Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 8

Merry Christmas!

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 7

"Marvelous is the chronicle that began with the singing of angels at Bethlehem and ended on Golgotha’s cruel cross. There is no other life to compare with His life. He was the one perfect man to walk the earth, the paragon of excellence, the singular example of perfection."

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec 2000, 2

(A Christmas lullaby from the December New Era, a magazine for LDS teens.)

spt: comfort

During the Christmas season there are more than a few activities/traditions which bring me comfort, but holiday baking tops the list! The kids love to help me. When they are older and think about life at home, I hope they remember our tradition of baking gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, fudge and gingerbread houses every single year.

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 6

reflectionsofchrist.org

“For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself--these are of the true essence of Christmas.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Liahona, Dec. 2000.

Christ Centered Christmas, Day 5

"Each of us is an
innkeeper
who decides if there is room for Jesus."

- Neal A. Maxwell

Elf Crystal, At Your Service

{coaster}

Wednesday night I met up with Kara for our unofficial holiday tradition of dinner and then me acting as her elf, helping with her Christmas shopping. Every year we just sort of find ourselves convening during the holiday rush and before I know it, there we are, shopping again for her five girls. I imagine we'll be doing it years from now when we're old(er) & feebl(er).

As it was, we were mocking the sensible shoes we already wear. ("They absorb the heft, they don't launch the heft!" HA! Favorite quote of the night. Possibly of the year.)

We had our favorite-ever pizza at CA Pizza Kitchen, pear gorgonzola, then shopped, then dessert. I think my sleep-deprived self bored poor Kara to tears, but our friendship has survived worse. The next day I awoke sleepy (out late), but happy (good time with friend). It took me a while to get out of my groggy state & then I spent some time with my little kitchen helper making tiny tea party cakes and then bread.

{tiny cakes}

{soup}

Earlier in the week, baby got to help put up the little tree in the girls' room; the kids & I were cracking up at him laying perfectly still, entranced by the lights. He was utterly relaxed and immobile and remained this way for well over ten minutes!

And no, that is not a real tiger tail. Just in case you were alarmed.

Thursday we made paper chains and christmas tree cards to send for Grandma's wall at the nursing home. My mom circulated a schedule for our family to do a "12 Days of Christmas" for Grandma, assigning each of us a rotating day. I wish I were better on my own at doing little things like that for my two grandmothers. I definitely think this should be a New Year's Goal for me. I have very good intentions, and very little follow-through.
Please take note of Max's hat, which I bought for him the day before during my elf duties. He loves it and seriously does not take it off. I caught him sleeping in it tonight. Sleeping! In! It!

He made this little modeling clay tea set for Mimi and told me it was her Christmas present. Upon realizing it was not actually clay, but plastitak (that sticky goo used to stick stuff up on the wall), he said it could just be the prototype. How does the kid even know that word?

{Tea Set Prototype}

Our Thursday ended with this happy plate of cookies left on our doorstep! I love getting doorbell-ditched with treats! We gobbled them.

And because I know you're thinking it...here is a closer look at one of my most favorite things in the world:

{delightful.}

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 4

{This is how I imagine angels sing. Exactly like the amazing Sissel.}
{I love this talk on angels among us.}

“For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself--these are of the true essence of Christmas.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, Liahona, Dec. 2000

I've Been Snorting Lines...of Glitter.

I've fallen off the wagon. What began as an innocuous little foray to the paper store ended with me in my craft room at 2am, bits and pieces of scraps flying everywhere, paper cutter humming, embellishments organized in little glass cups, stamps and inks lined up...and the GLITTER!

Oh, the glitter.

I should know by now that I have an all-or-nothing relationship with glitter, and for quite a while now I've adhered strictly to my policy of abstinence. Really, only 1 person knows of my shady past with paper coordinates and glitter. If I'm anywhere near it, I just can't say no. I've fallen off the wagon, even the baby has bits of it in his feathery hair, and now I just need people to whom I can send the luscious cards!

Please go to my profile & email me your address! I would love to send my Snuffleupagus Friends a Christmas greeting!

spt: joy

Thanks to my own Christmas Miracle 19 years ago,
I have this family & these four little bundles of joy
are with me.

Sneaking sleeping kisses to Max...

...and to Isabelle...

...and to Mimi...

...and to little baby Jack.

Go to Lelly's place for more spt joy!

spt: love

I love to watch the First Presidency's
Christmas Devotional each year.

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 3

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 2

Mary's Heart by Liz Lemon Swindle

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

- Luke 2:15-19

Mother by Liz Lemon Swindle

Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 1

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful.

It is peace. It is the peace which comforts, which sustains, which blesses all who accept it.

It is faith. It is faith in God and His Eternal Son. It is faith in His wondrous ways and message. It is faith in Him as our Redeemer and our Lord.

We testify of His living reality. We testify of the divinity of His nature. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith. This is what Christmas is really about.

For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself—these are of the true essence of Christmas.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Glorious Season,” NewEra, Dec 2007, 2–5

Joy