12 Ways to Remember the True Meaning of Christmas

My friend Pixiestick at Magical Holiday Home posted this list that she found on a Christmas international Yahoo site. The poster there did not credit the source, but it seems to be from Reader's Digest due to the many mentions of that magazine. It is a great list and gives us some wonderful ideas for the coming holidays.

I just did a web search and this list did indeed come from Reader's Digest.

I wanted to share with my blogland friends.


12 Ways to Remember the True Meaning of Christmas

Amid the bustle and the buying, the eats and the treats, take time to rekindle the real spirit of the season.

1. Keep a candle burning.
The constantly burning flame, holding back the darkness, is a potent symbol of life in the heart of winter. On the first Sunday of Advent, some Christians carry home a taper, lit from their church's Advent candle, and keep it burning until Christmas day using a series of candles. Keep your Christmas flame on the table during family meals. You might also like to follow the tradition of lighting three more candles -- one for each week of Advent.

2. Support a worthy cause.
Make a donation in someone's name to an organization you know they'd like to support, such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation or the Christian Children's Fund. Check out the Internet Nonprofit Center Library at http://www.nonprofits. org for a list of the top charitable organizations in the U.S.

3. Write a letter to your past.
Is there someone you wish you'd thanked for a kindness you've remembered all your life? An old friend with whom you've quarreled and would like to be reconciled? Someone you've never been able to tell "I love you"? Now is the ideal time to grab pen and paper and write a note to tell them so.

4. Give a gift that's really needed.
Often we buy people presents just for the sake of buying them something. But there are many things the people on your list would love that aren't store-bought. That's why Jan Gonder, a Reader's Digest reader from Los Angeles, came up with the idea of giving coupons redeemable for some of her time and talents. Last year, she gave coupons for teaching calligraphy and needlepoint, even tutoring for the SAT exams. The idea is to match the service with the person's need. As Gonder explains, "Children might appreciate coupons relieving them of chores, teens with driver's licenses a chance at
the family car, or new brides a promise to help write thank-you notes."

5. Plant a real Christmas tree.
A lovely way to remember this Christmas, this could also make a great last-minute gift for a nature-loving friend. For just $10 and a phone call (or the click of a mouse), you can help American Forests, the nation's oldest nonprofit citizen conservation organization, plant ten trees in a threatened forest ecosystem. Their Global ReLeaf program plants trees across the United States in areas that have been damaged or destroyed by natural (or human-made) disasters. The
program has planted over 13 million trees since 1990 in 45 states, with a goal of planting 20 million trees by the end of the year 2000. If you plant ten or more trees, American Forests will send a personalized certificate to you or the person of your choice. Call American Forests at 800-873-5323, or visit its Website at http://www.americanforest. org.

6. Create a new family holiday.
If it's tradition to spend Christmas Eve with all your husband's relatives and Christmas Day with yours, you may feel you miss out celebrating the holiday at your house with just your immediate family. Lynne Blalock, from Memphis, reports that she and her children never seemed to have any private time to enjoy Christmas together. So she took matters into her own hands and invented a new family holiday. "We created Christmas Adam on December 23rd -- because Adam came before Eve," says Blalock. That's the day when they open presents and have a special meal just for the immediate family.
And though Blalock says her life is less hectic now, "Christmas Adam is still a tradition."

7. Create a Christmas gift book.
This idea comes from Elizabeth Berg, the author of Family Traditions: Celebrations for Holidays and Everyday (Reader's Digest). Buy a beautiful blank journal to record the gifts you and your family receive as well as those you give. This book will come in handy when it's time to write thank-you notes, and in subsequent years, it will help you avoid giving the same gift to a friend or family member twice. It also serves as a lovely record of the thoughtfulness of others -- and yourself.

8. Trim the tree stress-free.
Another great idea from Berg: Give each family member his own part of the tree to decorate. "Using beautiful red ribbon, divide the tree into sections so that everyone gets his own place to work," she suggests. "This will eliminate the familiar 'Hey! I was going to put something there! That was my spot! I quit!'"

9. Eat by tree light.
After the tree is decorated, have a meal around it. Turn off all the lights except for those on the tree, and admire its beauty. This is an especially good idea after a stressful afternoon spent Christmas shopping at the mall. That's one reason why Carolyn A. Clarke, a Reader's Digest reader and mother from Manassas, Va., has made eating around the tree a family tradition. "Young kids enjoy tree lights," she says, "and they seem to have a calming effect on them."

10. Keep Christmas Eve simple.
Instead of slaving to prepare a fantastic spread on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day, suggest a simple meal, such as pizza, or let guests make their own sandwiches from a selection of fillings. That way, you'll have more time to relax and enjoy each other's company -- which is what Christmas is all about.

11. Set an extra place at Christmas dinner.
Each year, there are many people without families who spend the holiday alone. If you know someone like that, ask him to join you at your table. Cooking for an extra person won't take much more effort, but it will make all the difference to him.

12. Go to church.
Whatever your religious practice throughout the year, Christmas is a time to wake up our spiritual selves. Many find that the familiar carols and readings stir an understanding of God that proves elusive at other times of the year. This Christmas, remember the real reason for the festival -- the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas Teapots

I logged onto HSN on Wednesday when they were having their Christmas in July sale and bought the cutest little teapot and cup for one. It says On the First Day of Christmas!


http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/sorelle-reindeer-tea-for-one-set_p-5510368_xp.aspx?web_id=5510368&ocm=sekw|best_sellers


I will gladly use this on what I refer to as the first official day of Christmas---Black Friday or the day after Thanksgiving. This will be a new tradition for me. Then I will enjoy my little special pot of tea again on the real First Day of Christmas, which is Dec. 26. It will be even more special to start this tradition on that day of reflection of the holiday season and the countdown of the 12 days to the epiphany.

http://home-decor.hsn.com/rosanna-12-days-of-christmas-teapot-and-cup-for-one_p-4504017_xp.aspx?web_id=4504017&ocm=sekw|best_sellers

This adorable teapot was only $8! It should be arriving any day. I wish I would have bought a couple more for gifts.

Tonight, I checked back on HSN to see if they had any left. (they do!!!!!)

I found this other teapot that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.



It is perfect for Rudy Day as it is bright red and features Rudolph!!!!

http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/sorelle-reindeer-tea-for-one-set_p-5510368_xp.aspx?web_id=5510368&ocm=sekw|best_sellers

They also have a matching cake platter, complete tea set for 8 and some dessert plates in the Rudolph pattern. I think they are overpriced, though. I am thinking about treating myself to a teapot though!

It's beginning to look like Christmas...

I can't wait to watch QVC's Christmas in July show this weekend. I usually don't buy anything, but you never know and it is so wonderful to watch all the holiday things on television.

Week 3 Giveaway WInner Is...

Winner of the following advent calendar for the week 3 giveaway is Leann of The Old Parsonage. Congratulations, Leann!!! Below is the calendar that you won.



Email me your address to printersdevil72@yahoo.com and I will get this on its way to you.

Congratulations!

The Week 4 giveaway will be posted tomorrow. Be sure to check back and comment to get additional entries in the drawings.

I'm Dreaming of Paul

Paul McCartney is coming to Dallas in August. I have always been in love with Paul, since the Beatles first arrived in the U.S.

The Dallas stop on his tour is his only Texas stop this time. I have to admit that my heart did a flip flop when I heard the advertisement over the weekend. I have always wanted to see him.

But, faced with the possibility of going to the concert, I surprised myself and decided that I might be disappointed in the concert and would much rather continue living with the fantasy of seeing the great Paul. Sometimes that is better than real life.

I hope you enjoy this utube video of music from the Beatles.

No Santa Claus?

If you read my post yesterday, you know it started with the story of when it was first suggested to me that Santa Claus does not exist.

In the words of Francis Church, author of the famous editorial Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, that was printed for the first time in the New York Sun in 1897:

"No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."


Church's wisdom in his response is just as relevant today as it was when written.

Today, I am sharing a link to the Newseum in New York City and that wonderful editorial. As a journalism teacher, I always used this editorial right before Christmas as an activity for my high school students. It often was a part of my student's semester exam. I had them read the article and then write a modern day response. Their responses were always inspiring.

Many years ago, there was a made for television version of a movie surrounding this story. It was a wonderful holiday movie, although it took liberties with the original story. I taped the movie and showed it for several years to my journalism classes. Long gone is that old VHS taped from television movie. I have tried to find a copy of it, to no avail. It is a movie worth a remake.

Here is a link to the Newseum and Church's editorial. Also, if you are not familiar with the Newseum, take some time to explore. It is a fun place to visit.

Christmas memories and reflections

Do you remember when you were told that there wasn't a Santa Claus?

This day is as vivid to me as the day that President Kennedy was assassinated or the day that Elvis died. I can see that day and hear my mother's words clearly in my mind.

Although I don't remember my age, I still remember the numb feeling that I experienced. I was upset and wanting to go somewhere (again the details escape me) with my older sister. I think that I was probably being a little brat about it and throwing a temper tantrum. I just remember, my mother going into my sister's room and opening the closet. I had followed her in there and she reached up on the top shelf and pulled down a box that contained a beautiful doll. She told me that it was supposed to be my Christmas gift from Santa, but that I could play with it that afternoon!

I have no idea what was happening or why my mother gave in to me. It was not like her to do something like this. So, I sort of think that there was something happening that made her respond to me in this way. I really was not accustomed to getting my way after a fit. I just remember standing there holding the doll and thinking, "This can't be right. There is a Santa Claus."

In some strange way, I think that this event helped shape me into the person that I am today. I was greatly disappointed in being told that Santa didn't exist, but I believe that it made me into a much better mom and truly cemented my love in the magic of Christmas and believing in Santa to this day.

We used to always open our Christmas packages on Christmas Eve and have something special on Christmas morning when I was little. I was the youngest child of three and there were 7 1/2 and 10 years difference in my older sister and brother and me. So, I was like another family age wise to my parents. I always wondered if I was an accident. Then, my older brother was killed and his two young children were adopted by my mom and dad. They were 8 and 10 years younger than me! So there was a third age group for them to cope with.

My mother was always fragile in many ways. She was hard to understand and as they years went on, she didn't cope very well with the murder of my older brother. Although they took the two little ones in and they were raised as my brother and sister, I know that it was hard on mom and dad.

I know that I have always had a very different view of life in our home than my younger sister or that of my older sister. It was as if I lived in a different house if you compare our memories. I don't know why. I think that my older sister got more caught up in the shadow of my brother's death and the two little ones were so much a part of him that brought joy and sorrow at the same time.

I have always been a person who tried to make the most out of what I had and usually view the glass as half full instead of half empty. That has not been the case of the rest of my family. I guess I learned to make lemonade at an early age. That, and I learned to enjoy books and learning. I spent hours reading and visiting the library from an early age. It was often a way of escape, but I learned so much about life and the world that we live in from my reading. Again, this all shaped me into the person that I am.

Back to the Santa story.

As I look back over my life, I realize that this one of the pivot points in my life. Of course I didn't realize it at the time.

Mr. Printersdevil and I were married for over seven years before we had children. We were working and I was finishing school, which took a long time going part-time. During those early years we established out holiday traditions. We always shared the magic of the holidays. We never opened packages until early Christmas morning, and were always surprised and delighted by what we received. One year, I woke up to find a set of Saladmaster cookware spread out all around our living room. I had wanted a set for a long time and "Santa" brought me one.

When I found out that I was expecting Mickey, it was just several days before Christmas. We were so excited. I bought a cheap little baby doll and wrapped it in a package and we gave it to our parents on Christmas Eve. The rest of our families still opened presents on Christmas Eve, but we always waited to Christmas morning. He was truly a touch of magic to us and it was so appropriate to announce this arrival at this time of year.

He was born very premature in late July and was born with major health problems. We spent all but about five weeks of his first seven months in the hospital having numerous surgeries. We were able to bring him home for those few weeks when he was about 3 months old and then returned for more surgery. His first Christmas was spent at Children's Medical Center in the ICU. All the first year photos with Santa are of an intern dressed as Santa. Again, this experience made me more committed to having wonderful, magical Christmases.

Jim and I ate our Christmas dinner that year in the hospital cafeteria and spent the day in the ICU. But, the good Lord, pulled our Mickey through and gave him to us for 23, almost 24 years.

You might wonder why this rambling about this in July. Well, you see, we lost our Mickey on July 6, 2003. His birthday was in July on the ninteenth and what would have been his 30th birthday will be this weekend. My birthday is the 22nd and this has become the hardest time of the year for me. We loved going to the beach and traditionally spent several weeks there each year around this time. We had just returned from the beach that summer. Summers were special, just like Christmas was.

So, if you wonder about my Christmas in July frenzy, just know that it is a coping mechanism, and also a way to honor the memory of my son, who loved the holidays as much as I do. It is difficult to cope with this month due to his death and both of our birthdays, but it is also now a time for me to reflect on what we loved and to share the memories.

Our family of four was so close. We enjoyed doing things together. We camped. We vacationed. We went to the golf course together. We vacationed together. We often just watched television together. We also shared the love of the holidays together.

I've talked about Mick in this post, but most of you know that we also have a beautiful daughter, Tracie. She has been a rock of support during these past six years. She is so much more than a daughter to me. She is a best friend.

I truly believe that Tracie will always find a way to be at our home on Christmas mornings. Although she is 27, she still wakes us early on Christmas morning full of glee and promise and runs to the tree for us to share this special morning. We still enjoy the magic of the day and share our love with each other. When the kids were little, it was not unusual for them to wake us around 5 a.m. on Christmas morning.

Tracie and I enjoy baking and making candy and cookies for the holidays together. Although she is not much of cook, she helps cook the large Christmas dinner that we host for our extended family. In recent years, we have each shared an Advent Calendar that includes small holiday stories, jokes, quotes, etc. and a small daily gift during advent. This new tradition was started through an advent swap on the old Organized Christmas site. It has become a wonderful tradition for us as a family. These small items and our Christmas stockings are my favorite part of the holiday season.

This past week, we buried my DH's only living brother. This was during what I call THAT week. So, much sorrow for one week. However, I have comfort in knowing that Mickey has another loving family member with him in heaven. I also rest assured that we will all be together one day again.

In the meantime, I honor Mickey's memory with continuing to do the things that he loved. I also am blessed to have so many fond memories of him and the rest of my family.

I think often of that day when my mother all but announced that there was no Santa. It reminds me of what my daughter will still tell you, Santa is alive and visits as long as you BELIEVE! In our home, we BELIEVE...

CIJ Tablescape Party Week 2 Today!

Come on over to my blog, Playing Dishes and join the Christmas in July Tablescape Party #2 today. The participants are arriving and we are already having fun. There is such a variety of tables already lined up for us to view. Remember, it is a come and go affair and some participants might not be linked up until later during the weekend, so be sure to check back so that you won't miss anything.

Mr. Linky is up and ready for participants. For guests, just scroll to the bottom of my photos and click on the links one at a time to enjoy the party.

Be sure to leave us a comment so that we will know that you were here. Comments on my post will enter you for a chance to win a holiday tablecloth on July 25.

Don't forget to come back for another CIJ tablescape event next week on Saturday, July 18 and the final one on July 25.