Ornaments

Every year the kids each get a Hallmark ornament. While expensive, this is one of the kids' favorite traditions. We choose one that fits them that year and then I write a little note on the lid in the box explaining our choice and expressing our love to them. When they leave home, they will get their ornaments and will be reminded each year as they put them on their own trees of our love for them. I hope over time it will mean even more than it does now. Here are this year's ornaments:

Cache: (if you can't tell, that is a washing machine--it's pretty cool as when you pull the string, the clothes spin and it lights up--and yes, it has significance for him. :)Caleb:Chandler:Tessa:Greta:

Greta's First Christmas

Cute as ever in her little outfit Tessie picked out for her!

Decoders

Every year we do something a bit different for Christmas (see this post and this post) and one of the things it usually ends up being is how I tag the gifts. This year I made the tags so you had to use a decoder to read them (not really since you could read them if you held them at the right angle, but the idea was good originally:). To make them I simply typed my text in red and printed it out, then I made a whole page of turquoise x's then ran the red print through the printer multiple times shifting the margins up or down or left or right until the red was sufficiently covered. To make the decoders I printed a super-duper-decoder pattern on cardstock then glued some blue cellophane in a little window I cut. Really easy. However after I had everything all prepared I started worrying about early arisers who would decode before it was time so I made the tag a little packing slip (put behind another piece of cellophane with all sides taped down).The other thing that I did with gifts this year is only put a few presents out and they were given a tag to decode as to where the next set of presents were (they were in the dryer, in the Legos and in the van.) Turned out pretty fun.

Christmas Day Service

Every year after Thanksgiving I start dialogue with the kids something like this "This year Christmas is going to be different." I do that to help minimize complaints when I throw something new at them on Christmas day. I guarantee all along that they will like the day and I will do my best to make it fun for them, but it gives me a lot of freedom to try new and different things with them. (teenagers are not always conducive to changes in tradition, I've found.)

This year one of my ideas was to perform a service project on Christmas day---get out of the house in the middle of opening presents and think of someone else. The thoughts I had were to somehow "cheer and bless and brighten". But that was a hard thing if I wanted to involve everyone of my kids with the age span I've got (we couldn't very well all go and serve at the homeless shelter or something like that with our little ones.) The idea that kept coming back was to make a fresh potpourri (cut up oranges, apples, a handful of cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves) and deliver it to people. It seemed like kind of a corny idea, but it fit: everyone of them could help---even Tessa could put a handful of cranberries in a bag then help deliver, I wouldn't have to worry about germy hands or other hygiene issues and it wouldn't be terribly time consuming--which was important to me since this was so new to my family. I had in mind of going to a lower income area of town to deliver them, but I left it open so if the kids had an idea or inspiration we could go with that. We ended up in a trailer park for ages 55+. Everyone of us had our eyes opened to heartache. Many of these people were alone (of the 25 bags we delivered, 2 had family there). One lady was cooking herself some hot dogs for brunch (I guess that's what it would be as it was 10:30am. How sad is that?? ---she was very grateful for the potpourri to get rid of the hot dog smell!) And the conditions in their homes was depressing. Most of them we didn't talk to long--just delivered and wished them a merry Christmas, but I felt very strongly as we left that we definitely cheered and blessed and brightened.

At first we did have a little resistance to the whole idea, but at the end, most of the kids said it was the best part of the day. I will definitely be pondering this over the next year.

Gingerbread House Snitcher

This girl takes after her mother. . . I remember sneaking candy off of my mom's candy houses! (although, mine was more of a crime because my mom spent lots of time making a beautiful house and we weren't supposed to touch it, where as ours was just a 'fun for the kids house'.) However, I'm sure I was a little more discrete in my snitching!

Santa's Helpers

Mrs. Santa wasn't very organized this year so lots of work had to be done Christmas Eve night. This year she added two more hands--and they were much appreciated. His job was stuffing the stockings. And I think he actually enjoyed it. (notice the lovely duck sweater being sported. That wiseman didn't take off his costume because he decided it was actually a great feeling sweater!)

Christmas Morning Devotional '09

This year's devotional came from a talk Elder Holland gave at BYU that was published in the December 1977 Ensign. Because Elder Holland is so eloquent I read most of it (and unfortunately cried simultaneously) to the kids. So forgive me for the long copy and paste, but you'll enjoy it much more from him.

Elder Holland tells about how poor he and his wife were when they had their first child then says: I believe I would have done any honorable thing in this world, and mortgaged any future I had, to make sure my wife had the clean sheets, the sterile utensils, the attentive nurses, and the skilled doctors who brought forth our firstborn son. If she or that child had needed special care at the Mayo Clinic, I believe I would have ransomed my very life to get it.

I compare those feelings (which I have had with each succeeding child) with what Joseph must have felt as he moved through the streets of a city not his own, with not a friend or kinsman in sight, nor anyone willing to extend a helping hand. In these very last and most painful hours of her “confinement,” Mary had ridden or walked approximately 100 miles from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Surely Joseph must have wept at her silent courage. Now, alone and unnoticed, they had to descend from human company to a stable, a grotto full of animals, there to bring forth the Son of God.

I wonder what emotions Joseph might have had as he cleared away the dung and debris. I wonder if he felt the sting of tears as he hurriedly tried to find the cleanest straw and hold the animals back. I wonder if he wondered: “Could there be a more unhealthy, a more disease-ridden, a more despicable circumstance in which a child could be born? Is this a place fit for a king? Should the mother of the Son of God be asked to enter the valley of the shadow of death in such a foul and unfamiliar place as this? Is it wrong to wish her some comfort? Is it right He should be born here?”

But I am certain Joseph did not mutter and Mary did not wail. They knew a great deal and did the best they could.

Perhaps these parents knew even then that in the beginning of his mortal life, as well as in the end, this baby son born to them would have to descend beneath every human pain and disappointment. He would do so to help those who also felt they had been born without advantage.

I’ve thought of Mary, too, this most favored mortal woman in the history of the world, who as a mere child received an angel who uttered to her those words that would change the course not only of her own life but also that of all human history: “Hail, thou virgin, who art highly favoured of the Lord. The Lord is with thee; for thou art chosen and blessed among women.” (JST, Luke 1:28.) The nature of her spirit and the depth of her preparation were revealed in a response that shows both innocence and maturity: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38.)

It is here I stumble, here that I grasp for the feelings a mother has when she knows she has conceived a living soul, feels life quicken and grow within her womb, and carries a child to delivery. At such times fathers stand aside and watch, but mothers feel and never forget. Again, I’ve thought of Luke’s careful phrasing about that holy night in Bethlehem:

“The days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and [she] wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and [she] laid him in a manger.” (Luke 2:6–7; italics added.) Those brief pronouns trumpet in our ears that, second only to the child himself, Mary is the chiefest figure, the regal queen, mother of mothers—holding center stage in this grandest of all dramatic moments. And those same pronouns also trumpet that, save for her beloved husband, she was very much alone.

I have wondered if this young woman, something of a child herself, here bearing her first baby, might have wished her mother, or an aunt, or her sister, or a friend, to be near her through the labor. Surely the birth of such a son as this should command the aid and attention of every midwife in Judea! We all might wish that someone could have held her hand, cooled her brow, and when the ordeal was over, given her rest in crisp, cool linen.

But it was not to be so. With only Joseph’s inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay.

Then on both sides of the veil a heavenly host broke into song. “Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth, peace among men of good will.” (Luke 2:14, Phillips Translation.) But except for heavenly witnesses, these three were alone: Joseph, Mary, the baby to be named Jesus.

At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched—none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. "

After a short commentary on Elder Holland's thoughts, I concluded with two scriptures that I'd been soaking in a few days prior to Christmas: Alma 33:16: "For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand the mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of they Son." With the Christmas season upon me, this scripture struck me as the real reason we celebrate. Those mercies bestowed are for us! They are given freely to bless our lives. They are so grand that it grieves the Lord when we don't take advantage, understand or show gratitude for the love, forgiveness, comfort and strengthening and enabling power that are available to us through Jesus Christ. What greater reason to celebrate?

And then this scripture later in the chapter---the end of verse 23: "Then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son." It is through our rejoicing in Jesus Christ that our burdens are made light. That is how it is done. And that is why Christmas is such a beautiful and happy time---we spend the month rejoicing in Jesus Christ. That is why I often find my burdens lightened at this time of year! Joy to the World the Lord is come!

Just Because. . .

she's cute and he's sweet:

Go Figure

I can't figure this little girl out! Every time we feed her she purposely smears food on her glasses then she laughs. I don't get it, but she gets a big kick out of it. {and check me out being such a good mom giving Oreos without a bib.}
Just a note for the record. . . .been having a lot of problems with Greta's glasses. I had them adjusted last Friday at the Orem Moran center. The optician, as sweet as she was, obviously hasn't adjusted many baby glasses. She had me take them off and put them back on instead of her doing it and the adjustment while an improvement from what it was was not very good. So on Tuesday I took Greta to SLC to see Ellen the pediatric optician (she only works T & Th, which is a bit of a pain) and in minutes she had the pollies fitting so much better. I've found that the better they fit, the better she leaves them on. Well that night, she yanked them off when she was tired and bent them again. I wanted to cry. I tried to push the temple back into place, but whatever I did was not good. Now the nose piece jams into her skin and looks very uncomfortable. Getting back to SLC on Thursday just wasn't going to happen. Now I have to wait until Tuesday. . . and with my Christmas lists still being long, I just don't know how I'm going to fit it in. I need to learn some glasses-adjustment skills!

Two Christmas Stories

I don't know if these stories really have much of a point or not, but I was thinking about them today and decided to record them for record keeping sake.

I'm not quite sure how old I was when this happened, but in searching for a picture to go with this, I found that the item in the story was sold starting in 1976, so I was at least 5. I found the pictures on ebay and they were listed as 'vintage' pins. Somehow that makes me feel REALLY old!!

In my younger years my Bingham cousins drew names and gave a Christmas gift to the cousin whose name we drew out. This particular year my cousin Greg had my name. I could NOT wait to open the present from him! So when an opportune time presented itself, I sneaked the present to my bedroom and planned to just peek. However, because it was small and mostly covered with tape, doing so became impossible and I had to open it all the way. It was one of those cute Avon pins with perfume in the back. {anyone remember those?} I was thrilled.But now I had a problem. I couldn't just start sporting the pin--too many questions would be asked. And I thought the same problem would arise if I hid it and waited until after Christmas to wear it (however, in hind sight that would have been the best solution because I could have just told my busy mom that Greg gave it to me for Christmas if she asked and she probably would not have thought twice about it.) But my little 5-6 year brain didn't have that kind of logic so I came up with a better solution! I re-wrapped it. And then I had a stroke of luck: in the bottom of the wrapping box I found a tag that said, "To: Darcee From: Santa". Genius!

This presented yet another problem and that was how to get it under the tree on Christmas morning. I finally decided to hide it under the Christmas tree skirt in the back on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning came and after all of the presents were opened, I still hadn't been handed my little Jack in the Box pin present. I asked my dad, "Is that really ALL of the presents? There aren't any hidden somewhere?" He looked at me strangely since hiding presents was not something that was done in that house and since it was obvious that there were no more presents under the tree. So I did the only thing I thought there was left to do: sat around and waited until everyone left the room and went and got the present and ran down to my room. I opened it up and put it on.

Later in the day my mom asked where I got the pin from. There was only one answer really, "Santa!" When she said that she didn't remember Santa giving me that I said, "It was hidden in the back of the tree under the Christmas tree skirt." And lucky for me, she couldn't say anything without revealing her secret. Whew!

**********

I had learned from the previous experience to not be a present peeker--it just created too many problems! But one other year when I was a little older I was home sick from school in December. I went up to the kitchen to get something to drink and on complete accident I saw my mom's Christmas list. I was getting a record player. I also knew what everyone else was getting. That ended up being my very worst Christmas ever--not a single surprise. I was so disappointed even though I liked my record player.

That is the story I always tell my kids---if they want to sneak and peek and find things, they can, but they won't like Christmas as much. It's in their ball park. Even so, I wonder how many peekers we've had in our room this year since we've been too casual and left our Amazon orders sitting in untaped boxes begging for access. Hmmm. . . hope they aren't too disappointed on Christmas! (and maybe I should get out some packing tape!)

ps. . . added some pictures and notes in the post below

Christmas Crafts

Here's what crafting projects I've been doing this year

*Ornament
I was invited to an ornament party. We were to make or buy ornaments to give. In the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago I knew what I should do. I went to DI and got a dozen spoons. I glued a 'hanger' on the back then spray painted them red then sprinkled them with glitter. I added a heart and a bow. I attached a tag that said “The Good Shepherd said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ So a woman feeds her loved ones, providing succor and sustenance just as the Savior would do. Her divine gift is to nurture, to help the young, to care for the poor, to lift the brokenhearted. " (found in the Dec 09 visiting teaching message.) Maybe on the very tacky side for most people, but it carried a lot of meaning for me--a pretty symbol to remind me of my divine role.*Plug ins
Just a quick and easy neighbor gift. They are silk poinsettias glued (with E6000) to an outlet protector. I made a few for myself and I think they really cheer my house up.*Cans
I wish I could claim this idea myself, but I can't. I got the idea here. These are fun decorated pop-top cans filled with homemade chocolate pretzels and caramels. (Too bad I didn't read the glue update until AFTER I got them all done:( ) Couldn't get the tissue paper to work but now I wish I could have. Oh well. The whole project was a big wonderful thought and effort of love so hopefully that is what counted. {Big Sorry to all of you who got these --I opened a can and tasted how bad they were! I feel terrible that I gave toxic treats.}*Greta's stocking
Glad to have this project done. When you don't have a pattern and make things up as you go it is definitely easier to not have to repeat it and try to figure out how you did it. But what to do? Greta needed a stocking.*Play make up
These are real make up containers cleaned out then nail polish from the dollar store poured into them to make it look like make up. To make the lipstick, I shaped a piece of Sculpey, baked it, then painted it with red nail polish. It's pretty cool because you can twist it up and down like real lipstick. Then I washed out a mascara tube and bought a pink make up purse at DI for $1. I think Tess will LOVE it! (still need to buy an eye make up applicator)
*My Christmas Cards
Everyone's comments on my Christmas card question post made me all nervous! While this card was not out of character of things I normally do, I definitely worried a lot more about it! Next year I'm not asking Christmas card questions!!! (This is a scrapbook layout that I color photo copied. I also enclosed a family photo similar to what is on the side bar.) Glad they're done and in the mail!

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

I came home and found the nativity like this. . .notice the 'extras' adoring.
(and yes, Mary is missing. . .Tessa has carried her to some unfindable spot.)

Vacuum Packed

I'm sharing these pictures even though they are blurry. Love happy, creative moments like this. . . .

Organize Yourself, Prepare Every Needful Thing

The conversation I had with Tess a while back about what she remembered about Jesus has been at the forefront of my mind lately. The thing she remembered about Jesus was that He organized.

In my pondering it, I have been taught little truths. They merit recording.

1) The scripture "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing" doesn't necessarily mean clean closets! While I think the needful things definitely are scripture study, meaningful prayers and being of service, I've been realizing there is more. Other needful things change with your stage of life. For example, right now it is very important for me to organize myself enough to cook meals the older kids will like and gather around to eat--because we can better nurture with full stomachs and good food generally makes them more teachable. A while ago I had a crazy day and supper time came without me making any plans so I threw together some things I had: rice, squash, bread and a few other things I found in the fridge. Let me tell you there was not much nurturing going on during that meal because the complaints about the food were so prevalent! I learned how important my organization to prepare the evening meal was. However, the evening meal is not the most needful thing for Tess. At her age, she could take it or leave it. Right now she needs one on one imaginative playtime with me. When I organize myself to fit age/stage-fitting nurturing things in, our home is much happier. They are very needful right now.

2) In thinking about these needful things, I've thought of Jesus telling Martha that Mary "hath chosen the good part" (Luke 10:42) when Martha was doing a noble thing: giving service. I've wondered what the balance is in attending to the many 'needful' things. Right now my mind is settling on the idea that if Christ were in my home, I should and need to be attentive to all I could take in from Him. Likewise, if church is in session or if conference is on or there is some other way to nourish my soul that is available at that moment, I need to be very attentive and choose that good part while it is available. If I'm malnourished spiritually, doing other needful things are much more difficult if not impossible. In that way I can chose the good part while still doing things that are needful.

3) How does Heavenly Father "prepare a way for [me that I] may accomplish the thing[s] which he commanded [me]"? He is organized! Because He is organized He is prepared to help me. The way He organizes is through His law. D&C 51:2 "For it must needs be that they be organized according to my laws" Then verse 15 says: "And thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my laws." To organize ourselves according to the law we must do those needful things: obey the commandments, nourish our spirits and nourish those around us. Not only is that is a privilege, but it is how we qualify ourselves for Heaven's help --and what we will receive are the preparations Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have organized to help us succeed (which happens to be the law since every blessing under heaven is predicated by obedience). I feel like I'm spinning circles on this, but they are all related and I need to learn to organize my time, resources, thoughts etc. so that I can learn the perfect pattern already set out: an organized law and plan.

4) From Julie Beck: Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness.To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. . . . Growth happens best in a “house of order,” and women should pattern their homes after the Lord’s house. Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women.

5) When we organize ourselves so we can prepare every needful thing, we qualify ourselves to partake of Heaven's organization--which eventually will be eternal life.

The more I think about it, Tess was amazingly 100% right in remembering that Jesus organized.

On Any Given Day

You could drop by my house and be given the immediate impression that I have serious laundry problems.

Thanks to a little clothes-loving Tessa, my house is constantly littered with her apparel. She drags her clothes bins out of her room and sorts or stacks or tries thing on or just scatters for scatterings sake. Every day.

(clothes stashed behind the couch)

It's kind of embarrassing really, but what to do? Although almost unimaginable for me right now, one day this will be something I miss.

Also on any given day, you could meet this stylish little lady. This outfit matches perfectly because they all have flowers. Lovely! Right now her fashion consultations are free. Any interested?

"I'm Thankful" Part Two

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was crazy. I was dashing like a mad girl trying to make a pie, put a craft together, do a long list of errands that had to be done at two separate times and get everyone all packed up to head out of town. Because of the frenzy it wasn't long until I was feeling a bit frustrated with some of my children. Thoughts such as "If Child K just were a little more _________, things around here would be so much easier." or "How come Child M isn't a little more ___________." etc. As I was wallowing in these unproductive thoughts a little tender mercy was given. It came in the form of a thought redirection prompt. It went something like this: We are told to be grateful for what we have instead of focusing on what we lack. This same principle needs to be applied to people's personalities as well. It was such an epiphany for me. So I switched my train of thought to my most recent post. As I reviewed again what I was thankful for about each member of my family my heart softened and I was humbled. I realized that the qualities my children lack are small compared to their talents and strengths and as I focused on those, we all became more productive that day.

Now the challenge: apply that principle more often.