Ack, I Need To Blog

We were just getting ready to eat dinner and I realized I haven't blogged yet today.

Last night we went to our ward Christmas party. We ate good food and enjoyed a lovely program. The Primary president went around and brought coloring/activity books (and crayons) to the kids. That was fun.

 

They showed clips from "The Christ Child" nativity video, while one of the ward members narrated from the related scriptures. Between clips, other ward members did musical numbers that went along with the clips we watched.

Guess what the Countdown to Christmas scripture was for that night. Luke 2:1-7 and watching "The Christ Child." It fit right in. 

 

Hey, now I can eat dinner and tell you tomorrow about it.

Polar Express Party!

Last night we had our annual Polar Express Party.

My husband wore his Polar Express conductor hat (with foil decal by my sister) and read the book to us. This year everyone was assigned a sound to make when Jeremy pointed at them, from a train whistle "woo woo" to "Oh no" when the hole was found in the pocket. Lucky even got out his harmonica to make sounds. It was a blast.

Afterward we watched the movie and drank hot chocolate. 
I fell asleep, of course, as is my tradition. They paused the movie so we could do our Countdown to Christmas scripture study before I went back to my room. I was so tired that when Jet brought me my mint M&M somehow I didn't put it in my mouth and later they found it sitting on the couch. Jeremy put it in a bag for me to eat later.

This is a fun tradition to do as a family every year (though not necessarily the falling asleep part). 

P.S. We also had Chex Mix to munch on during the movie. Mmmm. My favorite holiday treat. It doesn't last long when we make it because everybody else in the family also likes it. 

P.P.S. Another thing I think is cute. Jet saw that Daddy's Polar Express cup was out on its saucer (so I could get that picture). I got Christmas mugs out of our Christmas crate to use for this event. Jet grabbed one of the mugs and a tiny plate and set out the mug on the plate, just like Daddy's cup and saucer. I love my children so much.

 

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.

My Friend's Scripture Study is Different Than Mine

My friend posted the other day how she was enjoying her early morning scripture study with a group discussion and peppermint tea. I let her know she inspired me.

I made myself some peppermint herbal tea, sat down on the couch with my scriptures to where I left off in Nahum in the Old Testament, and started reading.

"Woe to the bloody city!"

It continued like that through several verses.

"...and a great number of carcasses; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:"

 

In fact the whole chapter was like that, prophesying the destruction of Ninevah.

Not quite what I was expecting when I sat down to relax with my scriptures but I guess it can't all be the good tidings of great joy like in our family Countdown to Christmas scripture study this month.

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.

The End is Near

Wrapping things up before Christmas break:

Lucky brought home countdown rings as well as service ideas on Santa's beard. The countdown rings had this poem:

12 Days of Christmas

Christmas day will  soon be here

And I can hardly wait!

I've made this little Christmas chain

To help me celebrate.

Please help me hang my chain up high

I'll cut one loop each day

And when we reach Santa's feet,

It will be Christmas day!!

Jr. Jr. brought home treats they decorated in class.

Nichole has been taking art projects to school and bringing art projects home.

Jeremy brought home treats from the Orem Library as a reward for being such a good helper there.

To #LightTheWorld, I took a casserole to neighbors because we didn't get a chance to bring them food when they had their baby.

Love Mom and Dad

Some years for LightTheWorld I'm really on top of doing something nice when it suggests recognizing your parents. Sometimes I think ahead and send them a letter to be opened on that particular day. Sometimes I don't do as well and call them last minute. Some years I might not do anything because I'm too sick to do anything at all.

This year I was on top of things. "Love Mom and Dad." I wanted to show love for both my parents and my in-laws. I drove to a park one day and had some quiet time to express my gratitude to both sets of parents through letters. Jeremy and I express often to one another how glad we both are to have such good relationships with our spouse's parents. Later the kids contributed drawings and notes to the back of the letters I wrote. Then I mailed them with instructions written on the envelope for them to read the letters on December 15.

Today I also called to chat with my parents. I love my parents. They are terrific. I'm so glad they raised all of us, my siblings and me. I'm glad they've had such a strong marriage for so many years. I'm glad they've set a good example in many ways.

Photo credit goes to my awesome photographer sister, Kimber Hodson. Check out her website- kimberhodson.com

I'm glad I thought to send letters to both sets of parents. Last night for #LightTheWorld there was a virtual concert called "Social Sing and Serve." Some well known online artists shared sing-along Christmas songs and suggestions for giving service. One of the suggested pieces of service was to write a letter to parents and mail it off. Ha Ha. I had already mailed mine. My parents did open it the next day and enjoyed the pictures and notes from their grandkids (and from me).

I was in the middle of making dinner when I had to deal with something so Jr., without being asked, took over and finished making dinner which we ate while watching the concert. Thank you so much for setting the tone with service, Jr. It was pleasant to hear Lucky singing along with some of the songs. That got Jet humming as well. I love music and good quality family time.

The "Social Sing and Serve" was one of the nightly virtual concerts that have been on since the beginning of the month. After it was over, our ward had its own virtual Christmas party. A few people spoke and we watched some videos including some submitted by ward members about favorite Christmas traditions. We submitted a video about our advent calendar tradition- countdown to Christmas scripture study.

It's been a good couple of days.