Applying "Good, Better, Best" to Christmas Break

“We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

-Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Christmas break has come and with that brings many things, but most of all it brings: our children being around when they are otherwise absent and the preparations for Christmas (Christmas dinner, presents, neighbor gifts, guests, etc.). We have all of these things condensed into a few days and even though we have been working to get the preparations finished we know there are last minutes things that fill up each and every day.

I find myself thinking that it is all right to focus on the Christmas preparations because it is for my child. They will be happy when Christmas morning rolls around and I completed all I set out to do.

Consider, though how good Christmas preparations and gifts can be, but how great memories are. Take some time to reconsider what has to be done and when. Can that gift wrapping wait until your little ones are sleeping so that you can go play in the snow together? Can the cookies be baked as a family after dinner instead of having your kids entertain themselves so you can “just get them done”? Can a note be written to a neighbor that expresses kindness rather than a gift that has to be made so you can spend more time with your children and less time baking, crafting, wrapping, etcetera?

I speak of Christmas because that is the pressing event, but bringing this to your life each day – thinking in terms of good, better, and best always will bring a richness, fulfillment and peace to our lives. I don’t believe this peace can come if we find things to busy ourselves that are good but ignore the best blessing we have been given – our children.

Each and every day I find things I “have to do” that are often really wants. I make myself busier than I need to be, or in hopes of saving time I do things alone rather than with my child that might be fun and/or a learning experience for them if I would just take the time.

Besides the benefit for our children of us focusing more on the best activities and duties, we will find a great benefit for ourselves. I am never more lighthearted and happy than when I have spent an hour just playing in my child’s room with them. I feel rejuvenated after running around outside and getting fresh air. I feel immeasurable joy when I hear that little baby laugh that can be so hard to coax out.

Consider this Christmas time as an opportunity to really challenge yourself to choose the best each day over the good. It is not a question of being wrong when we choose the good but it is a question of joy, quality time, and memories when we choose the best – when we choose our children.

Do you find it difficult to let go of the good in favor of the best? Why do you think it can be so difficult to do this?

By Brooke
http://returntosimplertimes.blogspot.com
http://writerswriteon.blogspot.com

*****************************************************
Enjoy what you just read? Subscribe to our posts or become a follower.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here

Teaching Our Children About Christmas Through Music

We’ve all considered or put on our own special Christmas Eve program. There have been baby dolls swaddled in blankets, ?children fighting over who gets to be the angel or who has to use the pink towel for their shepherd’s costume, and we’ve even decided to avoid the drama and merely read the kids the Christmas Story from the Bible while they all drift off to the Land of Nod.

But…What if you did something different – shook things up a little and got the kids really involved?

Adding music is a wonderful way to capture your children’s attention and make sure everyone can be involved – everyone can sing a Christmas carol. Discussing and interpreting the biblical text is also a wonderful way to help them really get something from the tradition.

An example of a Christmas program could be:

-Sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” when you discuss Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem

-Sing “Away in a Manger” when you read about Jesus being born

-And then sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” when you talk about how special it is that Christ was born and how important it was that he was born so humbly

-Sing “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” when you talk about the shepherds being told by the angels that Christ was born

-Sing “With Wondering Awe” when you tell your children about the three wise men who came to visit Christ

Finish your special musical Christmas program as follows:

-Sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and then talk about how we can all come to Christ and still follow the star by following His teachings

-And then sing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

-Sing your children’s favorite Christmas hymns – even if you sung them during the story.

If there are other songs you enjoy that help tell of the Christmas story, make sure to include them! A couple favorites that would be wonderful in the story are: “We Three Kings” and “The Friendly Beasts”. Make sure you sing songs your family loves because it will personalize it and help it hit home for your children.

Do your best to make sure you don’t just read the story, but explain it and teach the principles the story holds. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring a loving spirit to your home on the holiest night of the year.

Have you ever done a Christmas program with your children? What have you done to help tell your children the Christmas story?

Hymns can be viewed here

?

*****************************************************
Enjoy what you just read? Subscribe to our posts or become a follower.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here

A Christmas Gift For You

Hello Readers!

To enter, all you have to do is...

1. Be a follower. There is a box over in the right sidebar.

-AND-

2. Leave a comment on this post telling us what you would like us to write about in the future. Also, be sure to leave a way to get a hold of you if you win!!

The giveaway will close on Dec. 23rd at 11:59 PM, and the winner will be picked at random using random.org. We will announce the winner on Dec. 24th.

Merry Christmas!!

Notes on Parenting Staff

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here

Creating Christmas Memories That Will Last Forever

Can you remember what you got for Christmas last year?? How about the year before?? Some of you who have a great memory probably can, but for some of us, that may be a stretch to think what we got 365 days ago.

It’s not that we don’t value what we got, it’s just Christmas seems to be getting pretty ‘routine’ and after a while, the gift goes right into the closet or on the shelf with everything else.? It gets lost in everyday life.

Here is another question.? Do you remember what you gave for Christmas? You probably remember more of those than what you received. You probably can remember what their face looked like as they opened your gift.? But, do you think they remember?

Did you know in the United States alone $66 Billion was spent last year during the Christmas season!? Some economists, like Joel Waldfogel from the University of Pennsylvania say that about $12 Billion of that which is spent at Christmas that someone doesn’t want or if it is a gift card, it gets forgotten about. That’s $12 Billion lost.

Think about what $12 Billion could do for all of those around us.? It could help out our world community, our world family. However, we are blessed with a lot of wealth and goods on our continent that we can afford to have $12 Billion just get lost. It sure seems like Christmas shopping is very ineffective.

I challenge you to go speak to your grandparents, and also challenge your children to do the same, and ask them what Christmas was like for them.? Most grandparents would mention the memories they had as a child. How they had next to no money at all, but the company and the fun they had together as a family is what made Christmas so wonderful for them. Or how there was some random act of kindness by an anonymous gift giver on their door step and this meant that they could have a gift to open in the morning, or a Christmas turkey to eat.

Some of the ways to create Christmas memories is by giving to those who are less fortunate. There are two ways to give; either knowingly by directly helping someone, or by donating anonymously to something like the Empty Stocking Fund.

Getting out of your comfort zone by volunteering usually creates more memories than something that is easy and comfortable.? Go out and volunteer with your family at a soup kitchen, or help deliver Christmas hampers.? Those acts, and many other acts of kindness will make the difference in someone else’s life.? Creating a lasting memory not just for you, but for your children as well, leaving them with a?Christmas memory that will not be forgotten.

Those are the gifts that don’t get placed on the shelves and lost in daily life.

How do you plan on creating Christmas memories in your home? What memories do you have of Christmas as a child?

Written by:

Josh Lockhart

.....is Locking Hearts Together

*****************************************************
Enjoy what you just read? Subscribe to our posts or become a follower.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Santa and gifts tend to take the spotlight this time of year, but as parents we want our children to remember what and why we are celebrating. The glitter and glitz of the season distract our kids and it makes it difficult to help them remember, but simple activities and special family time can help change their focus. This is not to say Santa is bad or that getting gifts is either, but making sure Christ remains at the center of the season can make our families’ Christmases much more special.

Simple ideas can include:

??? - Making a tradition of reading the Christmas Story
??? - Acts of service
??? - Reading “I Believe in Santa Claus” by Diane G. Adamson
??? - Giving fewer, but more meaningful gifts
??? - Having your children help you put up your crèche
??? - Making a nativity with your children
??? - Simply discussing the reason for Christmas
??? - Reading stories that explain the real meaning behind Christmas traditions (i.e. “The Legend of the Candy Cane” by Lori Walburg and James Bernardin)
??? - Attend interfaith Christmas celebrations
??? - Have a family activity to give a gift to Christ (a weakness, a shortcoming, a vice). This can be personal and private. Encourage family members to write down something they can give to Christ and then put them under the tree, throw them in a fire, put them on the tree, etc.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that what you focus on is what your children will focus on. Make your emphasis something you want your children to remember and care about.

What do you do to help your children remember why we celebrate Christmas?

By Brooke
returntosimplertimes.blogspot.com
writerswriteon.blogspot.com

*****************************************************
Enjoy what you just read? Subscribe to our posts or become a follower.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here