It's Christmastime!

It is December so it is time for our Countdown to Christmas Scripture Study. Like last year, this year we shared our tradition with another family in our neighborhood, giving them their own jar of flags and mint M&Ms.

I'm grateful to share this tradition we have of every day focusing our family scripture study on what Christmas is really about: our Savior Jesus Christ, His birth, and what He means to us. That's why our last scripture study in this advent calendar encourages us to share our testimonies of Him. Because of Him we have what we have and we are who we are.

Celebrating In December

December 1 was Eat a Red Apple Day. We did.

 

Since it was also the beginning of December, we started our Countdown to Christmas scripture study. Pick a flag with a scripture for each day, answers questions, earn mint M&Ms.

The first Sunday in December is always the First Presidency Christmas devotional so we are able to say a song that was sung, a story that was told, something like that to earn our mint M&M. President Nelson encouraged us to gain our own testimony of Jesus Christ, that He is the son of God, and because of Him we don't have to go through challenges alone. That is a great thing to remember (I'm glad I took notes).

 

December 4 was National Cookie Day. We took Oreo cookies and cream pudding and Oreos and made "Dirt."

December 5 was Walt Disney's birthday. We listened to Walt Disney music and some interviews with him. I made sure to wear my bow earrings that night at Jr.'s holiday concert.

 

For St. Nicholas Day on December 6, everyone got candy in their shoes again. It was also Put on Your Own Shoes Day. Jeremy didn't think he'd gotten any candy in his shoes. Ha Ha Ha. He realized he did after he put them on. Tee Hee.

 

We had good intentions of celebrating Cotton Candy Day on December 7 and Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on December 8 but it didn't really happen. So December 9 we finally traveled in time to eat cotton candy but not before Jr. Jr. posed in an epic time traveler position.

December 11 was International Mountain Day. We took that day to make a mountain of latkes, ate challah bread, and played dreidel with chocolate coins which we ate, too. Yumm.

On Frank Sinatra's birthday on December 12, I listened to Frank Sinatra music while getting things done.

On Cocoa Day, December 13, we were going to do our annual Polar Express Party. We got as far as Jeremy dressing up and reading the book to us. Then I was tired and didn't want to deal with things, getting supplies out for cocoa. Sigh. I went to bed and the kids played video games.

December 14 was Monkey Day. I went to watch one of my monkeys play in his first real orchestra concert. Well done, monkey.

 

December 15 was Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. I didn't get any pictures of Jeremy wearing it but he got himself a t-shirt this year with this on it:

I love it.

That's enough for one post. Stay tuned for more December 2023 catching up.

It's December

It's December. I'm sick. Blah. 

Of course there needs to be catchup... eventually. But before I do that, I want to encourage you to participate in #LightTheWorld again. 

We started things off in November again watching Christmas on Temple Square concert on YouTube. This year's theme was "The Promise of Christmas."

This year there is not a calendar like they've had in past years. They do have a printable "50 Ideas to Share Your Light."

We're encouraging our children to let us know what they've done for service each day. We, parents, are sharing as well.

More about Light The World can be found at churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist

Since it is December 1 we also started our Countdown to Christmas scripture study. I love this tradition. The kids are really good at answering the questions based on our scripture study (earning a mint M&M as a reward). It's tricky this year because Jet really gets into things now and it is going to be hard to keep the vase of M&Ms out of his reach. Sigh. 

 

This is what we do for family scripture study in December. I told the kids they are welcome to continue with Come Follow Me for personal scripture study. That's what I'm doing.

Celebrating the Season

The best way to celebrate in December is by remembering the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ, who gave everything for us. That's why we do Light The World, so we can be a little more like Jesus and give a little back to him. That's why we also make sure to learn more of him and in our family that means our Countdown to Christmas scripture study.

As always we read a scripture or scriptures each day and answer questions about them and we each get a mint M&M if we answer correctly. We always tell the kids it's an open book test. They can always turn back to scriptures in order to find the answers or get hints if they're young enough. If they don't participate (because of a bad attitude) or are on their way back from another fair convention, this time in Texas, and are only on the phone for prayer and to listen to the scripture, they don't get an M&M.

 

Nichole and Jr. both had concerts on December 1. Jr.'s concert attire was ugly sweater, which his teacher explained as something very very very Christmasy. He also wore a white and red striped face mask because it looked like a candy cane. 

 

After Nichole's concert, she had an activity so she didn't get home until after we had prayer and read the scripture and got off the phone with Jeremy and Marcus because they both went to the convention together so as they traveled, they both joined us by phone for family prayer. But when Nichole walked in the door, I mentioned that the scripture we read was 2 Nephi 25:26 and she immediately said, "Oh, that's the one about talking about Christ and rejoicing in Christ..." That immediately earned her an M&M. If she knows what the scripture is by the scripture reference, that's an immediate reward. 

The scripture says, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." And that is why we celebrate the season. And that is what we try to teach all year long. That is why family scripture study and family prayer and gospel discussions in our home are so important.

That is the best thing to celebrate, even though it is fun to celebrate other things like Eat a Red Apple Day on December 1 and National Fritters Day on December 2 and National Cookie Day on December 4. And fun Santa things from time to time (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

 

The emphasis should never be taken away from the Savior, however. So we daily have our family prayer and Countdown to Christmas scripture study and we remember Christ and we rejoice in Christ and we teach our children that "...through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" (3rd article of faith). That is worth celebrating.

And Here We Go

Things are hard sometimes. Some years are not so great during the Christmas season. Even though there are plenty of stresses, I believe I'm going into this season with a better attitude than some years. I think a lot of that is because of #GiveThanks around Thanksgiving. I am grateful for so many blessings, including the opportunity to #LightTheWorld even in little ways. Sometimes it's ideas based on the printable calendar. Sometimes it's just doing nice things for my children and changing my attitude about serving them.

*I'll note here that I started writing this blog post last night after thinking about it for a while. I was planning on what I would do for Light the World and was going to get the post up so I could do what was on the Light the World calendar for that day. Unfortunately Jet was having a hard time when I handed him off to Jeremy and I realized it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I do these things according to some schedule. What matters is if I serve. Serving as Jesus did means ministering to those that need it when they need it. That includes my family members. My children are more important than some blog post. So this post is coming later than I was originally planning and that's fine. I currently have a baby sleeping comfortably on my shoulder as I write this and that's better than fine.*

 

We got a good start to our Countdown to Christmas scripture study with everybody participating. Good job, kids. 

We wanted to keep all the scriptures we'd be using easily accessible so I thought to put them in our picnic basket. Jeremy made the comment, "Talk about feasting upon the word of Christ." Ha Ha.

One thing we started doing because it can be done virtually is we started watching concerts from Temple Square. "The Christmas Collection Concert Series." It started with a virtual tour of Temple Square and the Christmas lights there since it's closed to visitors right now. Most nights through December 23 they'll have concerts featuring a lot of different groups with pre-recorded pieces. Tonight Jeremy commented while we were all watching together how pleasant it was in our home.

Here's what I wanted to share for "Light The World."

December 2- Hero Highlight "Who represents Christlike love to you? Highlight them on social media." I told the kids this was on the Light The World calendar and Lucky immediately told me of his hero: "Jesus should be all of our favorite." I agree. You can't top Him for Christlike love as that is who he is. Lucky and I talked about how Jesus does recognize when others do service and we watched a video about Jesus pointing out the widow who gave what she had. I'd like to share about a couple who are my heroes. Brother and Sister Ahlborn. From bringing us food when we came home from the hospital with a new baby to inviting us over for Family Home Evening pre-pandemic, bringing us fresh garden produce and home canned goods as well as giving us items for our food storage, they serve.

They gave us apple filling which helped us celebrate Mason Jar Day on November 30 when I used it to make apple strudel. Yumm. Oh, that filling was so good.

The Ahlborns don't just care for our temporal needs, they care for us spiritually as well. They encourage us to watch special messages from the prophet and make suggestions to read articles to supplement our gospel study.

They don't just do this for us, either. I know they are like this with others. It's wonderful to hear their insights on our Sunday Zoom meetings for Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society (and Young Women).

While I can't currently get hugs from them, I can feel their love and the love of Christ through their service. Thank you, Ahlborns.

And since this is a post about not only Light the World but about the beginning of December, I will let you know that on December 1 we ate apples for Eat a Red Apple Day and since it was also Rosa Parks Day, I finished watching the Rosa Parks episode of Doctor Who. I fell asleep when we were watching it the other day so it was the perfect day to finish it.

Of course as far as service goes, it's not been just me doing service in our family. Everyone has been finding ways to serve in our home. The other day, Nichole used our Little Women cookbook and made cream puffs from a recipe in it. Good job, Nichole. 

Jr. often takes Jet and gets him to sleep when I'm in the middle of something. That boy has the magic touch. The other day, Jr. Jr. surprised me by doing his homework without complaining while I slept on the couch. Every morning, Lucky collects a mask for his brother as well as himself before they head out the door. Jet brings joy with his laughter and cuteness. Jeremy does so much from grocery shopping to library trips to washing dishes. My family is amazing. I want to recognize that this Christmas season instead of getting overwhelmed and bogged down by some of the hard things of life. 

There will still be hard things, I will still get discouraged from time to time, there will be tears, but if I keep an attitude of gratitude, the positive can outweigh the negative and I can help bring my family closer to the Savior.

(Positive things like Nichole and I getting a new life bird- a long-tailed duck. Bonding time with my daughter... and husband and baby. Woohoo)

Light The World One By One

It's December. Time to #LightTheWorld. This year we are encouraged to Light the World One By One. Find someone to serve specially each day.
Since I can't get out much, I'm going to be serving mostly from home. I started with writing a note to my husband and putting it on his pillow for him to see when he got home from church.

I absolutely love my husband. He does so much for our family. He sacrifices quite a bit, including sleep- especially lately. He spent Wednesday before Thanksgiving cleaning with the kids, doing lots of dishes since I haven't been up to doing dishes lately for obvious reasons. Then he spent all of Thanksgiving preparing food then staying up late to get ready for the next day. Friday, he drove in the snow all the way to Vernal to do balloons in the coooooold at Vernal Holly Days. We obviously didn't go with him this year. He drove home the next day. Every night he's been helping me with the new baby. He's been taking the kids to church all by himself every week. While I was in labor, he was right there with me helping me through it then he went home to take care of the older kids, came back to the hospital to help me through the night, then back home the next morning to help the kids get ready for school. Again, I appreciate his sacrifices. He is my hero.

Our family is also starting our countdown to Christmas scripture study. We didn't get around to getting mint M&Ms yet, so we started with regular M&Ms to tied us over until we get the mint kind. Things are crazy right now.

Scriptures and Pie

LIGHTtheWORLD today.  "Jesus read the scriptures and so can you."
A couple scriptures that came to mind (because I couldn't just pick one) when some sweet people from our ward brought over a pie and a Christmas card for us were:
Matthew 25:40  "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Mosiah 2:17  "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
Our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, have given us so much that a great way to show our gratitude is by serving others in the way Christ would.

These ward members are such good examples of Christlike service.  I'm grateful for their examples in so many ways from cards and pie to helping out at church to coming to choir.  They really do LIGHTtheWORLD and I feel so blessed to know them.

Another person who lights the world through scripture is my niece.  She is currently in the MTC, so while Jeremy, Lucky, and I were in Provo this afternoon, we drove home by way of the MTC (and Provo Temple) so I could show Lucky where his cousin is right now.

We've been getting emails from this niece and in her emails she shares scriptures that have made a difference to her.  They have been wonderful to read and have been such good reminders to me.  We really can learn so much from the scriptures.  In 1 Nephi 19:23 it says, "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."  I love this reminder that the things we learn in the scriptures can apply to our lives now.
I sent an email to my niece today thanking her for the scriptures she shares that have been good reminders for me.  I'm glad she's making such good choices and for the example she is being to our family.

On a related but funny note, every morning for our Countdown to Christmas scripture study, Jeremy asks us questions based on what we read.  If we answer correctly we get an M&M from the vase.

This morning after asking the kids questions and while trying to decide what to ask me, the kids started chanting, "Ask Mommy.  Ask Mommy.  Ask Mommy."  After a while one of the kids changed it to, "Ask Mommy out," and all the kids joined in.  "Ask Mommy out.  Ask Mommy out."
Well, we do get to go see the new Star Wars movie in a couple weeks.

Ward Christmas Party 2016

Another long day.
After staying up so late again last night, we got the kids up early for scripture study.  They did well with sitting at the table for scripture study, especially when there were Mint M&Ms to be had.

I put together my YouTube video of visiting our friends to get the ornaments.  We did some shopping and library visiting.
LIGHTtheWORLD for December 2 is, "Jesus honored his parents and so can you."  I worked ahead of time on this one.  I wrote a letter to my parents and mailed it a few days ago with instructions on the outside to "Open on December 2."  I'm hoping my parents got it by today.  Did you get it in time, parents?

We told our children that they could do this one by being well behaved at our ward Christmas party this evening.  They actually had it set up so the kids could eat a sack dinner in the back while watching a movie and then do other activities.  The adults could eat different food and socialize in the front.  The theme was a Country Christmas and we were encouraged to dress up.

Nichole said her dragon ate her costume.

 
It was a fun activity.  Santa made an appearance toward the end, reading to the children and singing a Christmas song with them, and several of our kids sat on his lap and talked with him.

 
Jeremy and Santa even compared beards.

I, of course, talked with friends a lot after it was over so we got home kind of late.  Sigh.  At least the kids can sleep in tomorrow morning.