It’s three or four days until Christmas–depending on how you count and when you celebrate–and I’ve still got a to-do list as long as Santa’s. Instead of stressing over it, I am committed to doing what I can and accepting that it will be enough. 
I still have three solid days’ worth of work I’d like to get done, but I think I will have to leave work early on Wednesday to take care of other things–like getting our to Honeybaked Ham and/or taking my son Christmas shopping.
The big things I have left to do include:
- Making plans for Christmas Eve. I want to go to church, and have 95% decided to go to my old church, but I’m still on the fence. Both my old church and my new church are having Christmas Eve service at 7:00 pm, so either way we won’t be having a big dinner.
- Making plans for Christmas. I think we all are on board to go see the Star Wars movie and “go out for Chinese food” on Christmas, but I have no idea what Chinese restaurants really are open, and whether we need to make reservations.
- Making plans for “Christmas” Brunch. My Christmas plans are up in the air because my Mom is going to see my daughter, and is coming back Christmas night. We decided to celebrate “Christmas” on the 26th, and my sister-in-law is coming too, so I want to have a nice brunch. My Mom wants my upside-down cranberry coffee cake, but I’m not sure what else to serve. Ham? A breakfast casserole? Christmas cookies?
Upside-Down Cranberry Coffee Cake
The little things I have left to do include:
- Call the Post Office. I sent my daughter a package on Monday that was supposed to arrive Friday, but the last entry in its tracking record is leaving Virginia on Monday. 🙁
- Get a Honeybaked ham. I don’t when we’ll eat it, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without a big ham in the fridge to balance out the sugar of the Christmas cookies and peppermint bark.
- Go to the grocery store. This will require making another list ….
Despite my long to-do list, I took time this weekend to relax and recover from a grueling week at work. I met my friend for a long run, and we decided to run down Pennsylvania Avenue for a change, forgetting that it would take us right by the White House. I was more impressed by the Old Executive Office Building next door.
Saturday afternoon I curled up on the sofa and finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
(Click image to view on Amazon via my Amazon affiliate link)
Amazon describes The Nightingale as “the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France.” I thought it was a powerful book with wonderfully flawed heroines that tells a side of the story of Nazi-occupied France that I have not read much about before–that of French Catholics seeing their country change right before their eyes. Several of my friends recommended it, and I am doing the same.
Sunday I got bitten by the holiday baking bug again. I made three types of cookies and another batch of cranberry banana bread (adding 1 cup whole, fresh cranberries to my usual banana bread recipe).
Peanut Butter Spritz Cookies
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Are you feeling frantic, frazzled, or unfazed?
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OK I feel a little badly now 🙂 but this Jew is entirely unfazed.
Have an amazing happy connection filled Christmas.
xoxo
Great lists!
I am trying not to get frazzeled.
The only gifts I have are my kids. I have got to get on it!
I love the look of the old executive office. So regal to me.
It’s been such a busy time at work for me, but I’m still lazing when it comes to holiday shopping. I still think I have time to get everything done, and I haven’t even put up the tree! Btw, I received the shirts for Cherry Blossom – thanks so much!!
Oh, I hope that’s a sign my daughter’s package will make it. Next year I”ll have to splurge for FedEx.
Yum, that cranberry upside down cake looks amazing! I was feeling a bit frazzled last week but I’m feeling better about it this week mostly because I’ve decided that whatever isn’t done by now is just not getting done!
I’ve been wanting to read The Nightingale. Good to know that you liked it. And my Christmas list – oy. I can’t. Burying my head in the sand today!
Sounds like you need to take your own stress-busting advice! I know it’s harder when your kids are younger – there are expectations to live up to and traditions to keep! But one miracle of Christmas is how it always comes together in the end. 😉
The coffee cake looks delicious 🙂
I have barely done anything, I guess I should get busy lol I love hash brown casserole with eggs, now that you got me thinking about brunch 🙂 Maybe I will get the ingredients…
Oh, that sounds good!
I hope that package arrives on time and your list gets tackled with zero stress.
I am feeling better about the holidays. We have the grocery store shopping to do tonight, then it is game on! I am loving all these Christmas cookies, I need to make some! I am so looking forward to the 4 days off from work. 🙂
I need to adopt your moto: do what I can and accepting that it will be enough. Yes I know there will be many things I don’t get done I just pray it’s ones that will be fine if I don’t. Those cookies look so good, I love anything peanut butter flavor! I hope you and I both get it all done. Merry Christmas to you!
OK, let’s get everything done that has to be done and what we don’t get done won’t be missed!
Aughh! I still have to get to the post office to mail something off. ._. Thanks for the reminder, and good luck to you on your list!
Good luck at the Post Office! Maybe the Christmas rush is over so the lines won’t be too long?
Chinese restaurants are all open on Christmas and they are very crowded and yes you need reservations. Sounds like a fun day ahead for you and your family. That cake looks super yummy
Ugh. I hope it’s not too late to make reservations! My son gets home tonight and we’ll have to figure out a plan!
OK – I got stuck at the end – COOKIES!!!! 🙂 Have a wonderful Christmas!!!!
I read the Nightingdale over the summer I could not put it down. It was a great book.
It really was. I thought it would be too similar to All The Light … but it was completely different and just as good!
All you Christians are ruining the Jewish traditions, LOL! There used to be nobody at the movies on Christmas day, and if this had been years past, we might have gone to Star Wars then, too. Especially since I know my husband won’t go on the weekend, when it will definitely be crowded.
Just a little tongue in cheek here. 🙂
I hope whatever you decide, you have a wonderful holiday.
I was doing pretty good at staying relatively unfazed until I realized that I still have no stocking stuffers for my husband – there’s still time, but I’ve promised myself I will not go near a store on Christmas Eve!
I hope you have a wonderful time with your family!!
Feeling a bit frazzled, but now that all of the stocking stuffers are purchased, I’m feeling a little better. All that’s left is wrapping 🙂
We do a big Christmas brunch and in addition to some type of yummy bread have an egg casserole with all sorts of yummy veggies. It balances out the sweet bread well.
Making lists is something I do a lot as well. Often there’s just too many things that come up and I end up forgetting what I need to get done. I’d be lost without using my agenda, to be honest. It really keeps me on track.
I hope you get everything you need to get done before Christmas. It sounds like it’ll be a busy few days for you!
The Nightengale was really good! I’ve read several of Kristen Hannah’s books, and while they were good, they weren’t like this one! What a pleasant surprise.
Enjoy your holidays!
I am actually feeling defazed if you can believe it! I got all of my wrapping done last night and I just need a few things from the grocery store!! I love the idea of Star Wars on Xmas day!
Star Wars here too! I figure it’s a really good way for the family to be together, with little to no chance of fighting…except maybe in the car?
I know, we’ll take separate cars!!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas. Please check out my blog sometime if you get a chance!
Sounds like a typical week before Christmas ! Hope you got through your list. I LOED the Nightengale. Then I read Winter Garden by the same author. LOVED that too !