Christ Centered Christmas

Wise Men Still Seek Him

2011-12-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

We don't know exactly how many wise men were seeking the Christ child so many years ago. Tradition suggests 3, but only because of the three gifts mentioned in the scriptures. We do know that they were indeed wise, good men seeking out the King of Kings in the form of a little child.

Here are some ideas for a family activity night that could be based on the scriptures about these good men.

Hide and Seek
Mom and Dad or older siblings could be Mary and Joseph. The rest of the family could dress up in their best wise man attire with turbans and sashes, carrying small battery operated candles from the dollar store. They could travel throughout the house finally finding Mary and Joseph seated by candlelight. The "wise men" could present their gifts.

A short lesson about the symbols of the gifts that were presented to Jesus could be given.

Gold symbolizing kingship and royalty 1 Timothy 6:15 Also invaluable to a young couple who would soon have the expense of traveling to Egypt to save their child from Herod.
Frankincense used in priesthood ordinances and burnt offerings representing the Lord's priesthood and His role as the Lamb of God to be sacrificed on our behalf John 1:29.
Myrh a bitter oil is associated with burial in the New Testament John 19:39-40, symbolizing the bitter cup Christ would drink when He suffered for our sins.

(New Era magazine Dec. 2011, by Rebekah Atkin)

http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-shall-i-give-christmas-ornaments.html

(For a very nice tutorial to make these precious gift for the Savior ornaments)

Gift for Our Savior
Talk about the gifts we could give to our Savior this year. There are many ways to do this, but it could be as simple as writing on a slip of paper and putting it in a Christmas stocking or pretty box wrapped as a present for our Savior. This would be a gift to work on for the coming new year and so another activity for another night could be to open the gift for new years and have everyone record their special gift in their journal so it can pondered and referred to throughout the year. Perhaps a small beautiful picture of the Savior could be mounted in the journal near the entry about the gift for the Savior giving focus and importance to the reminder of our efforts to give and live a good gift for Him who gave the greatest gift of all. Perhaps a new inexpensive journal could be presented to each member of the family to record their efforts to do good throughout the year. We have seen journals or nice little notebooks as inexpensive as two or three dollars. Finding a way to remember and live the gift is the main idea.

Seeking Christ
This would be a great opportunity to talk about what we can do to always seek the Savior. The wise men traveled great distances to find the Savior, honor Him, and present gifts to Him. What can we do to remember Him and honor Him and feel His presence in our life everyday, not just at Christmas? How can we be His hands in helping others? Make a plan to do service one day a month as a family having a regular set aside day, maybe Sunday afternoon to write letters or visit someone lonely or sick. Pondering and seeking ways to help our family seek the Savior has brought about some precious experiences to our family through service and study in the scriptures. Wise Men Still Seek Him could be your family motto for the year as you intentionally plan ways to bring the Savior and His atonement into the fore front of your family activities.

Some more ideas:
The Wise Men night would be a great time to play the wise man game we have played for years in our family. We have 3 wise men figurines that are safe for little hands and have been put into service for years. They simply travel through our house each day getting closer to the baby Jesus. We take turns hiding them and finding them and for some reason our children loved this game. The wise men could occasionally leave a word of inspiration, a scripture, a quote or a treat behind.

For an art project that goes along with this theme, the wise men can be created from hand prints.

A wise man cake could be made with a round cake decorated with a paper crown. Singing "happy birthday" to Jesus would be fun for children and remind them again whose birth we celebrate.

Sing "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem"

Another simple game for children that we have played is to find the fancy button that fell from the cloak of one of the wise men. We have hidden that button so many times!

Video Presentation
We are so excited to share with you a resource that just became available online called "The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos". These videos are beautiful vignettes of the accounts of Christ as recorded in the King James version of the bible. To view, simply go to: http://lds.org/bible-videos

Click on the picture to link to the video "The Wise Men Seek Jesus"

We hope these ideas will spur creative ways for you to have fun with your family and as the wise men of old, seek and find Him.

Christmas Quotes: Printables!

2011-11-09T11:00:00.001-07:00

Shannon- over at redheadedhostess.com- created some beautiful print-outs of incredible testimonies of Christ's birth by men who are Special Witnesses of Christ.

These are great to ponder on and to display in your home.

Click here to link to her post.

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

2011-11-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Have you found this website yet?

It is an incredible resource for your Christmas preparations!

You may download beautiful Christmas music under the "Christmas Resources" tab.

OR you may want to share the Christmas Videos with your family.

There are coloring pages and tradition ideas as well.

Here is a video I enjoyed today. I love that President Monson says we should focus on people, not things. It's about love and giving, not the actual gifts.

Planning Notebook: Organizing Tabs

2011-11-05T12:15:00.000-06:00

My planning book is starting to come together. It may seem a little odd thinking about Christmas so early, but consider this "planning stage". There is much celebration to come!

Here are the organization tabs I came up with. They are sized to be pasted into a standard sized composition notebook using the "glue in" method (see instructions below).

This is what they look like:

Here is the PDF file if you'd like to use these for your own notebook. Follow the link to Scribd website then click the download button on the bar along the bottom of the page.
(I created these in PowerPoint, so if you want that version email me: alunt29 AT gmail DOT com )

You're welcome to use these how you want.

For the "Glue in" method you'll need:
3 sheets of white card stock paper
Scissors
Glue stick

-Print the PDF file out on card stock.
-Cut out around the red dashed-line.
-Decide roughly how you want the tabs to overlap and how many pages you want in each section.
-Slide the left edge of the paper along the top of a glue stick (see pic)

-Press edge into the crease of your notebook. Take care that there is only glue at the edge of the paper. -Close the book until glue has dried.

This secures your tab, yet keeps it free from the pages in the book, so if you need to move it to a different spot you could do so without much damage.

Happy Planning!

Learn Silent Night in ASL

2011-11-04T09:45:00.000-06:00

My best friend taught me the signs to Silent Night several years ago and it has been special to me ever since.

To refresh my memory, I did a search on YouTube for videos. There are several versions, but this is the one closest to what my friend taught me and the signs are very clear. It only has the 1st and last verse, though.

The signs help me focus in on the beauty of the words and music. As you become more comfortable with the signs, they can be very expressive and beautiful too.

Perhaps this could be part of a family performance on Christmas Eve?

Simple White Envelopes: A Tradition of Giving More

2011-11-03T06:56:00.001-06:00

Planning Notebook: Fabric Covered Composition Book

2011-11-02T14:18:00.003-06:00

I've been working on preparing my planning notebook for this Christmas season and here is what I came up with: a fabric cover for a composition notebook.

Cute with the covered button, don't ya think?

The red fabric says "hope" "peace" and "joy"

Side pockets allow the cover to easily slip on and off the notebook

I LOVE that it is reusable, so I can start with a new notebook next year using the same cover... OR I can choose to whip up a new one.

Some of the tutorials I looked at include: My Patchwork and V and Co. Pretty much I looked at their ideas and then made up my own thing as I went.

Now I am on the hunt for things to help organize my notebook.
To mark my different sections I want to use movable tabs OR I'm toying with the idea of using ribbon book marks.

To decorate, I have pictures of the Savior which I have cut out of old Ensign magazines. But I want a snazzy cover page, which really highlights the focus of Christmas and the purpose of this notebook... I'll let you know what I come up with.

Over at Christmas Your Way, they have some free printables that are super helpful in establishing structure to your different sections. You could scale down the size so you can paste pages, such as the calendar, into your notebook, OR just copy the general structure and hand-write your template in. I like to have the freedom of being able to personalize my notebook but also like having something to work off of.

This notebook is now set to start plugging in my plans for gift giving, budgeting, activities we want to do as a family, etc. But I also want this to be a place I can record spiritual experiences and impressions, so I'm making sure I have plenty of room for writing.

Time to Start Planning Again

2011-10-28T11:21:00.000-06:00

It's been a long time since we've posted, but we are still here... and we're getting ready for a new Christmas season!

Have you caught the Christmas spirit yet? The bug caught me this morning as my iTunes randomly picked up some Christmas songs. I was busy reading, and didn't really take notice of the change in songs.

Then the Hallelujah Chorus came on. And I stopped.

Listening to the beautiful words of praise for our Lord and Savior really moved me.

The spirit in my home changed in an instant. Music is that powerful and I'm so excited to have these beautiful songs permeate my everyday.

Music about Jesus Christ makes Christmas all the more special. My goal is to sit and ponder on the words of often heard songs and really let the meaning sink in. A song a day sounds reasonable right? But of course my default song will be Hallelujah Chorus.

This week I'm working on putting my planning notebook together. Have you started yours?

It's time to get started! Check out the left side bar for ideas :)
The important thing is to start writing now and get those planning juices going.

Seeking Christ

2010-12-26T21:59:00.003-07:00

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always."

~Thomas S. Monson

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Reindeer Names

2010-12-17T16:00:00.003-07:00

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When our oldest children were old enough to read gift tags on packages they began to sort and stack packages under the Christmas tree into piles according to the name on the tag. That was annoying to me as they compared piles of presents, who had the biggest package, guessing what was in the package, etc. It was distracting to the focus we wanted to have in our home and seemed to bring out the "gimmies'.

To solve the problem we began randomly assigning each member of the family a different reindeer name each year and they would not find out which reindeer they were until Christmas. The piling, comparing and guessing stopped completely! It is a system we have used successfully for about 25 years on the gifts that are from Mom and Dad.

Another idea for handling presents under the tree that I really like is the tradition of each child receiving 3 gifts, representing the gifts from the wisemen. One gift could be something useful, one could be something fun that is wanted and one a book or something related to a skill or hobby that the child has interest in.

Art Activity: Mural of Christ

2010-12-09T09:37:00.004-07:00

We do not advertise or sell things on this site, but when I found this beautiful project for our family to make I knew I had to share it here.

It is a stunning mural of the nativity which is downloaded and printed off in about 35 pages, then pieced together and colored or painted by you. We will be creating our masterpiece as our family travels home to gather for Christmas. A great project we can all work on down to the very youngest. Kind of like doing a puzzle together, only much more interactive and creative. The download is 5 dollars.

Happy coloring!

Names of Savior Art

2010-12-09T08:57:00.003-07:00

Amy at the Idea Room posted a great idea for a Christ centered Christmas gift or decor for your home. She simply wrote some of the names of Christ and framed them. Really Lovely!

Christmas Devotional

2010-12-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Last night was the annual Christmas devotional for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can watch the entire broadcast online. It is full of wonderful Christmas messages and beautiful music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A great way to invite the Spirit of Christmas into your home.

Messenger and Advocate has posted some beautiful shots of the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Shepherd's Night

2010-12-04T10:25:00.009-07:00

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"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night"

Plan to spend an evening with your family as though you were humble shepherds on that wondrous night when an angel of the Lord appeared with glad tidings.

Begin the evening with a hearty dinner of "Shepherd's Pie", or eat on the floor on a blanket a more humble fare as the shepherd's may have had with them such as pita bread and cheese. Spend this evening by candlelight.

Read from the scripture the part they played in the birth of Christ. Sing "As Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night". Have everyone dress as shepherds. Act out their story.

Read the prophecy from Alma 13:26 and discuss how these were not just ordinary shepherds, they were "just and holy" and prepared. How can we make ourselves just and holy? How can we prepare our hearts?

The shepherds went with haste to the Christ child. Do we seek out, are we urgent about finding things that bring us closer to Christ? What brings us closer to Him? I love that phrase "with haste".

When they had seen the babe (Luke 2:17) they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. How do we share our testimony of the Savior? Do we share our love of the Savior with our family? Do we love Him enough to try to be like Him? Do we live our testimony? How can we make "known abroad" our tender feelings about Him this Christmas season?

Make Shepherd Cane cookies. You could already have the dough ready and let each person make their own cane.

Shepherd Cane Cookies

1 C butter
1 C powdered sugar
1 egg
1 t peppermint extract
1 t vanilla extract
2 1/2 C flour
1 t salt
1/2 t red food coloring

Mix together butter, sugar, egg and extracts thoroughly. Stir in flour and salt. Divide dough in half. Blend red coloring into one half of the dough. Cover the two pieces of dough and refrigerate.

To bake:
preheat oven to 350. for each cookie, roll 1 t of dough from each half back and forth on a lightly floured surface into 4 inch rope. Place 1 red and 1 white rope side by side. Press together lightly at top and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and turn down top to form the crook of the cane.

Bake 9 minutes. Watch closely as they have a tendency to brown quickly. Cool on racks.

Source

Other ideas for Shepherd Night:

For young children (or not so young "children" (I like to sing this song) sing "The Itsy Bitsy Shepherd" with actions, found by clicking on Music on the side bar to the right on this site.

Families with young children could make construction paper sheep with cotton balls glued on.

"Find the Lost Sheep" game could be played where a "sheep" hides somewhere in the house and the shepherds try to find him. The little lost sheep could cry "baa" until found.

A small lamb from a nativity set could be hidden in the room, and the children find him and then take turns hiding him again.

The children could sleep that night as shepherd's slept, on the ground. It is fun to have a night of sleeping near the Christmas tree.

There are so many lessons to be learned from those wonderful shepherds of long ago.

"And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds".

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

2010-12-04T10:00:00.002-07:00

Actions to do with the song "Christmas Bells Are Ringing" for young children

Christmas bells are ringing
(do action with hands that looks like you are ringing bells)

Hear what they say to you
(place hands to ears as if trying to hear better)

Jesus is born
(rock arms back and forth as if rocking a baby)

In Bethlehem, in Bethlehem
(raise arm high above head while opening and closing hand to represent a twinkling star)

If you are interested in other songs with actions for children click on music under "Labels" on the side bar.

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I Know that My Savior Loves Me

2010-12-03T14:44:00.008-07:00

When I think of the babe born in Bethlehem, I can't help but reflect on the love of our Savior and why He came to the earth. This is a beautiful song, which was the theme for the primary children this year and I love the paintings in this slide show and the overall message.

I know that my Savior loves me and ALL of His children. I have felt His love and the power of the atonement through times of sorrow, sin, confusion, and hardships as well as in all the joyous and happy times in my life. He is my friend whom I look to in all circumstances and with Him I know all things are possible, as I strive to keep His commandments and honor the covenants which I have made with Him.

You can download the words and music for this song here.

Twelve Witnesses of Christ's Birth

2010-12-01T11:00:00.002-07:00

This article is helpful in studying the scriptural accounts of the witnesses of Christ's birth.

http://lds.org/liahona/1992/12/twelve-witnesses-of-christs-birth?lang=eng

This could also be a fun FHE with props for family members to dress up and read the scriptural testimonies of each witness. Or you could make a video of "eye witness accounts" and do it as a news show.

Some of these witnesses are often forgotten. Like Anna, after whom I'm named. But each had an important role in testifying to the world who the Christ child was and would become.

Anna by Rembrant

Missing a Loved One

2010-11-29T09:55:00.001-07:00

This Christmas will be our ninth Christmas without our beautiful son Daniel. He was the one in our family who loved holidays most of all. The night before a holiday (ANY holiday) he could barely sleep, rising very early and greeting us with shining eyes. He simply loved his family and any excuse to celebrate.

Dan, Sarah, and Anna -Christmas 1989

Because of him, we feel a greater desire to celebrate Christmas, even though we miss him terribly at Christmas. As we focus on the Savior, we truly feel joy at this time of year. Because of our Redeemer, we find peace and comfort in knowing that we will yet see our Daniel and have many more celebrations with him. Now that is something to be joyful about!

Dan's grave is located in a small cemetery that has a very beautiful tradition at Christmas. Every Christmas Eve families come and place luminaries on the graves of loved ones. It is so sweet to see all the lights flickering in the dark night on the eve of the Savior's birth. Jesus truly is the light shining in the darkness. May we all focus on that light and drink deeply of the meaning of His life and the comfort and hope that He has given us.

Simon Dewey: "For Unto Us a Child is Born"

Peaceful Christmas

2010-11-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

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It is so easy to be caught up in the commercial aspect of this time of year even if you try your best to avoid it. Often our intentions are well meaning and we are swept away without intending to overspend. Then we are faced with the nagging pressure or guilt etc., that robs us of the very feelings we were trying to create when we overspent.

One way to help bring peace to the season is by simply starting to keep a small Christmas planning notebook and dedicating a small portion of it to figuring out your budget. Check out the ideas for making a planner on this site. Once you have one, you will wonder how you managed without! Make your lists and check them twice. Spend spare moments thinking and plotting exactly where your money will be spent and the best ways to accomplish the intentional ways you wish to celebrate. Time spent now focusing on a deliberate plan will be a key part in having a more peaceful Christmas.

We have heard many lamenting the fact that due to economic times, this will be a lean Christmas. Maybe there is a blessing hidden here. It does not cost any money to sit around the table and play a game with our children. And taking a walk on a clear winter's night, looking at the stars and talking about the special star that appeared in the heavens long ago does not cost anything either. Many of the ideas on this sight cost little or no money. Small and simple things like these are the stuff that memories are made of and that bring us closer to each other.

Our family is going to try to focus more on these quiet joys this season.

"M" and "M" poem

2010-11-22T11:16:00.006-07:00

This little poem is a simple reminder of the real meaning of our celebrations this time of year.

The M and M Nativity

As you hold these candies in your hand
and turn them,
you will see
the M becomes a W, an E and a 3.

They tell the Christmas story,
it's one I'm sure you know,
It took place in a stable,
a long, long time ago.

The E is for the East where the star shines so bright.

The M is for the Manger
where baby Jesus slept that night.

The 3 is for the wise men bearing gifts,
with haste they came.

W is for Worship, angels sang praise to His name.

So as you eat these candies
or share them with a friend,
Remember the true spirit of Christmas
and never let it end!

This poem could be attached to a small snack packet of M and M's or a large bag of M and M's to give to a neighbor. We saw this at a craft boutique with the poem and small bag of M and M's packaged in a small clear bag tied with a ribbon. There are several versions of this poem all with the same basic message. Elementary age children really like the symbolism in this poem.

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The White Stocking

2010-11-22T10:59:00.003-07:00

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Some families hang a white stocking that stands out from the other Christmas stockings. It is hung early in December and is a special reminder to do kind acts of service for the Savior. When an act is performed, it is recorded on a slip of paper and placed in the stocking. These can be read out loud on Christmas morning.

Christmas Crafts

2010-11-20T13:47:00.003-07:00

Sarah posted here about how she loves to display her little artists' renditions of the Nativity scene during the Christmas season. This is such a wonderful idea because children sit and think about the birth of Christ as they are crafting, you benefit from the output of adorable decorations, and your child is reminded in a personal way of Jesus Christ and the reason we celebrate Christmas when they see their art displayed.

Here are some more craft ideas that would be fun to share with your little ones.

Click here for instructions on how to make:
Stick Nativity Scene
Isaiah 7:14 Bible Scroll
Baby Jesus in an Envelope Manger
M&M Christmas poem

String Art is a fun activity for older children. Here is a pattern for a Christmas Star

The Power of Music

2010-11-20T12:04:00.007-07:00

The Philadelphia Opera Company staged an event at a huge Macy's dept. store. They were dressed as shoppers and suddenly burst into a beautiful rendition of Handel's Messiah. It is at first humorous to see the reaction of the shoppers as they are astonished by the outburst of their fellow "shoppers". Watch this:

What a contrast between the commercial aspect that Christmas has become and the true meaning found in this beautiful music. The power and majesty of the music says it all.

Christmas Books to Share

2010-11-19T17:20:00.004-07:00

I remember helping mom put out the Christmas decorations and my favorite part was when Dad would heft the large box of Christmas books out of the storage room. These books were special because we only broke them out once a year. We would read this books together at bedtime throughout the season in place of our usual storybooks. This is a tradition I would like to establish as I am starting my own family, but I'm not worried about buying a whole bunch of books at once. You can build a collection with one new book a year.

The following is a list of beautiful Christmas stories you might consider adding to your own collection.

Picture Books:
Dozen Silk Diapers by Melissa Kajpust

Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers
The Gift of the Magi
A Dress for Ellen by Thomas S. Monson
Christmas Trolls, Wild Christmas Reindeer, Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechoski
The Story of the Three Trees
The Christmas Visitor by Annaliese Lussert
Santa Mouse by Micheal Brown
This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar
Carl's Christmas by Alexandra Day

We also enjoy books about how other cultures celebrate Christmas as well as books with illustrations from various cultures depicting the nativity of Christ.

Chapter Books:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Does your family have a favorite book to read around Christmas time?

Change in your Pocket

2010-11-11T18:19:00.004-07:00

One smart mom thought of a way to help her young children feel the spirit of service in the midst of the season. She enlisted their help doing small jobs around the house, paying them for the jobs completed with the understanding that the money they earned was to be used for a special purpose.

When she ran errands with her children, they were to place their earned change in their pockets. Then when they came upon a bell ringer for the Salvation Army they got to place the change they had earned in the metal bucket.

What fun! What a great tradition to carry out through the whole season!

Maybe we should all keep some change in our pocket!

Door-bell Ditch at Christmas

2010-11-10T16:12:00.006-07:00

One of our favorite traditions through the years has been sharing a nativity with another family. Early in the season (now is a good time to look) I purchase a nativity set and wrap each piece individually and tie with a pretty ribbon. Then, beginning either at the first of December or 12 days before Christmas, we leave a piece of the nativity at the doorstep of someone who is new in the neighborhood or someone who may need a little lift. Each night we deliver, ring the doorbell and run! The last piece that is delivered is the baby Jesus. Ruddy cheeked conspirators head home to mugs of hot cocoa and laughter over nearly being caught!

The Gift of Service

2010-11-07T14:45:00.005-07:00

We were so impressed with the young man in this video and his example of being a true disciple of Christ. He found a way of giving meaningful service.

Serving is a great way to center our Christmas on the Savior. Coming up with ideas can be a challenge. Have you had an experience you would be willing to share? Any ideas you have seen or been the recipient of? Please share by leaving a comment. Thanks!

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

2010-11-07T14:06:00.004-07:00

We have been trying to focus on showing gratitude this month using President Monson's talk from conference entitled "The Divine Gift of Gratitude" as our foundation for daily devotionals with our girls. As we have studied his words and read the accounts of our Savior in the scriptures we have reflected how wonderful it is to have a period of thanksgiving to prepare our hearts to draw closer to Him, and how appropriate to ponder our blessings in November in preparation for celebrating His life and birth in December. What better way to lead into the season of celebrating His birth, than to contemplate all that He has done for us?

President Monson shared from the book of Matthew in the Bible the story of the loaves and fishes. "And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

President Monson continues "notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had ---and a miracle followed."

I believe a beautiful way to prepare to have a Christ centered celebration during the Christmas season is to express gratitude and contemplate the beautiful meaning, and life and example of Him whose birth we celebrate.

May we take time to give thanks and ponder the matchless gift He has given us. Then watch for the miracles to follow.

The Living Christ Challenge: Memorize by Christmas

2010-10-11T14:28:00.000-06:00

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Discover the Scriptures has posted a study plan to help memorize The Living Christ by Christmas.

The idea is that memorizing this inspired document about our Savior will help our families come closer to Christ and make the season leading up to Christmas more Christ-centered.

Currently she has study aids for the four weeks in October.

You can download them from her sight HERE. Look for more to come.

The Innkeeper's Key

2009-12-10T19:55:00.008-07:00

The Idea Room posted a great idea to make a small gift to share a bit of Christmas spirit. It is called the Innkeeper's Key and it is intended to help us to remember to make room in our lives for the Savior.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas and believe in the Bible, this idea is really universal. It would make a nice simple and inexpensive gift for a neighbor or friend.
Here is the poem:

A Prayer for December

Dearest God,
Please never let me
Crowd my life
Full to the brim
So like the keeper of Bethlehem's inn
I find I have no room for Him.

Instead, let my heart's door
Be ever open,
Ready to welcome
The newborn king.
Let me offer the best I have
To Him
Who gives me everything.
-author unknown

After Christmas the key could be placed on your key ring to remind you all year to make room for the Savior in your life. Thanks Amy for sharing this great idea!

Clay Pot Nativity

2009-12-10T15:46:00.004-07:00

We had so much fun with our grandchildren making nativities out of small clay pots, large wooden beads and felt. The one pictured above was made by our 5 year old grandson. Total cost for materials for one set was less than $2, but I think the result is priceless!

Materials needed:
2 small clay pots
1 small clay saucer
2 large wooden beads
1 wooden clothespin or wooden craft person (for baby Jesus), could use wood craft stick
scraps of felt or other fabric
rafia or hay
glue gun
paint or perm. marker for faces

12 Days of CHRISTmas

2009-12-03T09:04:00.004-07:00

A new book published this year The Twelve Days of Christmas by Betty Van Orden, has so many ideas for carrying out the 12 days of Christmas for your family and loved ones.

We were particularly interested in her ideas for 12 days of focusing more on the Savior. She Chooses a theme such as Following the Savior, or The Reason for the Season or Angels Among Us and brainstorms ways to carry out the theme for 12 days teaching about the Savior and creating memories for her family. For instance one day there might be a new Christmas book to read together and beautiful beads and cord to make family bookmarks. Another day she would plan a service activity or present the story of Teach the Children (found on this site) with a small bag of objects that correlate with the story.

We found her ideas to be a wonderful mix of ideas that enhance teaching moments and ideas that are just fun and create lasting memories. Reading her book was a great spring board for creating plans for our own family, one idea led to another.....this would be as much fun to prepare for as to carry out. She would prepare for all 12 days, choose stories and activities and wrap each day individually, then place them in a big plastic storage container, even preparing these for family members who lived far away.

We can all thoughtfully and prayerfully consider ways to bring our family closer to each other and to the Savior (and have fun at the same time).

A Jesse Tree

2009-12-03T08:33:00.004-07:00

A Jesse tree is a small tree decorated with symbols portraying the spiritual heritage of Christ. A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse. (Isa 11:1) Jesse was the father of David who was to establish a royal family. A thousand years later Jesus was born in this royal line in Bethlehem.

A Jesse tree can be made by using a small Christmas tree or branch from an evergreen tree. It could be a bare tree branch potted in plaster of paris or placed in a vase. It could simply be created by taping a branch cut from paper on the wall.

Each day a scripture is read and a symbol hung on the tree. The scriptures begin with Adam and Eve and include such stories as Noah's ark, Abraham, Elijah, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and the birth of Christ.

There are many links to Jesse trees on the internet or books to purchase that include ready made ornaments that can be used as sources to create your own tree.

Much of the value in this project is in choosing which stories your family will use, reading the scripture and having your children create a drawing to go with the scripture to hang on the tree. At the end of December, a picture of the manger with baby Jesus could be hung at the top of the tree.

Names of Christ Tree

2009-11-25T15:16:00.011-07:00

In the scriptures we read of many different names for Christ. It is wonderful to remember the innocent babe born in a stable, but even more important to think of the life and mission of Christ. The names for Christ found in the scriptures help us understand the breadth and meaning of His gift to us.

Our children helped pick out some of the names and we wrote down the name with the corresponding scripture on red paper ornaments and used red satin ribbon to hang them with. They are gathered in a basket and each morning we will read the scripture and hang an ornament on a small, simple tree. Here are the names and scriptures that we use, but there are so many others that are beautiful as well.

Emmanuel -Isa. 7:14
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God -Isa 9:6
Prince of Peace -Isa 9:6
Messiah -Dan 9:25
Redeemer-Isa. 59:20
Savior -John 4:42
Good Shepherd -John 10:14
Holy One -Ps. 16:10
Mediator-1Tim. 2:5
Prince of Life -Acts 3:15
The True Vine -John 15:1
Lord -Matt. 28:6
The Bread of Life -John 6:35
Messenger of the Covenant -Mal. 3:1
The Chosen of God -Luke 23:35
Lamb of God -John 1:29
God's Holy Child Jesus -Acts 4:27-30
Rabboni -John 20:16
The Word -John 1:1,14
The Light -John1:7-8
Bright and Morning Star -Rev. 22:16
Resurrection and the Life -John 11:25

Simple thoughts, deep meanings

2009-11-17T08:11:00.007-07:00

Source

The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.

Ralph Sockman

The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.

Henry David Thoreau

Keeping Christ In Christmas

2009-11-13T09:43:00.004-07:00

Source

Welcome to our blog where we strive to share ideas and traditions that are centered around Christ!

With all of the hustle and bustle and commercialism that is rampant at this time of year, we hope to create a little haven where we can share ideas that will help us focus more on the true reason for our celebrations.

Whether we want to plan activites for our families that remind us of the birth and life of the Savior, or just find a quiet moment of inspiration to bring some peace to a harried day-we hope to make this a helpful source. We would be delighted to hear from you if you would share your family traditions that turn your hearts to Christ, or if you run across anything on the internet to share. Our hope is to make the holiday season a little more Holy and to knit our family closer to Christ and to each other.

Let's begin planning now to keep Christ in Christmas!

Traditions

2008-12-16T19:59:00.004-07:00

It is never too late to introduce new traditions into your family. Through the years we have tried many things to bring us closer to Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. Some of the traditions have "stuck" and we love doing them year after year. Some things we have tried and have not done a second time. But, there is fun just in trying new things. I figure even the things that flop, create memories for our family.

A site called Tip Junkie is talking about different ways to keep Christ the focus of your Christmas and I really appreciate all of the ideas being shared. (New ideas to try!)

As I think about the short number of days until Christmas I feel the need to keep my own thoughts focused more on the Savior. I want to slow down and truly feel and see the beauty of this time of year. I want to be part of bringing a little more peace into this world and teach my children to focus more on others.

One specific idea someone shared was to pay for the fast food order of the car behind you, or the car behind you if you were driving through a Christmas light display.

Do any of you have an idea of anonymous service, little things that can be done day to day to bring a little more kindness into the world?

We would love to hear your ideas!

I think doing kind deeds for others on a daily basis may be the best tradition of all!

LDS Publisher's Christmas Story Contest

2008-12-15T17:23:00.002-07:00

LDS Publisher is a blog "dedicated to helping LDS authors successfully navigate the LDS publishing world". They are currently holding their Christmas Story Contest. The submittions are in and now the voting is open. I haven't had a chance to read all of them, but I have enjoyed the ones I have read. Some of the stories are just fun and others are very touching.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Star

2008-12-14T14:00:00.006-07:00

I had the opportunity to help in the Nursery today and learned two new Christmas songs that our nursery leader taught to the children. They both are darling and easy to learn.

(This song is song to the tune "Itsy Bitsy Spider")

The itsy bitsy shepherd went up to Bethlehem.
(walk two fingers up your arm)

Down came the starlight to lead him to the inn.
(start above head and wiggle fingers down)

Out came the sunshine to start a brand new day.
(join hands, with arms raised over head)

And the itsy bitsy shepherd saw Jesus on the hay.
(cradle arms as if rocking a baby)

This second song is sung to the tune "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Twinkle, twinkle, Christmas star,
How I wonder what you are.
Shining high up in the sky,
Showing all where Jesus lies.
Twinkle, twinkle, Christmas star,
How I wonder what you are.

Simple, but oh so sweet!

Gifts for the Savior

2008-12-11T09:34:00.004-07:00

Source

Gift giving has become a big part of Christmas tradition, so much so that we can sometimes forget the reason for the season.

While we are plotting and planning what gifts to give our family and friends we could also include some gifts for our Savior on the list.

About.com has a list of Top 10 Spiritual Gifts to Give the Savior.

These are gifts that are not only meaningful at this time of year, but the whole year through and an eternity to come.

Bethlehem Dinner: Sfeeha (meat pies)

2008-12-10T12:07:00.004-07:00

I was looking through old posts and realized I forgot to include the recipe for Sfeeha, which are middle eastern meat pies, for the Bethlehem Dinner Menu.

1 lb ground beef (or lamb)
1 onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup lemon juice
salt and pepper and allspice to taste

Bread dough

Brown the pine nuts in a skillet. Set aside.

Saute the onion in butter. Add the meat and spices. Saute until tender. Add browned pine nuts and lemon juice. Mix well.

Roll dough into small balls (raquet ball size), flatten into 3 inch circles on a greased cookie sheet. Spread meat stuffing evenly on top of circles to within 3/8" from the edge.

Bake at 400 until meat and dough are lightly brown (about 7-8 minutes)

Optional: Serve with Laban, a yogurt spread.

Laban:

Plain yogurt
Cheesecloth

Put your yogurt in the cheesecloth. The yogurt will start to drain off liquid. Allow it to drain over night in the refridgerator. (you will have to figure out a way to hang the cheesecloth over a bowl without touching the liquid) The result is a creamy spread that is yummy on meat pies and pita bread.

Christmas Around the World

2008-12-09T07:36:00.002-07:00

Poland has some wonderful old traditions that center around Christ. On Christmas eve the family gathers around the dinner table that is covered with straw with a white tablecloth laid over it. They wait for the sign of the first star in the evening sky before sitting down to eat their meatless meal. This is called the feast of the little star. Originally there would be 12 courses symbolic of the 12 Apostles. They set an extra chair and table setting to welcome Christ, or any unexpected guest, in remembrance of Joseph and Mary needing a welcoming place that night long ago.

Do you know of any traditions from other countries that help you remember Christ at Christmas? Please share with us!

Christmas Service

2008-12-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

Segullah is an LDS literary magazine. They have an online blog and one of the articles for this month is Christmas service: Bitter? Sweet? Or Some of Both? The author talks of personal bitterness from being the recipient of service and then discusses how her view has changed through the years to one of gratitude. There uses some good quotes from general authorities about the motives of service.

Another article in the Segullah archive is I Believe in Santa. But I Didn't Used To about a young mother who decided it was a good thing for her small children to believe in Santa. She sees it as a first step of faith that could be transferred into faith in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Symbols of Christmas FHE

2008-12-08T11:25:00.006-07:00

Chocolate On My Cranium has posted another Christmas FHE on her blog about the Symbols of Christmas. The lesson includes scriptures and pictures to go along with each symbol.

I love the idea of doing sugar cookies and using cookie cutters that go along with the symbols you talk about in the lesson.

My ever faithful Sugar Cookie recipe can be found at Everyday Recipes.

FHE Nativity Game

2008-12-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

About.com has a Family Home Evening Nativity Game complete with files to print off the cards either in color or b/w. It's Go fish game using pictures from the nativity including the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the angel, shepherds, wise-men, and more.

Christmas Thoughts

2008-12-05T08:38:00.013-07:00

"Christmas can be so glorious! We can visit the sick, bring joy to the despairing, peace to the unfortunate, and like the Master...give more of ourselves and less of our assets."
Spencer W. Kimball

"It is not what we receive that enriches our lives, it is what we give."

George Albert Smith

"The response of the selfish will always be that

there is not room in their inn."
Neal A. Maxwell

Grab a Button

2008-12-04T21:31:00.003-07:00

To put a Christ Centered Christmas BUTTON on your blog copy and paste the following code into a new Html/JavaScript gadget.

The Wonderous Nativity

2008-12-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a print out published in this month's Friend magazine of a nativity scene you print, cut, and assemble.

Video: "The Nativity" and "Breath of Heaven"

2008-12-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Years ago I learned of this video/music combination in Church. It is the video "The Nativity" produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the song "Breath of Heaven" sung by Amy Grant. They are quite beautiful when you play them together and we watch them together every year.

I have always just played them together manually myself by turning down the volume on the tv and turning on the cd and the video at the same time. With the blessings of the internet there are a few people that have done the work for you and have posted it on YouTube.

Christmas in the Book of Mormon FHE

2008-12-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Chocolate on my Cranium does a weekly FHE post. The one for this week is Christmas in the Book of Mormon. The Family Home Evening lesson includes scriptures, pictures, and maps along with other materials.

Living Christ Christmas Tree

2008-12-04T08:17:00.006-07:00

TJ Hirst on her blog Illuminate Everyday is sharing the special symbolism of the ornaments on her Living Christ Christmas Tree in a series of posts.

She explains:

"I chose each ornament for our tree to symbolize a particular aspect of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from The Living Christ. Some are well-known symbols like doves for peace, but others represent my own associations and creativity."

The series will continue on Wednesdays until Christmas. You can move from the beginning post to the next ones by clicking on "Next in the Series", which is at the bottom right hand corner of each post.

Pictures used with permission

Christ Centered Advent activites

2008-12-03T18:27:00.015-07:00

Here are several ideas for daily activities to do as a countdown for Christmas. I write these on little pieces of paper and place one daily in our little Christmas socks that hang on the mantel. I mix in some just plain fun ideas as well. Just choose the ones that suit you and your family.
(The links included in this list will connect you with the specific post on this blog with more details for that idea)

Make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday!
Make thank you notes to use after Christmas
Learn a Christmas hymn to sing as a famil
Play the wise man game
Introduce the baby Jesus secret service in your home
Read an uplifting Christmas classic like "A Christmas Carol" together as a family
Make pita bread and read bread of life scripture
Read a Christmas story from the Friend or Ensign
Write down on paper, roll up and tie with a bow a gift you are going to give to the Savior this year
Cut general shapes and many colored pieces of felt to make a flannel board nativity and leave it out for children to retell story
Make simple costumes to act out the nativity story
Act out nativity story while someone read from Bible
Write letters and make cards to send to loved ones far away
Make cookies together and secretly leave at someone's doorstep
Make bread to deliver to neighbors or shut-ins with a tag that has the bread of life scripture
Color or paint a picture of the shepherds
Color or paint a nativity scene and hang it in your home
Watch an uplifting Christmas dvd together
Watch Luke 2 video while listening to "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant
Have a "white" Christmas--attend the Temple
Go shopping together for sub for santa or angel tree gifts
Donate good quality used books to your public library
Help children clean out toys and donate good used ones to charity
Make dinner for a shut in
Help children write a story about being there at the manger on Christmas night
Write a note to a missionary
Have a Bethlehem dinner
Tell story of the miracle of loaves and fishes. Sit on blanket and eat fish sticks, or fish crackers and bread and talk about miracles Christ performed
Have a family Christmas music night, sing together, play instruments, get kazoos so everyone can participate
Attend a live nativity together
Listen to Handel's Messiah and learn story behind music
Make a Christmas advent candle, and read a Christ related scripture each night as candle burns
Wrap meaningful and uplifting Christmas books and open one each day and read together
Collect uplifting Christmas stories and compile in a binder to read as a family each day
Collect or make from paper symbols of Christmas and teach children the meaning. They could draw one from a gift bag and tell how it reminds them of Christ
Go for a night time winter walk and enjoy the beautiful stars and talk about the special star that appeared at Christ's birth
Make star shaped sugar cookies, make a tag with scripture that tells of signs at birth of Christ and share with someone
Make nativity Christmas cards to send
Make handprints of children, cut out and print"I will have helping hands for Jesus"
Determine a need and perform a service anonymously
Forgive and make amends with someone

Christmas Music

2008-12-03T12:00:00.004-07:00

I look forward every year to Christmas music. It is the one time of the year that I have music playing most of the time. I love the spirit of the music and the memories that come with it. Every year I add another CD to my collection.

This year I discovered Pandora. It is a commercial free internet radio that allows you to customize your "channel" to your likes and dislikes. You are able to type in the artists or songs you like and they will play music that is similar. Today I made myself a Holiday channel by typing in Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sarah McLauchlan, Josh Groban, Amy Grant, etc and selecting their holiday version. Now all I have to do is turn up the volume on my computer and I can have a wide array of Christmas music wafting through my house.

Handel's Messiah is another all time favorite of mine. The spirit of that music is unlike any other. There is a book availible that tells the story behind Handel's Christmas music.

Teach a Christmas hymn to your family that they do not already know and sing it together in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

We have had so much fun having a special evening set aside to share Christmas music that we sing or play on different instruments. We love playing Christmas music on the bells, flute, violin, cello, harp, trumpet guitar, and piano. It is never perfect and it is a good thing that all the windows are shut so no one else can hear, but it is a lot of fun.

We have felt so blessed when a group is out caroling and comes to our door to sing a beautiful carol to us. How wonderful it would be to go and sing to someone in a nursing home or hospital.

We have some friends that have a Christmas tradition of have having families come over and gather around their piano and sing Christmas carols together and share goodies. It is a great way to share in the friendship and music of the season.

Make it a tradition to go to local Christmas concerts even if it is just supporting the highschool band.

Christmas Message from the Prophet

2008-12-03T11:30:00.004-07:00

I realize many get the Ensign in there home, but for those of you who do not here is a link to the First Presidency Message by President Thomas S. Monson The Best Christmas Ever and here is the link to the entire December issue in pdf format.

Bread of Life Gift Tags

2008-12-03T10:11:00.006-07:00

Everyday Food Storage has a post about doing homemade bread for neighbor gifts. She has made darling tags you can print to go with the bread using the scripture John 6:35:

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Decorating for Christmas

2008-12-01T12:03:00.004-07:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over it is time to get into the Christmas spirit. I am always excited to pull out the Christmas decorations and transform the house. I love having Christmas lights all over inside the house, garlands, and of course the Christmas tree. I love the atmosphere that all these decorations create. There are many ways to make the decorations in your home Christ centered. Obviously there is the nativity, or in my case multiple nativities, but there are also other things you can use to emphasize the true reason for Christmas.

One idea is to display beautiful pictures of the Savior in prominent places in your home. We have moved pictures to place on easels with evergreens around to make them become an important part of the Christmas decorating of our home. An inexpensive source for pictures are old calendars or church publications.

What do you do in your home to emphasis Christ in your decorations?

One Week Until December 1st

2008-11-24T11:31:00.004-07:00

I know this week is crazy with Thanksgiving and family gatherings. I also wanted to point out that there is only one week until the 1st of December. That means if you are planning on doing an advent calendar it's time to pin down at least what you are going to do for the first few nights if not the entire month. There are many different ideas for advent calendars on this site and others.

Personally I usually try and do an activity advent calendar for the kids and a scripture one for our family scripture study. I make a list in my notebook of activities and then the night before I can choose an activity that works with our schedule for the day and put it in the form of advent calendar I use (my mother uses Christmas socks, I use a Christmas house with doors and windows).

Skip To My Lou posted today another idea for a stocking advent calendar and commented in her post that "advent calendars are a wonderful way to prepare our hearts and be reminded daily how special this holiday is. If we want it can be a holiday to be savored, anticipated and enjoyed and not something we feel we must get through."

Planning can make or break an advent calendar so be sure to get a head start. If you have any ideas for activities to include please share!

Kids Handmade Holiday

2008-11-22T15:58:00.002-07:00

A kids crafting blog that I follow called The Crafty Crow has put out the word that they are doing a Kids Handmade Holiday series of posts for the month of December. I am very excited to see what they share. I believe that handmade gifts have more power to touch hearts (especially grandparents') and are a big part of giving of yourself.

Homemade Gifts

2008-11-21T08:47:00.001-07:00

Every year the ugliness of commercialism becomes more prevelant. We simply do not watch TV and thus don't have to see all of the commercials. Catalogs are thrown out. One way to help us focus more on giving is to make homemade gifts. I remember my family doing this as a child and those are the presents that I actually remember. With a little bit of encouragement, children are so very good at giving of themselves.

There are many blogs and websites that do homemade Christmas gift idas. Some of the major blogs do a special series of posts this time of year dedicated to homemade gifts. One such blog is Sew, Mama, Sew. They are doing their 2nd anual Handmade Holidays. Every day in Novemeber they are posting gift ideas focused on people who might be on your gift list ie. college student, grandparents, gift exchanges, teachers, pet lovers etc. (They did this last year and there is a link to those posts. This years are all supposedly all new ideas). Seeming as we are nearing the end of November there are quite a few posts filled with ideas.

I will add a link list for those blogs I find that are posting about homemade gifts. Don't be afraid to be creative and get your kids in on the action.

Please comment if you have any ideas to share or have found blogs with good ideas.

A Very Good Christmas Read

2008-11-17T19:48:00.006-07:00

If you are looking for a good way to prepare yourself for a meaningful Christmas celebration, a good book was just released this year called "A Child Is Born" by W. Jeffrey Marsh. The author breathes life into the Christmas story as it is interwoven with the insights found in the Joseph Smith Translation, coupled with commentaries from modern Prophets. Food for thought for the entire Christmas season--very inspiring!

The Christmas Symbols Story

2008-11-17T14:50:00.004-07:00

This story was submitted by my sister-in-law Charis from her personal files. She commented that she often skips the story and goes on to do what Santa does to teach the Christmas symbols.
---------------------------

Late one Christmas Eve I sank into my easy chair. Admiring the tree with it’s decorations, I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing… The kids were in bed the gifts were all wrapped: the milk and cookies were in their place for Santa. It wasn’t long before the tiny twinkling tree lights lulled me into a deep sleep.

I don’t know how long I slept, but all of a sudden I opened my eyes and there stood Santa Claus himself next to my Christmas Tree.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him. But he was not the “jolly old elf” of Christmas legend. The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed with tears in his eyes.

I had to ask, “Santa, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“It’s the children” Santa replied sadly.

“but the children love you.” I said.

“Oh I know they love me and the gifts I bring them,” Santa said. “But the children of today seem to have somehow missed out on the true spirit of Christmas. It’s not their fault. It just that the adults, many of them not having been taught themselves, have forgotten to teach the children.”

“Teach them what?” I asked.

Santa’s kind old face became soft and gentle. His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. “Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas. Teach them that the parts of Christmas we can see, hear, and touch are much more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas we now observe. Teach them what it is that they truly represent.”

Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on the fireplace mantle. “teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen with its unchanging color represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Its needles point heaven ward as a reminder that man’s thoughts should turn heaven ward as well.”

--sing “I lived in Heaven”

Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at the top of the small tree. “The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises and that the wise will still seek Him.”

--Sing, “Stars were Gleaming”

“Red,” said Santa “is the first color of Christmas.” He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree. “Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God’s greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red it should remind them of that most wonderful gift.”

--Sing “Did Jesus really live again”

Santa found a bell in his pack and placed it on the tree. “Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd who gave h is life for the sheep.”

--Sing “Christmas Bells”

Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room. “The glow of the candle represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of God’s Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ’s footsteps. . . to go about doing good. Teach them to let their lights shine before men that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God’s precious children, their light shining for all to see.

--Sing “I am trying to be like Jesus”

Again, Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped candy cane. As he hung it on the tree, He spoke softly, “The candy cane is a stick of hard red and white candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. The shape J to represent the precious name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior. It also represents the crook of the Good Shepherd, which he uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs that, like sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed and a large red stripe that represents the shedding of blood of Jesus so that we can have eternal life. Teach these things to the children”

--Sing “The Shepherds Carol”

Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh fragrant greenery and tied with a bright red bow. “The bow reminds us that the bond of perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors red and green and the heaven turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice. Even the wreath’s very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ’s love. It is a circle without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children.”

--Sing “Families can be together forever”

“But where does that leave you Santa?” I asked. The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa’s face. “Why, bless you, my dear,” he laughed. “ I, too am only a symbol. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things, there is no danger that I’ll ever be forgotten.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand at last, “ I replied.

“That’s why I came” said Santa, “You’re an adult. If you don’t teach the children these things, then who will?”

(For music and words see the LDS music site)

Christmas Articles from LDS Living

2008-11-13T12:08:00.004-07:00

My sister-in-law was kind enough to point out that in the current issue of LDS Living there are multiple articles about having an organized and spiritual Christmas season. Unfortunately they have drastically limited the availibility of these articles online (I don't know if you can just buy the current issue somewhere in Utah without subscribing. It looks like they put full issues up online, but the one up there currently is the May/June issue- not helpful).

I have linked a couple articles I was able to find.

Some Lessons Learned by Lloyd and Karmel Newell
Simple Gift Ideas by Heather Holm
Simplifying the Christmas Season by Dawn Frandsen

A true story of Christmas service: Circle of Love by Janet Peterson
FHE Plan: Christmas
FHE Plan: Appreciating the Spirit of Christmas Music

Simple Gift Giving

2008-11-13T08:54:00.002-07:00

I came across this post from Simple Mom about keeping gift giving simple and focused. She made the point that more often than not our memories of Christmas are not of what gifts we received but "involve being with people, laughing, playing, crafting and baking, going to Christmas Eve church services, and just being together celebrating the season. That’s what your kids will value as adults, too."

Planning Notebook Pages

2008-11-12T07:56:00.002-07:00

I came across today a darling blog that has designer pages you can download for your notebook (if you are doing the three ring binder route). Tricia-Rennea art and illustrations has calendars, project lists, menus, and weekly sheets for both December and November. She also has a lot of cute stuff not related to holiday planning. Check her out!

Quote: Gifts

2008-11-09T17:06:00.005-07:00

Rings and jewels are not gifts but apologies for gifts.

The only true gift is a portion of yourself.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gift Giving

2008-11-06T09:38:00.006-07:00

Part of a family home evening can be spent deciding what gift each member of your family is going to give to Jesus. Each person writes on a paper their gift--something that they will do to help others, or an attribute they need to work on, etc. Then the paper is rolled into a scroll and tied with ribbon. This can either be placed on the tree or in an empty creche or basket, and may be shared on Christmas.

I have read of families that have decided on a service that takes the effort of every family member to carry out and that is their gift to the Savior. I have known of empty nesters where the husband and wife choose a charity to do a sevice for or contribute to and write their intention in a card that is then placed on the tree and opened on Christmas morning, each spouse receiving from the other the surprise of charitable giving.

The Christams Jars is a beautiful story about saving spare change throughout the year in a jar and using that money to very carefully choose a specific way to help fill the needs of someone. The amount does not have to be large to touch someone's life.

To simplify and turn away from materialism some families give each child 3 gifts (like the wise men). If a gift is for the entire family, such as a game or a larger gift it is said to be brought on the back of a camel traveling with the wise men.

I also assign each child in our family a reindeer name to write on the gift tags so they cannot 'tally' up number of gifts under the tree or guess what their gifts are and become overly focused on what they are 'getting'. These reindeer names are recorded in the notebook.

Pita Bread and Bread of Life Symbolism

2008-11-05T16:28:00.010-07:00

Pita Bread Recipe for the Bethlehem Dinner Menu

Read John 6: 35 and discuss it's meaning while this bread bakes in your oven. Children like to watch this bread puff up while it is baking, and flatten when taken out of the oven

1 pkg yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
3 cups flour
1 1/4 t. of salt
1 t. granulated sugar

Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add sugar and let it sit for 5-10 min. Meanwhile, mix flour and salt, pour in yeast mixture. Slowly add 1 cup of warm water and mix.

Flour your work surface, placing the dough on it and kneading for about 5-10 min. until dough is elastic. Coat a large bowl with olive oil and place dough in it, turning the dough to coat with olive oil. Let rise until doubled.

Roll out dough into the shape of a rope. Cut the dough into 10-12 small pieces. Roll out each ball of dough with a floured rolling pin into circles about 5-6 inches and 1/4 inch thick.

Preheat the oven to 5oo degrees and place your rack at the bottom of the oven. Bake each circle about 4 min.. When the bread puffs up, turn over and bake for a couple of min. When you take it out of the oven the bread will flatten out. Serve bread dipped in hummus.

There is also a Bread of Life video about Christ on the Jesus Christ website done by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Christmas Stories

2008-11-03T17:09:00.001-07:00

Collect children's books containing stories that illustrate the true uplifting meaning of Christmas. Wrap them, or enlist an older child to wrap them, place them in a basket and open them one at a time to read. These books should inspire a feeling of compassion, service and a desire to follow the example of Jesus.

Some of our favorites:
*The Christmas Train by Ivan Gantschev (A true story, with layers of meaning--unfortunately out of print, check online)
*The Three Trees
*A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (could be read out loud as a family)
*The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke (President Monson likes this)

Or collect stories from the Ensign or Friend or from online, and compile into a notebook that can be read a couple of nights a week leading up to Christmas.

Some stories online:
Three Trees from Sugardoodle
The Story of Silent Night from Sugardoodle
The Christmas Orange from Sugardoodle
Advent Story Book complied by Melissa Dillon submitted on Sugardoodle

In the past we have put together some stories and thougts on Christmas and placed them in numbered envelopes to be read each day and called it "A Walk With Christ" especially effective with older children and teenagers.

Read excerpts from the book Jesus the Christ by James Talmage to gain spiritual and historical insight into the events leading up to Christ's birth. An audio file of the book can be found and downloaded for free here

Multimedia about Jesus Christ

2008-11-03T16:55:00.002-07:00

Prophets and Apostles Share Testimonies of Christ- audio file submitted to Sugardoodle. Includes Christmas music and a list of who is speaking and the original reference.

Special Witnesses of Christ- videos of the current Prophet and Apostles testifying of Christ

2007 Christmas Devotional- videos featuring Gordon B. Hinkley, Thomas S. Monson, and Henry B. Eyring; the first presidency at the time

Bread of Life -video

Jesus the Christ- audio file of the book by James E. Talmage. Free download.

Family Home Evening Ideas and Resources

2008-11-03T16:41:00.001-07:00

The Birth of Christ by Deseret Book
Christmas Service by Ivy Bonhorst on Sugardoodle
The Christmas Orange on Sugardoodle
The Christmas Story from the Friend (For Little Friends, includes interactive pictures to help tell the story)
The Birth of Jesus Christ brought Joy to the Earth from Primary 2 Manual
Christmas Quiz from the Friend

Stockings Advent

2008-11-03T16:08:00.001-07:00

We made an advent calendar out of small baby and child sized Christmas socks that attach to twine rope with small wooden clothes pins and hang at the fireplace. Each day the children find a small note with an idea for a Christmas activity or a small treat. Many of the ideas are just for fun, but mixed in are ideas of things to do for service for someone else, like make a Christmas card, make and deliver a treat to a neighbor, write your testimony of the Savior or draw a picture of the shepherds, etc.

Symbols of the Season

2008-11-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

In the book, A Child Is Born by W. Jeffrey Marsh, the author states that, "Christmas symbols are everywhere. We can succesfully mix the two (the symbols of Christmas and the Savior) and enjoy both, without hastily and guiltily retreating into separate worlds each Christmas season--if we allow one to bear witness of the other. Each Christmas custom and every Christmas symbol can help us remember and appreciate more, some greater truth about Christ."

Teach your children of all the symbols of Christmas. We can actually feel spiritually uplifted living in the world of candy canes, wreaths, lights and all the trappings that go with Christmas if we use all of these holiday trappings to remind us of the real meaning for celebration. We can look at the following symbols of Christmas and see a deeper meaning.

Candy Canes--the shepherd's crook
Evergreen Wreaths and Trees--eternal life
Stars--the star of Bethlehem
Christmas Lights--The Savior is the light of the world
Santa Claus--the spirit of giving
Candles--Jesus is our true source of light and shining light to a dark world

Julie Slagle shared an idea on Sugardoodle for an advent calendar using the symbols of Christmas and scriptures to go along with them. She also included an ornament and an activity for each day.
Another posted on Sugardoodle that has pictures and meanings

Family Service

2008-11-03T15:32:00.001-07:00

Do a small kindness for Jesus. Do a service for someone in your family such as secretly making a bed for someone and leave a small figure of the Christ child at the site of your service. That person then has to do a kind thing in secret for someone else in the family. We try to keep a couple of these baby Jesus figures (you can sometimes find these at the Dollar store and Walmart) circulating throughout the Christmas season. It helps if a parent or an enthusiastic child is in charge of reminding people to keep this going. It is wonderful to have a spirit of service in the home!

Hang Christmas stockings early in the season and encourage family members to place notes of appreciation, love and noticing the good deeds of another and read them on Christmas.

Place a basket of straw near your nativity and encourage family members to take a piece of straw and place it into the manger each time they do a kind deed for someone else. This idea was used for an Family Home Evening idea posted on Sugardoodle

Nativities

2008-11-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Collect nativities from around the world reminding your family that "every knee will bow and every tongue confess." Nativities representing different countries remind us that we are all God's children.

It is wonderful to have a set or two that the children in the family can touch without worry of breaking.

At the beginning of the Christmas season, purchase a nativity set to give away. Wrap each piece of the nativity in pretty paper or celephane bag and tie up with a bow. Each night for 12 nights leave a piece of the nativity at someone's doorstep, leaving the Christ child on the last night. Our children have always loved the secrecy and close calls of being found out.

It is always exciting to unpack the Christmas decorations each year. Why not make a special event of setting out the nativity and retelling the story with the figures at the beginning of the season. It only takes a little bit of time to remind our children or grandchildren the true meaning behind our Christmas celebrations. Some familiies do not set out the figure of the Christ child until Christmas eve.

Bethlehem Dinner: Spinach Pies

2008-11-03T15:18:00.003-07:00

Spinach Pie recipe for the Bethlehem Dinner Menu.

2-10 oz blocks of frozen spinach
1 onion, finely chopped
4-5 Tbs of lemon juice
2 Tbs oil
salt and pepper to taste

Bread dough

Defrost spinach under running water in strainer. Squeeze out excess water with hands. Sprinkle with salt and alow to sit in strainer for 15 minutes. Mix with all the ingredients. Pinch off 2 1/2" balls of dough and roll out into 4" squares. Put a heaping tablespon of filling on each circle (kind of in a triangle shape, pointing to one of the corners of the square). Fold up from the bottom of the triangle and bring in the sides to the center. you will have formed a triangle. Press down seams firmly and pinch ends together.

Place on greased cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 400 until golden brown.

Bethlehem Dinner: Baklava

2008-11-03T15:13:00.001-07:00

Baklava Recipe for Bethlehem Dinner Menu for those of you interested in making it yourself. I usually go the easy route and buy it at the store.

2 lbs. phyllo dough
6 cups walnuts, chopped
2 cups rendered butter (see recipe below)
1 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup confectioner's suggar
2 cups Attar (recipe below)

Mix nuts, sugar, spices, and 1 Tbs. butter.Grease 12x17 baking sheet with butter. Place two layers of baklava phyllo on the baking sheet, brushing lightly with butter. Continue this process until 1/2 lb. of dough has been layered. Spread the nut mixture evenly over the dough. Lay the rest of the dough, following the same procedure. Do not grease the last layer. With a sharp knife cut into diamond shapes. Heat the rest of the butter (about 1 cup) and pour on the tray.

Preheat oven to 400. Place the tray in oven, then reduce to 275. Bake from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Cool for 10 min. Pour cold syrup (attar) evenly over the surface. Rendered Butter(another warning: this makes way more than you will need for one batch of baklava, I know Jon shrinks the recipe down accordingly)

5 lbs. Sweet butter
1/2 cup flour

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add the flour. Cook on low heat until foam disappears from the top. When clear, remove from heat and cool. Pour the pure butter into jars. Be careful not to pour the salty residue. Note: Rendered butter is used in Arabic pastries. Stored in jars it will keep for many months without being refrigerated.

Attar
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 Tbs. Lemon juice

Mix sugar and water and bring to boil. Add lemon juice and boil for 7 more minutes. Cool. Makes 2 cups Attar.

Bethlehem Dinner: Stuffed Grape Leaves

2008-11-03T15:01:00.002-07:00

Recipe for part of the Bethlehem Dinner Menu.

1 jar grape leaves (found by the pickles in some grocery stores. Safeway carries them)

1 1/2 cups ground meat, raw--traditionally lamb but I use beef

1 c rice (uncooked)

3 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cinnimon

2 tbs butter (use if you are using a lean meat)

Mix the above ingredients together well. This is your filling for the grape leaves.

Remove all the grape leaves from jar carefully, unfold, separate, and rinse leaves. Remove stems with a knife, place 1 tsp of filling near base of leaf (around where the stem was) fold in sides and roll up the leaf like a cigar. Should be very tight or it will come unrolled while cooking. Place in a large sauce pan, add 1 (8oz) can of tomato sauce and water to cover the rolled leaves. Sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil.

Cook covered on low for 50 minutes, checking to make sure there is still water and the leaves are not burning on the bottom. Test to make sure the rice is cooked in the leaves. Add a couple tablespoons of lemon juice and heat through. Serve warm or they are good cold too.

Tip: I use a small plate on top of the grape leaves in the sauce pan with the lid on to old the leaves still while the water is bubbling. This helps to prevent th leaves from coming unrolled.

Arts and Crafts

2008-11-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

I love children's artwork and always have some displayed in prominent places in my home. At Christmas it is wonderful to sit down with your children or grandchildren with paper and art supplies and encourage them to draw or paint pictures of the nativity. Encourage their creativity and you will be rewarded with the sweetest artwork that reminds your children and you of the reason for the season.

Help children to make their own nativity. We have done this with simple cut out shapes of felt that were then played with on a flannel board to retell the Christmas story. We have used wooden spools bought at the craft store and painted, and playdough and clay shapes molded by small hands.

We have bought a big slab of red potter's clay and made small clay lamps that are similar to the lamps used at the time of Christ. Even teenage boys like the process of lighting these.

Look for more arts and crafts in the weeks to come. We will link to many of the amazing things other people are doing.

Three Kings Game

2008-11-03T14:50:00.001-07:00

We use very inexpensive figures of the wisemen (my most recent kings were from the dollar store) or you could draw or have a child draw the kings, or use 3 big fancy buttons that fell from the wisemen's cloaks.

Each night before bedtime, or after the kitchen is cleaned up from dinner etc., have someone in the family hide the 3 wisemen. We start in a room in the house that is farthest away from the nativity set. The wisemen are hidden, the children find them and that is all there is to it, but for some reason children love doing this. The next night someone else hides them and they are moved a little bit closer to the nativity, eventually going through most of the rooms in the house until on Christmas they finally find the Christ child.

Bethlehem Dinner

2008-11-03T14:43:00.005-07:00

We look forward every year to setting aside a special evening which we call our "Bethlehem" dinner. We prepare foods that the Savior may have been familiar with. Our menu includes dishes that have been in my husband's family for generations that originate from the Jerusalem area. We play soft Christmas religious music and eat by candlelight and clay lamp light. We have a short devotional or share some historical facts about the time and places Jesus lived in.
(Click the link for a post with the recipe)

Menu:
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Sfeeha
Baklava
Spinach Pies (you can also buy these at stores like Costco in their frozen section labeled as Spanakopita)
Pita Bread
Hummus
Grapes
Mediterranean Olives
Grape Juice
Cucumber Salad
etc.

Christ Centered Christmas

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Christmas Quotes: Printables!

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

Planning Notebook: Organizing Tabs

Learn Silent Night in ASL

Simple White Envelopes: A Tradition of Giving More

Planning Notebook: Fabric Covered Composition Book

Time to Start Planning Again

Seeking Christ

Reindeer Names

Art Activity: Mural of Christ

Names of Savior Art

Christmas Devotional

Shepherd's Night

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

I Know that My Savior Loves Me

Twelve Witnesses of Christ's Birth

Missing a Loved One

Peaceful Christmas

"M" and "M" poem

The White Stocking

Christmas Crafts

The Power of Music

Christmas Books to Share

Change in your Pocket

Door-bell Ditch at Christmas

The Gift of Service

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

The Living Christ Challenge: Memorize by Christmas

The Innkeeper's Key

Clay Pot Nativity

12 Days of CHRISTmas

A Jesse Tree

Names of Christ Tree

Simple thoughts, deep meanings

Keeping Christ In Christmas

Traditions

LDS Publisher's Christmas Story Contest

Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Star

Gifts for the Savior

More Christmas Stories

Bethlehem Dinner: Sfeeha (meat pies)

Christmas Around the World

Christmas Service

Symbols of Christmas FHE

FHE Nativity Game

Christmas Thoughts

Grab a Button

The Wonderous Nativity

Video: "The Nativity" and "Breath of Heaven"

Christmas in the Book of Mormon FHE

Living Christ Christmas Tree

Christ Centered Advent activites

Christmas Music

Christmas Message from the Prophet

Bread of Life Gift Tags

Decorating for Christmas

One Week Until December 1st

Kids Handmade Holiday

Homemade Gifts

A Very Good Christmas Read

The Christmas Symbols Story

Christmas Articles from LDS Living

Simple Gift Giving

Planning Notebook Pages

Quote: Gifts

Gift Giving

Pita Bread and Bread of Life Symbolism

Christmas Stories

Multimedia about Jesus Christ

Family Home Evening Ideas and Resources

Stockings Advent

Symbols of the Season

Family Service

Nativities

Bethlehem Dinner: Spinach Pies

Bethlehem Dinner: Baklava

Bethlehem Dinner: Stuffed Grape Leaves

Arts and Crafts