Christmas Eve!

I woke up this morning to my son, Ashley, running in the room yelling "It's Christmas Morning! It's Christmas Morning!" With all the enthusiasm of a 4 year old. I got up and we went to the calendar and we put one more sticker up. I explained that it was Christmas Eve and that Christmas was tomorrow. I'm so glad I made that calendar. Ususally he would argue with me about it, but he could see what today was and when Christmas was and he was okay about it.

As today is the last day of my Gifts of Christmas, I would like to know about your experiences. If you would like, please share in the comments about using these Gifts of Christmas this year. I would love to know about what you have done to make your Christmas special this year.

I also have another request. My brother is taking the trip of his dreams. He left on his bicycle from Seattle just before Thanksgiving and he is headed for the tip of South America. Right now he is somewhere in California and he will not be with any friends or family for Christmas. Please visit his blog, Ride South and send him an email wishing him a Merry Christmas. Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gifts of Christmas Day 1
My Gift to Christ Today is to call someone who is far away who I haven't talked to in a long time, wish them and Merry Christmas and then just Listen.

Gifts of Christmas Day 2
My gift to Christ today is to share my testimony of the Savior with someone

almost there!

Gifts of Christmas Day 3
My gift to Christ Today is the gift of Industry- I will go and do!

More holidays to Celebrate

My cousin Melanie is getting married today. My friend Jenny is getting married today. Congratulations to you both! The more holidays this time of year the better! My birthday is on January 2nd, so when everyone else has finished thier celebrations, mine continues another day. Some people think that having a birthday or anniversary around Christmas takes away from the event, but I love it.
We had a little scare this morning because it rained and Jenny's wedding is supposed to be outside. But it just sounded scary with lots of thunder and a downpour that lasted about 4 minutes. Whew! Now its blue skies, perfect for an Arizona wedding!

Gifts of Christmas Day 4
My Gift to Christ Today is to reflect on my covenants.

Christmas in Arizona

I grew up on an island in Washington State. It was beautiful and green and in the winter we looked forward to that winter storm that would bring something magical-SNOW. It only happened a few times a year, and when it did the snow would only stay until the next rain. I guess that made every snowfall even more special. We would pile on our jackets and sweaters, warm gloves and boots and tromp out into the winter wonderland. Trees and bushes covered with snow transported us to another world. This was utopia, if only for a few days. If we were lucky enough, it would snow during a school day. No school! Just play. The rest of the winter was just damp and cold, but it didn't matter, the hope for a day of snow carried us all the way through until the crocuses peeked out of the ground. Winter in Arizona is very different. We get cold when the temperature drops below 70 degrees. There is no hope for snow, but we celebrate Christmas just the same, and snowy decorations are a part of that. My children may not know how snow and Christmas go together, but I do.

Gifts of Christmas Day 5
My Gift to Christ today is to strive to have a PRAYER in my HEART for everyone I see.

Last Minute gift ideas-they might even get them in time!

I found this and thought it would be a nice Christmas Gift for anyone with children:
Christ is Born, Luke 2:1-16 Illustrated Scripture Verse by Layne Haacke
Anyone you know who loves to play with thier hair? Trash Ties are brand new and fabulous!
Need something for the crafty person? Try The Book Binding Guy Video Workshop
The gardener? Square Foot Gardening will take them to a whole new level.
So those are just a few of my ideas. Now on the the true gifts of Christmas...


Gifts of Christmas Day 6
My gift to Christ Today is to have an attitude of SERVICE in everything I do.

'Twas the week before Christmas

Tonight was enrichmment night for the women at church. We had a special guest visitor, a rare treat as she usually doesn't make too many appearances. Mrs. Clause came and read us all the Christmas Oranges Story. Her hair was grey and pulled back neatly in a bun. She wore a white shawl and a Christmas Plaid taffetta skirt. She had square little reading glasses that sat on the end of her nose and when she spoke, she spoke with love and a gentle softness. We all ate too many cookies and enjoyed each others company. Everyone went home with a bag of cookies, a Christmas Orange, a candy cane and a book of seven gifts to give to Christ this last week before Christmas. The idea came from what I have been writing in this blog. So from here till Christmas I really will be writing every day! Some of these may be repeats, but it doesn't hurt to do something good again. If you would like your own book of 7 gifts to give to Christ I will post the insructions after Christmas so that you can have it as a keepsake to hang on your tree this year. I think it is good to start your own traditions that bring peace into your home.

Gifts of Christmas Day 7

My Gift to Christ Today is to Look for the Attributes of Christ in those around me.

Working Hard like a Snail- Gifts of Christmas Day 17

My gift to Christ today has been the gift of industry. Out of nowhere I was thinking about what I should do today and how I just wanted to go back to bed, and I remembered I had a choice. I still wanted to go back to bed, but I didn't. I got up and showered and got dressed. I laced up my shoes and began to get the house in order. Garbage, dishes, laundry (done, folded and put away!) Maybe I just realized without even telling myself, that I really wanted to be industrious instead of lazy. How does this qualify? It blesses my family and increases peace in my home and heart.

So the other day we got a snail for our freshwater tank. His name is Gary...or her name. Ashley marched right up to the lady in the pet store and announced we were there to get a snail and his name is Gary. Ashley pointed to a snail front and center in the tank and she scooped it up for him. I'm glad the one he picked looked like a healthy one. Gary as in Spongebob's pet snail. Spongbob's snail says "meow." It turns out snails are a lot like cats. They clean themselves with their tongue. They do whatever they want. They eat whatever is available. I haven't heard him purr yet, but I wouldn't be surprised. And this snail is very entertaining. We gather 'round the fish tank as a family and watch it. The fish tank hasn't had this much action in a long while! She picks up rocks with her foot, using it like hands, climbs the glass, twists around, digs up the fake plants, moves them around and torments the poor plecostamus. Clever little thing. And it has nearly doubled in size. It grows at an alarming rate. Probably about an 1/8th" a day. I wonder how long it can keep that up? Long live the feline apple snail. Welcome to the family.

Gifts of Christmas Day 21

My Gift to Christ Today is to look for the attributes of Christ in my husband.
I want to look a little deeper and see what I think I have probably overlooked on a daily basis. I will look for the light shining in his eyes. I know that by doing this I will also grow in love for my Savior.

Gifts of Christmas Day 22

Christmas is coming and things seem especially festive around here. The day after Thanksgiving we all decorated the Christmas tree. Usually Adrian opts out, but he had a great time getting out ornaments for Ashley and Lily to put on the tree. Lily learned to climb the ladder and pull ornaments off the tree.
So I am in the Relief Society Presidency as the 2nd counselor. I have this idea for our Christmas enrichment meeting. I want to do a little booklet of the week before christmas with ideas of devotionals and gifts to give of yourself that last week. It's all in my head but not totally formed yet. We plan on sharing cookies and milk and reading a Christmas story and having a VERY SPECIAL surprise that only the RS Pres and I know about. When we planned it we were full of schoolgirl giggles about it. So much fun and I'm not telling! After the 18th I will post the great secret and maybe even photos. tee hee! So... any ideas? anyone? I think I will start here. I will post every day until Christmas. A little advent calendar of my own.

My gift to Christ Today is JOY in Motherhood.
I have two beautiful children who amaze me every day. They bring me joy and hope. I can more clearly understand HIS LOVE for me through the love I feel for them. I will remember to treat my Children as if they were the Christ child.