The summer sun is blazing, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t in the Christmas spirit! Our Crazy for Christmas Challenge continues today. Since it’s the 25th of the month, we’ll take just a little time to prepare for this year’s holiday, saving us time down the road. This month’s tasks are fairly simple. Next month expect a pretty easy list as well… but in August we are going to really get to work!

Let’s get started…

Plan Your Charitable Giving

Christmas always gets us in the giving spirit and most non-profit organizations rely heavily on end-of-the-year donations. It’s also typically a time when our bank accounts are feeling the blow of ALL the Christmas expenses. By planning ahead we can give more thoughtfully, more generously, and more cheerfully! Take some time and think about who you really want to bless this season. Maybe it’s a local or national charity… maybe you want to do an extra gift to your church, or maybe you want to send a care package or monetary gift to missionaries supported by your congregation. You can plan for toy drives as well. This month’s printable has space for you to designate charities and causes and make a note of how much you would like to give. You can start setting aside the money now. Think how great it will feel to GIVE this Christmas!

A Little Shopping

As usual, check some under-the-tree gifts off your list this month. Today I’ve rounded up some toys this month to help you get those shopping wheels turning. These are things I’ll be picking up for my family. Shop the whole list here.