Happy Dec. 22nd
Scripture: Helaman 14: 5-6
“And behold, there shall be a new star arise, such as one ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.
Matthew: 1:1-2
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
**Cool thing: Buy several different types of apples at the grocery store or take one out of your refrigerator. When talking about the star tell your family that in each apple there was placed a special star. Cut the apple around the circumference, not through the stem. You will see that the five seed pods in every apple you cut make a star. Put paint on the piece and stamp it on some brown paper or newsprint and you have star Christmas wrapping paper. Or cut up the apples and place cinnamon on them and eat them.
Crafts: Pipe cleaners bent into a star shape can make a pretty Christmas tree ornament or string several to make a sparkly garland.
If you bend a wire hanger with pliers into a star shape leaving a holder you can make a beautiful magic wand or bubble wand. Leave it wire for the bubbles, but you can wrap it with pretty ribbon and accessories for the princess magic wand.
Use a cookie cutter as a template, or make free handed (my favorite) stars from paper. You can cover them with foil, put a hole through them and place them behind Christmas lights, sprinkle glitter on them and hang them all over your house…
Use a star cookie cutter today to serve star sandwiches, star toast, star cheese, star meat, star apple or orange or pear slices…use your imagination!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Dec 21
Happy Dec. 21st
Scripture: Genesis: 1: 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth on the earth after his kind; and God saw that it was good. (This was Jesus who made these things under the direction of God the father.)
Luke 2:7,8,24 …and laid him in a manger;[used to feed animals] because their was no room at the Inn.
…Shepherds watching over their flocks by night…
…they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord:…and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law…A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons..
Carol: Away in a Manger
I don’t think it was a coincidence that there are animals in the Christmas story…they are a significant part of the earth. And they often bring us joy!
Brief pleasure: The cold nose of a dog pushed into your hand or face, and the unconditional love that comes with it.—Simple Pleasures
Winter Solstice Dec. 21: Prepare to give a gift to the animals outside on the longest night of the year…
Recipe for Birdseed balls:
Melt ¼ lard or suet
Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups cornmeal
Stir to make a stiff dough. Chill for 30 minutes or until cool eough to easily shape with your hands. Cut approximately ten 14 in. sections of cord. Using one section, tie the cord ends together into a know making a loop of the section. Mold balls from the dough over the knotted part of the cord. Roll the balls in birdseed until coated thoroughly and chill for at least an hour until firm. Hand on nearby trees for the birds to enjoy.
Simple way: Spread peanut butter on pinecones, old bread or tortillas. Roll in birdseed. Attach a string and hang outside. You can string popcorn, cranberries, or cheerios.
Even simpler: Take your toaster outside and turn it up-side-down.
Cut oranges or grapefruit in half. Use the insides for something yummy for you to eat, or add to your Christmas Soup. Use the peels as a bowl shape. You can push twine through the tip and hand from your trees. Fill with birdseed or sunflower seeds.
“He is not like anyone in the world. He can charm foxes and squirrels and birds just as the natives in India charm snakes. He plays a very soft tune on a pipe and they come and listen,” The Secret Garden
Christmas is for everyone, even for the stuffed animals that live with you: Don’t forget they love Christmas too. Involve them in the festivities. Bring them to sit around the Christmas tree. Don’t forget that they work hard all year to keep you feeling safe, guard your bedroom or toy room, double as a head pillow, Soothe you when you are sad, or wait on your bed until you hold them and snuggle. They are Santa’s best friends!
“Pleasure is the beginning and the end of living happily.” Epicurus
Scripture: Genesis: 1: 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth on the earth after his kind; and God saw that it was good. (This was Jesus who made these things under the direction of God the father.)
Luke 2:7,8,24 …and laid him in a manger;[used to feed animals] because their was no room at the Inn.
…Shepherds watching over their flocks by night…
…they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord:…and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law…A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons..
Carol: Away in a Manger
I don’t think it was a coincidence that there are animals in the Christmas story…they are a significant part of the earth. And they often bring us joy!
Brief pleasure: The cold nose of a dog pushed into your hand or face, and the unconditional love that comes with it.—Simple Pleasures
Winter Solstice Dec. 21: Prepare to give a gift to the animals outside on the longest night of the year…
Recipe for Birdseed balls:
Melt ¼ lard or suet
Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups cornmeal
Stir to make a stiff dough. Chill for 30 minutes or until cool eough to easily shape with your hands. Cut approximately ten 14 in. sections of cord. Using one section, tie the cord ends together into a know making a loop of the section. Mold balls from the dough over the knotted part of the cord. Roll the balls in birdseed until coated thoroughly and chill for at least an hour until firm. Hand on nearby trees for the birds to enjoy.
Simple way: Spread peanut butter on pinecones, old bread or tortillas. Roll in birdseed. Attach a string and hang outside. You can string popcorn, cranberries, or cheerios.
Even simpler: Take your toaster outside and turn it up-side-down.
Cut oranges or grapefruit in half. Use the insides for something yummy for you to eat, or add to your Christmas Soup. Use the peels as a bowl shape. You can push twine through the tip and hand from your trees. Fill with birdseed or sunflower seeds.
“He is not like anyone in the world. He can charm foxes and squirrels and birds just as the natives in India charm snakes. He plays a very soft tune on a pipe and they come and listen,” The Secret Garden
Christmas is for everyone, even for the stuffed animals that live with you: Don’t forget they love Christmas too. Involve them in the festivities. Bring them to sit around the Christmas tree. Don’t forget that they work hard all year to keep you feeling safe, guard your bedroom or toy room, double as a head pillow, Soothe you when you are sad, or wait on your bed until you hold them and snuggle. They are Santa’s best friends!
“Pleasure is the beginning and the end of living happily.” Epicurus
Monday, December 20, 2010
Dec. 20th
Happy December 20, 2010
Create an atmosphere of the Christmas Story going simple. If you have little kids make a fort with chairs, and blankets. (Go inside) If you live near a barn or a garage, a shed, a park with a overhang picnic area, bring blankets and a candle or flashlight.
It is not the place necessarily, but the gathering and talking about it. Tell the story in your own words. Try to make it come alive in your family’s minds—your way. The less you do, the better. It can be a great memory to remember that family night sitting there just talking about the first Christmas…This may be a good time to sing after…Away in a manger.
An Idea: Supper in Bethlehem:
The first Christmas wasn’t celebrated with a big old Turkey or Ham. To give a historical feel for the holiday do an authentic supper from the Middle East. Maybe something Joseph and Mary might have shared with guests or ate along their way to Bethlehem. Middle Eastern foods include Pita bread, olives, hummus, cucumber soup, yogurt, lamb, and small round cheeses. (Goat cheese is a good choice and historically accurate.) You can serve dinner in wooden bowls and eat with your hands. Don’t forget, they had no electricity either, so dine in candlelight maybe on a blanket on the floor. (Don’t forget to save some for the donkey)
Create an atmosphere of the Christmas Story going simple. If you have little kids make a fort with chairs, and blankets. (Go inside) If you live near a barn or a garage, a shed, a park with a overhang picnic area, bring blankets and a candle or flashlight.
It is not the place necessarily, but the gathering and talking about it. Tell the story in your own words. Try to make it come alive in your family’s minds—your way. The less you do, the better. It can be a great memory to remember that family night sitting there just talking about the first Christmas…This may be a good time to sing after…Away in a manger.
An Idea: Supper in Bethlehem:
The first Christmas wasn’t celebrated with a big old Turkey or Ham. To give a historical feel for the holiday do an authentic supper from the Middle East. Maybe something Joseph and Mary might have shared with guests or ate along their way to Bethlehem. Middle Eastern foods include Pita bread, olives, hummus, cucumber soup, yogurt, lamb, and small round cheeses. (Goat cheese is a good choice and historically accurate.) You can serve dinner in wooden bowls and eat with your hands. Don’t forget, they had no electricity either, so dine in candlelight maybe on a blanket on the floor. (Don’t forget to save some for the donkey)
Friday, December 17, 2010
December 17-19
Happy Dec. 17th Time for a little more magic…
Reindeer Food: Santa and his reindeer always find the ones who believe...but this is a nice way to entertain the deer while Santa is eating his cookies and spending time inside...You may do this a day or two before Christmas Eve so the Reindeer to spot the food when they go out for pre-eve workouts.
1 box Original Shredded Wheat (Large Squares no frosting) I've tried the others and they like this best!
1 t. magic glitter any color (It turns magical when you pour it slowly in the bag...)(substitute sugar for glitter if you don't have any, it also sparkles in the moon light)
Place ingredients in a large plastic baggy and smash with a spoon to break up the shredded wheat. Then scrunch with your hands to mix all together. If you don't remember, Santa is sending elves to watch all through Christmas time to make sure kids are nice, not naughty.
Guaranteed to sparkle in the night and get reindeer to notice your house, then eat while Santa is inside. They don't need too much because then they would get too full of tummy's to fly...
Don’t want the kids to eat anymore Candy Canes? Here is an idea…
Candy stand: Secure 5-so candy canes together with a rubber band or colorful string.(You can doll it up with a cute ribbon too.) Even out the bends of the candy canes, those will be the legs to stand your stand up with. What to use it for:
1. Place a Christmas Scripture in it and change it everyday
2. Put a count down in it so the family knows how many more days until.....grandma comes, Santa comes, school is out.....
3. Place them next to your kids beds with a love note in it
4. Pick cute clever parts to songs that make you smile and place them in them around your home for decoration, like "...laughing all the way..."
5. Do a Christmas scavenger hunt with them throughout your house and at the end have a treat, or a movie, or something to do as a family
6. Leave them around on desks at work with your Christmas Card in it.
7. Okay, eat them....Scripture: "In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is His name whereby He shall be called The Lord our Righteousness. " Jer. 23:5Carol: The First Noel
Happy December 18
My favorite…the gift of warmth
Carol: Mary's Lullaby (Children's Hymn #44-45)
The magical gift of warmth: As you observe your children tonight as they are busy playing video games, or watching TV, or talking on their cell phones, or studying; Or your husband as he is tired on the couch...Or yourself as you have just had a busy day. Just quietly go put some towels or light blankets in the dryer. After they are really nice and warm, (about 15 minutes), take them out and walk around your home and start wrapping your kids or your husband or yourself up in nice soft warm dryer towels or blankets. When they ask "Hey what is this for....?" "Just tell them, "Just because... Or it is because it feels good, and I love you." Or to yourself, just because you deserve it! That is it! A nice gift you can give your children or your husband or yourself is the gift of.........warm and cozy.
DRESS UP YOUR HOT CHOCOLATE
Here are a few tips for adding some extra pizzazz to your favorite hot chocolate recipe:
Richer Flavor: For a richer, more decadent beverage, use whole milk instead of water--regardless of what the recipe calls for. If you want an extra rich drink, add a teaspoon of sweet butter to the bottom of each cup before you pour in the drink.
Garnishes: Marshmallows are great, but why not use whipped cream as a blank canvas to create a truly whimsical drink? Try topping whipped cream with chocolate shavings from your favorite candy bar. Or use colored sprinkles to reflect the occasion--red and green for Christmas, pink and red for Valentine's Day or rainbow sprinkles for birthdays. Or sprinkle chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter morsels on top. Also, consider candy stick stirrers such as peppermint, butterscotch or raspberry for a hint of extra flavor. Or just dollop with a big scoop of icecream…yum!
Cup Rimmers:Give a touch of sophistication to your hot chocolate by adding a rim of flavor to your cups. Try crushing peppermint candies in a food processor or using colored sugars for a sparkling effect. You can also create your own custom-flavored chocolate powders. Just place the mixture in a large soup bowl. Moisten the cup rim with a wedge of orange and dip it in the mixture (about 3/8 inches deep) until it is evenly coated. Carefully pour the hot chocolate or cocoa so you don't drip on the rim.
You can also buy cookie straws at Walmart. Try the oreo ones, they are divine! Be careful that your hot chocolate is not too hot for sipping!
Happy December 19 A good day for a quiet activity…
Scripture: Helaman 14:1-7
And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written. And behold he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign: for five years more cometh, and behold then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name. And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. There fore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; ...And behold there shall be a new star, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you...And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
Song: Samuel tells of the Baby Jesus: Children's song book hymn 36
The gift of yummy smells:
Did you know that smells can trigger long ago memories? Even what you cook and how you present it makes a memory for your child.
Pomander ornaments:
Supplies: Med. sized apples or oranges
Box of cloves
Ground cinnamon
Press the stems of the cloves in the fruit until covered (or with patterns.) (It helps to make holes with a bamboo skewer before you stick the cloves in)Place the fruit in a plastice bag with a small amount of ground cinnamon and shake gently until it is well covered. Fruit will be dry in about a week, but its spicy aroma will last and last! Decorate it with a festive ribbon and hang on your tree or give to a friend. (*Leave one in your car…it smells so good!)
Cinnamon Ornaments: A simple no cook smelly-good trick is to place glue on a cut out cardboard shape, or styrofoam ball, or any type of paper cutout that is thicker. (Not typing paper) Mix is a bowl 2 t. cinnamon, and 2 t sugar. Sprinkle the mixture over the glue and let it dry. Not place several of these in your tree, around your house to have a wiff of cinnamon.
Gingerbread men: You can let these harden and they smell great! Use your favorite recipe or look one up on line. Use more spices than what the recipe calls for, if you are not going to eat them…
Thursday, December 16, 2010
December 16
Happy December 16th 2010
The gift and magic of Story:
Need something to liven up a party? Need to read something in your child's class? Here is an interactive story that's fun...
Blackout in the Workshop
The Narrator reads the script. The characters (use groups if you can) say the following exclamations every time their name is mentioned:
Santa: A loud-- HO HO HO
Elves: HEE, HEE, HEE
Mrs. Claus: Oh my!
Rudolf: Ta-DaIt was Christmas Eve.
SANTA was in his workshop with all of his ELVES. They were busy putting the finishing touches on all the toys and games for the good girls and boys. A few of the ELVES were in the middle of painting a wooden rocking horse when suddenly the lights went out! SANTA said, "Oh, no!" The ELVES gasped and couldn't see, so they got a few brushstrokes of paint on each other. SANTA put out his hand and tried to find a light switch on the wall. He tripped over MRS. CLAUS and fell ker-splat on the floor. The ELVES helped her up. Santa felt around in the ark again and found the light switch. He flipped it up and down, but it didn't work. He sent one of the ELVES to check the electrical box. Everyone heard thump, bump, crash! as the elf stumbled through the workshop toward the door.MRS. CLAUS turned to SANTA and suggested that they play games in the dark while they waited. SANTA thought that was a good idea. He asked one of the ELVES next to him to say something and everyone had to guess who the elf was by the sound of his voice. Then the elf next to him did the same until they went around the workshop room.Slowly, the door started to open. A bright light that was tinted red began to fill the room. In the doorway stood a huge figure with four legs and something sticking out of its head! "Oh!" said all of the ELVES and MRS. CLAUS. "It's RUDOLF!" cried SANTASure enough the elf who was went to check the electrical box found RUDOLF the red-nosed reindeer and asked for his help, because the wires in the box were broken. There was now enough light in the workshop so that the toys and games could be finished by the ELVES and loaded on the sleigh for SANTA. Thank goodness for RUDOLF!! The End! Sing Rudolf the red-nosed-reindeer.
The Gift of Story
How to make up a story for your child(ren) or friend or spouse about them at Christmas...It is one of the best ways to connect...By Steffani Raff
The wonder and magic of Christmas is captured for me in one image, a Christmas tree radiating its soft glow with lights twinkling, ornaments sparkling, and gifts scattered under the rich green of its branches. When I was a child that sight generated feelings of anticipation – I couldn't wait to see what presents I got. As an adult, it still generates feelings of anticipation, but for an entirely different reason – I can't wait to see how my children respond to what gifts I got them for Christmas.
Before I became a mother I had no idea how much you could love a child. Christmas became about finding and giving the perfect gift instead of receiving it. But finding just the right gift wasn't easy. My love was too big to be packaged up in a toy I bought at Wal-Mart. As I struggled with this dilemma a distant memory came to my mind.
I was 7 years old and ripping through presents with gusto. Wrapping paper flying, short squeals of excitement, gasps of joy when I saw my Christmas treasures. Then I came to a soft package and noticed my mom taking special notice. She said, “That one is from me.” The initial excitement I experienced with my mom's interest was instantly quelled when I saw what was inside – a scarf. I didn't want a scarf. I let it fall limply to the ground. My mom looked away and I knew I had hurt her feelings. I felt bad. Really bad. I learned later that she had spent weeks hand-knitting the scarf for me. She was trying to put a little piece of herself into one of the gifts she gave to me.
This memory sparked a Christmas trend for my husband and me for years to come – making a special gift for each child every year. It also started an epidemic of staying up until 5:30am frantically trying to finish the things we were making. There were some years we went to bed fifteen minutes before the kids woke up Christmas morning! Luckily, our children were a lot smarter than I was as a child and they adored the gifts we made for them. These gifts, with a little of our love embedded in them, were by far our favorites. That feeling of viewing a scene through a soft-focus lens always seemed to come when we slowed down to open these presents. These were the moments that held our Christmas joy.
Then, one year I started thinking about Christmas in October – a rare occurrence for me, thinking ahead. I was musing about the moment under the tree when our children would open the “especially from us” presents. I had no idea what those presents would be but it occurred to me that what I really wanted for our family was to capture the feeling that was created around the Christmas tree more often in our day-to-day life.
How could I do it?
I decided to create a bedtime story – a story that would unfold chapter after chapter throughout the whole year. I began working on the characters of the story – three rather extraordinary children who decided that regular life was just too ordinary for them, so they became pirates. I scribbled away at several chapters before Christmas, put them in a binder, and wrapped the binder up.
How to create the mood?
Part of the magic of the Christmas tree was the setting it creates with the warm glow that fills the room from the Christmas tree lights. I wanted to create a similar feeling for our bedtime story. I wrapped a long taper candle in one package and an old-fashioned chamber stick in the other.
Christmas morning came (and that year I was in bed before midnight !) When it came time to open the last present, I had never been so excited to see our children's reactions – this was the best Christmas present I had ever come up with. They each unwrapped one of the three items at the same time. Then they each looked up at me with an “ I don't get it ” look in their eyes.
“What is it?”
“Read the cover, Abby.”
“Pirates in Pajamas: A bedtime time tale of daring adventures on the high sea.” Their eyes still revealed confusion. “You'll understand tonight. It's a bedtime story.”
“A bedtime story?” they said, intrigued.
“Yep, I made up a bedtime story just for you.”
That night we had to tell them to brush their teeth twice – they were so excited to hear the story they got ready for bed a little too fast. All four of my favorite people were snuggled on the same bed: my three children and my husband. My children were wiggling with excitement in the dark. I lit the tapered candle and walked in the room. The effect was instant. A quiet excitement crept in while the glow from the candle softened features and brightened eyes.
Telling the story
I began, “ Once upon a time there were three children named Pop, Fizz, and Whattalatta. They were rather extraordinary children who lived rather ordinary lives. They all longed for a real adventure but none of them ever spoke it aloud until one day Whattalatta made a most superb suggestion, ‘Let's be pirates.'
‘Pirates! We'll all be pirates from now on.' Fizz chimed. ‘Children never have adventures, but pirates? Pirates have nothing but adventures!' And so it was decided… 'Pirates?' said their mother with shock and dismay. 'Pirates?' said their father with amusement and disbelief. 'Yes, pirates.' they said. ‘We'll have to leave you of course, but we'll come back and visit.' 'Leave? You're barely seven.' 'It doesn't matter how old you are when you're a pirate.' And though their parents begged and bribed, Pop, Fizz and Whattalatta would not change their minds.”
When the first chapter was rounding the corner into the second I paused, then blew out the candle. My children protested, “It's not over! You can't stop there! We have to know what happens next.”
“No, it's not over. That's the best part about this present – it doesn't have to end today.”
And it still hasn't ended, even after three years…
Creating your own brand of bedtime story
I'm not the type who can create cohesive stories on the spot. I'm usually too tired at the end of the day to be creative. I realized after writing the first several chapters of the story, I needed to simplify my creation method or I wouldn't be able to keep it going. I have since found several tricks that made it much easier and more fulfilling:
1. Create your characters. I chose pirates. My children were in a pirate phase with their imaginative play and I thought I could have a lot of fun with children who insisted they were actually pirates. Fleshing out the personalities of the three characters in the story was easy – I simply borrowed from my children's personalities.
2. Create your setting. I knew they would have to have a pirate ship with every conceivable convenience on board, as they would leave their Mommy and Daddy in search of adventure. I worked on that first and let the other settings we have explored come with each chapter.
3. Imagination + Story Structure = Success. Instead of making up each chapter entirely on my own I began using the plot or story structure of lesser known folk tales. I replaced the characters with my own, and the setting with my own, and then played it like a movie in my mind.
4. Use a Story Map. I soon found that making a visual outline of the story was much faster than writing out the entire story. I used a combination of words and simple drawings to remind me of the order of the story just before I told it. The simpler the map, the easier it was to follow the directions.
5. Record as you tell. I got into the habit of recording each new story as I told it. A simple digital voice recorder makes this easy to do. Then it can be burned onto a CD for listening to later. I found my children love to listen to the CD we've made from previous chapters. And at some point I can transcribe the stories and have a written copy as well.
----
If you would like to try this process of creating a story, Steffani has developed audio files to guide you through a story plot, and quickly create an entirely new story (or chapter of a story). Check out her website www.piratesinpajamas.com, click on the ‘Create a Story' link and try the activities suggested. After the initial investment of creating your characters and setting you can create brand new stories using the imagination-based guided story journey in less than 10 minutes!
The gift and magic of Story:
Need something to liven up a party? Need to read something in your child's class? Here is an interactive story that's fun...
Blackout in the Workshop
The Narrator reads the script. The characters (use groups if you can) say the following exclamations every time their name is mentioned:
Santa: A loud-- HO HO HO
Elves: HEE, HEE, HEE
Mrs. Claus: Oh my!
Rudolf: Ta-DaIt was Christmas Eve.
SANTA was in his workshop with all of his ELVES. They were busy putting the finishing touches on all the toys and games for the good girls and boys. A few of the ELVES were in the middle of painting a wooden rocking horse when suddenly the lights went out! SANTA said, "Oh, no!" The ELVES gasped and couldn't see, so they got a few brushstrokes of paint on each other. SANTA put out his hand and tried to find a light switch on the wall. He tripped over MRS. CLAUS and fell ker-splat on the floor. The ELVES helped her up. Santa felt around in the ark again and found the light switch. He flipped it up and down, but it didn't work. He sent one of the ELVES to check the electrical box. Everyone heard thump, bump, crash! as the elf stumbled through the workshop toward the door.MRS. CLAUS turned to SANTA and suggested that they play games in the dark while they waited. SANTA thought that was a good idea. He asked one of the ELVES next to him to say something and everyone had to guess who the elf was by the sound of his voice. Then the elf next to him did the same until they went around the workshop room.Slowly, the door started to open. A bright light that was tinted red began to fill the room. In the doorway stood a huge figure with four legs and something sticking out of its head! "Oh!" said all of the ELVES and MRS. CLAUS. "It's RUDOLF!" cried SANTASure enough the elf who was went to check the electrical box found RUDOLF the red-nosed reindeer and asked for his help, because the wires in the box were broken. There was now enough light in the workshop so that the toys and games could be finished by the ELVES and loaded on the sleigh for SANTA. Thank goodness for RUDOLF!! The End! Sing Rudolf the red-nosed-reindeer.
The Gift of Story
How to make up a story for your child(ren) or friend or spouse about them at Christmas...It is one of the best ways to connect...By Steffani Raff
The wonder and magic of Christmas is captured for me in one image, a Christmas tree radiating its soft glow with lights twinkling, ornaments sparkling, and gifts scattered under the rich green of its branches. When I was a child that sight generated feelings of anticipation – I couldn't wait to see what presents I got. As an adult, it still generates feelings of anticipation, but for an entirely different reason – I can't wait to see how my children respond to what gifts I got them for Christmas.
Before I became a mother I had no idea how much you could love a child. Christmas became about finding and giving the perfect gift instead of receiving it. But finding just the right gift wasn't easy. My love was too big to be packaged up in a toy I bought at Wal-Mart. As I struggled with this dilemma a distant memory came to my mind.
I was 7 years old and ripping through presents with gusto. Wrapping paper flying, short squeals of excitement, gasps of joy when I saw my Christmas treasures. Then I came to a soft package and noticed my mom taking special notice. She said, “That one is from me.” The initial excitement I experienced with my mom's interest was instantly quelled when I saw what was inside – a scarf. I didn't want a scarf. I let it fall limply to the ground. My mom looked away and I knew I had hurt her feelings. I felt bad. Really bad. I learned later that she had spent weeks hand-knitting the scarf for me. She was trying to put a little piece of herself into one of the gifts she gave to me.
This memory sparked a Christmas trend for my husband and me for years to come – making a special gift for each child every year. It also started an epidemic of staying up until 5:30am frantically trying to finish the things we were making. There were some years we went to bed fifteen minutes before the kids woke up Christmas morning! Luckily, our children were a lot smarter than I was as a child and they adored the gifts we made for them. These gifts, with a little of our love embedded in them, were by far our favorites. That feeling of viewing a scene through a soft-focus lens always seemed to come when we slowed down to open these presents. These were the moments that held our Christmas joy.
Then, one year I started thinking about Christmas in October – a rare occurrence for me, thinking ahead. I was musing about the moment under the tree when our children would open the “especially from us” presents. I had no idea what those presents would be but it occurred to me that what I really wanted for our family was to capture the feeling that was created around the Christmas tree more often in our day-to-day life.
How could I do it?
I decided to create a bedtime story – a story that would unfold chapter after chapter throughout the whole year. I began working on the characters of the story – three rather extraordinary children who decided that regular life was just too ordinary for them, so they became pirates. I scribbled away at several chapters before Christmas, put them in a binder, and wrapped the binder up.
How to create the mood?
Part of the magic of the Christmas tree was the setting it creates with the warm glow that fills the room from the Christmas tree lights. I wanted to create a similar feeling for our bedtime story. I wrapped a long taper candle in one package and an old-fashioned chamber stick in the other.
Christmas morning came (and that year I was in bed before midnight !) When it came time to open the last present, I had never been so excited to see our children's reactions – this was the best Christmas present I had ever come up with. They each unwrapped one of the three items at the same time. Then they each looked up at me with an “ I don't get it ” look in their eyes.
“What is it?”
“Read the cover, Abby.”
“Pirates in Pajamas: A bedtime time tale of daring adventures on the high sea.” Their eyes still revealed confusion. “You'll understand tonight. It's a bedtime story.”
“A bedtime story?” they said, intrigued.
“Yep, I made up a bedtime story just for you.”
That night we had to tell them to brush their teeth twice – they were so excited to hear the story they got ready for bed a little too fast. All four of my favorite people were snuggled on the same bed: my three children and my husband. My children were wiggling with excitement in the dark. I lit the tapered candle and walked in the room. The effect was instant. A quiet excitement crept in while the glow from the candle softened features and brightened eyes.
Telling the story
I began, “ Once upon a time there were three children named Pop, Fizz, and Whattalatta. They were rather extraordinary children who lived rather ordinary lives. They all longed for a real adventure but none of them ever spoke it aloud until one day Whattalatta made a most superb suggestion, ‘Let's be pirates.'
‘Pirates! We'll all be pirates from now on.' Fizz chimed. ‘Children never have adventures, but pirates? Pirates have nothing but adventures!' And so it was decided… 'Pirates?' said their mother with shock and dismay. 'Pirates?' said their father with amusement and disbelief. 'Yes, pirates.' they said. ‘We'll have to leave you of course, but we'll come back and visit.' 'Leave? You're barely seven.' 'It doesn't matter how old you are when you're a pirate.' And though their parents begged and bribed, Pop, Fizz and Whattalatta would not change their minds.”
When the first chapter was rounding the corner into the second I paused, then blew out the candle. My children protested, “It's not over! You can't stop there! We have to know what happens next.”
“No, it's not over. That's the best part about this present – it doesn't have to end today.”
And it still hasn't ended, even after three years…
Creating your own brand of bedtime story
I'm not the type who can create cohesive stories on the spot. I'm usually too tired at the end of the day to be creative. I realized after writing the first several chapters of the story, I needed to simplify my creation method or I wouldn't be able to keep it going. I have since found several tricks that made it much easier and more fulfilling:
1. Create your characters. I chose pirates. My children were in a pirate phase with their imaginative play and I thought I could have a lot of fun with children who insisted they were actually pirates. Fleshing out the personalities of the three characters in the story was easy – I simply borrowed from my children's personalities.
2. Create your setting. I knew they would have to have a pirate ship with every conceivable convenience on board, as they would leave their Mommy and Daddy in search of adventure. I worked on that first and let the other settings we have explored come with each chapter.
3. Imagination + Story Structure = Success. Instead of making up each chapter entirely on my own I began using the plot or story structure of lesser known folk tales. I replaced the characters with my own, and the setting with my own, and then played it like a movie in my mind.
4. Use a Story Map. I soon found that making a visual outline of the story was much faster than writing out the entire story. I used a combination of words and simple drawings to remind me of the order of the story just before I told it. The simpler the map, the easier it was to follow the directions.
5. Record as you tell. I got into the habit of recording each new story as I told it. A simple digital voice recorder makes this easy to do. Then it can be burned onto a CD for listening to later. I found my children love to listen to the CD we've made from previous chapters. And at some point I can transcribe the stories and have a written copy as well.
----
If you would like to try this process of creating a story, Steffani has developed audio files to guide you through a story plot, and quickly create an entirely new story (or chapter of a story). Check out her website www.piratesinpajamas.com, click on the ‘Create a Story' link and try the activities suggested. After the initial investment of creating your characters and setting you can create brand new stories using the imagination-based guided story journey in less than 10 minutes!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
December 15
Happy Dec. 15 2010
Carol: Joy to the World
Family Activities: Idea: Christmas Symbols: Simplify for little children
1. The Christmas Wreath made of evergreens: The circle represents eternity. Eternal life is ours in Jesus Christ. In ancient times a wreath symbolized a glorious victory. What could be a more glorious victory than Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice and Resurrection.
2. Christmas Bells: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Psalms 100:1
3. The Candy Cane: Jesus is the good shepherd and the shape of the cane is symbolized as the shepherds crook. The white is purity and the red is the color of blood which represents Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
4. The fragrance of Peppermint: symbolic of hyssop, a bushy herb used in purification rites. David asks God, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Ps 51:7) As we share and break a candy cane recall His words, “This is my body which is broken for you.”
5. Christmas Gift: Jesus Christ was the best gift of all. Heavenly Father as the giver. The gift: His Son. The recipient: anyone who accepts in faith the promise of His love and obeys His voice.
6. Christmas Lights: “ I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) As we receive this illumination from Him, we are commissioned to share it with each other. For Matthew records in 5: 14 the Ye are the light of the world.
7. Christmas star: The Christmas star is perhaps the purest object in all our Christmas symbolism coming very directly from the Christmas story. “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship Him.” (Matt. 2:2) Did you ever really notice that they didn’t just come to visit, to see, but they came to worship. Let a star cause us to think beyond this star of Bethlehem to the words of Rev. 22:16. “I Jesus…am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”
8. Holly, with its prickly thorns and bright red berries can serve as a vivid reminder of the crown of thorns our Savior wore with drops of blood where the berries grow. From there we can focus our thought on one of the crowns. He has promised His followers. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4)
Adapted from Margorie Gordon “Where is Christ at Christmas?”
Recipe: Christmas non eating soup: (Great for the kids to do, even little ones, it can even be their secret Christmas soup)
Get a small pan and put some water in it. Add cinnamon or cinnamon sticks, some yummy smelling spices like cloves, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and place on simmer. Add some peels of clementines or oranges as you eat them and keep simmering until January…yep, you read correctly…all season long!
You will have to keep adding water, and spices when needed. But your nose will know, and your family and friends will think you are baking all season long! (“Home Goods” has some cute inexpensive sauce pans if you want the simmering pan to look cute too, but that isn’t necessary)
Idea:“Our across-the-street-neighbors tradition:”
The Family/Friends Cookie contest
(Different version of a cookie exchange)
Rules: 1. Each person lets the hostess know the type of cookie they are bringing so there are not duplicates.
Each guest is to bring a bag full of cookies that cannot be seen through.
All the bags are placed on a table closed, except the guests take 3-4 cookies out of the bag, cut in small bite sized pieces and place on a plate to be judged, next to their bag. (You could even blind fold the tasters if you didn’t want everyone to do it.)
All the guests receive a judgment sheet that is used to rate the cookies.
Each guest walks around the table tastes the cookies, then makes a judgment.
At the end of the judging each guest puts their favorite on a slip of paper, and places in a box.
As the party goes on, the Hostess tallies the votes and comes out with gift for the best cookie of the night. This neighbor actually makes a plaque that hangs in his kitchen with the winners name on it…you could give any thing…
Then the cookies are placed on the plates and everyone gets to take a different cookie from each plate so they have an assortment when they go home! They just put them back in the bag they brought.
Cute!
(by Ruth Calvert)
Carol: Joy to the World
Family Activities: Idea: Christmas Symbols: Simplify for little children
1. The Christmas Wreath made of evergreens: The circle represents eternity. Eternal life is ours in Jesus Christ. In ancient times a wreath symbolized a glorious victory. What could be a more glorious victory than Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice and Resurrection.
2. Christmas Bells: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Psalms 100:1
3. The Candy Cane: Jesus is the good shepherd and the shape of the cane is symbolized as the shepherds crook. The white is purity and the red is the color of blood which represents Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
4. The fragrance of Peppermint: symbolic of hyssop, a bushy herb used in purification rites. David asks God, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Ps 51:7) As we share and break a candy cane recall His words, “This is my body which is broken for you.”
5. Christmas Gift: Jesus Christ was the best gift of all. Heavenly Father as the giver. The gift: His Son. The recipient: anyone who accepts in faith the promise of His love and obeys His voice.
6. Christmas Lights: “ I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) As we receive this illumination from Him, we are commissioned to share it with each other. For Matthew records in 5: 14 the Ye are the light of the world.
7. Christmas star: The Christmas star is perhaps the purest object in all our Christmas symbolism coming very directly from the Christmas story. “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship Him.” (Matt. 2:2) Did you ever really notice that they didn’t just come to visit, to see, but they came to worship. Let a star cause us to think beyond this star of Bethlehem to the words of Rev. 22:16. “I Jesus…am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”
8. Holly, with its prickly thorns and bright red berries can serve as a vivid reminder of the crown of thorns our Savior wore with drops of blood where the berries grow. From there we can focus our thought on one of the crowns. He has promised His followers. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4)
Adapted from Margorie Gordon “Where is Christ at Christmas?”
Recipe: Christmas non eating soup: (Great for the kids to do, even little ones, it can even be their secret Christmas soup)
Get a small pan and put some water in it. Add cinnamon or cinnamon sticks, some yummy smelling spices like cloves, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and place on simmer. Add some peels of clementines or oranges as you eat them and keep simmering until January…yep, you read correctly…all season long!
You will have to keep adding water, and spices when needed. But your nose will know, and your family and friends will think you are baking all season long! (“Home Goods” has some cute inexpensive sauce pans if you want the simmering pan to look cute too, but that isn’t necessary)
Idea:“Our across-the-street-neighbors tradition:”
The Family/Friends Cookie contest
(Different version of a cookie exchange)
Rules: 1. Each person lets the hostess know the type of cookie they are bringing so there are not duplicates.
Each guest is to bring a bag full of cookies that cannot be seen through.
All the bags are placed on a table closed, except the guests take 3-4 cookies out of the bag, cut in small bite sized pieces and place on a plate to be judged, next to their bag. (You could even blind fold the tasters if you didn’t want everyone to do it.)
All the guests receive a judgment sheet that is used to rate the cookies.
Each guest walks around the table tastes the cookies, then makes a judgment.
At the end of the judging each guest puts their favorite on a slip of paper, and places in a box.
As the party goes on, the Hostess tallies the votes and comes out with gift for the best cookie of the night. This neighbor actually makes a plaque that hangs in his kitchen with the winners name on it…you could give any thing…
Then the cookies are placed on the plates and everyone gets to take a different cookie from each plate so they have an assortment when they go home! They just put them back in the bag they brought.
Cute!
(by Ruth Calvert)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
December 14
Happy Dec. 14th
Keeping Christ in Christmas in bits and pieces:
“You better be good for goodness sake..”
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
by Fred Coots and Haven
Gillespie
For Behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil: wherefore I show unto you the way to judge: for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ, wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
Moroni 7:16
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh, and all things are given them which are expedient unto man, and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life…or to choose captivity and death…
And now…I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit.
2 Nephi 2:27-28
Its simple…
“CTR”
Application: “Naughty and Nice” When you light your little candle at the dinner table tonight discuss what you saw today that was “naughty” and what was “nice.” (Emphasis on the nice!)
The “Do over.” (By the Humphrey Family)
If you catch someone doing something grouchy, or naughty, or angry, or sad…
say “Do Over!”
And give them a chance to “do it over!”
Even Grown ups need “do overs!”
It’s called repentance…
You better be good for goodness sake!
Keeping Christ in Christmas in bits and pieces:
“You better be good for goodness sake..”
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
by Fred Coots and Haven
Gillespie
For Behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil: wherefore I show unto you the way to judge: for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ, wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
Moroni 7:16
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh, and all things are given them which are expedient unto man, and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life…or to choose captivity and death…
And now…I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit.
2 Nephi 2:27-28
Its simple…
“CTR”
Application: “Naughty and Nice” When you light your little candle at the dinner table tonight discuss what you saw today that was “naughty” and what was “nice.” (Emphasis on the nice!)
The “Do over.” (By the Humphrey Family)
If you catch someone doing something grouchy, or naughty, or angry, or sad…
say “Do Over!”
And give them a chance to “do it over!”
Even Grown ups need “do overs!”
It’s called repentance…
You better be good for goodness sake!
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