Gratitude Journal

This last Sunday in Relief Society we studied President Thomas S. Monson words in "Consider the Blessings" from this October 2012 General Conference. We were asked to consider the following questions:

• What are you grateful for? What are your blessings?
• What are the rewards you receive for recognizing your blessings?
• What are ways as a family we can be grateful?

I'd like to focus on my personal answers and for you to consider your own.

New Year Resolutions

In case you happen to be totally oblivious, New Year's is right around the corner. We all know that a new year marks new beginnings or a fresh start. It happens to be the time of year where we make resolutions that will better ourselves.

So what are a few of my New Year Resolutions?

• Follow a budget
• Be a better listener
• Learn to say hello in 5 languages
• Strike up a conversation with a stranger
• Be available for others when they need me
• Add to my favorite recipes
• Make a short video
• Do some sort of exercise once a week outside of my normal routine
• Manage my time better
• Write a story
• Become an expert on something
• Donate my time
• Discover adventures
• Read a classic
• Learn about my ancestors
• Write old-fashioned letters
• Take a photograph of life

New Year's resolutions can be whatever you want them to be. They can be serious, amusing or silly. But they're great. This time of year is when it's best to take full advantage of making goals for yourself. Here is a website that I just found that could help you in creating your own mixture of resolutions.

Have fun everyone!

Merry Christmas!!

I hope you are having a fabulous Christmas on this blessed Sabbath day. I truly love this day. I had no idea how excited I was for today until I tried to fall asleep. I always have some of the craziest dreams on Christmas Eve.

12 Days of Christmas

There are a great many things people do for the Christmas season. I was trying to think of ways I could do something special this year. Reading this month's Ensign, there was an article "As Christ Comforts Us" about an LDS family who ended up moving to New Zealand. They were there for the Christmas season and had come in contact with an Irish family of another Christian faith who were also spending this holiday far from the people they knew. They decided that they'd do the American tradition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Even some of youth from their ward became involved. Since that time, this other family and their congregation they met with for church, all believed the 12 Days of Christmas to be something members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do.

It got me thinking though. I decided I wanted to do the 12 Days of Christmas for one of the girls I visit teach. I looked all over the internet for ideas for this. I've never done this before. So I wasn't sure what the tradition was. Then I found this site. It had a little poem thing to use with ideas as what to give each person for that day. Mixing them up a little and adjusting the words to my own use I came up with the following:

Spirit of Christmas

Christmas season is the season where service is just abounding everywhere. I love it. You begin to think of ideas to serve your fellow man. For example, just today I thought of doing the 12 Days of Christmas for someone. It's made me soo excited. I love the opportunities we have to better ourselves during Christmas, and the rest of the year.

The Close of 2011

The end of the year is upon us once again. Today I found a video covering moments of 2011. Moments where there was great hardships but where we were all inspired.

There was a Yahoo! blog 2011 Year in Review in which I think that the video originated from. I really really enjoyed the video and it brought back many memories of my own when each of these things occurred.

CHRISTmas

Christmas. It's called CHRISTmas. It's not only a holiday where we celebrate the giving and receiving of gifts, leaving treats for Santa and his deer, and not having to go to work or school. It's a holiday where we celebrate the birth of Christ and all that symbolizes. We celebrate Christmas because of what Jesus Christ, our Savior did for us. He made it possible through the Atonement for us to repent and live with our Father in Heaven again. The Savior. That's the purpose behind all the decorations and sales and presents.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

You know what today is?

It's the day of the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! I'm rather excited! They have it this early in the month so that we may record it or have it online so that we may watch it in among our own Christmas traditions. They are always very good and inspirational! So don't forget!

Today it'll show at 6:00 PM Mountain Time. If you miss it, well, it'll be on the site along with all the former First Presidency Christmas Devotionals.

I really hope you can incorporate it into your holiday season!

Avent Calendar for Christmas

Life. It's one of those things you've gotta love. I mean, do you realize that we have 25 days until Christmas? I want a Christmas Advent Calendar. One with a little chocolate for every day. I'd make sure I was the first one up everyday so I could get it. I actually know a few people who do that. I think I'll just have to make one for myself. Maybe it won't have amazingly delicious chocolates in it.. but I'm sure I can have an M&M a day. Or maybe an Oreo. I'll figure out something yummy to eat. The holidays. It's a perfect excuse for taking delight in delectables. Then New Year's will arrive. The perfect excuse for making a goal to exercise. Life. Gotta love it.

I've got to create my own advent calendar.

Preparing for the Christmas Season

It's the Christmas Season. It really is. I see decorations up. I hear Christmas music on the radio. I've come across Christmas movies on TV. I see people helping each other out. The weather's getting brisk. It's truly the Christmas Season.

There are several things we do to prepare for Christmas. We set up our decorations both inside and outside. We look for gifts for our friends and family. We may go around and sing carols to your friends and neighbors, delivering a little gift as you go. Perhaps you have a Christmas Advent calendar. Maybe you begin reading all your Christmas books and stories. Possibly you read Luke 2. We may sing and hum about Santa and his reindeer or about how beautiful the first Christmas was. You might go to a soup kitchen and serve a meal. Or maybe go to a nursing home and sing carols. Sometimes you may have a huge meal with family and friends. There's a great many things we do to prepare for Christmas.

Officially the Christmas Seaon

'Tis the Christmas Season!!

I L♥VE this time of year. I really really do. It's one of my favorites. Everyone is in such a good mood (if they aren't stressing about presents or something). I see my neighbors putting up their Christmas lights and decorations. As well as their trees. All the stores are playing Christmas songs. A lot of community service occurs, either planned or spontaneously. Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers. I just love every moment. Families gather together. We keep each other in mind as we try to think of gifts to give them. You begin reading all the Christmas stories. You start watching all those Christmas movies. You begin listening Christmas music as you work around the house and drive to different places. I just love Christmas. Everyone is just so happy. It's such a fantastic way to end every year. Christmas. It's just wonderful.

I hope you each have a wonderful Christmas season!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's that time of year again!

Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. It's the time when families and friends get together and think of all the wonderful things we have in our lives and express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for them.

Celebrating Birthdays

I love Birthdays. A lot. This has only been a relatively recent discovery. I like what Lewis Carroll has to say about it:

There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents . . . and only one for birthday presents, you know.

Birthdays are special days only celebrated once a year. I didn't really understand what they actually could mean until this year. Birthdays are a day that we celebrate the life of a person. We show them how grateful we are that they are in our lives, because they make it so much better. We celebrate their entrance into mortality. We can do meaningful things on this day just to say, "I'm glad you were born."

Birthdays create an opportunity to reconnect with those people you haven't stayed in constant contact with. They are also days to build the friendship between people. Birthdays are a day where you can relearn everything about a person. Where you think of them and truly pray for the best succeeding years and great quality of life for this person.

However, in the celebration of a birthday, we must not forget that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when we can show this person that we are grateful for their presence in your life; that there are three hundred and sixty-fours days to build and strengthen relationships. Everyday, every time you come into contact with someone, they should leave your presence knowing that you really are grateful for the opportunity to know them in mortality. Birthdays are just extra special.

Holidays

Today is St. Patrick's Day. Normally, in my family we use food coloring and make everything green: milk, eggs, waffles, pancakes, etc. It's awesome. When I was really young and in elementary school (before No-Child-Left-Behind) we used to make leprechaun traps. The next day at school all of our traps would be set off and treats left behind for us. I loved it! My school also had tiny little green footprints that would be new all over the school. We loved to follow them around to see where the leprechaun went, but he always ended up inside a vent where we couldn't go. 

I love the holidays. Not necessarily only the legal holidays we would be off of school or work, but the fun ones. Like St. Patrick's Day or Valentine's Day. I think that there is just so much that can ben done for each little holiday, especially with children, and to create a tradition for each holiday that just makes you enjoy the day that much more.

Thus, I decided to look up some holidays that I knew or couldn't remember. While reading them I would come up with ideas for each holiday, and I hope you will too!

January

Birthstone: Garnet

Flower: Carnation, Snowdrop

Month of: National Thank You; National Eye Care; National Volunteer Blood Donor; National Book; Apple and Apricots; Arichoke and Asparagus; Bath Safety; Birth Defects; Celebration of Life; International Creativity; National Polka; 

Holidays: New Years; Save the Eagles Day; Amelia Earhart Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Benjamin Franklin's Birthday; 100th Day of School; Inauguration Day; Chinese/Lunar New Year; Tu B'Shevat; Australia Day

February

Birthstone: Amethyst

Flower: Violet

Month of: Black History; American Heart; Chocolate Lover's; National Bird Feeding; Abocado and Banana; Bake for Family Fun; Exotic Vegetables and Star Fruit; National Mend A Broken Heart

Holidays: National Freedom Day; Groundhog Day, Boy Scout Day; Valentine's Day; Presidents' Day; Superbowl Sunday; Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday; Washington's Birthday

March

Birthstone: Aquamarine, Bloodstone

Flower: Jonquil

Month of: National Nutrition; National Women's History; Girl Scout Week (10-16th)

Holidays: Read Across American Day/Dr. Suess Birthday; Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday; St. Patricks; Daylight Savings; First Day of Spring

April

Birthstone: Diamond

Flower: Sweet Pea, Daisy

Month of: Cancer Control; Alcohol Awareness; Celebrate Diversity; Couple Appreciation; International Guitar; Jazz Appreciation; Keep America Beautiful; Military Child; National Card and Letter Writing; National Garden; National Kite; National Poetry Month

Holidays: All Fool's Day; Passover; Palm Sunday; Good Friday; Easter; Patriots' Day; Arbor Day; Earth Day; Administrative Professionals Day

May

Birthstone: Emerald

Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley, Hawthrone

Month of: Steelmark; National Physical Fitness and Sports; Asian/Pacific American Heritage; Family Wellness; Creative Beginnings; National BBQ; National Bike; National Military Appreciation; National Photo; National Salad; National Smile; Personal History; Tennis; National Family

Holidays: May Day; National Teacher's Day; Cinco de Mayo; Join Hands Day; Mother's Day; Nurses Day; Armed Forces Day; National Maritime Day; Victoria Day; Patriots' Day; Law Day; Loyalty Day; National Day of Prayer; Peace Officers Memorial Day; National Defense Transportation Day; Shavou'ot; Ascension Day; Police Week (week w/ 15th)

June

Birthstone: Pearl

Flower: Rose

Month of: National Rose; National Dairy; Audio Book Appreciation; Caribbean-American Heritage; Great Outdoors; National Camping; 

Holidays: Shavou'ot; World Environment Day; Flag Day; Father's Day; First Day of Summer; St. Baptiste Day; Juneteenth; National Go Barefoot Day; Doughnut Day; Drive-In Movie Day; Raggedy Ann and Andy Day; Family History Day; Fudge Day; World Handshake Day; Descendants Day; 

July

Birthstone: Ruby

Flower: Larkspur, Water Lily

Month of: Air-Conditioning Appreciation; Cell Phone Courtesy; Family Reunion; National Blueberries; National Ice Cream; National Hot Dog; National Wheelchair Beautification; Sandwich Generation; Tour de France

Holidays: Canada Day; Independence Day; Bastille Day; Parents' Day; U.S. Postage Stamp Day; Compliment Your Mirror Day; Chocolate Day; Father-Daughter Take a Walk Together Day; Tell The Truth Day; Teddy Bears' Picnic Day; Embrace Your Geekness Day; National Lollipop Day; Gorgeous Grandma Day; Take Your Houseplan For A Walk Day

August

Birthstone: Jade, Peridot

Flower: Gladiolus

Month of: National Inventor's; What Will Be Your Legacy Month

Holidays: Islamic Ramadan; Friendship Day; Assumption Day; National Aviation Day; Women's Equality Day; Isamic Eid ul-Fitr; Spiderman Day; Watermelon Day; National Chocolate Chip Day; Girlfriends Day; Respect For Parents Day; Purple Heart Day; Sister's Day; Smithsonian Day; S'mores Day; Best Friends Day; Bad Poetry Day

September

Birthstone: Sapphire

Flower: Aster

Month of: National Hispanic Heritage; College Savings; Childhood Cancer Awareness; National Honey; National Piano; One-on-One; Women's Friendship

Holidays: Labor Day; Grandparent's Day, Patriot Day; Stepfamily Day; Constitution Day and Week; International Day of Peace; Native American Day; First Day of Autumn; Gold Star Mother's Day; September 11; Google.com Day; Mayflower Day; Hobbit Day; Love Note Day

October

Birthstone: Opal, Tourmaline

Flower: Calendula

Month of: National Disability Employment Awareness; National Breast Cancer; Apple; Down Syndrome Awareness; National Book; National Chili; National Go On A Field Trip; National Popcorn Poppin'; Stamp Collecting

Holidays: Child Health Day; National Children's Day; Leif Erikson Day; Columbus Day; Canada Thanksgiving; Sweetest Day; National Boss Day; Mother-in-Law Day; United Nations Day; Halloween; National Lace Day; World Teacher's Day; Balloons Around the World Day; National Chess Day

November

Birthstone: Topaz, Citrine

Flower: Chrysanthemum

Month of: Aviation; Good Nutrition; National American Indian Heritage; Banana Pudding Lovers; Family Stories; National Adoption; National Life Writing; National Scholarship

Holidays: All Saints' Day; All Souls' Day; Guy Fawkes Day; Veterans Day; Remembrance Day; Armistice Day; Thanksgiving Day; Islamic New Year; Election Day; Use Your Common Sense Day; Cliché Day; National Girls Day; I Love To Write Day

December

Birthstone: Turquoise

Flower: Narcissus

Month of: National Tie; Rising Star

Holidays: ADIS Awareness Day; Islamic Ashura; Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; Human Rights Day; Wright Brothers Day; Pan American Aviation Day; Hanukkah; Forefather's Day; First Day of Winter; Christmas Day; Boxing Day; New Year's Eve; National Cookie Day; National Haiku Poetry Day; Tick Tock Day

These are all some holidays, some random and some well known. There are so many others out there... Wouldn't it be great if we could find some things to do for the ones we choose? Incorporate it so that it's a tradition? A memorable one?

Sources: Holidaysmart, Federal Holidays, Brownielocks & The 3 Bears

Christmas

Today was the first day in 19 Christmases that I have been able to sleep in.

Of course, I say "sleep in" loosely.

It was 8:30 am.

Usually, it is 6 or 7 in the morning, as either I would wake myself up or my younger siblings would.

I have to say, it was nice sleeping in as long as we did.

So I usually write a list of the things I've received because I like to look at the past lists as they tell me the sort of things that I liked, or thought was popular, or even what existed.

I received:

Rubber Spatula and Mixes from the family I nannied/babysat for.

A gift card to Barnes & Nobles from a family I helped out.

Beauty and the Beast movie from my brother.

Bumble the Abominable Snowman from my Build-a-Bear managers.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers movie

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King movie

Scarf

Lucky Brand shirt

Eye liner and brush

iTunes Gift Card

Rook cards

Bobby Pins

Hair ties

Lotion

Jump Rope

BYU magnet

Abacus

Chap stick

Erasers

Pencil Sharpener

Sticky Notes

Pen

and also

the 4G iPod Touch

It's been a great Christmas. :) Everything was entirely unexpected and I am very appreciative of the gifts I was gift. The Christmas Season is rather amazing.

LOVE CHRISTMAS.

I hope you all have a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Christmas Eve

Tomorrow

is

CHRISTMAS!

In my family we have the tradition of reading:

Luke 2

Matthew 2:1-21

Helaman 14:1-8; 16:2-8

3 Nephi 1:8-15

I hope that you, too, will remember the reason for the celebration of Christmas.

Working at Build-a-Bear I come across many children who love Christmas

and I ask them what they like most about Christmas.

Yes,

They tell me they like to open presents,

But,

They also tell me that they like spending time with family, helping and serving others, and just the Spirit of Christmas in the air. The children shine and smile during this season. The children can always teach us.

Have a great Christmas!

'Tis the Season

It is my personal opinion that this is the best time of the year.

I don't much care for the cold.

I don't care for rain nor snow.

But truly

This is still the best season.

Not perhaps a season of the weather,

but rather the season of the heart.

This is when hearts are warmest,

and hearts are fullest.

People open their hearts

and share.

They think about others;

they serve, they love.

This is the best season of all.

Yes

this is the season where people spend the most.

But

this is the season where people buy for others.

This is the season

where strangers come caroling;

where that one house around the corner has all those amazing lights on

as a tradition every year

for people to drive by and watch.

This is the season

of joy

of happiness

of delight

and

jubilation!

This is the season

where family gathers 'round

and listens to stories,

strengthening bonds.

This is the season

fires are lit

and hot chocolate is mixed;

where gingerbread cookies

and other delights

fill the house with its wholesome smell.

This is the season

of traditions and splender,

of magic and hope,

of dreams and peace.

This is the season

I love.

Christmas Stories

There are several stories around this time of year that I love to hear every season, or those stories that I've heard for the first time this year. Here are a few of them. If you have others you'd like to share, contact me.

Keeping Baby Warm

by Lynda H. Laughlin

"It was an inexpensive dime-store Nativity set, and he was only three years old. His back was toward me, but I could see that his chubby little hands were busily working on something at the old table.

"'What are you doing?' I asked him impatiently, annoyed at him for touching the decorations after he had been told not to.

"As I started toward the scene of his latest mischief, he turned toward me with wide blue yes filling and a single tear starting down his cherubic cheek. Then I saw it, a carefully folded tissue had been tenderly placed over the small ceramic infant.

"'Baby Jesus was cold, Mommy,' he whispered.

"Ten years have passed, and the tiny Nativity has been replaced by a much larger one. But this year, as every year, I found a carefully folded tissue covering the baby Jesus. I think I know who did it, and I hope he never stops."

Davey and the First Christmas

by Beth Vardom

Let's pretend there was a boy, and Davey was his name,

Whose family lived in Bethlehem when Christmastime first came.

Davey had a special pet–a donkey small and gray,

And what the two of them did best was getting in the way!

Davey named the donkey Tim. He never rode him though.

Either Tim was built too high or Davey was too low!

Davey's father had an inn where people came to stay;

and lots and lots and lots of them were coming there one day.

His father was as busy as six or seven bees!

So Davey said, "I want to help, can't I do something, please?

Tim would like to help you, too. Find a job for us to do!"

"Listen, son" his father said, "Last week you broke three jugs.

You scared my two best customers with your pet lightening bugs!

You tracked in mud on my clean floor, you tripped and dropped the bread.

And though I loved the fish you caught–why leave them on my bed?

I've put up with your helpfulness as long as I am able.

So do me one big favor now, get out–and clean the stables!"

Davey sadly went and stood beside the stable door.

It hardly seemed that anyone could clean that dirty floor.

He and Tim both felt so bad they started in to cry–

But then (thought Davey), "Yes, we can! Well, anyhow–let's try.

First, let's chase those chickens out. That's what we've got to do."

So Tim began to flap his ears while Davey shouted, "Shooooo!"

The chickens clucked and flew and ducked, they fluttered wild and scary,

Until their feathers filled the air like snow in January.

Yes, Davey chased those chickens out, He and Tim together.

But now he had to get a sack and pick up every feather!

You should have seen how hard they worked! They stacked up all the wheat,

They straightened up the harnesses till they were nice and neat.

They fought with spiders bravely till they chased out every bug.

And since we must admit the truth–they broke another jug!

The very biggest job of all was stacking up the hay.

Davey climbed up to the loft and put it all away.

"Look, Tim. You see how high it is? I'll make just one more trip."

Then clear up by the stable roof his feet began to slip!

Down came the hay and Davey, too. The stable looked so queer–

All you could see was piles of hay–one sandal, and one earl.

Slowly they came out on top, and Davey didn't whine,

Though hay stuck out all over him just like a porcupine!

He put the hay all back again and stacked it up with care–

But left one armload down below to fill the manger there.

So Davey's work was done at last, and when it all looked neat

He picked some flowers to trim the barn, and some from Tim to eat.

"I hope it's clean enough," he thought. "At least I did my best."

And feeling very, very tired, he curled up for a rest...

Who woke up Dave from his sleep? Just guess them if you can.

Mary was the woman's name, Joseph was the man.

Mary said, "Oh Joseph, look! This is a lovely place!"

Then, seeing Davey there, she said, with such a shining face,

"Your father's inn had no more rooms, tonight we're staying here.

So tell me now, are you the boy who cleaned the stable, dear

And did your donkey help you work? We want to thank him, too."

Though Davey was still half asleep, his hear was glad clear through.

So that is how a little boy, two thousand years ago,

Stayed on to hear the angels sing, and see the Star aglow.

As soon as Baby Jesus came to use the manger bed,

Then Davey's sack of feathers made a pillow for His head.

No one told Davey anymore that he was in the way.

His work had helped get ready for the world's first Christmas Day!

Is There a Santa Claus?

by Francis P. Church

an editorial from The New York Sun

September 21, 1897

Dear Editor: 

I am 8 years old. 

Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. 

Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun it's so." 

Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon

115 West Ninety-Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. 

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

The Gift of Love

by Thomas S. Monson

When I was a very young bishop, in 1950, there was a tap at my door and a good German brother from Ogden, Utah, announced himself as Karl Guertler.

He said, "Are you Bishop Monson?"

I answered in the affirmative.

He said, "My brother and his wife and their family are coming from Germany. They are going to live in your ward. Will you come with me to see the apartment we have rented for them?" On the way to that apartment, he told me he had not seen his brother for something like 30 years. Yet all through the holocaust of World War II, his brother, Hans Guertler, had been faithful to the Church–an officer in the Hamburg branch.

I looked at that apartment. It was cold; it was dreary; the paint was peeling from the walls; the cupboards were bare. What an uninviting home for the Christmas season of the year! I worried about it and I prayed about it, and then in our ward welfare committee meeting, we did something about it.

The group leader of the high priests said, "I am an electrician. Let's put good appliances in that apartment."

The group leader of the seventies said, "I am in the floor covering business. Let's install new floor coverings."

The elders quorum president said, "I am a painter. Let's paint that apartment."

The Relief Society representative spoke up, "Did you say those cupboards were bare?" (They were not bare long, with the Relief Society in action.)

Then the young people, represented through the Aaronic Priesthood general secretary said, "Let's put a Christmas tree in the home and let's go among our young people and gather gifts to place under the tree."

You should have seen that Christmas scene, when the Guertler family arrived from Germany in clothing which was tattered and with faces which were drawn by the rigors of war and deprivation! As they went into their apartment they saw what had been in actual fact a transformation–a beautiful home. We spontaneously began singing, "Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm; all is bright." We sang in English; they sang in German. At the conclusion of that hymn, Hans Guertler threw his arms around my neck buried his face in my shoulder, and repeated over and over again those words which I shall never forget: "Mein brudder, mein brudder, mein brudder".

As we walked down the stairs that night, all of us who had participated in making Christmas come alive in the lives of this German family, we reflected upon the words of the Master:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

The Man Who Missed Christmas

by J. Edgar Park

It was Christmas Eve; and, as usual, George Mason was the last to leave the office. He walked over to massive safe, spun the dials, sung the heavy door open. Making sure the door would not close behind him, he stepped inside.

A square of white cardboard was taped was taped just above the topmost row of strongboxes. On the card a few words were written. George Mason stared at those words, remembering...

Exactly one year ago he had entered this self-same vault. And then, behind his back, slowly, noiselessly, the door swung shut. He was trapped–entombed in the sudden and terrifying dark.

He hurled himself at the unyielding foor, his hoarse cry sounding like an explosion. Through his mind flashed all the stories he had heard of men found suffocated in time vaults. Not time controlled this mechanism; the safe would remain locked until it was opened from the outside. Tomorrow morning.

Then realization hit me. No one would come tomorrow–tomorrow was Christmas.

Once more he flung himself at the door, shouting wildly, until he sank on his knees, exhausted. Silence came, high-pitched, singing silence that seemed deafening. More than thirty-six hours would pass before anyone came– thirty-six hours in a steel box three feet wide, eight feet long, seven feet high. Would the oxygen last? Perspiring and breathing heavily, he felt his way around the floor. Then, in the far right-hand corner, just above the floor, he found a small, circular opening. Quickly, he thrust his finger into it and felt, faint but unmistakable, a cool current of air.

The tension release was so sudden that he burst into tears. But at last he sat up. Surely he would not have to stay strapped for the full thirty-six hours. Somebody would miss him. But who? He was unmarried and alone. The maid who cleaned his apartment was just a servant; he had always treated her as such. He had been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his brother's family; but children got on his nerves and expected presents.

A friend had asked him to go to a home for elderly people on Christmas Day and play the piano–George Mason was a good musician. But he had made some excuse or other; he had intended to sit at home, listening to some new recordings he was giving himself.

George Mason dug his nails into the palms of his hands until the pain balanced the misery in his mind. Nobody would come and let him out, nobody, nobody, nobody...

Miserably the whole of Christmas Day went by, and the succeeding night.

On the morning after Christmas the head clerk came into the office at the usual time, open the safe, then went on into his private office.

No one saw George Mason stagger out into the corridor, run to the water cooler, and drink great gulps of water. No one paid any attention to him as he left and took a taxi home.

Then he shaved, changed his wrinkled clothes, ate breakfast and returned to his office where his employees greeted him casually.

That day he met several acquaintances and talked to his own brother. Grimly, the truth closed in on George Mason. He had vanished from human society during the great festival of brotherhood; no one had missed him at all.

Reluctantly, George Mason began to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Was it possible that he had been blind all these years with selfishness, indifference, pride? Was not giving, after all, the essence of Christmas because it marked the time God gave His son to the world?

All through the year that followed, with little hesitant deeds of kindness with small, unnoticed acts of unselfishness, George Mason tried to prepare himself...

Now, once more, it was Christmas Eve.

Slowly he backed out of the safe, closed it. He touched its grim steel face lightly, almost affectionately, and left the office.

There he goes now in his black overcoat and hat, the same George Mason as a year ago. Or is it? He walks a few blocks, then flags a taxi, anxious not to be late. His nephews are expecting him to help them trim the tree. Afterwards, he is taking his brother and his sister-in-law to a Christmas play. Why is he so happy? Why does this jostling against other, laden as he is with bundles, exhilarate and delight him?

Perhaps the card has something to do with it, the card he taped inside his office space last New Year's Day. On the card is written, in George Mason's own hand:

"To love people, to be indispensable somewhere, that is the purpose of life. That is the secret of happiness."

Trouble at the Inn

by Dina Donahue

For many years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in certain little town in the Mid-west, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally's performance in one annual production of the nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.

Wally was nine that year in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he had difficultly in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was well liked by the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask to play ball with them, or any game, for that matter, in which winning was important.

Most often they'd find a way to keep him out, but Wally would hang around anyway–not sulking, just hoping. He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector of the underdog. Sometimes, if the older boys chased the younger ones away, it would always be Wally who'd say, "Can't they stay? They're no bother."

Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd with a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, but the play's director, Miss Lumbard, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines and Wally's size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.

And so it happened that the usual large, partisan audience gathered for the town's yearly extravaganza breads, crowns, halos and a whole stageful of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn't wander on stage before his cue.

Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the innkeeper was there, waiting.

"What do you want?" Wally said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.

"We seek lodging."

"Seek it elsewhere." Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously. "The inn is filled."

"Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary."

"There is no room in this inn for you." Wally look properly stern.

"Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired."

Now, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his still stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.

"No! Begone!" the prompter whispered from the wings.

"No!" Wally repeated automatically. "Begone!"

Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband's shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however. Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brown creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.

And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.

"Don't go, Joseph," Wally cried out. "Bring Mary back." And Wallace Purling's face grew into a bright smile. "You can have my room."

Some people in town thought that the pageant had been ruined. Yet there were others–many, many others–who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen.

"Shepherds of Israel"

Today our Bishop told the following story after we sang many Christmas songs:

"An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, 'But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.'

"Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

"Startled, I asked him why. And he added, 'Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.' It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, 'Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.'

"It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

""As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land. Each evening at sundown, for example, the shepherds bring their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves that roam the deserts of Morocco. A single shepherd then is employed to guard the gate until morning. Then the shepherds come to the enclosure one by one, enter therein, and call forth their sheep—by name. The sheep will not hearken unto the voice of a stranger but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know his voice.

The words of the Master Shepherd rang loudly in my ears:

'But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

'To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

'And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

'And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers' (John 10:2–5)."

~John R. Lasater, "Shepherds of Israel", Ensign, May 1988, 74

The Nativity

In Relief Society we learned of some new traditions we can incorporate into our Christmas Season. The book I wish to get myself some day is A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman.

Mary

Reminds us that we need to find a moment to ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem. In that moment, we celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth, and the gift that Heaven gave.

Joseph

Represents the desires of our hearts He reminds us of the secret acts of Christmas, kindness given with sacrifice and love to the broken, the weary, the lost, of the lonely.

The Angel

Embodies a heart that runneth over with the good tidings and great joy of the season. The angel is a reminder that the anticipation of good things to come should fill our hearts with warmth overflowing.

The Shepherd

Symbolizes a testimony within, an inner conviction that we have come to know Christ. The shepherd is a reminder for us to come closer to the Lord, now and with haste, and then to share our testimony with others.

The Wise Men

Exemplify the journey each of us takes as we seek the Lord. They remind us that as we draw closer to Him, we will be led to continue our journey another way.

The Lamb

Reminds us to prepare our hearts to recognize the hand of the Lord in our life, and then, in that instant, to give thanks.

The Christ Child

Reminds us to offer a gift to the Lord this Christmas season: A gift based on the true work of Christmas, one that will allow us to focus on Christ all year long.

President Thomas S. Monson

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others."

("In Search of the Christmas Spirit," Ensign, Dec 1987)