December Bucket List.

I've got all these thoughts and ideas and feelings swirling about this idea of having a full holiday season versus a busy one. And some would argue they're the same.

I'm trying to live a very full holiday season but rather than it being busy and hurried, I'm trying to fill our days and nights with intentional and meaningful things. And sometimes that means saying no to good stuff. Fun, exciting, really cool stuff. That's hard.

Starting last Friday until December 22, our schedule is full. Each of our kids has activities this month from basketball games to a choir concert to a play, piano recital and a preschool program.

But the other days and nights, I want them full of life giving things instead of tasks. I don't want to simply check things off as much as I want it to be a joy-filled, love-filled and meaningful season.

I've got a lot more to say about it but I've also got six baskets of laundry staring at me. {The laundry around here just never. stops.}

My friend, Melissa, asked about and suggested making a winter bucket list the other day and I thought that sounded like a really neat and really intentional way to live this month. I may even do another one post-Christmas.

So without much more explanation, here's our December Bucket List. Some we've already gotten started on and some we haven't. These aren't things we just want to check off but things that make our December and our Christmas more full. Of life.

1. Get all six of us in our pajamas, in the car, pick up cocoas and drive around and look at lights.

2. Celebrate Christmas with my side of the family, J's side of the family AND just the 6 of us.

3. Read the nativity story. The REAL story of Christmas.

4. Host an annual Christmas party with friends we do life with.

5. Choose adopt-a-family kids around the same ages of our kids and let our kids pick out the gifts.

6. Make things. Write notes. And give out homemade treats.

7. Buy meaningful. While it's super easy to swing through Caribou Coffee or Starbucks to grab a gift card, actually put some time and thought into what will mean something to them and what could also mean something outside of us.

8. As we receive Christmas cards from friends and family around the country, as we open each one, let's really read their note, look at their faces and thank God for them not just throw it in the pile with the rest.

What's on your list this Christmas? How are you being intentional with your time, your money and your relationships?


**Winner of the Sesame Street Live tickets is #13 KT. KT please contact me with your address.**