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WOW! Christmas Already

Reader Contribution by Susan Petrey
Updated on December 4, 2020
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WOW, it’s three days until Christmas, and I have only just realized.Things have been so crazy around here lately, I am so glad I finished my Christmas gift organization back in October. If I hadn’t, I would be in trouble. Winter is normally a quieter time around my house. The cold and I do not get along, the gardens are done as is the canning. Winter is when I can enjoy my open fire and sew or knit. So far this winter it’s been a little different.

Photo: Fotolia/Africa Studio

You may be wondering how I could be done for Christmas in October. I get asked that a lot. For me, gifting is a year-round event. I keep a small journal that has names, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates in it. Alongside this, I have two more columns, one for ideas, for example what hobbies or interests the person likes, or life events going on. The next is for what I gave the person and for what, i.e. blue hand-knitted sweater birthday. This helps me track what each person gets.

Name

Dates/events

Idea

Gift given-What for

Joanne

4/25/90 wedding anniversary

Favorite color Red, flower lily

Red lily painting for anniversary

Each year, I carry over ideas from the year before as well as add or subtract according to changes in taste and circumstance. This way I can pick up or make things all year long for all my special people. This has worked out wonderfully for me. I tend to not get stressed about knowing what to give, or fighting half-crazed people at stores doing last-minute shopping. I do not do well in crowds anyway. I mostly make my gifts but not always. And again I try to make gifts based on the ideas from my journal so that the receiver knows I have put not only effort but thought into what they like or want. It makes a difference when someone really likes something you made.

if you hadn’t already worked it out I am a list maker by nature. I used to make them in my head, but now I write them down (my memory isn’t what it used to be).

Photo: Fotolia/chihana

So if you find yourself stressed over gifting, try a journal. It doesn’t need to be fancy or big. Just a simple one. I like pen and paper still – yes, I am old school – but you can make one on your smartphone or tablet just as easily. Go on, give it a go. You will be surprised how enjoyable it is to give gifts, made or purchased, knowing you had it all planned well in advance.

Enjoy gift giving, everyone, and Merry Christmas to all.