Keeping Focus

The Stockings are Hung...

The Halls Are Decked...lots of our ornaments look like this: two or three on one branch, all at a 2 and 5 year old eye level

The Snow Has Fallen {and the boys could not be happier about it} We Remember the True Spirit of the Holiday... I was surprised when Austin asked me about our Nativity. He didn't know who the wiseman were. He forgot why we have three pretty boxes out (to remember gold, frankincense, and myrrh). He asked why there were sheep and why Jesus is laying in hay. We've had lots of reviews of the Christmas Story.

And to give us some more Christmas perspective we spent Saturday buying these:

We donated to a family, through the Dental Squadron, that can't afford Christmas. We gave the kids an option to use some of their allowance to help us buy a present for each of the five family members. We told the kids they had to pay their tithing and put 30% in savings and they could choose how much of the rest they would donate. Landon said he would donate 30 cents (30 cents is a lot to him since he only had 2.00 left after tithing and savings).

We went through Kohls looking for gifts. The boys were in charge of finding something for the 6 year old boy in the family. Of course, they found the Star Wars action figures. Landon begged and begged for one for himself. I told him if it was that cool the boy we were shopping for would probably love it.
L: "But I want it, Mom."
M: "Think about it Landon. If you could only have one present for Christmas and you got this wouldn't you be happy?"
L: "Yeah."
M: "Imagine that boy. This might be his only present. Wouldn't you love to give him something that would make him so happy?"
L: "yeah." and then a few minutes after we checked out (with the coveted Star Wars guy), "Mom can I give you 50 cents instead of 30?"

lesson sinking in

and another lesson sinking in (we answered more of Austin's questions like, "if Heavenly Father is Jesus' dad and Mary is Jesus' Mom, whose Joseph?)

Our church put on a Creche for the community this past weekend. I'd never even heard of a creche before. It means "nativity" in french. Each room of the church was FULL of nativities; nearly 800 nativities in all. The two day long event was organized into musical presentations from LDS church members and other community churches. Most Christian churches (including two Baptist churches) in Mountain Home participated with chior or instrumental presentations. About 1400 people from around Mountain Home came to listen to the chiors and see the nativities. It was beautiful and reverent and the spirit was STRONG. I spent two days helping set up and decorate and Cameron spent 5 hours cleaning it all up. It was a great community event and a great way to remember the focus of the season.

We still have our "Gratitude Attititude" Turkey up too. The kids are actually thinking about it. They are saying things like, "Look how I'm showing grattitude." "Mom, what can I do to show grattitude today?" It makes me happy.

And just because I couldn't say it better myself, and this is EXACTLY what I'm hoping to accomplish with my Turkey, here's a quote I found while preparing my Young Women's church lesson for Sunday:

"What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He 'went about doing good'. As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours." ~Thomas S. Monson (president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)