Christmas Poem/story

The Bishoprics wives were asked to speak this Sunday for Christmas. It's actually a fun time to speak. Plus I'm thinking that not many people will be there ha ha. While writing my talk I came up with a poem.

Twas the day of Christmas and all through the house

The children were hussling and bussling about

wrapping paper scattered all over the floor

The little ones fighting and whining for more.

The stockings once hung with a great deal of care

Now lay on the floor, the loot taken and bare.

The children once nestled now up before dawn.

The parent so tired and starting to yawn

When what to my wondering eye's did I find

a cute little baby so gentle and kind.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his play

Reminding me why we celebrate this day.

Danika, Andrew, Luke, Jacob and BriLynn

Come and see Jonanthan, his cute little grin.

When you see the baby what do you think of?

It reminds me of Jesus and all of his Love.

A baby in Bethlehem lying in a manger

To him we should never be a stranger

He loves us so much he paid for our sins

So we can return forever with him.

This day as you play with all of your new toys

Remember the one who brings us great joys

The wonderous little baby so little and mild

We celebrate his birth , the holy Christ Child.

I love this story by Jack Smith. It's called Pattern of Love. I cry every time I read it.

I didn't question Timmy, age nine, or his seven-year-old brother Billy about the brown wrapping paper they passed back and forth between them as we visited each store.

Every year at Christmas time, our service club takes the needy children in our town on a personally conducted shopping tour.  I was assigned Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work.  After giving them the allotted $4 each, we began our trip.  At different stores I made suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no.  Finally I asked, "Where would you suggest we look?"

"Could we go to a shoe store, sir?" answered Timmy, "we'd like a pair of shoes for our Daddy so he can go to work."

In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted.  Out came the brown paper.  "We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot."  Billy explained that it was a pattern of their Daddy's foot.  They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair.

The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick, then walked away.  Soon he came with an open box.  "Will these do?" he asked.  Timmy and Billy handled the shoes with great eagerness.

"How much do they cost?" asked Billy.

Then Timmy saw the price on the box. "They're $16.95," he said in dismay.  "We only have $8."

I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat.  "That's the regular price," he said, "but they're on sale for $3.98, today only."  Then with shoes happily in hand the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters.  Not once did they think of themselves.

The day after Christmas the boys' father stopped me on the street.  The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes.  "I just thank Jesus for people who care," he said.

"And I thank Jesus for your two sons," I replied.  "They taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime."

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

A thing of Beauty

So today I was in the kitchen and looked out in the backyard to see this.

 A ton of little black birds. It was so fun to watch them. Here is one up close and one I took when they were flying away. A thing of beauty.

I did the DARE program growing up and I didn't know they changed it. I don't know if it's different in every school but ours now does the NOVA program. It stands for Nurturing, Opportunity, Values and Accountability. This program is AWESOME! I'm so impressed with what Officer Bird has taught the students. They all got these cool wolf shirts. The story behind the wolf is that we each have two kinds of wolves within us. One is nasty and bad. The other is kind and good. Which wolf is the one that will live? The one you feed. 

Danika and the other 5th graders graduated from the NOVA program last week. 

As I was saying....

What comes to mind is Mushu on Mulan saying "my little girls all grown up and savin' China".

Danika had her Christmas Orchestra Concert last night. I'm amazed at what thee teachers have taught them. She loves to play her violin and I'm thankful for the program. I have signed her up for Piano lessons at the University. She starts at the beginning of the year, so we'll see how she does with both.

Andrew got his Wolf badge last night for Scouts too.  It was a busy night.  I think it's fun that the Mom's get pins because you know we are the ones to help them finish up :)  He will be turning 9 at the end of the month...sigh, as I was saying, growing up fast.

Just on a side note....I was asked to speak in church Christmas day. We are talking about traditions and of course Christ. What Christmas traditions does your family do that strengthens your testimony of Christ?

Man, I don't remember that!

Tonight our FHE activity was watching home videos of when the kids were younger. I'm sad to say that I don't remember a lot of it. Their childhood speeds by so fast and I can't hang onto it. Do you ever wish you could freeze time? I love to watch them get older but it's happening so fast. Sigh....I'm so thankful for the technology we have to capture those fleeting moments of love and laughter.

Stop that rhyming now I mean it!

Name that movie?
I wanted to share some gift ideas. My friend Lacy posted some and I am always looking for new ideas so I thought I would share some as well.

I'm giving out these candy tins for Christmas. I got the idea while I was in Missouri. They had their Super Saturday table out. You can get the tins at specialtybottle.com. The cost depends on how many you order (because of shipping). I called around my family and we ordered 65, so the cost was 1.33 per tin. Anyway you just wrap Hersheys nuggets in Christmas paper, tie with a ribbon and voila.

I have a saying I put with them:

People are a lot like chocolates
You are never sure whats inside
They're covered with a protective shell,
And you must see what they hide.
Some folks seem to be very smooth,
While others are soft and sweet,
Still others can be quite nutty,
But having Friends like you is a treat.

If your kids want to give their friends something for Christmas, this would be inexpensive, just attach the poem to a candy bar.

These notepads are at square one printing for 20 cents each. Just add scrapbook paper to the top paper and wrap it around to the back and it makes a cute (very inexpensive) gift.

Wanna hear the corny poem I came up with for this one: I'm planning on giving these to those I go visiting teaching to in January

A new year's upon us,
the old one is through.
So here's a note pad,
to jot a thought or two.
A new year's resolution
for you to pursue.
Don't worry if you fail,
I always do.

I love to come up with poems to go along with gifts. Here is what I did for the month of November. (It was a mug that had a hot cocoa packet and a microwave popcorn bag in it) We had the mugs already and so to do this for those I go VT to and Kevin goes HT to, was only around 2 bucks.

Leaves are falling all around

The days of Summer gone.

Time for a little R&R inside

No more laying on the lawn.

Hot cocoa and some popcorn,

A mug to hold it too.

Sit back and enjoy it knowing

that we have thought of you

I told you I was corny. I usually come up with a new poem every month. Kevin says I should compile them all and publish them. I wonder if people would even be interested.

BriLynn turns 3

We had BriLynn's birthday at Grandma and Grandpas house. It was fun to have all the cousins there to celebrate with us. We took video of her opening gifts and blowing out the candles but these ones show her excitement. I can't believe my baby girl is 3. I remember coming home after the ultrasound and telling Danika she was going to have a sister. She was so excited. We were a bit nervous since we felt we were missing a boy so we knew we weren't done having kids after she was born. 

Dora is her favorite, so I made a Dora cake. I think it turned out good for having left the instructions as to what colors and tips to use at home. I had made it when Danika was three as well, so I was happy to use it again since cake molds cost quite a bit. 

Ahh BriLynn you brighten up our home with your contagious smile and laughter.  Happy Birthday Baby Girl We Love you!

Ummm.. I disagree

I have seen so many friends talk about the Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  I was curious about it so  I borrowed it from my friend down our street. I love self help books. I remember when I first started having kids, I was constantly reading books about how to discipline in love.  Anywho...I was happy to know we have already been doing the things he suggests. I'm really enjoying it.  Given...I'm only a little over halfway through the book but, so far so good....all except for 1 thing.
I can't get over all the negativity about Credit Cards. I believe it's wise for those who use CC foolishly to cut them up and get rid of them. I know that he says 75% of airline miles are never redeemed etc.etc...I've read that but I see what has worked for us and I don't agree with it.
We use our CC like a debit card. As soon as I make a purchase I take it out of our checking account, just like I would a debit card. We pay it off every month (because it's already out of our checking account, of course I match the #'s first). We have never had CC debt, we don't pay late fees or any other penalties because like I said, the money is already taken out to pay it off every month. The difference is, at the end of the year we have over two hundred dollars in cashback to use for Christmas. Whereas, the interest from the bank would be umm...two bucks? umm....2 bucks to 200 is a big difference. I feel like I'm using the CC company instead of them using us. Make sense?
We have been doing this for the last six years or so.  We don't use our CC for emergencies...that is what the rainy day/emergency fund is for. We don't buy frivolously either.  Like I said before, we use it like a debit card.  So that's my disagreement, thoughts anyone?

Feelings

My feelings have been on the surface this week. My thoughts first turn to a family that just lost their mother. I do not know the family very well. I've just known them through the scouting program, but I can't imagine the heartbreak they are going through. You are always reminded how precious life is when these kinds of things occur.
Second, today I was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award for our school.  I don't deserve it as there are so many that have helped me in my duties as PTA president. I don't need to be recognized, they do.
I got a book from my sisters called Side by Side. It's about helping your spouse in their church calling. I was reading last night how the load of a calling can be lightened by others doing their jobs. This works in everything. A mothers load is lightened when her children pick up after themselves and so on. My load is lightened by those willing to support me in my duties. So, thank you to all who lighten my load.

11/11/11 Party

I thought it would be fun to throw an 11/11/11 party for the kids.  I let them invite 11 friends, there were 17 kids total. Thank goodness again for my neighbor who helped with the kids. That and the nice weather so they could burn off some energy outside.

  Every time I said 11 in the story I made up they would pass the prize. Like the left and right story for Christmas. 

Doing a word search to find eleven, 11 times.

 Jumping on the tramp 11 times

 Doing 11 jumping jacks. Watching BriLynn try to do it was so stinkin' cute!

The prize after completing the treasure hunt that had 11 clues. Well...except the I love you cake, that was for Kevin :)

Maybe next year I'll do a 12/12/12 party since there won't be a 13/13/13

A day of bonuses

Yesterday in Relief Society a girl had mentioned that we should focus on the good stuff and our blessings. I'm going to try doing that...

My morning started out great. Got the kids and hubby out the door by 8. The three little ones were still asleep so I could shower. Bonus one (a quiet shower...so nice and rare). I got the kids fed and dressed, did some laundry then dusted the house. As I do my housework I like to listen to the radio. There was a contest, the 11th caller would get a prize if they answered a question correctly.
I was the 11th caller and here was the question:
How many players can be on the field in Football? Uhhh...yeah I'm not a big football fan. The DJ said "I'll give you a hint. 11/11//11 is coming up."
Well I get to choose a  tie or woman's necklace at a local store for free. Bonus 2! Good way to start off a day.

I headed shopping to Smiths because I LOVE the play land the kids can go to. Shopping with one is much easier than three. The baby fell asleep in the cart cushioned by all our coats. Bonus 3.

In the afternoon I watched my friends kids. It was a half a day of school so I had my six and her four. Danika called from the school and asked if a friend could come play. Lets just say I'm not cut out to have 11 kids 10 and under. A 5 month old, a 7 month old, 2 two year olds, 2 four year olds, a 6 year old, a 7 year old, an  8 year old and 2 ten year olds. My neighbor, a 13 year old girl came over to play. She helped a lot with the kids. Bonus 4!

Sure I had to clean my two year old and her sheets since she had peed the bed this morning, a kid got their fingers slammed in the door, kids snuck green sugar sprinkles and made a mess in my pantry, had to clean mud off my carpet and floor, a kid got whacked with a bat,  had to clean up flour from a two year old jumping on the flour can,  found marker on my wall, and the list could continue but...I'm going to focus on the bonuses that happened.

Bring on tomorrow :)