At Christmas time, there was a man, who looked so out of place
As people rushed about him, at a hurried pace.
He stared at all the Christmas lights, the tinsel everywhere
The shopping center Santa Claus, with children gathered near.
The Mall was packed with shoppers who were going to and fro,
Some with smiles, and some with frowns, and some too tired to go.
They rested on the benches or they hurried on their way
To parties, fun and food galore, and gifts exchanged that day.
“I’d like to know what’s going on,” the man was heard to say.
“There seems to be some sort of celebration on the way,
And would you tell me who this is, all dressed in red and white?
And why are children asking him about a special night?”
The answer came in disbelief, “I can’t believe my ears!
I can’t believe you do not know that Christmas time is here.
The time when Santa comes around with gifts for girls and boys
When they’re asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys.
“The man you see in red and white is Santa Claus, so sly.
The children love his joyful laugh and twinkle in his eye.
His gift packed sleigh is pulled along by very small reindeer,
As he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there.
“The children learn of Santa Claus while they are quite small.
When Christmas comes, he is the most important one of all.”
The stranger hung his head in shame, he closed a nail-pierced hand.
His body shook in disbelief, he did not understand.
A shadow crossed his stricken face, his voice was low but clear.
“After all these years, they still don’t know.”
And Jesus shed a tear.
12/2/07
Plan to Put Christ in the Center of the Christmas Season
People have been shocked when I tell them that I do not plan to teach Thomas about Santa. For me, Santa epitomizes the commercialization of the Christmas season. It's not that santa is bad or anything, I just choose to focus on something else. So this year I plan to post on the blog, the things I am focusing on for the day, to remind me of the Reson of the Season. I hope you will enjoy it too!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
12/1/07
25 days til Christmas
“If Christmas could just happen without so much bother.”
“I can’t wait to see what I get.”
“By the time Christmas arrives I am so exhausted I hardly feel anything but relief.”
Many of us—adults and children—go through the whole holiday season with thoughts like these foremost in our minds. How many times have you had such feelings or thoughts yourself?
But Christmas is actually one of the most sacred of holidays, and enjoying its true spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, can bring us closer to the Savior.
Here is a compiled a list of activities to do that can help us look beyond ourselves and they are simple to do.
Beginning December 1, choose one of the activities from the list. Each day complete another activity. Some are geared towards children, but adults can do them as well.
Activities List
Help do the dishes when it isn’t your turn.
Send or give a Christmas card to a missionary.
Take a surprise to a special friend.
Thank your Primary teacher for being your teacher.
Clean your room without being asked.
Write or draw a thank-you note.
Secretly help someone in your family.
Telephone or visit grandparents or other relatives.
Go caroling with friends or family.
Check that your bench in sacrament meeting is clean when you leave.
Let someone else have the first turn or the first choice.
Tell someone that he/she is special.
Give someone a hug.
Ignore a rude comment.
Shovel the snow.
Make cookies for someone.
Be the first to say Merry Chistmas
Admit when you are wrong.
Take dinner to a family in need.
Send someone a letter of encouragement.
Offer to baby sit for free.
Read to someone who is sick.
Organize grandparents photos.
Run errands for the elderly.
Do the twelve days of Christmas for a neighbor.
Be generous with compliments.
These can help you strengthen yourself as well
Try hard to choose the right all day
Sing your favorite Christmas song.
Remember to think about the Savior’s life and sacrifice during the sacrament.
Read or have someone tell you the story found in 3 Nephi 1:1–19
Write your testimony of Jesus Christ in your journal.
List all the things you are grateful for.
Be the one to encourage FHE, family prayer, and scripture reading.
“I can’t wait to see what I get.”
“By the time Christmas arrives I am so exhausted I hardly feel anything but relief.”
Many of us—adults and children—go through the whole holiday season with thoughts like these foremost in our minds. How many times have you had such feelings or thoughts yourself?
But Christmas is actually one of the most sacred of holidays, and enjoying its true spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, can bring us closer to the Savior.
Here is a compiled a list of activities to do that can help us look beyond ourselves and they are simple to do.
Beginning December 1, choose one of the activities from the list. Each day complete another activity. Some are geared towards children, but adults can do them as well.
Activities List
Help do the dishes when it isn’t your turn.
Send or give a Christmas card to a missionary.
Take a surprise to a special friend.
Thank your Primary teacher for being your teacher.
Clean your room without being asked.
Write or draw a thank-you note.
Secretly help someone in your family.
Telephone or visit grandparents or other relatives.
Go caroling with friends or family.
Check that your bench in sacrament meeting is clean when you leave.
Let someone else have the first turn or the first choice.
Tell someone that he/she is special.
Give someone a hug.
Ignore a rude comment.
Shovel the snow.
Make cookies for someone.
Be the first to say Merry Chistmas
Admit when you are wrong.
Take dinner to a family in need.
Send someone a letter of encouragement.
Offer to baby sit for free.
Read to someone who is sick.
Organize grandparents photos.
Run errands for the elderly.
Do the twelve days of Christmas for a neighbor.
Be generous with compliments.
These can help you strengthen yourself as well
Try hard to choose the right all day
Sing your favorite Christmas song.
Remember to think about the Savior’s life and sacrifice during the sacrament.
Read or have someone tell you the story found in 3 Nephi 1:1–19
Write your testimony of Jesus Christ in your journal.
List all the things you are grateful for.
Be the one to encourage FHE, family prayer, and scripture reading.
11/27/07
Today
we got a tiny bit of snow this morning, you can sorta see it out the window. So since Thomas was already at the window I got out the Christmas window clings, and we put "stickers" of baby Jesus up on the window. He thinks they are the neatest thing ever. I sure do enjoy introducing him to new things!
11/22/07
11/20/07
A Thomas BRAG
I am amazed at how smart Thomas is. He has every book he owns memorized and pretends to read them to me all day long. He already knows his ABC's. He can count to 30 (after 20 it takes a little prompting, but he gets it). He knows colors and shapes.
In nursery on Sunday, they taught him a new song about monkey and a crocodile. I had never heard this song before. But that night he said to me "sing the monkey song", and he started to do the hand actions. I thought he was talking about Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, but as he did the actions and repeated the words he remembered, I realized it was something new. I had to ask the Nursery leader what he was talking about and she told me the new song they learned, and it was just like Thomas had said - only I just couldn't understand him. So now this is his second favorite song to sing:
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree
teasing mr. crocodile "you can't catch me, no you can't catch me" (wag finger)
Then along comes mr. crocodile, quiet as can be (put hands together flat and make slithering motion, as if slithering through water)
and SNAPPED(say that word really loud)
that monkey right out of that tree (make arms big and snap them down like a crocodile's jaws snapping shut)
His favorite song is "the rainbow song"
I'll build you a rainbow, way up high above. (he raises his hands up high)
Send down a sunbeam, plumb full of love. (he gives me a hug)
Sprinkle down raindrops, teardrops of joy. ( we wiggle our fingers up high, then I tickle his neck)
I'll be happy as spring-time, watchin' over my boy.
(you can find that song here)(http://www.angelfire.com/nv/RitOnGrams/page20.html)
In nursery on Sunday, they taught him a new song about monkey and a crocodile. I had never heard this song before. But that night he said to me "sing the monkey song", and he started to do the hand actions. I thought he was talking about Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, but as he did the actions and repeated the words he remembered, I realized it was something new. I had to ask the Nursery leader what he was talking about and she told me the new song they learned, and it was just like Thomas had said - only I just couldn't understand him. So now this is his second favorite song to sing:
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree
teasing mr. crocodile "you can't catch me, no you can't catch me" (wag finger)
Then along comes mr. crocodile, quiet as can be (put hands together flat and make slithering motion, as if slithering through water)
and SNAPPED(say that word really loud)
that monkey right out of that tree (make arms big and snap them down like a crocodile's jaws snapping shut)
His favorite song is "the rainbow song"
I'll build you a rainbow, way up high above. (he raises his hands up high)
Send down a sunbeam, plumb full of love. (he gives me a hug)
Sprinkle down raindrops, teardrops of joy. ( we wiggle our fingers up high, then I tickle his neck)
I'll be happy as spring-time, watchin' over my boy.
(you can find that song here)(http://www.angelfire.com/nv/RitOnGrams/page20.html)
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