here} I haven’t hung one up yet.

Here’s to remembering.

Really, the ultimate goal is to enjoy this last month of the year, this special season and not just fly through it.  It’s a busy time of year for all of us and we miss the beauty and joy of it if we aren’t careful to notice how special each day is.

And just in case you haven’t gotten enough lists yet, here’s one more!

Julia posted this as part of her December goals and I couldn’t help but share it.  I doubt it will all happen for me in December but since she titled it winter, I feel like January {and possibly February} are fair game, right?

Thanks for letting me share, Julia!  I can’t wait to start checking these boxes off.  {And as a side note, she posted a really easy DIY ornament idea today.  You should go make one!}

Happy December, friends!

{P.S.} anyone interested in hosting/joining a monthly linkup with our goals?  {Just a thought that’s been rolling around in my head…}  Let me know!