I have been struggling for days with my blog background. I can't seem to figure out the problem. Sorry ~~ Marilee
Oh,
God...
help us rightly to remember
the birth of Jesus,
that
we may share in the songs
of the angels, the
gladness
of the shepherds, and the
worship of the wise men.
May
the Christmas morning
make us happy
to be your children.
-Robert Louis Stevenson
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John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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Love Grows at Christmastime
One Voice children’s Choir
Snow
falls, nature slumbers, winter's flurry stops new growth
December
brings the season, filled with laughter and new hopes
Kindness
abounds, good deeds seems to thrive
Hate is put down while true
brotherhood comes alive
Love
grows at Christmastime
When best that's within us is willingly
given
Hearts heal at Christmastime
When seeds of
forgiveness are planted within our hearts
Soft
words, spoken freely, fill the air with joyful sounds
Warm
smiles shared with gladness life the spirits of those worn down
Families
come home strangers makes new friends
Warm smiles shared with
gladness life the spirits of those worn down
Families come home
strangers makes new friends
Happiness flows when we reach out
with open hands
Love
grows at Christmastime
When best that's within us is willingly
given
Hearts heal at Christmastime
When seeds of
forgiveness are planted within our hearts
A
little tenderness can spread until whole
World fills refreshed,
we all are blessed with love
Love
grows at Christmastime
When best that's within us is willingly
given
Hearts heal at Christmastime
When seeds of
forgiveness are planted within our hearts
Love
grows at Christmastime
When best that's within us is willingly
given
Hearts heal at Christmastime
When seeds of
forgiveness are planted within our hearts
When seeds of
forgiveness are planted within our hearts
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RECIPE
Parmesan, Oregano and Pine Nut Melts
2 cups Parmesan cheese finely grated (pre-grated cheese does not work)
1 T flour
½ t. oregano
1 T pine nuts
Preheat oven to 400F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine Parmesan, flour and oregano. Place a round cookie cutter on the prepared baking sheet. Carefully sprinkle a tablespoon of cheese mixture into the cutter and smooth the surface. Remove the cutter. Repeat with the remaining mixture, leaving a 1-inch gap between each melt. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until light golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
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Tradition
Most families think about trees when they plan out their first Christmas activities. Some people put up their trees after Halloween, some wait until Thanksgiving weekend, for others it’s Christmas Eve. Some people cut their own trees, some buy them and some have “old faithful” trees which live on from year to year. Several years ago, I decided that we should decorate a Christmas tree outside for animals. I had it all planned out, we were going to make garlands out of popcorn and cranberries and string them around a tree and make bird seed ornaments and take a little hike in the mountains on Christmas day to share the wealth of this world with the animals... It didn’t happen. I hadn’t allowed enough time to prepare, but the next year, we were doing it. Then I saw an article about people who made garlands using fishing line and the birds got tangled in the fishing line and died. So no project that year. The next year it snowed and we couldn’t go because I was too afraid of falling. I have not given up on my tradition. This year, I have a dozen apples set aside to put out on “our” property for the deer nesting there. I have bird seed to set out, and corn seeds. This year, the tradition happens. There will be no garlands, but I will go for a walk on Christmas day, and leave food for the wildlife. Establish your tradition. Find time to go outside and to relish and thank God for the beauty of nature and his world. ~~ Marilee
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Legend of the Fir Tree
A long time ago, all the trees used to keep their leaves in winter.
Not long before Christmas, a small bird was unable to fly off to the warm countries. His wing was broken. Shivering with cold, he looked around at all of the big stately trees with their beautiful warm leaves. Surely he could rest there. He flew to a nearby oak tree. “Go away! I don’t want you to eat my acorns”. The old tree chased him away. The little bird flew off.
He found refuge in the branches of the thick beech tree. “Do not stay here! You are going to peck all my nuts,” the strong tree shouted.
The little bird was terrified. He flew away and went to hide in the birch tree. “I don’t want you here! You’re going to make my branches dirty.” And the beautiful tree chased him away.
Rejected by all the trees, the little bird lay down to die. “Come here little one, come, come!” A small fir tree nearby opened it’s branches and welcomed the bird inside. He kept it warm and safe while the bird’s wing healed.
The snow around the tree deepened and the tree saw a little rabbit shaking in the bitter cold. “Come here little rabbit, come! He opened his branches and welcomed the little rabbit into the warmth and safety of his arms. Then came a deer came, looking for a place to shelter from the wind.
Angels, passing through the forest at Christmas time saw the little fir tree. His pinecones had been eaten, his branches were misshapen. Leaves (skinny, poky little things) had been lost. He was no longer a beautiful little tree. The angels saw that even with all of the damage to it, the tree’s heart was warm. He was happy to serve others.
The angels decreed that because of their pride, the proud, haughty trees would lose their leaves during the winter, but the kind, humble little fir would stay green all year round.
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One last short poem about service.
If
we set down at set of sun
And
count the things that we have done,
And
counting, find
One
self-denying act, one word
That
eased the heart of him who heard;
One
glance most kind,
That
felt like sunshine where it went,
Then
we may count the day well spent.
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