And when they were come

 

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

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The greatest gift you will ever receive will never be found under a Christmas tree. It is far too valuable to be stored in any other place but in the depths of your heart.

 

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Celtic Woman

O Holy Night

Celtic Woman - O Holy Night (2020 Version) - YouTube

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the Soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we
Noel, Noel O night, O night divine

Noel, Noel O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel O night, O night divine

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DECORATING HINT:

Gather pine cones at your nearby park. Boil them in a big pot to kill anything living in them.. They will close up tight while wet. Let them sit on newspaper in a warm area for several days to dry. The pine cones will open up beautifully. If desired, brush a little cinnamon oil on them. Buy ribbon in your favorite Christmas colors. Tie ribbon into bows, and using florist wire, tie the bows to the pine cones. Use the same wire to tie the pine cones onto your tree. Beautiful, Fragrant and Natural!

***

For a festive atmosphere, take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, maybe just in the entry, or the dining room, or a picture or two in each child's room.

***

For a children's holiday party, use a colorful woolen scarf as a table runner. Tuck silverware into matching mittens and fill hats with small bags of candy or cookies.

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TRADITION

I want to express my gratitude to all of my book club friends for listening to me last night - especially Shelley and Tami. I went google docs several days ago, and nothing showed up. Everything was gone. I couldn’t sign in to the account to open it because I couldn’t remember my login info. I lost a lot of memories as a result of my accident 2 years ago. My google docs page has stayed open all of that time. But for some reason I must have signed out. All of my Christmas files were there and because it was stored in google, I didn’t have it backed up anywhere else. Google couldn’t help me, they said I had to give them the email address I registered with. I didn’t know what it was. I hope someone at our book club meeting might be able to give me some suggestions. Shelley is the editor of our paper and I thought for sure she could help me. She referred me to Tami. Tami made some suggestions, then asked if their might be someone I had sent an email to from that account who could help. That made me think of Cindy, my good friend Cindy who I shared files with several years ago. I called her today and she gave me my information. I am very grateful to her. Listening to friends and problem solving with them is a wonderful tradition to follow during the craziness of December.  I greatly benefitted from good friends who took an extra minute for me.  earthshaking?  No, not to them, but everything to me.  Thank you.  I’d like to include this tradition sent in by Debbie. "Something our family has done since our first Christmas together (22 years ago!) is we have a box that is wrapped with Christmas Wrap. On the outside it says "The Greatest Gift Given". Inside the box is a picture of our Savior. We open this box last & the children listen as Mom once again explains the true meaning of Christmas. It is a tradition of which I hope my children will want to pass on."  ~~ Marilee

RECIPE

Disappearing Bacon Yummies (Multiply by as many as you want to make with the warning that they are gone instantly!)

1 ½ t. Cream cheese

1 t. brown sugar

1 slice bacon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Mix cream cheese and brown sugar together in a small bowl; spread over bacon slice. Roll up and transfer to the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until bacon is browned and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.

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At Christmas
(Edgar Albert Guest, 1881-1959)

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here;
Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime.

When it's Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for awhile
And the true reward he's seeking is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I'd wait
Till he'd fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate.
I'd not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of pelf,
On the long days and the dreary when he's striving for himself.
I'd not take him when he's sneering, when he's scornful or depressed,
But I'd look for him at Christmas when he's shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle and he's oft misunderstood;
There are days the worst that's in him is the master of the good,
But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside

And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.
Oh, I don't know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be.

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He Fixed My Car, and My Christmas

EXTRACTED FROM Heartwarming Stories of Christmas Kindness | Reader's Digest (rd.com)

In 1958, I was a first-year high school teacher in Beatty, Nevada. On Dec. 22, I headed home to Idaho in my 1951 Hudson to spend Christmas with my parents.

Just south of Fillmore, Utah, a radiator hose broke and the car started to overheat. I hitchhiked into Fillmore and got a ride to a Chevron station. I explained my plight to the owner, Dan Brinkerhoff, who sent a tow truck to bring in my car.

Dan discovered that the engine had become so hot it had warped the head, so he called a nearby wrecking yard and found the needed part. I boarded a Greyhound bus, bought the part and then caught a return bus to Fillmore.

By that time it was dark, and Dan had closed the station. He immediately went to work on my car, laboring for several hours while I slept curled up in the backseat. Finally, he woke me and announced I was ready to go. When I went to settle up, he would not take a dime for anything he had done.

I got to spend the holidays with my parents, and I shall forever remember Dan for the wonderful thing he did for me.—Glen Gillette, Las Vegas, Nevada

There are many more wonderful Christmas stories at this site.

God is with us

Matt 1:23

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning — with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most.”

-Howard W. Hunter

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A Little Bit Of Christmas"

A Little Bit Of Christmas (Official Music Video) - Mat and Savanna Shaw with Jim Brickman - YouTube

This year
I'm gonna make sure
That I don't let a moment go by
Where I don't tell the ones I love
How much I love them

This year
I'm gonna let go
Of the mess and the stress and the rush
And pay more attention to the beautiful stuff

Look all around
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
There to be found
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
Smiling faces, joyful sounds
I believe it all year round
We could use a little bit of Christmas
We could use a little bit of Christmas

This year
I'm gonna pray
For the ones who lost their way
And remember, for the grace of God, go I

Each year
From here on out
I'm gonna count my blessings
And raise my voice to the heavens when choir sings

Look all around
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
There to be found
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
Smiling faces, joyful sounds
I believe it all year round
We could use a little bit of Christmas
We could use a little bit of Christmas

Look all around
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
There to be found
Everywhere you look

Look all around
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
There to be found
Everywhere you look
There's a little bit of Christmas
Smiling faces, joyful sounds
I believe it all year round
We could use a little bit of Christmas
We could use a little bit of Christmas
We could use a little bit of Christmas

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TRADITION

We went to a Christmas party last week. Santa called various people up and asked them about their favorite Christmas memories. Dana B remembers playing “Oink, Piggy, Oink” with her family. Everyone would sit in a circle. One person was chosen. They would stand in the center of the circle, blindfolded. They were spun around several times, then given an empty wrapping paper tube. They would swing around with this tube trying to make contact with someone. When they did, the person had to oink (or make piggy noises) If the blindfolded person guessed who the “pig” was, they got to trade places with them and that person became the new center. She remembered years of playing this game and laughing. Christmas has room for laughter and building new family memories. Another fun game is the Candy Cane Game. You play it sitting around a table.  You need small candy canes with hooks on them, a chopstick for each person and a stocking hat set open on the table in front of each player. Each player must then place the chopstick in their mouth, place their hands behind their back and try and hook as many candy canes on their chopstick as they can and transfer them to the stocking. If they are young, give each player one minute, separately. If they’re older and you’re into mayhem, let them all play at the same time! There will be chaos. The player who gets the most candy canes in their stocking wins! All players get to keep the candy canes the capture so make sure you get enough! ~~ Marilee

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RECIPE

Pumpkin Delight from Diane M

1 cup flour

½ cup butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 sugar free whipped topping tubs

1 cup milk

1 t. vanilla

2 packages sugar free white chocolate or vanilla instant pudding mix (3.4 oz)

15 oz can pumpkin puree

1 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice

Cut butter into flour until well mixed. Press into 9 by 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Mix cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl. Fold in 1 tub whipped topping and spread on the crust.

Whisk together 1 cup milk, pudding, spices and the pumpkin until creamy. Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Top with remaining whipped topping and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

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The Man and the Bird
As told by Paul Harvey

The man I’m going to tell you about was not a scrooge, he was a kind decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family and upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe in all of that incarnation stuff that the churches proclaim at Christmas time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus story, about God coming to Earth as a man.

He told his wife I’m truly sorry to distress you, but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve. He said he would feel like a hypocrite and that he would much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. So he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then he went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper.

Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another ... and then another. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against the living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled outside miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter they had tried to fly through his large landscape window. That is what had been making the sound.

Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures just lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter. All he would have to do is to direct the birds into the shelter.

Quickly, he put on a coat and galoshes and he tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light so the birds would know the way in. But the birds did not come in.

So, he figured that food would entice them. He hurried back to the house and fetched some bread crumbs. He sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail of bread crumbs to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs.

The birds continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them but could not. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction ... every direction except into the warm lighted barn.

And that’s when he realized they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Any move he made tended to frighten them and confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

He thought to himself, if only I could be a bird and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe warm ... to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see ... and hear ... and understand.

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind.

He stood there listening to the bells, Adeste Fidelis, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.

And he sank to his knees in the snow ...

In the beginning was the Word

 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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God sent a gift one Christmas morn, a wondrous gift, a precious gift.

God sent a gift one Christmas morn by peasant maid and craftsman hand.

God sent a gift one Christmas morn and wrapped it up in swaddling clothes,

For me, He did. Yes, for me He did.

God sent a gift one Christmas morn and wrapped it up in swaddling clothes.

For me.

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Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas w/ 32 fingers and 8 thumbs) - The Piano Guys - YouTube

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A PRECIOUS GIFT

~Author Unknown

Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Son of God, appeared this Christmas season for a moment among the people of the world. Oh, of course, this was not the coming in which He will appear according to his promise at the end of time in all His heavenly glory, and which will be sudden "as lightning flashing from east to west." No, He visited the modern world briefly as if to catch the real spirit of man in his enlightened age. He came softly and unobserved, and appropriately, He came during the Christmas season. The multicolored lights and trappings, the green

boughs of the Yule tree, the hasty greeting of the season, and the nervous movements of crowds flowing from store to store, all signified the approach of Christmas-tide.

Perhaps the trace of a wry smile lightened His features as He thought of all this feverish activity. Truly, what was man celebrating and to what purpose? Supposedly they reveled in and paid homage to His birth. It mattered not so much that the time of celebration was altered from the actual event. What did matter was the spirit and intent engendered by the occasion. To determine the depth and direction of this spirit and intent was the purpose of His visit.

He moved silently in our midst with a gentle countenance and a smile of infinite compassion. The sun of love burning in His heart; light and power shining from His eyes. Yet, to nearly all, He is unrecognized – but not totally so. An old man, blind from childhood, passing in the throng, touched His garments and perceived His being.

"O, Lord, heal me and I shall see," the old man cried.

And as it were, scales fell from his eyes and the blind man saw.

A child of the street, not too long from His heavenly presence, felt His influence and placed her tiny hand in His. This brief encounter with its silent exchange of knowing confidence and guileless love was reminiscent of similar occasions so long ago.

The blind man and the child shared for a brief moment that which the entire world sought but was too busy to recognize.

He passed on through the maddening throng, absorbing the moods of the occasion. A young couple stood in front of the music store. They were arguing rather heatedly over their financial status. These two, who were tenderly endeared to one another less than an hour ago, were now in real danger of losing that sweet feeling. "Oh, my children," thought the Savior. "As if the true spirit of love was measured by the cost or size of a trinket."

He recalled the story told of another couple -- the cutting of her hair to provide a watch chain -- and the sale of his watch to provide matching combs for her hair. Would that all lovers could feel this same spirit toward each other.

He passed by the unhappy opponents, fleetingly touching each in turn. Her lowered eyes, jeweled with tears, raised to meet those of her mate.

"I do love you. "

"And I, you," he replied.

The young voices of a quartet elevated from the music store. The words: "All I want for Christmas is to keep the things I have."

The Savior, seeking sanctuary from the milling shoppers, made His way into a building and became a spectator, with others, of the traditional first grade portrayal of His birth. Emerson School had enacted the nativity story each year since its founding. This year the presentation had proved like all the rest, a test for teachers to get the correct reactions from six-year-old shepherds and wise men. One problem had been particularly persistent. The little boy with the round face and the very tender heart had been asked to play the part of the innkeeper. Each practice, when the time came for him to deny the saintly Mary and the quiet Joseph a place to sleep, he would develop a quivering lip and finally break into tears. He was just not able to turn them away. Finally, the teacher in charge felt that an understanding had been reached. She had carefully explained to the weeping innkeeper that it wasn't really his fault that the inn was full. It was just completely sold out and there was nothing he could do about it. This explanation seemed to restore the necessary emotional balance and the nativity was presented. The crucial moment arrived when the innkeeper had to do this imperative duty.

"There is no ..,"

A quivering lip.

"... room."

A sob, a pause, and then a half smile.

"But won't you come in for a drink of water?" There was little wonder in the Savior's heart as to why little children made up the bulk of His kingdom.

The department store was large and stocked to overflowing with nearly every conceivable device and need of man. The Christ made his way through the mountains of merchandise that paled the remembrances of the Phoenician bazaars and trading ships of long ago. A knot of people in one corner of the store attracted His attention. A flaxen bearded man with a red suit and black boots sat on a chair at the head of a long line of children and parents. Santa Claus looked tired and Jesus felt a distinct kinship to him, for He understood how tiring a day of requests could be.

Two little girls -- one six and the other about three -- made their way forward and essenced themselves on each knee of the bewhiskered union man. The usual pattern of question and answer followed.

"And what do you want Santa to bring you this Christmas?"

Instead of really listening to the replies, Santa was noticing the poor material and roughly patched clothing of the two. Stringy hair and pinched faces surrounded bright and expectant eyes.

"And have you been good little girls?"

Again, he failed to hear. Their stockings had long ago lost their elasticity and their shoes had disintegrated under the relentless wear given them.

Santa gave each eager pair of hands the plastic bank the store had provided for each child as a memento of the occasion. But he couldn't seem to let the experience end here. He reached into his pocket and drew forth nine coins and proceeded to place them alternately in each bank. The intense childish eyes grew wide with excitement, and Santa saw what joy even his small offering was bringing. Each coin had been received with such ecstacy that he wished each one could have been a hundred in number.

Each child had four coins in her possession and a moment of decision had arrived -- what to do with the ninth?

Santa asked, "And who should I give this last one to?" The older and more precocious spoke with little hesitation.

"Give it to my little sister."

The Savior saw the mist of emotion cloud the eyes of Santa Claus as he placed a kiss on two cheeks.

The Redeemer left as He had come, quietly and unobserved. He had seen and felt some of the good and the bad of the world. But He left with a confidence that right would prevail. The jarring and contending of governments seemed to be offset by the inherent good will emanating from man to man. It is true that the excessive commercial drive and intent of the Christmas season reminded Him somewhat of the money changers in a past time, but the spirit of "giving" was everywhere prevalent and dominated the commercialism found in some quarters. He noticed, too, that often the true meaning of Christmas was submerged under fable and folly. And yet, the underlying strength of the real story permeated all the other and influenced it for good.

That we might live

 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

*********

Just like our story, the original Christmas tales were stories of searching, not so much for the lost, as for the familiar. Mary and Joseph sought in Bethlehem- the home of their familial ancestry- a place to start their own family; the three kings from the East journeyed beneath the sentinel star to find the King of Kings; and the shepherds sought a child in a place most familiar to them: a manger. — Richard Paul Evans

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Christmas Angels

Michael W. Smith

Christmas Angels - YouTube

Christmas angels sing all around us
Spread good tidings over the earth
Telling of a child in a manger who is born
He is the King of kings

King of glory, hope for our nations
Sent to earth to save and redeem
Prince of peace, behold and adore him
The Son of God has come to set us free

Celebrate and sing Hallelujah
Raise the banner, dance and rejoice
Celebrate the birth of Messiah
He's the King of King, the Lord of all

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest

We sing, joy to the world, the Lord has come
Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Joy to the world, He is here forever and always

Christmas angels sing all around us
All creation hears what they say
Bow before Him, come and behold
The Son of God born on Christmas day

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

RECIPE

Tropical Orange Crush
makes 1 serving
2/3 cup orange juice
1 ring of pineapple
1 tsp lemon juice

Blend orange juice, pineapple and lemon juice for 30 seconds. Serve over cubes in tall glass.

CRAFT IDEAS

Candy Train

You will need: one 5-pack of gum, a roll of life savers, a rollo, a caramel, a Hershey's kiss, and four red/white peppermint candies. Glue the life savers onto the pack of gum (the flat side). Then glue the rollo on the front of the life savers. Glue a hershey's kiss on top of the life savers - in the front and a caramel on top of life savers in the back. On both sides of the train glue two peppermint wheels. This makes one candy train - great for ornaments.

Airplane Ornament

Make a candy airplane using one stick of flat (Wrigley's) gum, one package of "Smarties", and two life savers. Place the gum (wings) perpendicular on the "Smarties" (plane body). Use a rubberband to loop through one lifesaver (wheel) over the gum, through another lifesaver (wheel) and under the "Smarties."

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TRADITION

Last night’s tornado’s destroyed so much property. So many lives were lost and families torn apart. About 3 hours after I first heard about the tornadoes this morning, I received a call from someone requesting donations on “behalf of the people who lost everything in the storms.” Watch out for spammers. They prey on your kindness, especially on the spirit of Christmas giving. Donations WILL be needed. Make sure you give to a reputable source: American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Episcopal Relief and Development, LDS Humanitarian Services and the Salvation Army are all excellent service groups. If you are aware of other safe organizations to donate to, Please add them in the comments. I’ve had a hard time putting my thoughts together for today’s blog, but finally focused on the giving of gifts. Obviously there will be monetary gifts given this Christmas, but of even more importance are gifts of the heart. This Christmas tell someone you love them. Let go of hurts which have torn you apart. Look for opportunities to serve each day, to do little acts of kindness. I mentioned several years ago that I went into the store planning to let people get ahead of me in line, only to be told to go ahead of someone else. So I was going to absolutely hold the door open for someone else and there were two young men at the doors opening them for everyone. It was miserable, cold and icy outside. I struggled trying to hold my car door open and put the groceries in. A little lady, she must have been in her 80s, came up to me and held the door open. I should have been helping HER, but she served me. She said that I looked like I could use a hand. Everywhere I went that day, people helped me! I learned a valuable lesson: be a grateful receiver as well as a joyful giver. Forgive someone, and turn away from angry words. Give as God gave to us, share our love of His Son, that together we might share His Light and live.  Make giving a daily tradition, Marilee

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Is It So Long?

Is it so long ago,

Is it so far away

That the little Christ child is lost
In the weary world today . . .

That the light of the star is gone

and today we cannot hear

The Heavenly voices sing

As they did, that far-off year?

That the light of the star is gone

And today we cannot hear

The Heavenly voices sing

As they did, that far-off year?

That the light of the star is gone...

No! Fear not, O my soul!

Go to a quiet place, alone, apart!

And kneel and pray

This Christmas Day,

And you will find Him there

Within you heart!

**********

There’s More to Christmas…

Author Unknown

There’s more, much more to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It’s the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all the year;
It’s thoughtfulness and kindness,
It’s hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
For goodwill to men!

**********

Christmas Giving

By Iris W. Bray

Christmas is for giving
And for showing that we care,
For honouring the Christ Child
With the loving gifts we share

The wise men gave of riches;
The shepherds, faith and love.
Each gift, in its own measure,
Was smiled on from above.

Let every gift be treasured;
Not always size or price
Determines the extent of love
And willing sacrifice.

Handsome gifts with festive trim
Brings smiles of sweet content,
But modest gifts of humble means
Are ofttimes heaven sent.

Whether it be large or small
Each gift will share in part
The message of true Christmas joy
If given from the heart!