I am unsure why it surprises me. Another month has whizzed by, and somehow it is once again time to celebrate Christmas.

I love Christmas and everything about it…but I have a problem. I am a Christmas decorating-aholic…and it takes a while to get all the decorating done. Many of you have me beat. I do not put a tree in every room (only two in the house), nor do I have special Christmas bedding, or holiday shower curtains in the bathrooms, but I do tend to put a little Christmas cheer everywhere else.

Like most families, we store our Christmas decor in big plastic tubs. Every year like clockwork, I would find myself in the same situation when I asked my family to bring down the tubs from the attic. A couple of years ago, I realized my decorating might be a little out of control when about 20 tubs appeared in our den. It was more than a little overwhelming to face that job. More than that, I had to work fast, so tubs could be put away before we had guests!  It was exhausting.

That was when it hit me. Wouldn’t it be great to decorate an area (say the fireplace) and everything be in ONE tub? Because I tend to have small amounts of time here and there, it would be so great to bring down ONE tub (or two) and have everything I needed for a specific area. And even better…what if I could easily remember how it looked last year? Thus began my new idea.

I tell you all this because my friend Katina told me it was absolutely THE best idea I’ve ever had and I should share it with you NOW.

When Christmas was over that year of the great “tub dump,” and it was time for decorations to be put away, I took a photo(s) of each area and then printed them out on our printer. Starting with the fireplace, I took down all the decor, putting it in one tub. I placed the printed photo(s) on top and closed the tub. On the outside, I put a sticker noting FIREPLACE. One down, many to go.

Last year, we hosted a wedding at our house, and there were many hands helping get decor in place. This is when Katina discovered “THE IDEA.” She would open a tub, and using the enclosed photo(s), put everything exactly where it belonged. Mind you, this is no Better Homes & Gardens, all perfectly-coordinated decor. It’s just the stuff we like…things filled with memories and smiles. Trinkets and heirlooms like you have too, I’m sure.

I like for Christmas to be a peaceful time of year, not just another “job,” and it has been lovely to get a box or two and decorate an area without experiencing the great “tub dump.”  If this helps you as well, then please feel free to share. If you have a brilliant idea, I would love to hear it, too!

Whether you thrive on the peace or the chaos of the holiday, whether you use one tub or twenty, whether your world is quirky and messy or perfectly pristine—it’s you.

Keep that in mind as we enter this Christmas season. You.  It’s why Jesus was born in the first place.

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas