The 12 Days of Christmas Part 1

we had a formal candlelight dinner that i didn't get a picture of because sadly it was pretty hectic. but it tasted so good and we had a great time once the food started sinking in =o] we read scriptures, said prayers, sang a song and then seth hit the sack.

for the first night of 12 days of christmas on christmas night we opened the book i made on shutterfly explaining why we have these special traditions, where they came from and how they help us learn about the savior. i worked so hard on that book! i hope it brings our holiday celebrations closer to christ!!

after reading the book we did our jesus stocking tradition. then we made a somewhat sad call and put jenna and caleb to bed too. they were just beyond ready and wouldn't have enjoyed the program, and probably would have kept us from doing so. it is so sad to be sick on christmas!  

but natalie LOVED to have just the three of us do the program together. it was serene. i love singing with kent. we all took turns reading the passages in between the music. i felt it was the PERFECT end to the day, and beginning to our 12 days of christmas celebrations. this night focuses on that jesus is meek. 

the first day of christmas is boxing day! (it is kind of weird i know because we measure time differently than they did in jesus' time and down through the middle ages. the new day began at sundown for them, so it is confusing to us.) this day the focus is that jesus feels love and concern for all God's children. we clean things out and donate to those in need. awesome tradition for after christmas, right?!?

the focus of the second day of christmas is that jesus is grateful. here is what i posted on facebook: Today we learned about the Savior showing gratitude. We wrote thank you notes for our Christmas gifts using the front half of Christmas cards people sent us this year and ones we didn't use last year. This has been (and may continue to be) our one and only Christmas craft (unless you count homemade gifts crafting). I don't know how all you Pinterest people do it. I am GRATEFUL to spend my time doing other Christmas things. The kids loved it though so I'm glad it is a tradition!

 the kid's new favorite painting of the savior is on this page in the book. it was one of him smiling. i love it as well and want to get it for our new house. i used it because being grateful and showing gratitude to others brings so much JOY into our lives! 

the first sunday in the twelve days of christmas becomes the day about jesus instituting the sacrament. here is my post from fb: Today for the 12 Days of Christmas we watched a video and read an article on the Friend website about the sacrament, focusing on why Jesus instituted the sacrament and why it is a time to reverently remember Him. A MUCH needed reminder after today's church attendance that was less than still and quiet. This is a picture of today's page from the book I made for our family (there is one full page for each of the days). I love our family traditions!

the day for learning about jesus having other sheep should be the third day (since they had 3 days of darkness before he came to visit them) but this year that was a sunday so that took precedence. here is my fb post (i posted about each day to continue with the #sharethegift initiative): Today we read the story of Christmas from the American perspective, as well as when Christ came to visit the Americas after He was crucified. We also picked up these Books of Mormon from the missionaries. Then for FHE we wrote our testimony in the front cover and marked our favorite parts so they will be ready to deliver to our neighbors tomorrow. If anyone else would like a copy please let me know!!

here are what each of us chose to highlight- kent- mosiah 2-4, allison- helaman 5, natalie- helaman 13, caleb- alma 46, jenna- 1 nephi 17, and seth- 3 nephi 17. we also marked moroni's promise. i hope our neighbors could feel our love and faith as we delivered them!

the next day is one of my favorites: jesus is benevolent. here is how i explained it on fb: Tonight we made gingerbread houses! What does this have to do with Jesus you say? Well I'm glad you asked! Today we learned about how Jesus is benevolent. If you look at their houses you will see that they are pitifully adorable. But they tried their best and had a great time so we are happy! This is what Jesus is like. He accepts our best efforts even when pitiful. But if we let Him help us, He can make us into something beautiful and great! Just like each gingerbread house looks different, each one of us is unique and the Lord can help us see how special we are and how to be our best self! Besides, it is a great way to use stocking candy lol

the kids totally got it, and i am grateful for the opportunity to teach my children this principle so early in life. i hope it saves them some heartache!

new year's eve is my other favorite: jesus is intentional. "intentional" is one of my testimony words for sure! LOVE IT! here is what i said on fb: Today we learned about Jesus being intentional. Because He knows who He is, He is focused on what He needs to do. We can learn who we are and what we need to do with our time and energy through personal revelation in answer to prayer and pondering, and through priesthood blessings. Before making our New Years resolutions tonight, I took the time with each child to read through the Blessing Book I have kept for each of them, which is filled with all the blessings they have received in their lives. It was super sweet and fun!

to ring in the new year we played games as a family- GOOD TIMES!!

kent surprised us with poppers (see what i mean about the teamwork? i'm so grateful for my guy!)

we reevaluated the family goals we set on happy mackay day and updated them. then we set individual goals. here is the caption that accompanied this picture on fb: Natalie is so adorable. She said "I am giving myself the gift of possibility." When I asked her what that meant she said "I am telling myself that anything is possible and I can do anything I need to do!" She is awesome!!

here are caleb's goals i wrote down for him as he and kent were playing snowball fight with these fuzzy balls we got on christmas. (for the record, he doesn't have a problem with being violent, that is just the word we use for any harsh treatment of others. he maybe gets in trouble for this every few days or so- yanking away a toy, knocking someone over as he runs by, etc)

the main goals that i have for myself this year are to improve my posture, and to speak more kindly to my family (i want to stop yelling at the people i love!). kent and i enjoyed reading our patriarchal blessings together, and then in true not-feeling-well-fashion fell asleep before midnight =o]

and there you have it. 2014. i am grateful for all that we experienced and look forward with great enthusiasm for the coming year!!