Twinkle’s last day with us has been a great one. We awoke to find her on the breakfast table, peeking through the back of the nativity, with all the figures in place, including the sweet baby Jesus in the manger.
Twinkle has brought a great sense of fun as well as meaning to our Christmas celebration.
Until next year! Merry Christmas.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. This year has seen us through lots of snow, sand and trails. We’ve climbed dunes in Michigan and rocks in Greece. We’ve splashed in lakes and floated down rivers. There has been much music, reading, making and musing in our home, and I’m grateful for all the goodness we’ve experienced. We wish you the best in the new year!
This morning we woke up to find Twinkle looking concerned. Joseph and Mary are at her door, looking for a place to stay for the night. The North Pole is no place for this special couple to rest for the evening (those elves there can be quite rowdy).
Twinkle wants to help. She is surely considering a better place – someplace quiet, warm and cozy – for she has a feeling something miraculous is about to happen.
This was a guest post I shared on Jocelyn’s blog, We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ, back in October. A reader is using this for a Christmas gift, and asked that it be reposted – so here it is again!
The October 2011 Ensign is a special issue all about the Book of Mormon. There are many inspiring articles, but I was particularly drawn to what was written about the Book of Mormon and families. It is really interesting to think about the families around which the Book of Mormon was written: Lehi and Sariah, Nephi and his brothers which included Jacob, who was the father of Enos. Then there was Mosiah and Ammon, and Alma and Alma the younger, and then Helaman. Of course there was Mormon and Moroni, and there is a special place in my heart for the Stripling Warriors and their mothers. There are more family relationships than those mentioned here, and it will be a great journey to take the following challenge of Elder Neil L. Anderson:
I would invite you to ponder these questions to help you liken the teachings of the Book of Mormon to your family:
• What passages in the Book of Mormon teach us that children need to see integrity and righteousness in the faith of their parents?
• What counsel have fathers in the Book of Mormon given their sons that we may want to share with our children?
• What do we learn about our efforts with children who are not being obedient?
• How do parents in the Book of Mormon share their deep beliefs with their children?
• What do we learn about faith as it is transferred from one generation to another?
I put together this study notebook to help me research and ponder the questions above. I printed each question on a sticky note and placed it in the notebook as a sort of tabbed chapter heading. You could place them with as many pages in between as you think you may need.
This is a 70-page notebook so I will probably put my chapters about 10 pages apart. That will give me a little extra for the last chapter which has a title that I added in myself:
APPLICATION: How will I APPLY specific principles of the teachings in the Book of Mormon to individuals in MY family?
As ideas come during my scripture study that are applicable to members of my family, I can jot them down there at the end.
To print on the sticky notes, begin by printing the downloadable file at the bottom of this post. This is the 2nd page of the file.
Then place 3 x 3″ sticky notes on top of the printed squares and run through your printer again using the manual feed tray. Be sure to only print page 2 of the document, and to put your paper in upside down so the sticky end of the post it goes through first. I used a couple pieces of masking tape on the first sticky notes to run through, because my printer was having a hard time getting that top part to go in.
I hope this project inspires you to liken the teachings in the Book of Mormon to your family!
You can find the downloadable file below:
This morning Twinkle was found next to Joseph, who apparently was giving her a few carpentry tips.
With a chisel in hand, Twinkle is carving what looks to be the beginning of a tiny cradle.
It’s good to know Joseph was prepared to be such a good papa. I imagine before their trip to Bethlehem he had lovingly made a cradle in his shop, and had it waiting in readiness for when his little family returned home.
Twinkle appeared this morning next to the shepherd from our nativity. She was holding two candy canes – one in the shape of a J for Jesus, and the other right side up like a shepherd’s staff. Around her neck is this poem:
Look at the candy cane, what do you see?
Stripes that are red, like the blood shed for me.
White is for my Savior, so pure and so bright.
“J” is for Jesus, my Lord, and my light.
Turn it around, and a staff you will see.
Jesus my Shepherd was born for me.
With the shepherd’s coming, our nativity is nearly complete. There are just three figures that have yet to appear. Twinkle is doing a great job of reminding us the reason for the season.
The January 2012 Visiting Teaching message is about how we can better watchcare and minister to our sisters. Sister Beck said, “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.”
This Visiting Teaching Watchcare Wheel is meant to inspire us to watch over our sisters a little better – to be mindful every day of ways we can contact, influence and uplift those in our care.
As you spin the two outer wheels, watch how the different means of contact line up with things to do or say to the sisters you visit teach. You can e-mail a sincere compliment, offer help through a text, say thank you in facebook, or give encouragement through a note passed at church. How to share a treat through the mail? Send a recipe. How to send a smile in a note? Share a joke, or just remind her of something fantastic about herself!
Give the wheel a spin frequently and see if there is a way you could reach out and love the sisters you visit – even if it as simple as a prayer offered on her behalf (which you could then acknowledge that you are thinking of her, in any of the methods aforementioned)!
I printed the Visiting Teaching Watchcare Wheel in three different colors, then mixed and matched my copies so each collated wheel is slightly different. After putting together, insert a brad in the middle of the wheels. You can also add self-adhesive magnets to the back of the wheel, so it can be kept on the fridge or a message board.
You can download the wheel below:
Spanish (click for the entire post in Spanish)
Thank you so much to my translators: Birgitta, Blanche, Christine, Ana Carolina, Priscila, Delmy, May and Cheiko!
This morning our elf had all the fixings ready to make gingerbread house cookies; a fun activity for the first day of winter break.
As explained in the movie, Elf: “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.” Twinkle: an elf after our own hearts.
Twinkle installed her own elf door last night.
We actually found this door in a closet when we moved into our home. I’d like to think the previous owners left it behind as a welcoming gift. I’m so glad it’s finally being put to good use by our elf friend.
We caught her this morning in the act of putting on a pair of Barbie’s trainers. She looks as if she just realized she has no feet. Huh.
I also got caught – taking pictures of her last night. My husband was surprised to find me lying at the bottom of the stairs, contorting to get the shot I wanted. Ah, Twinkle – our late-night escapes are coming to a close!
Family Fun has a cute take on making your own elf door.
Twinkle came across another two wisemen last night. They were so kind as to show her the gifts they brought for the baby Jesus.
This was another treasure we brought home from our time in the Middle East – a box of frankincense, gold and myrrh. Twinkle is obviously drawn to the twinkly gold, and couldn’t help but hold it a little.
This little box was actually a gift from my parents, who included the following explanation of these special gifts:
Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh
The different pieces of this gift are similar to those that were given to the Christ child in Bethlehem. The chest is hand crafted in India from camel bone. Each chest is unique, as it is carved by individuals who have been doing this for hundreds of years. The camel is sacred in this region, as it was the basis of life for most people. It was used for transportation in a barren land where other animals could not survive. Its meat and fatty substance were used for food, its hide for floor coverings and clothing, its waste for burning to provide warmth, and lastly the bones were used for making many different ornaments, tools and containers. The chests were purchased at a Souk (old market place) in Al Karama, located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Frankincense (Lighter Color): Frankincense was one of the gifts given to Christ at his birth. There are over 52 references to Frankincense in the Bible. Frankincense is “holy incense”, it is used to “help improve communication with God”.
In many civilizations (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Arab, Indian, etc.) it was used as an anti-depressant, anti-infection, immune stimulant, and sedative. At present it is used for asthma, ulcers, headaches, laryngitis, pneumonia, respirator problems, sciatic pain, stress, typhoid, wounds, warts, and to strengthen the immune system. This sample was provided by His Excellency, Abdullah A. A. Ibrahim, the Governor of the Dohar Municipality, in the ancient city of Salalah, Oman. He hosted a group of LDS families that were there to tour the area in southern Oman known as Wadi Seqh, which is considered by many historians to be the location known as Bountiful, where Lehi built his boat prior to his journey to the America’s. Most foreigners are not allowed in this area, as a military checkpoint guards the road to the location, which is also known as the Frankincense Trail. Through the generosity of His Excellency, not only were we allowed to pass, but he provided a guide and power boats to spend a day touring the sights known for this historic event. At the end of the day, he hosted dinner for the families at his residence. The dinner consisted of typical Omani food such as rice, chicken, camel meat, fried camel fat, unleavened bread, and many desserts including Omani Sweets. At the end of the evening, we saw his own personal Frankincense tree, and he provided us with bags of this incense. It is of the highest quality, and is still used in his household for many purposes.
Gold: This gold sample is pure 24K gold leaf. The gold given to the Christ child was thought to be actually in the form of artifacts. It is interesting to note that in those days, Frankincense and Myrrh were revered the same as Gold.
Myrrh (Darker Color): Before the baby Jesus received Myrrh as a gift over 2000 years ago, Myrrh was one of the most desired and most sought after items in the world. It is mentioned in the Bible 22 times and it was used as incense in religions rituals. It was thought to promote spiritual awareness and be uplifting
It was used in embalming, as well as a cure for cancer and leprosy. Myrrh, mixed with coriander and honey, was used to treat many diseases.
The modern medical uses include bronchitis, hyper-throidism, stretch marks, thrush, ulcers, viral hepatitis, coughs, digestion, gingivitis, mouth ulcers, sore throats, chapped/cracked skin conditions, skin inflammation, wounds and wrinkles.
This sample of Myrrh came from the historic city of Muscat, Oman It was purchased in the old Souk (market), where it is still available for medicinal and aromatic uses.
May your Christmas this year be as special as that day over 2000 years ago when a child was born who changed life and gave hope for many millions of people all over the world.
