Keeping Your Joy in the Holidays 

How I Learned to Guard My Peace, Stay Organized, and Make What Matters… Matter

The holidays are supposed to be a season of joy — but sometimes, without meaning to, we create burnout instead. We want everything to be magical, meaningful, memorable, and picture-perfect. Before we know it, December becomes a whirlwind of expectations, obligations, and exhaustion.

I know this firsthand.

There was a season of my life where I was a mother of four, a wife, a woman of faith, and a full-time retail manager — during the busiest retail season of the year. And let me tell you… that combination could humble even the strongest multitasker.

Yet every year, I tried to do it all.

 The Season I Tried to Be Everywhere

I wanted to be at every single church event. Every holiday service, every Christmas program, every volunteer opportunity.

At the same time, my kids were in concerts, plays, recitals, and school parties — and I didn’t want to miss a moment.

All while leading a $100 million supercenter during the highest-pressure season of the year. I had goals to reach:

• record-breaking sales

• profit targets

• associate engagement

• holiday scheduling

• customer service standards

Oh, and somewhere in there…

• I decorated my home like a Hallmark movie,

• baked what felt like a mountain of cookies for gifts,

• and tried to take care of myself and my marriage.

No wonder the holidays can feel overwhelming.

 My Holiday Calendar Became My Lifeline

People sometimes ask me, “How in the world did you do it?”

The truth is simple:

I planned every detail. Intentionally. Purposefully. And early.

Here are some of the real systems I used to manage the chaos:

1. I built the entire holiday calendar in October.

I wrote down every known work event, school event, church commitment, tradition, and family gathering.

Then I identified the “non-negotiables” — the things that truly mattered to me and my family.

2. I reverse-engineered everything.

If the Christmas play was on the 12th, then:

• costumes were prepared the week before

• rides and schedules were secured

• meals were prepped

• nothing else was allowed to overlap

3. My decoration system was a well-oiled machine.

I had bins labeled by room — “Living Room Tree,” “Mantel,” “Kitchen Decor,” “Kids Rooms,” “Outdoors,” etc.

Each bin had:

• a detailed inventory

• photos of where items usually went

• replacement bulbs, extension cords, ornament hooks, and craft tape already inside

This meant decorating wasn’t chaos — it was a tradition we looked forward to.

4. Cookie baking was scheduled like a retail floor plan.

• One day for mixing and prepping

• One day for baking

• One day for decorating and packaging family gifts

  Everyone had a job, even the littlest ones.

5. I protected my peace the same way I protected my schedule.

If something didn’t align with joy, family, faith, or purpose — it didn’t make the list.

 The Heart Behind It All: Protecting My Joy

Even in the busiest seasons, one thing mattered more than anything: staying joyful.

John Maxwell teaches something that has stayed with me for decades:

“People may forget what you did for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

That principle shaped every choice I made.

I wanted my kids to feel loved.

I wanted my husband to feel supported.

I wanted my team to feel valued.

I wanted people in my church and community to feel seen.

And I wanted my home to feel like a refuge — peaceful, warm, steady.

When I look back, I don’t remember the late nights, the stress, or the nonstop schedule.

I remember the feelings:

• the kids laughing while decorating cookies

• the glow of the tree lights at 5 AM before a retail shift

• the faces of exhausted associates lifted by simple kindness

• the church events that filled my heart

Those were the moments that made the busyness worth it.

  Now I’m a Nana… and Guess What?

Life looks different today, but the values are the same.

Now I’m in ministry.

I run my own coaching business.

And I have the joy of being a Nana.

But I find myself doing what I’ve always done — intentionally planning the things that matter most:

• creating memories

• honoring traditions

• serving my community

• showing up for the people I love

Joy and peace still matter to me.

Presence matters.

Making others feel valued matters.

Because whether I was a young mom in retail or a grandmother running multiple ministries, one truth has never changed:

Joy doesn’t just happen.

You choose it, protect it, and create space for it.

  Your Holiday Challenge

This year, I encourage you to:

• say yes to what matters

• say no to what drains you

• create traditions, not stress

• plan ahead so you can be present

• remember that doing less can help you feel more

Your joy is worth protecting.

Your presence is worth more than perfect decorations.

And the people around you — whether at home, work, or church — will always remember how you made them feel.

So choose joy.

Choose peace.

Choose the moments that matter.

Choose the journey.