A Blessed Christmas to All!

 by Mare Ball @ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK
@ FACEBOOK
 

 

 

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

Ghosts of a Christmas Past

by Patricia Cates

In a little square box tucked away in a drawer
Lie oodles of ornaments holding memories galore.
Some came from my grandma, and some came from hers
Some came with red sequins, some came with white furs.

There are reindeer and house pets, and little glass balls
Russian dancers and wise men, even miniature dolls.
Old tinsel found wrapped 'round the leg of a dove
By the finger of sister with all of her love.

She trimmed that fir tree every yule with such glee
That household, that family, one woman plus three.
For the men had all passed much too early in life
And now it was up to a diligent wife.

To carry on a tradition from a hundred years past
And hang every ornament, down to the last.
To the Hoffman's and Chaney's, the Allman's, and kin
I now promise to treasure the gifts I've been giv'n.

So each year I shall take out these small sparkling things 
And remember the love we all shared, and I'll sing!
Silent Night will be first and bring bittersweet tears
For the people I've lost over forty five years.

I'll remember each one of you and thank you for being
A part of my life, and in dreams I'll be seeing
Your sweet happy faces, and warm abode too
I'll dream of your voices and big hugs from you.

I'll bring out the albums to show off your boy.
To prove that he was, my dear father, a joy!
My children will learn of traditions and know
That we all come from you, and your parents, and so...

On 'til it goes back generations and then
With strength we'll create family memories again.
In your honor we celebrate all that's been shared
These gifts that you've given and all of your care.

So join us, please join us, ghosts of a Christmas past
In our hearts, at the table, in stories at last.
Until next year my cherished family of yore 
Thank you for these things and one year more.  



Author's note: The woman I mention is my grandmother, nee Mary Catherine Chaney. She is my paternal grandmother and was born in 1902, and my grandfather, Gordon Samuel Hoffman, in 1898. My grandfather died of a heart attack in 1963. My father, born in 1929, was killed in a car accident when I was 4 months old. Despite her losing her only son a few years after her husband, my dear grandmother kept the tree trimming tradition alive. Some of them date back to the early 1900's. The oldest of these I now keep in a silver box tucked away as they truly are irreplaceable. However my grandmother made many beautiful ornaments with her Garden Club in the 1950's and 1960's. Now my children place them on our tree and I have the privilege of telling them family stories. Sadly she passed away in 1996, and then my sister in 2005. Now it's up to me. Although the poem is childlike and basic in form, it was written in 20 minutes, with love. I plan to work on it. Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season to Read

A girl after my own heart...

Recently I saw the movie "The Proposal" (it's hilarious) and at one point in the movie Sandra Bullock's character says that Wuthering Heights is her favorite book and she reads it every Christmas. 

I thought to myself, How nice to read your favorite book every Christmas. Like a little gift to yourself!

As it happens, I'm in between library books at the moment, so I headed to my bookshelf to see what favorites I might like to read. I came across a very pretty hardbound copy of Anne of Green Gables that I had picked up at the Goodwill Outlet, and I hadn't read it since I was a little girl but I remembered loving it. I was in the mood for something nostalgic and classic (kind of like Wuthering Heights is) and so I grabbed it and started reading.

What FUN! Now I know that this is going to be my read-aloud book for my kids for our screen-free January. I can't wait to share the quirky and lovable character of Anne Shirley with them. I've already started practicing my voices for the book (I always do voices when I read aloud).

Do you make books a part of your Christmas traditions? Here's another idea for you that I came across on Facebook (and I'm in love with it): 

When I told my kids about this Christmas Eve tradition they BEGGED me to do it! My husband is not a fan of the idea- he hates reading- but I told him he could take his iPad to bed and watch a movie or something. ;-) I just love the coziness of it, and I already have books I've bought as gifts for all my kids anyway so...hmm...

However you choose to incorporate books into your holiday festivities, I hope you have a very merry Christmas this week!

And a boy after my own heart (he stole his sister's spot in front of the fire when it was her turn for shower).

Keep It Simple Sister

by Patricia Cates

In the spirit of the holidays, and with how crazy everything can tend to get this time of year, let me give ya'll a friendly reminder to pace yourself and to KISS. Any readers or writers out there who are LDS might be familiar with this phrase. We have an acronym for keep it simple, sister. We simply say KISS. I love that. I want to live that. 

A few people I have served with have done a fine job of demonstrating this notion. Let me give you a little background. It was probably eight years ago when I first heard this. I had just been asked to serve as a Miamaid Advisor and was at a meeting for our young women youth group. Our new YW president said that the bishop wanted us to keep it simple from now on. He wanted us to cut back on spending and some other things. She used that KISS acronym to explain how things were going to be. Luckily our leader had chosen a group of women who were very down to earth to help serve...basically a no frills group. (Being fairly new to the church, I personally was terrified of the calling.)

This change was a bit of a shocker for our young ladies. Their prior leaders over many years had truly magnified their callings. When YW events came up, they would adorn the cultural hall with lamps and plants and table decor so elegantly set, it would be suitable for a wedding reception. They would string lights, make incredible take home gifts, and gorgeously illustrated invitations and programs. The desserts they brought tasted and looked as if they had come from the finest restaurants in SLC. I only had a Beehive at the time, my oldest, and so she became accustomed to things being done in this fashion. 

But with this new presidency things changed. Our president was a 31 year old return missionary with 4 kids. She announced that we, as leaders, would do no decorating and make no food. She said the girls would do it all! They would have a budget. She went on to emphasize that our girls needed to learn; to set up, and organize events, and delegate, and make treats, and decorate, and use their own creativity. If the cookies weren't uniform in shape or tasted bad it really didn't matter. They would be the girl's cookies and that's what counted. They would own it! She emphasized strongly that this was all part of their personal progression towards becoming adults, wives and moms. This was their program...we were only there to lead and guide. I think she used the word guide a lot.

When asked what we would do if the girls forgot to make treats, phone calls, programs, or set up chairs by 6:45, her response was always, "Oh well, it's on them then." She felt they would learn from their mistakes, if any were made. It would be their responsibility, their choices, and they would be held accountable. Ah! 

The next president was one of the most humble and spiritual women to have ever lived in our ward. She also kept things VERY simple. Flash forward another three years and I am again in Miamaids. It is truly a great place to be. My youngest is now a Beehive and my middle girls are both Miamaids. We are all learning together. 

I wonder if the girls who did have to do it all themselves, are now more self sufficient? Are they possibly better at budgeting or party planning? It's probably a toss up, depending on the girl. I hope our former YW who are married now, or on their own, remember that it's okay to KISS, and that it actually feels a lot less stressful. I know am grateful that I have had amazing women show me the way. 


This year we have been spending less and letting the kids do a little more around the house. Hopefully that doesn't sound mean. Things are just lean. So I'm keeping it real for ya'll.

If anyone out there needs to keep it simple due to a cold or flu bug, or who is exhausted from staying on top of the daily demands of life, remember that the only thing that matters is the spirit of the season. Don't wear yourself out. Try not to compare yourself to your neighbor, sister or friend (even though it's hard some times!) Remember that they may have more help, money, time or energy and that's okay. We can just appreciate all of their pretty lights, delicious treats, and the time it takes to make that happen. If you want to keep it simple, do...and if you're feeling super fancy...go for it! 

As I close, from a distance I can hear one of my daughters vacuuming. I didn't even have to ask! Now that's music to my ears, or maybe that's a hint she wants to decorate the tree.         

I Heard the Bells.....

by Jewel Leann Williams

So I'm sick today. My back hurts and I have a sore/goopy throat and... blechhh...  so, that could have something to do with my state of mind. 

But... well, I'm sad. It's the state of the world, the state of the people in it.

I feel like what the Pope said. Yeah, I'm quoting the Pope:

There will be lights, there will be parties, bright trees, even Nativity scenes – all decked out – while the world continues to wage war. It’s all a charade. The world has not understood the way of peace. The whole world is at war,

Seems kind of harsh coming from one of the preeminent leaders of Christianity in the world.

I don't think Christmas is all a charade, but I feel a little of the... I don't know, the hopelessness, the tiredness--how long will we keep hoping, praying, working for peace?

It reminds me of the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" which actually comes from the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The story behind the poem is heartbreaking. Longfellow's son had been severely wounded in the Civil War, and his wife had recently passed away. Longfellow was looking around at Christmas preparations, and saw the same thing--a charade.

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" 

I feel ya, Hank. I am disheartened by not just the wars. Not just the shootings. Not just the flood of refugees from multiple countries. It's more than that.

It's the generalized hatred I see almost everywhere. Or maybe not hatred, but contempt for everyone. People will jump right on down the throats of anyone who does not echo their opinions (or often, even those that do). Traffic--oh my goodness, I've been certain I was going to witness vehicular homicide like 10 times in the past week alone. Shopping. The news. The Internet. It's everywhere.
Hate is strong, and hate does mock the song--the prayer--of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men."

So do we give in?

Longfellow's lament was answered in the next stanza:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;The Wrong shall fail,The Right prevail,With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Again, I agree with Longfellow.

As much as I don't feel it right now, I know, in my heart of hearts, in my bones, that the right WILL prevail. Love really will, eventually, conquer all.

God is not dead.

Christ IS NOT dead.

I hang on to that knowledge.

Because Christ was born, and died, and lives(!), all that is wrong with the world will be made right.

It is the answer to the lament: "Christmas is a charade"

With Christmas, we celebrate the hope that is Christ. We acknowledge that even among all of the human-frailty-inspired hatred and chaos of our fallen world, that we can find peace in Jesus Christ.

He lives. Because of that, Christmas will NEVER be a charade.

Comment below: How do YOU maintain the Christmas spirit, even among the sadness and chaos of what's going on in our world today?

It's Beginning to Look a Bit Like Christmas

by Mare @ ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK
 
Look what arrived at the Ballpark recently! It's Christmas in August!

Interestingly, today is my birthday, and it's a fun gift to myself to share this with you.

An e-book I've been working on for four years was completed last month. It's now available here: THE 12 DAYS.

I had a crash course on e-publishing over the spring months, and by the grace of God and unending support from our technology wiz daughter, the story I've been encouraged to share for a long time now has a venue. For someone who still has trouble working her cell phone, this is a colossal feat. Thank you, thank you to all who heard me talk about this endeavor for years.

A bit about this baby: Over twenty years ago, our family was anonymously given 12 days of surprises over the holiday season. The daily gifts were small and simple, but precious. The following year, we gave the 12 Days project to someone else. We have been doing this every year since.

The book explains how the project is executed and offers over 100 gift ideas (home crafted, baked and purchased), based on the lyrics to "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol (doves, rings, dancing ladies, pipers, drummers - it's crazy fun!) It shares how receiving this gift so long ago changed my heart about holiday giving, and it has testimonies from recipients of this gift - how it blessed them.

If you are tired of and frazzled by the holiday chaos that accompanies Christmas (I was) and are looking for a way to create a different atmosphere in your home during the month of December, this book is for you. If you want to teach your children in a very hands-on way that Christmas is about giving, not consuming, this book is for you. If you want a fun, sneaky, holiday adventure, this book is for you. If you want to learn how to make Octopus bread, here's the book for that.

I'm so grateful for readers and followers and anyone who has been kind enough to ever finish a post of mine. You are the peeps I most want to share this with.

This ebook is under 10 bucks - less than two cups of fancy coffee at Starbucks - and in the spirit of birthday giving (and early Christmas giving), I'm giving away a copy of The 12 Days to a random commenter (I'll draw the name out of a Christmas stocking.)

Just answer this question: what is your favorite holiday tradition? (the food, gift exchanges, Christmas services, caroling, fighting with shoppers over bargains, etc.) Also leave an email address where I can contact you. I'll choose a winner Monday (the 31st) evening at 6 p.m. EST.

It's beginning to look a bit more like Christmas....

Of Marthas and Ermas: Decompressing After the Christmas Rush

by Merry Gordon

I have a confession to make:  my Christmas game was so on point this year.

Now before you get all bent out of shape, I know that's not what it's all about. Believe me, I get Christmas.  I choke up when Tiny Tim says "God bless us, every one!"  I melt in the first few seconds of It's a Wonderful Life.  I take in the quiet splendor of the lights at the Mesa Temple and tear up reading Luke 2 as I think about the sheer magnitude of God's gift to me in the form of the tiny Christ child. I hold my family a little closer, understanding what a precious gift they are to me as well. 

But that's not what I want to talk about today.

I want to talk about fudge and cheese balls and orange cranberry bread.

See, there's a lot of pressure on women during the holidays.  Here's how it works. There are two types of women in the world as measured against the Supreme Scale of Holiday Hostess:  there are Martha Stewarts, and there are Erma Bombecks.

This year, I tried being Martha Stewart.  I made fudge from scratch for my kids' teachers.  I concocted some perfectly delectable cheese balls and presented them at a party.  I made loaves upon loaves of orange cranberry bread, wrapped them in cute ribbons, and delivered them to neighbors and friends.

The finished products certainly looked Martha Stewart.  What you didn't see is the part where the fudge boiled over and nearly ate through my brand new glass cooktop. You missed the part where I dropped half a cup of the cheese ball mixture on the floor and didn't catch it until my son had tracked it in little pepper-flaked footprints around the perimeter of the room.  And you certainly didn't taste that failed loaf of bread in which I used a cup of salt instead of a cup of sugar.  (Cut me some slack, people. They're both white.)

Nope, I'm an Erma Bombeck.  And you know what?  That's okay.

Toward the end of her life, the beloved humorist wrote a mock letter from Martha Stewart to her and a priceless reply, which I dedicate to all of my fellow Ermas-masquerading-as-Marthas while we decompress after the Christmas rush.  We all know what Christmas is really about.  We also understand the pressure of trying to make the season delightful for those we love.  And I hope we all can end the season with smiles on our faces knowing that we are—whatever our stage in life, our circumstances or abilities—enough, in the eyes of God.

Hi, Erma,

This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to. Since it snowed last night, I got up early and made a sled with old barn wood and a glue gun. I hand painted it in gold leaf, got out my loom and made a blanket in peaches and mauves.

Then, to make the sled complete, I made a white horse to pull it from DNA that I had just sitting around in my craft room. By then, it was time to start making the place mats and napkins for my 20 breakfast guests. I'm serving the old standard Stewart twelve-course breakfast, but I'll let you in on a little secret: I didn't have time to make the tables and chairs this morning, so I used the ones I had on hand.

Before I moved the table into the dining room I decided to add just a touch of the holidays. So I repainted the room in pinks and stenciled gold stars on the ceiling.

While the homemade bread was rising, I took antique candle molds and made the dishes (exactly the same shade of pink) to use for breakfast. These were made from Hungarian clay, which you can get at almost any Hungarian craft store.

Well, I must run. I need to finish the hand-sewn buttonholes on the dress I'm wearing for breakfast. I'll get out the sled and drive this note to the post office as soon as the glue dries on the envelope I'll be making. 

Hope my breakfast guests don't stay too long. I have 40,000 cranberries to string with bay leaves before my speaking engagement at noon. It's a good thing.

Love, Martha

P.S. When I made the ribbon for this typewriter, I used 1/8-inch gold gauze. I soaked the gauze in a mixture of white grapes and blackberries which I grew, picked, and crushed last week just for fun.

Response from Erma Bombeck

Dear Martha:

I'm writing this on the back of an old shopping list. Pay no attention to the coffee and jelly stains. I'm 20 minutes late getting my daughter off for school, packing a lunch with one hand-on the phone with the dog pound, seems old Ruff needs bailing out again. Burnt my arm on the curling iron when I was trying to make those cute curly fries, how DO they do that? Still can't find the scissors to cut out some snowflakes, tried using an old disposable razor . . . trashed the tablecloth. Tried that cranberry thing; frozen cranberries mushed up after I defrosted them in the microwave. Oh, and don't use Fruity Pebbles as a substitute in that Rice Krispies snowball recipe unless you like food that resembles puke! Smoke alarm is going off, talk to ya later.

Love, Erma

My Christmas Message

by Mare Ball @ ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK

                            WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

Untold Tales of the Nativity

- a post by Jeanna Mason Stay

This Christmas season I’ve been thinking about the stories of the Nativity—the shepherds, the wise men, the baby in the manger of course. But I’ve also been thinking about the Nativity stories we don’t know.*

We know about the shepherds who “came with haste” to the Christ child, for example, and we know that they “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:16, 17). But what about the people the shepherds told? All we know about them is that they “wondered.” Did they then go seek Him?

We know about Simeon and Anna’s poignant reactions to meeting the baby at the temple. These were people who immediately recognized Jesus for who He was. But perhaps there were others, maybe someone who overheard Simeon’s rejoicing: “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. . . . A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (vv. 30, 32). Maybe they were brought to see the light too, and their lives were changed.

We know about the wise men who came to see Christ at some point in the next two years, bringing Him gifts. But what about the wives waiting at home, sending their love and faith but never seeing the child themselves? Or perhaps their families did come with them, but their stories are left untold.

I am so grateful for the stories that we do have, and doubtless more stories would provide us more riches of wisdom and truth. But the story most relevant to us is the journey we take ourselves.

Let’s be honest: Most of us will be forgotten to history. My name is never going to appear in a book of scripture. Hey, forget my name—I’m not even going to appear as “the woman at the store” or “the obsessive copyeditor.” Aiming for a lowlier goal, I’m unlikely to ever write a NYT bestselling novel or invent any new punctuation.** In general it can sometimes feel like we’re really not doing anything that will be remembered at all.***

Maybe we’re not. Our stories may remain largely untold, except to those who know us.

If our journeys bring us to Christ, though, it doesn’t really matter if the stories are forgotten to the world. They are remembered to God.

Merry Christmas!

* In writing this, I realize that this may be some of what The Forgotten Carols is about. But aside from hearing “Let Him In” (which I love), I don’t really know anything else about the show. So if this is all old hat to you because of The Forgotten Carols, just know the thought was new to me at least. :)
** Although new punctuation would be sweet!

*** Especially when you compare yourself to every other person on the internet.

Thoughts on Christmas

This Christmas season has been especially meaningful for me. It's always been an emotional season time of year since my Dad passed away at the beginning of December when I was thirteen years old. The anniversary of his death always starts my season off on just a little more somber of a note.

This year it's been different. Yes, missing my daddy still, but other things have overwhelmed that particular feeling. Long-awaited answers to prayer have come, blessing have been received, and I feel like I've been inspired with thoughts beyond my normal thinking capacities. Here are some things that have been rattling around in my head:

I've been thinking about Jesus and His example. He set an example not just in coming and living a perfect life, but by the simple fact that He came at all. I think it serves us well to remember that Jesus Christ was a being living in the presence of God the Father, who came here and to some extent was subject to the veil and to the realities of mortality. He was a baby--not a baby with a perfect knowledge, but a baby who chews on stuff and makes messy diapers and can't speak and keeps Mom and Dad up all night. Granted, He was probably a pretty awesome baby, and I imagine he slept through the night pretty early and was easy to potty-train.  This was probably not an accurate depiction:







 

Now for us. WE are also eternal beings who lived in the presence of God the Father. The Savior was with us, and as a part of the plan, we were told we would come here and forget everything. I imagine we were frightened. Jesus reassured us that He would show us the way. He did everything we have to do, and more.

 

It is comforting to me to know that the Savior had to learn line upon line the same way we do. He probably had more tenured teachers than we do, like Michael and Gabriel and probably Heavenly Father himself, but still, He learned at an upwards curve and didn't know everything at once, just like us.

 

Another thought I've had is more tender. I keep imagining the Savior ministering to each and every one of us. I keep thinking that even the Christian world seems to think of the human race as something that just happens. Like we begin when our physical form begins--whenever you define that--so Jesus just loves these random blips of existence, because--why? He's just so awesome that He loves all of His Father's creations?  Yes, it's true that Jesus is so awesome that He loves all of His Father's creations. But it's more than that! HE IS OUR TRUE BROTHER! We were with Him before. We are His family. It's more intimate than just this all-powerful being throwing love at everything and seeing what it sticks to. He loves ME--because I am His sister. He knows me. He remembers who I was before, He sees how far I've come from that innocent, inexperienced being, He knows my strengths and weaknesses not just because He's  magically all-knowing, but because HE knows ME.

 

It's not mystical, it's simple: it is a family connection.

 

In the same way, I have a family connection with you. And you, and you, and the jerk in front of me on the freeway who won't go past 55 mph, and the telemarketer I will speak to on the phone tomorrow.  We are capable of loving each other as much as Jesus loves us--not because of anything mystical or mysterious, but because of that family connection. What is standing in our way is the natural man, blocking our capacity to love. We've forgotten our brothers and sisters.

 

"I Am a Child of God." The simplest of beliefs, with so much power, and so much potential. Imagine the power of knowing, really knowing, that every single person you interact with, is your family. So many  -isms would be done away with. There would be "no more -ites" among us, as it were. 

 

Peace on Earth--Goodwill to All Men

 

The message of Christmas, brought to us by a baby who was sent as a baby to show us EVERY step of the way back to our Father, the Father of all.

 

Merry Christmas to all of you!

The Christmas Raven

Once upon a midnight cheery, while I waited weak and weary,

As I waited by the fireplace as I’d done on Christmases before.

While I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As a reindeer gently rapping, rapping atop the highest floor.

I whispered quietly:  “It’s him!”

Or perhaps I screamed it like a wild boar.  Time to get my gifts galore.

Ah, distinctly I remember, ‘twas the 24^th of December,

And I had just sent several letters saying I’d been good the year before.

Eagerly I’d wished the morrow, no more would I have to sorrow,

For I had wished the perfect gift that no one else had wished before.

Toys R’ Us had many choices, I could surely not ignore.

So, I requested the entire store.

Filled with wonderful elation, waiting with anticipation,

By the fireplace until I heard a knock upon the door.

[Knock, knock, knock]

That was odd I thought, confused.  Why would Santa use the door?

Right, I recalled.  This thing (fireplace) is fake, and simply set up for décor.

In fact, it plugs into the floor.

Perhaps if I’d been slightly stronger, I’d have waited slightly longer,

But I wanted my gifts right now!  So, I ran to reach the door.

Once I had stepped foot inside, then I would offer him a bribe,

And stand and watch as he supplied the many gifts I’d humbly asked before.

Here I opened wide the door.

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my…

[scream] (Santa is standing inside by the tree)

“Holy snickerdoodle!”

I said, as I lay prostrate on the floor.

“Couldn’t you have just waited outside by the front door?”

“No matter”, said I. 

“I won’t keep you long, just leave the gifts and hum a song,

For I know you have a very long and busy night in store.”

(Santa pulls out a single, unmodern gift and says…)

“Less is more.”

“Ummm,”  I said.  “I disagree.”

Trying not to let him see, that what I wanted most for me,

Wasn’t toys from the first world war.

I did not want one toy, thought I,

I wanted the entire store!

I argued back- “More…is more.”

Then the Santa condescending, his lame and pithy gift rescinding,

Took whate’er that stupid thing was, and dropped some coal onto the floor.

(Santa) “You’re no longer on the nice list, and this present you will soon miss,

Because coal…is stupid!”

Not only had he crushed my dreams, he ruined the whole rhyming scheme!

And his cold, judgmental gleam, did cause a rage ne’er known before.

Time to even up the score.

“You will give me what I’ve asked for, all the toys in the toy store,

Or you will spend this Christmas Eve, bound and tethered on my floor!”

Then back towards the entrance turning, all my soul within me burning,

My adrenaline was churning as I dead-bolted the door.

Sadly it had come to this. [gun cocks]

Getting gifts was such a chore.

“Empty the bag onto the floor!”

 “How dare you dare to threaten me, for I am Santa and you’ll see,

I can’t be pressed to giving better gifts when you want more.

You little children need to learn, that true respect is something earned.”

“Quiet, wretch!  It’s now my turn.”

I fired my Red Rider (BB gun) into the floor [gunshot] and overhead [gunshot]

So I’d seem hardcore.

Quoth the reindeer: [Sound of dying reindeer] Which is reindeer for

‘Ow, you shot me.’

Blitzen would be flying: Nevermore.

The fearful fat man then complied, emptying contents as he cried.

Now old St. Nick was not as smug as he appeared to be before.

But then I saw to my chagrin, the bag had little else therein,

And I cried-  “What fiendish sin!  The toys; why are there not more?”

(Santa) “The North Pole, sadly, all has melted, and my toy shop sank offshore.

We should have listened to Al Gore.”

I am no big fan of Al Gore or of the global warming alarmists out there.  But I do like a good poem now and then; and, I must give proper credit to the funny writers and actors over at the Studio C television show for this hilarious skit.

With regard to all of us improving our universe of writing, I offer a holiday thought: 'Reinventing the wheel' is not a prerequisite for becoming a successful author.  As I've demonstrated, the fine folks at Studio C simply took a familiar and popular holiday story and merged it with another equally familiar and popular poem and... Ta da!

The point is, as we search for ideas and themes to write upon, we might take a step back and see all of the existing writing that we might modify, add to, gussy up, or tone down (copyrights, notwithstanding).  For instance, what's the back story behind the dwarves from Snow White?  What happened to Belle and the Beast after they were grandparents?  You get the idea.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  May 2015 become our year to take giant strides forward in our writing and authorship.  May the 'Top 10' list be ever in your favor.

Blessed Among Women

By Lacey Gunter

I have been reading the four gospels this past month after being challenged to do so before Christmas by my Bishop, the religious leader over our local congregation. It has greatly helped in keeping the focus of Christmas on those things that really matter.

As I have been reading, I have pondered much on Mary and her role as the earthly mother of Jesus. What a truly great honor, but also what a truly sacred responsibility. We do not hear a lot about her in the scriptures, but we do get a few small glimpses of the kind of woman she was.

Her humility, courage and obedience is beautiful and powerful. What an example of womanhood and motherhood for us. An example we so desperately need at this time in history when so many women seem to feel the need to abandon the things that are truly virtuous and lovely about our sex. I hope at some point in the life hereafter I can get to know her and she might call me sister or friend. I hope to be worthy of that salutation.

One of my very favorite songs at Christmas time is Fanz Biebl's Ave Maria. It is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, very fitting for such a beautiful daughter of God. Here is a link to it being sung by the angelic Pro Musica Girls Choir. I hope it uplifts you and gives you peace during this Christmas season as you ponder the miracle of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Are Christmas Traditions Bad?

by Katy White

As a mom to a two-year old, I don't have many Christmas traditions in place yet. So as I've watched friends' Instagram and Facebook feeds over the last week, I've taken special note of the cute traditions that my friends participate in with their families. I've seen a lot of elves on shelves and Christmas family movie nights, gingerbread men decorating and Christmas crafts. I've noticed a trend about getting new pajamas, whether it's for the night the family decorates the tree or planned for Christmas eve. 

Yet, I've also noticed criticism about these traditions. Contentious comments on posts, snide remarks whispered under someone's breath at an elaborate Christmas party. A friend posted on her FB wall that she gets a lot of flack for doing the Elf on the Shelf daily. 

I'll admit, doing anything elaborately isn't my style or in my comfort zone, but I feel like there's something more at play here than personal style in these comments and criticisms. There's nothing inherently wrong in Christmas traditions, is there? LDS Living recently posted an article about "What Prophets Have Said About Santa Clause." I enjoyed hearing from different prophets and general authorities about their feelings on what is arguably the biggest Christmas tradition of all in old Saint Nick. And they're all good. 

Prophets consistently ask us to remember the real reason for Christmas, but they don't tell us we must limit our gifts to three per child because "that's how many the Savior received" (which is a very sweet, if inaccurate idea for parents who choose to go this route). They don't say that if we're going to give stockings, we must do so only if we relate the symbolism of the stocking back to the shepherds who first found the Christ child (or however those symbols work). 

They tell us, 

"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. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" (Thomas S. Monson, "In Search of the Christmas Spirit," Ensign, Dec 1987, 3).

And:

There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power. Tensions are eased....  At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Son of God," Ensign, Dec 1992, 2).

And they give us beautiful, kind reminders, like:

"If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments" (Howard W. Hunter, "The Real Christmas," Ensign, Dec 2005, 22–25).

The adversary wants Christmas to be a horrible time. Yes, he wants us to be distracted from Christ, but he also wants to turn everything good about this time into something bad. If someone home-makes something nice, he wants us to dismiss her as a "Pinterest Mom." If someone doesn't handcraft treats and gifts for her kids's friends at school, he wants us to think she doesn't care enough about her children. He wants us to take everything to extremes, because he despises everything good in this world.

And what secular tradition brings out the good in people more than Christmas? 

As we seek to give our loved ones the best this season, let us also seek to give the best of ourselves to our friends and family through our support and love. 

Merry Christmas to all!

Share The Gift

I love Christmas.

Christmas is all the beauty and joy and anticipation and love and goodness of life, wrapped into one gorgeous, month-long package.

Except, of course, when it's not.

Because we're imperfect beings, so we let it turn into chaos and stress and feeling grumpy in long lines and spending more money than we have and rushing to a million different activities and having the perfect Instagram shot of our perfectly decorated tree and lots of noise and lots of expectations and...bah humbug!

Wow.  Did you hunch your shoulder defensively and furrow your brow and sigh deeply?  Does this sound like someone you know?  Does it sound like you?

Sometimes it sounds like me.

President Thomas S. Monson states, "Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and scurrying to get more done.  We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the real focus of the season."

Sometimes I need a reminder to slow down and just be.

Find that quiet place inside of you and let all the Grinchness melt away.  Picture a clear, breezy night. . .the stars are shining brightly. Breathe in deeply.  There is a hush in the air; let it seep into your bones.  Everything is still, still, still. . . .

Picture a stable.  Picture a new mother, exhausted but radiant and her humble, awed husband, hovering nearby.

Then, imagine a sweet, new baby, perfect in every detail.

Can you keep from smiling?  Can you help but feel the Spirit whisper peace and hope and glad tidings of great joy to your soul?

This is Christmas.

And it is a gift, the loveliest gift ever given.

We decorate our homes to remind us of all the beauty our Heavenly Father gave us. We put up lights to remind us of our Savior who is the light of the world.  We can't help but sing songs of praise as did the heavenly hosts who proclaimed the birth long ago to shepherds on the hill.  We give gifts to help us remember the wise men who honored Jesus, and even more importantly, to help us remember His great gift of sacrifice and love.

We speak sweeter and smile more.  We reach out to those who are lonely and have less.  We serve.  We think of our loved ones.  We do all these things, because our great Exemplar did them first.

I love Christmas, because I love Christ.

He is my friend and my Redeemer.  He is my guide through this crazy world.  He is the Prince of Peace.

He is all the beauty and joy and anticipation and love and goodness of life, wrapped into one sweet bundle of swaddling clothes on a night over 2,000 years ago.  He lives now and His gift is eternal.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has put together a lovely video and website to help us discover, embrace, and share the true gift of Christmas.  You can go to mormon.org/christmas to see the video and learn more.

#ShareTheGift

The Christmas Story

By Lacey Gunter

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was a lovely time of gratitude and reflection. November is swiftly heading for the door as well. Hopefully your writing goals for the month are near completion or you are at least satisfied with your performance. I am right on schedule for completing SkADaMo and only a day behind on PiBoIdMo.  Now it is time to move on to December and Christmas.

Families all over the western world are pulling out Christmas trees and wreaths and listening to carols as they decorate the house. Of all the holidays, Christmas is probably the most rich with tradition.  These traditions can help to combat the growing wave in our society of trying to make Christmas all about the shopping and little about the sacred.

This year I am planning to start a new tradition in my family to try and keep the focus more on the birth of Christ and what it means to us.The idea was suggested to me by a dear friend and I fell in love with it immediately.

Each day in December, leading up to Christmas, we will pick a different picture book retailing of the birth of Christ or some aspect of it and read it together. I have already started picking books I plan to use. There are so many to pick from it is more than easy to find enough and to find the kind that suite your preferences. Here are some of the books I plan to use:


1. Tiny Baby Jesus, Written by Dandi Daley Mackall, Illustraated by Julia Noonan

2. A Child is Born, Written by Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

3. The Third Gift, Written by Linda Sue Park, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

4. The Nativity, by Julie Vivas

5. Jacob's Gift, Written by Max Lucado, Illustrated by Robert Hunt

 6. Humphrey's First Christmas, by Carol Heyer

7. We Were There: A Nativity Story,Written by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Wendell Minor

8. Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale, Written by Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft

9. Baboushka and the Three Kings, Written by Ruth Robbins, Illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov

10. A Baby Born in Bethlehem, Written by Martha Whitmore Hickman, Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri

11. Christmas in the Barn, Written by Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrated by Diane Goode

12. The Story of Christmas, By Pamela Dalton

Anyone else have any great books about the birth of Jesus they would add to this list? I am really looking forward to this new tradition.