Express - Away We Go (Steps 16 to 20)

Away We Go

This week's focus is on things that we do away from home during the Christmas.  This includes activities you do where you live as well as if you are traveling or vacationing far from home as well as shipping and mailing gifts and cards to loved ones away from home.

Step 16 - Travel

Step 17 - Mailing & Shipping Gifts and Cards

Step 18 - Involving Your Family

Step 19 - Church and Family Activities

Step 20 - Christmas Shopping

As you decide where and when to go shopping during the Christmas season you must ask yourself if this adventure is worth the hassle.  Hassle?  Yes!  Christmas shopping can easily become a hassle-not because of you but because of other people.

People can be right down rude and mean over a 1/2 price item that will most likely be on sale later in December.  When you are using your list to shop, evaluate the situation at each store and decide if the item or items you wish to purchase there are really worth what lies ahead of you.

I remember one year going into a small toy store at our mall and the line to check out snaked up and down FIVE aisles!  I was only going there for one thing and I decided it was NOT worth the hassle to stand in line for about an hour to save $5.  My time was worth more than that so I decided to amend my plan.

Traveling During the Holidays

We all tend to travel somewhere during the Christmas season - whether it is across town or across the country  - it is important to do some planning to make the trip itself go smoothly.  First make a list of places you are planning on traveling to - this is any place where you will be going to where you will be spending one or more nights. 

Activities play an important part of most people's holiday celebrations.  In your Christmas Notebook journal about the following: 

• Write down all the holiday activities you and your family did last year outside of your home – be sure to include church, school, community, and family activities.
• What activities are a must do for our family every year?
• Are there church related activities that I would really like to do this year that I have not done in the past?
• Ask every member of your immediate family what their 3 favorite activities that you attend outside of the home are during the holiday season and write it in your notebook.  Incorporate at least one thing from everyone's list into your holiday planning.  Remember this is their Christmas too! 
• What things from your childhood do you remember doing?  Is this something you could do today? 
• Are there activities you would like to add to your holiday season?  Write them down – maybe when you work on scheduling you will have time for one or two new activities.