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Twenty Little Things I’m Looking Forward to This Christmas

by | Dec 16, 2009 | 20 Little Things, Christmas, Christmas Decorating, Holidays, My Life, Our Holidays

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Twenty Little Things I'm Looking Forward to This Christmas

Country Living

So how are you all doing? Are you all ready for Christmas? Suddenly it hit me that we only have one week left. ONE WEEK. Our family gets together on Tuesday next week. Yeah. Better get my act together in the next couple of days, eh?

It is about this time of the season that I need to start switching gears from decorating and preparing for the holidays, to finishing last minute tasks and then finally switching to the best part of Christmas, just ENJOYING the holidays with my family. I really enjoy the preparation time too, but I really look forward to just sitting back and treasuring it all.

One of the things I like to do to slow myself down and refocus is make a list of all that I love about this time of year. If you’ve been around awhile, you know I love making my 20 Little Things lists several times a year because it takes the pressure away from working on amazing BIG ideas and BIG accomplishments and BIG plans. Making my list gets me FOCUSED on what really matters. Many of the things on my list I have already done this season, and seeing these things in a list reminds me that I am living a wonderful life, even when it feels busy or overwhelming!

That is the beauty of the little things in life. They are easy to enjoy, but even easier to miss if we don’t take the time to notice. A 20 Little Things list is about treasuring what matters.

20 Little Things to Treasure at Christmas (in no particular order!)

  1. Wrapping special little gifts for my kids because I love to surprise them. I {heart} my kids.
  2. Putting on Winston’s holiday sweater. He likes to be festive too.
  3. Piling in the car to go look at Christmas lights.
  4. Baking cookies with the kids and eating them. The cookies, I mean.
  5. Hoping for snow.
  6. Looking at Christmas photos from years past.
  7. The smell of hot cranberry cider filling the air.
  8. The gifts kids make me at school. (Just one child left in grade school. (SNIFF.)
  9. Watching Charlie Brown Christmas all wrapped up in blankets.
  10. Candlelight Christmas eve services.
  11. The beauty of the Christmas lights on our tree every evening.
  12. Planning Christmas breakfast.
  13. Watching Christmas movies.
  14. Driving by “Rudolf” with the kids (lighted sign with deer with a red nose).
  15. Getting Christmas photos from friends.
  16. Christmas morning opening stockings and reading notes from Santa.
  17. Sitting around in our new jammies on Christmas.
  18. The days after Christmas when the rush is over and family can really relax together.
  19. Realizing how very blessed we are and helping others to have a merrier Christmas.
  20. Refocusing our attention from all the decorating and shopping to what Christmas is all about.

If you are feeling the pressure of the upcoming holidays, or are just wanting to enjoy it all, sit down for a few minutes and make your own list.

What are YOU most looking forward to next week?
Share your ideas in the comments (or make your own 20 Little Things List)!

Related post: 6 Ways to Simplify and Refocus

40 Comments

  1. Amanda TheEcklife

    Love that list. Thanks for the reminder to stop and smell the pine so to speak! I too love my tree at night. It just glows! Hope your family has a very blessed Christmas!

    Amanda

    Reply
  2. Melissa

    Hi friends! I accidentally scheduled this post for tomorrow instead of today. Just realized it and published it. Late.. Meh. I think I need to stop the madness and refocus :-). Clearly. Sitting down for coffee and reading over my list of what matters right now. LOL.

    Reply
  3. Barbara M

    This is a very special Christmas as my oldest son is a senior in high school and next year will live across the country. Of course he will come home for a week or two but he will have missed all the excitement of putting up the tree lots of the events we always do beginning the week of thanksgiving. We have tried to make all of those events ultra special and this will hopefully be a quiet cooking baking week with lots of soup and hugs involved.
    .-= Barbara M´s last blog ..Life is Swell! =-.

    Reply
  4. jennykate

    I’m looking forward to all the things you listed on your list too! Great list! We’ve been so busy. It’s just getting to the point that we can slow down and just enjoy…and reflect…and remember the reason for the season.

    Merry Christmas!♥
    .-= jennykate´s last blog ..Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash – Christmas Tree Pics =-.

    Reply
  5. teresa

    Im looking forward to having my newest Grandbaby here for Christmas- lots of baby kisses.
    Love your list- and what a great idea to help remember what is really important. I’m going to make my list today.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Aw, a grandbaby? That is something to look forward to for sure. congrats!

      Reply
  6. Ruth MacCarthaigh

    I am looking forwards to my two night mini break in a nice hotel in Galway, Ireland with my husband and 11 yo son;O)
    On St Stephens Day morning there is a movie on called Rear Window or something like that. It is Hitchcock. Really looking forwards to watching that and eating chocolate lol!
    .-= Ruth MacCarthaigh´s last blog ..Family Date Night =-.

    Reply
  7. Stacy

    Looking forward to spending time with family and all the wonderful traditions my kids look so forward too.
    .-= Stacy @ Red Door Home´s last blog ..A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree =-.

    Reply
  8. Gail

    Looking forward to watching the kids open gifts. The joy in their eyes is magical. Makes all the hard work worth it.

    Also, all the festivities with friends. May be tough squeezing in another event, but once there it is fun to be in the moment!
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..Easy Bake – Annual Cookie Exchange Recipe =-.

    Reply
  9. gina

    I’d have to agree with your list- Christmas is all about the special moments with your children, family, and friends!
    .-= gina´s last blog ..bells. =-.

    Reply
  10. Courtney

    Aw, I love your list and think I will make one of my own. My bub just sent me a great video that made me refocus too.

    Merry Christmas!
    .-= Courtney´s last blog ..WOW! =-.

    Reply
  11. Kathy

    I am looking forward to actually being done! Having all the gifts and having them wrapped. Having all the food I need in the house without having to run out for that one thing I always seem to forget. I’m not much of a cook, but I am looking forward to preparing the food on Christmas Eve for our family get-together that night.

    I love that first picture, too!

    Reply
  12. Abbie

    I like your list! I am looking forward to some of those, too! Except with three kids 4 and under there’s not much relaxing for this mama! And movies are pretty much out, too. And my hubby is extra busy because of the holiday instead of getting time off. :) But seeing my kids enjoy the tree and decorations and be so excited to eat a cookie – those are wonderful!
    .-= Abbie´s last blog ..Ornaments – Celebrating His Name =-.

    Reply
    • Lori

      Abbie, I had 4 kids that were a year apart. I was a single parent in a demanding job. Forget everything and go caroling, see the lights, tell Christmas stories, watch Christmas movies wrapped in blankets while eating popcorn, and anything else you can find to spend time with them! You will blink and they will be grown! Ahhhhhhhhh, what I wouldn’t do to go back to those days. But alas, I’m spending Chtistmas with my three beautiful granddaughters ages 5, 6,and 7 :0)

      Reply
  13. Norma Lee Good

    OH I just love this time of year. When we get to Dec 10th I always want to put a “pause” on Christmas. It seems to speed up so quickly after that! I have enjoyed doing Christmasy advent calendar activities with my 21 month old boy and I always enjoy baking with my mom and sisters. I can’t wait for everyone to see their gifts! Merry Christmas!
    .-= Norma Lee Good´s last blog ..Oh NO he DIDN’T!!! =-.

    Reply
  14. Gina

    Great reminders! We’re finding ourselves doing some pulling back right now and taking time just to enjoy this season-Merry Christmas!
    .-= Gina´s last blog ..Christmas Tour of Homes =-.

    Reply
  15. Jean

    I love your list and the reminder to slow down and relax. So hard to do with all the pressure we put on ourselves. I am looking forward to having my newest grandchild here (9 mo.) and kissing his sweet face! Also I plan on being extra organized next year so it is not so frantic at the last week!
    .-= Jean´s last blog ..Holiday Boutiques =-.

    Reply
  16. Amanda

    I copied, but hey at least I gave you the credit:)
    .-= Amanda´s last blog ..Holi-Day Sixteen =-.

    Reply
  17. Michelle

    I’m looking forward to meeting my newest niece and seeing my baby brother before he goes to Iraq in January.

    Reply
  18. Katie

    I love the Advent season…the wreath and lighting the candles….it’s just one of those tangible little traditions that bring it all home to me. I love that! (And that black and white room up top…a-ma-zing.)
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Decking These Halls =-.

    Reply
  19. Michelle

    Fabulous. Just fabulous. What a great reminder of taking a minute or two to breathe and take it all in.
    .-= Michelle´s last blog ..WFMW – Meals for New Moms =-.

    Reply
  20. Ann Voskamp

    Oh, lists!
    Me too, Melissa!

    That little endless list I’ve got going, giving Him thanks for the stream of grace? All the little things I love and count as blessings?
    That’s my very number one way to relieve stress!

    Fixing the gaze fixes and a little list of thanks for the lovely things focuses me on Him and All that Really Matters.

    Thank you for being beautiful you, highlighting Beautiful Him.

    All, all my love, Melissa….
    Ann
    .-= Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience´s last blog ..yes, Virginia, you’d better believe there is =-.

    Reply
  21. Kellye

    I LOVE lists and this one was great!!! Thank you so much for posting this little reminder for us all to put things into perspective.

    So…what ya fixing for breakfast??? You can’t leave us hanging…

    Love your blog,

    Kellye
    .-= Kellye´s last blog ..Have you seen The Blind Side yet?? =-.

    Reply
  22. Bonnie

    I’m a list kind of girl too.
    Looking forward to spending time with the grandchildren.
    .-= Bonnie @ Savoring Simplicity´s last blog ..Great Gift Wrapping Ideas =-.

    Reply
  23. AEOT

    I also posted the first picture on my blog this month. I adore, adore, adore it. It’s seriously the perfect room.

    Isn’t it true that it’s the little things in life that count??
    .-= AEOT´s last blog ..Holiday Baking =-.

    Reply
  24. Sylvie

    looks really pretty!

    i have a question for you, we are moving to a new house and i have a french door that i’m bringing with me, however there no place for me to use it. is there any other way for me to use this door, maybe as some kind of decoration?

    thanks,
    Sylvie
    .-= Sylvie´s last blog ..I can’t believe it’s been this long since I last posted!!! =-.

    Reply
  25. Dina Marie

    I enjoy reading your list of Twenty Little Things. I made my own list. I am going to enjoy Christmas without feeling under stress. : )
    Merry Christmas!
    .-= Dina Marie´s last blog ..My Plan for Christmas and a Touching Video =-.

    Reply
  26. Jen

    I’m looking forward to not being sick and having dh off for two weeks. We’ve been sick on and off for a month and dh has been crazy busy at work. I’ve never felt so rushed at Christmas as we do this year.
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..Window Decor =-.

    Reply
  27. Jessica at Lavender & Lilies

    I am looking forward to hanging out with my family and going on vacation.
    .-= Jessica at Lavender & Lilies´s last blog ..I Won! =-.

    Reply
  28. Gena

    such a great post! you are right, it’s important to remember the small things as it’s so easy to get carried away with all the ‘craziness” of this time of year!! I still have loads to do, especially since my hubby decided to take us away for the next 5 days for abit of a ocuntr ybreak!?!?! we get back on the 23rd, which his just on the brink of xmas ….. oh well, do what I can and smile!
    .-= Gena´s last blog ..Touches of Red: 8 Days to Christmas =-.

    Reply
  29. a-m

    Great list. Glad you clarified the eating of the biscuits, not the children! I am going to do a list tonight. Thank you for this. It’s all getting a bit stressful. Time to chill. A-M xx
    .-= a-m´s last blog ..Be.Still.Heart. =-.

    Reply
  30. Jess

    I am looking forward to getting to meet my Hubby’s best friends brand new baby boy – who should be joining us in a few hours!!
    .-= Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish´s last blog ..Why I Can’t Blog Today … =-.

    Reply
  31. Violet

    Melissa, that is a great list, thank you! I have a Christmas gift for everyone on my blog, if you want to stop by. Have a very Merry Christmas! ~ Violet
    .-= Violet´s last blog ..Joyous Noel ~ and A Gift for You =-.

    Reply
  32. Brenda Kula

    I try to stay out of the hoopla of the madness of commercial gift buying, partying, etc. I don’t extend myself during this time. Because a holiday to me is relaxing. And that’s just what I intend to do!
    Brenda
    .-= Brenda Kula´s last blog ..New Fence, Clown Fish & A Gift =-.

    Reply
  33. Jeanne

    I loved this post! I am in the middle of packing for a move but just had to read and in turn posted it on mine for more to follow. Keep writing…your posts are wonderful. Happy Holidays!!
    Jeanne
    .-= Jeanne´s last blog ..Ready to go…. =-.

    Reply
  34. Dottie

    Hi, I know what you mean of the red nose on the sign. One year I was headed down the Banfield and was listening to it on K103 “live”. Did you realize there was a delay. LOL As I was coming on to I-5 South (you know the ramp) I saw it light up.. but they were still counting down on the radio. I let out such a whoop of joy and laughter. Its one of my best memories of the holiday season. This year I had heard they weren’t going to turn on the nose. I was so happy when I found it lit one night coming home from work. Have a wonderful Holdiay Season. Dottie.
    .-= Dottie´s last blog ..Hurrah!!! =-.

    Reply
  35. Melody

    I love telling my kids about fun childhood memories I had at Christmas. They hang on every word.
    .-= Melody @ Party Cupcake Ideas´s last blog ..Hello Cupcake People Cupcakes =-.

    Reply

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