I’m a big believer in To Do lists. So during the Holy Days, I’m making my list and checking it twice. By Christmas Eve, I hope to check every To Do item Done. Here’s some things that will make my season merry and bright.

Eat and Drink

• Egg nog (dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg)
• Hot apple cider (stirred with a cinnamon stick)
• Roasted pecans with butter and salt
• Ritz crackers with peanut-butter dipped in chocolate

Don’t Eat and Drink

• Fruit cake
• Figgy pudding
• Oyster dressing (my great-aunt considered this a holiday treat)
• Haggis (non-holiday specific and rejected on general principle)

Watch

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Christmas Story (“You’ll shoot your eye out!”)
• Scrooged (Sue me—I like Bill Murray)
• The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Cartoon version—not the Jim Carrey abomination)

Turn It Up

• Tender Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant
• I Need a Silent Night by Amy Grant (heck, listen to the entire holiday CD)
• Carol of the Bells by Mannheim Steamroller
• Christmas in Dixie by Alabama

Change the Station

• Blue Christmas by Elvis
• So This is Christmas by John Lennon
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy
• The Little Drummer Boy by Anyone

Listen to New Holiday Favorites

• Wrapped in Red by Kelly Clarkston
• The Christmas Can-Can by Straight No Chaser
• Shake Up Christmas by Train

Deck the Halls

• Christmas Tree adorned with ornaments from 32 years of marriage
• Assorted wreathes on windows and doors
• Garland on the mantles and banisters
• Mangers scenes in my office displayed 24/7/365

Read

• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore
• The Gift of the Magi by O’Henry
• Matthew 1:18-2:12
• Luke 2:1-21

Sing

• O, Come, All Ye Faithful
• What Child is This
• Holy Night
• Joy to the World

Give

• Presents to family, friends, and Sam the Yorkshire Terrier
• The Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home
• Salvation Army bell ringers
• All of my heart, soul, mind, and strength