Measure of Creation

 

A little Child, A shining star, A stable rude, The door ajar.
Yet in that place, So crude, forlorn, The hope of all the world was born.

~*~*~*~

My mother loved this song.  Her favorite was Silver "Bells", but this came next I'm sure.  We watched a jazz Christmas program Sunday night and the singer mentioned Nat King Cole and did one of his songs.  I've been singing this one since.  

A Cradle in Bethlehem
written by Alfred Bryan and Larry Stock
performed by Nat King Cole
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5EBVHnLUlE
musical

Sing sweet and low your lullaby
Till angels say, "Amen"
A mother tonight is rocking
A cradle in Bethlehem

While wise men follow through the dark
A star that beckons them
A mother tonight is rocking
A cradle in Bethlehem

"A little child shall lead them"
The Prophets said of old
In storm and tempest keep 'em
Until the bell is tolled

Sing sweet and low your lullaby
Till angels say, "Amen"
A mother tonight is rocking
A cradle in Bethlehem

Sing sweet and low your lullaby
Till angels say, "Amen"
A mother tonight is rocking
A cradle in Bethlehem

~*~*~*~

GAME NIGHT IDEAS

Foggy Night Game (at least six players)

A player is blindfolded and given a laundry basket with many small and some large objects. The task is to carry each package individually and place it in the bag of Santa. He is standing somewhere in the room calling "Rudolph". The other players are moving in the room calling other names–"Pinocchio," "Christopher Columbus,""Marco Polo" etc. The player who places the most packages in the bag after one minute wins.

Christmas Memory Tray

I’m sure that all of us who have ever gone to a baby shower have played this game, or one like it. Bring out a tray with Christmas items on it, let the players look at the items for 2 minutes, then take the tray away and the have the players writes down the items. The player with the most correct items wins. A variation, with young children is to put the items in a decorated box, and pass the box around, having everyone pull out an item until everything is out of the box, then put them all back in and have the children write down or tell someone what they saw.

~*~*~*~

My walk was sidetracked by a migraine yesterday. It was a nasty one.

My Monday walk involved sending Christmas cards, with personal notes from our family, to the members of our church who are residents at the Care Center or the Assisted Living Center here in town. It’s been a tough, lonely year for them. They’ve been so alone, unable to have visitors. I really thought that would be a way to “feed his lambs”. Not knowing how many people were there from our church, I texted our bishop’s wife to find out and guess what? Not a single person from our ward is in either facility, so I called a friend from another church and asked her if she knew anyone. She was only aware of one person who was currently living there. I did a card for her. Because of privacy laws, the center couldn’t give me any names. I understand the importance of protecting their rights, but it was frustrating. I really wanted to do this. I wanted to brighten someone’s day. I’m still working on it, and hope that you had better success than me.

Yesterday’s assignment was to write a letter to a missionary or a member of the military. The migraine derailed me. I was temporarily off the tracks, but plan to get back on today.

I’ve thought about where my path might take me.  He's given me everything, so I decided to give Christ a gift from me. I’ll make Him a promise, and I'll keep it. ~~ Marilee

~*~*~*~

Corn Flake Cookies (thank you for your recipe, Debbie)

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. light corn syrup

½ t. salt

5 ½ c Cornflakes cereal.

Add Cornflakes to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Have ready large sheets of wax paper laid out across your work surface.

Add sugar and light corn syrup to a small or medium-sized saucepan. Bring to high heat and stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula.

As soon as the mixture reaches a boil, remove it from the heat. Carefully, add the peanut butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir until combined.

Pour the mixture over the cereal and gently stir until all of the cereal is coated. Working quickly, scoop mounds (about 2 heaping tablespoons) of the mixture and set on the wax paper. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of Kosher or Falk salt and allow to cool and set, about 25 minutes.

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Within My Walls

I was—oh, so old. My walls were thin, and between some of my boards were spaces that let in sunlight by day and the cool breezes by night. My only other source of sunlight was a massive door, held on by thick leather straps.

I stood behind a stately looking inn. For this I was glad. I was embarrassed because of my undignified appearance. I was created for a lowly purpose, for I was a stable.

The time of taxation had arrived. The stately inn was packed with people. All I held were a few cows.

Early this day my master had cleaned my floors and changed my straw. I prepared myself for the rough treatment the cattle always gave me, but to my surprise the cattle were very gentle. They all stood in one corner and ate very little of the straw. By the end of the day I still looked beautiful—for a stable.

Suddenly my door creaked open, letting in the night air, which I was trying so hard to keep out. There stood my master beside a tall, kindly looking man of those times.

“This will be fine, sir, “the stranger was saying, “but we must hurry.

My master bade them good night and left.” The stranger walked to the center of my floor, followed by a small donkey, which carried a woman. The man gently placed her on my fresh, clean straw. She was beautiful, but in great pain.

That night she gave birth to a child. She gave birth to the Son of God within my frail walls.

A star, brighter than all the rest, shone down upon me, upon me and the glorious scene that was there within my walls..

Even though my position in life has been a lowly stable, I have fulfilled the measure of my creation.
—Gary R. Hatch

This story appears on multiple sites, one of which was:

https://www.theideadoor.com/other-pages/stories-poems-quotes/christmas-themed-stories/within-my-walls/

A Christmas Heart Is A Giving Heart

 

"Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart." George Matthew Adams

~*~*~*~

The Star

written and performed by Kathy Mattea

The Star Kathy Mattea - YouTube

Click on this link, then click on the link it brings up

Just another homeless family

Hoping for a stranger's charity

Just one night in one safe place to stay

Underneath a star so far away

She carried everything they had and more

The little one the world was waiting for

And somewhere in the night her child was born

Into every heart so tired and torn

And the light shining from that star

Will show you who you are

And his life shining with its light

Will lead you through your darkest night

They couldn't find a room for him back then

But he found a place in the hearts of men

The hope that all the world would come to know

Born beneath that star so long ago

Just another homeless family

Hoping for a stranger's charity

Just one night in one safe place to stay

Underneath a star so far away

~*~*~*~

Decorating tip:

Who says wreaths are only for the outside doors? Get door hangers and put a wreath on each door inside your house. The can be any size, any material. You don’t have to worry about the weather. Check out DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas: 12 Easy Crafts (With Pictures!) (tasteofhome.com) for some fun do-it-yourself wreaths.

~*~*~*~

Holiday Pretzels

square pretzels

candy melts, chocolate or vanilla

M&Ms

Heat oven to 250 degrees. Spread foil on a cookie sheet. Lay the pretzels out on the cookie sheet and place a candy melt on the center of each pretzel. Place in theoven for 10 minutes or until the candy melt gets soft. Remove from the oven and press an M&M in the center of each pretzel treat. Let cool. Super easy to do with kids!

~*~*~*~

Walk with Christ

Please excuse me for the lack of commentary.  I am struggling with a migraine today.  Write a Christmas letter to a missionary or someone in the military and send it to him/her.

~*~*~*~

FAR, FAR AWAY ON JUDEA'S PLAINS ~ Jeanne P. Lawler

https://myfavoritechristmasstories.blogspot.com/2009/07/far-far-away-on-judeas-plains.html

I was a missionary "Far, Far Away" in Bangalore, India, for Christmas in 1993. On the first week of December, three days after I arrived, I was asked if I would help organize and direct a choir in the Bangalore Branch of our Church. I said, "Happy to."

The members wanted to participate in a choir festival that was an annual event in Bangalore. I selected the above number and sixteen people attended the two enthusiastic rehearsals which were held on a rooftop of a member's home. None of them were familiar with part singing, so we sang in unison without musical accompaniment. Should there be piano, I
would play it. We were not aware what this "festival" entailed.

The date of the performance arrived. As we alighted from our harrowing
rickshaw ride to the location in downtown Bangalore, we stood gaping
before a huge city building, draped with a large banner that read
FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS. Stunned, we walked up the broad flight of stairs and
into the foyer which was milling with costumed participants. We
scrambled to get a printed program. This was a BIG event! Listed were
the names of several church, college and university choirs who were
participating. We were listed as the "L.D.S. Choir (Mormon's
Tabernacle)." We gasped! We didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. We
went aside and prayed, pleading for heavenly help. I turned to my
companion and said, "You'll have to direct." She said "I've never done
that before in my life!" I replied "Just smile, make a figure eight and
look confident."

When the curtain opened for our number, my companion had our Indian "Mormon's Tabernacle Choir" arranged on risers ready to perform. All seven ladies on the front row wore beautiful saris and the nine men behind them wore suits and white shirts. The director was magnificent. She even took a bow! I took a deep breath as I sat down to accompany them on an old upright piano with missing ivories.

The shock from the sound of the first chord nearly threw me off the chair, but when she raised her hand and started her figure eight, I could hardly play, and I don't know if I did. It was as if The Choir, whose name we bore on the printed program, were singing. I knew then our prayers were heard and a choir of angels was singing with our little choir. As the last note sounded, there was silence; then, thunderous applause from the packed auditorium. The curtains closed and we wept and jumped for joy.

Guess who won a prize? We did! The fourth verse says "Hasten the time when, from ev'ry clime, Men shall unite in the strains sublime." It happened in India!

My husband loved this hymn, and it was sung at his memorial service in 1986. Fred was not gifted musically while in mortality, but I like to believe that he was among those summoned to sing "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" with the L.D.S. Choir (Mormon's Tabernacle) in Bangalore, India, December 1993. --

Jeane Peterson Lawler died 22 June 2013 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

 

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;

It makes no noise at all,

But softly give itself away;

While quite unselfish,

It grows small.

~*~*~*~

Love Knows No Borders

written by Sally DeFord
performed by James Loynes

Love Knows No Borders - YouTube

click on this, then click on the link that pops up.

From lands of the sunrise
From isles of the sea
Though oceans divide us
And miles lie between
Come gather in spirit
With shepherds of old
’round Bethlehem’s cradle
Our Heavenly King to behold

For love knows no borders
And love knows no bounds
Rejoice ye together
For Jesus our Savior is born

From nations far sundered
From earth’s farthest shore
From castle and cottage
Where Jesus is Lord
Come sing with the angels
With voices made one
Ascending to heaven
In praise of the Father’s own Son

For love knows no borders
And love knows no bounds
Rejoice ye together
For Jesus our Savior is born

His love knows no borders
Nor color nor creed
No rich and no poor,
Neither bondsmen nor free
And we who receive him
Must love without end
And carry his tidings
Of peace and good will
To all men

For love knows no borders
And love knows no bounds
Rejoice ye together
For Jesus our Savior is born

~*~*~*~

VANILLER COCONUT FUDGE

In Granny’s words herself: "This one’s so good, it’ll make yer eyes roll right back in yer head when you taste it!”

2 c. sugar

3 T butter

1/4 c. white corn syrup

1 t. vanilla

½ c. evaporated milk

½ c. coconut

1/8 t. salt

Mix the sugar, corn syrup, evaporated milk, salt and butter in a pan and let it heat up slow-like until the sugar is melted. Turn up the heat a bit and cook until it makes a soft ball in cold water. Cool (till the bottom of the pan can sit in the palm of y our hand without makin’’ you yell, "Yeeouch, that hurts!" Beat until it loses its shine. Beat in the vanilla and coconut and pout into lightly buttered 8x8x2 pan.

~*~*~*~

I hope that you all a good Sabbath. Our Saturday and Sunday were great. I enjoyed my walk. Saturday morning, when I decided to start a blessing jar for my walk, I knew what I would put in it. I would write that the greatest blessing of that day was Dean. That’s true, I did write it, but decided that I couldn’t limit my blessing jar to just one blessing that day. Our daughter Rachel came :) - so her name was placed on a paper. Our children all got together with their children and everyone had a birthday party on zoom for Dean. It was so good to see them. So all of our children and grandchildren ended up in the jar. I listed zoom as a blessing too! Sunday was the same way, everywhere I looked was another blessing or something to be grateful for. The more I wrote down, the more I saw.

Loneliness is a reality this year, like never before, especially for the residents at care centers and Assisted living facilities. The psalmist said “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” Psalms 71:9

I'm going to write Christmas cards to all of the members of our church in the local care center, and drop them off at the center to be distributed to them, otherwise, I will mail them. Will you? ~~ Marilee

~*~*~*~

Marilee’s Shoemaker Story

Any resemblance to the well known fairy tale is completely intentional. Thank you, Brothers Grimm

When my children were small, I loved to tell them about the shoemaker and the good deed-doers.

There was once an elderly shoemaker, who lived with his wife above his tiny shop. He worked hard, very hard; but his gnarled, arthritic fingers just couldn’t make enough shoes. He couldn’t pay his bills. One night, he realized that he only had enough leather to make one more pair of shoes, then it was done. Where would they go? What could they do? How could they live?? Maybe, just maybe if he worked super carefully, he could sell that last pair. He shaped the leather, making sure that every cut was precise and laid the pieces on his workbench where he could put them together in the morning. He went to bed, after saying his night time prayers, and slept deeply.

He rose early the next morning and knelt by the side of his bed to say his morning prayers, then headed to his workbench. On the table was what appeared to be a pair of shoes! How did this happen? Did he make them in his sleep? Did his wife make them? No, she sewed, she didn’t cobble. He must have done it somehow. Gratitude filled his heart. The shoes were perfect!

A customer came in, took one look at the shoes and absolutely HAD to have them. He gave the cobbler a fortune for them. It was enough that the cobbler could buy leather for two pairs of shoes! He bought the leather, cut it and placed it carefully on his bench, just like he had the night before. He said his prayers and went to bed. He was so excited for morning to come that he woke early, went downstairs and there were 2 beautiful pairs of shoes on his table. Again, the workmanship was perfect! How had he done this? Why couldn’t he remember? Why didn’t his hands hurt?

Friends of his first customer came in and were thrilled to see those fabulous boots on his counter. They bought them and took off chortling with glee. (Believe me, that’s pretty happy). They paid him enough to make 4 pairs of shoes!

He didn’t know what to tell his wife, so he went and bought more leather. His next stop was at the doctor’s office. The doctor gave him some sleeping pills to help him sleep through the night. Relieved that he was ok, he cut the leather, put it on his bench, took his pills, said his prayers and went to bed.

He came down the stairs the next morning, groggy from the pills, but ready to work. There on his bench were 4 pairs of stylish shoes. And so it went. Every night he cut out shoes and found them sewn together the next morning. No matter how many pairs he cut, they were always done. Soon new styles started appearing. There were boots and sandals, slip-ons and heels! All kinds of shoes! People lined up outside his shop every morning breathlessly waiting to buy his shoes!

Night after night, he knelt and prayed for whoever was doing this kind deed for them. Every morning, he found the shoes made. He paid off his bills. He bought warm new clothes for him and his wife, he stored food and gave to the poor.

As December approached, he and his wife sat in front of their cozy fire, and talked about the “miracle of the shoes”. He told his wife that he wanted to stay up and find out once and for all who was doing this for them. She thought it was a great idea and joined him. They left a light on, hid behind a curtain and waited.

As soon as the clock struck midnight, 2 little figures entered the shop. They were tiny and clothed in rags. Their dirt-smudged faces looked so sad. Then they saw the bench with the leather and smiled. They started sewing pieces together, stitching and forming the different shoes so fast that the shoemaker’s jaw dropped. He knew who they were. They were the legendary deed-doers! Good-deed-doers! Long before the first rays of morning light broke the horizon, they finished their work and slipped away.

The shoemaker and his wife talked together about the situation and the wife said, “These little deed-doers have made us rich. We need to tell them thank you. We need to tell them that they were answers to our prayers. I’m going to make them clothes. I’ll make them pants, shirts and gloves, even coats to keep them warm.” The shoemaker responded in kind, “I’ll make them shoes!”

They worked during the day while the deed-doers worked at night. Finally, on Christmas Eve, everything was done. They set out platters of cookies, and mugs of milk. They put the new clothes on the table along with the new boots and hid once again behind the curtain. About midnight the good deed-doers came in, hopped around the room, and went to the bench. When they saw clothes and the cookies, they laughed and chuckled. They put the clothes on and ate the cookies with milk and danced around the room. Then they saw the boots. In the twinkling of an eye, the boots were on their feet. The room filled with their joy. They ran from the shop, chortling with glee (and yes, that means they were super happy).

The shoemaker and his wife never saw them again, but they remembered them always, and served those in need, at Christmas time and always.

Matt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

“In these precious moments we realize what we feel and know in our heart—that Christmas is really about the Christ.”  Thomas S. Monson

~*~*~*~

Good Sabbath, everyone.  Sundays are always just a thought and a great story. ~~ Marilee

~*~*~*~

Memory Jar

by Karen Retzlaff

In September 1999, my mom was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer.

Needless to say, the next few months were a blur of just trying to accept what was happening and getting through the day for all of us family members.

When December came I was really struggling for an idea of what to get my parents for Christmas. I wanted to get them something really special, but my funds were pretty tight and my parents have never been into material things anyway.

For some reason, I remembered that I had read about a "Memory Jar". It's just a jar or box that you fill with slips of paper that you write on with memories of growing up. I was amazed at how many memories came flooding back to me once I sat down to think about it. I had to write them down as soon as I thought of them or I would forget them, so I had notes at home, in the car, at work, they were all over!

About a week before Christmas I sat down and wrote them on nice stationery and put them in the jar. I'll tell you - it was quite an experience.

What amazed me was that most of the memories weren't of "big things", they were of small things, like mom making us tea, toast and Jell-O water when we were sick as kids, or me always having toast with peanut butter whenever we had tomato soup for lunch. Of course there were big things too, like when I got married, or how my parents looked when they held my babies for the first time. It was really emotional for me to write all these down, but once I did it, I felt wonderful!

Then I started to get nervous about how my parents would take this gift. My family is close, but we're not overly sentimental or affectionate. So on Christmas morning I wrote a letter to go with the jar explaining what it was and that they could read a few memories a day, or all of them, but they had to wait until they were alone.

I waited until everyone had left their house on Christmas and then I went over to see what they thought. They told me that they had decided that they were only going to read a few that night and then they were going to read a few every day until the jar was empty (there were about 100 in there). Well, they got started and couldn't stop! They ended up reading all of them that night!

They both told me that it was one of the best presents that they had ever received and it showed them that they did a good job at being parents and it really is the little things in life that count!

I would recommend everyone doing this for the people they love. I now know that no matter what happens with my mom's illness, she knows how much I love her and my father and what a great impact they have had on my life! It must have had an impact on them too because the Memory Jar now has a prominent place right on their kitchen counter so everyone sees it when they come in.