Christmas Perspective~ Zachary Tingle

Christmas is one of those times that is so layered with emotion that I am never quite sure how to approach it. On the one hand, I am blessed and thrilled to celebrate that the Son of God Almighty came into our broken and deprived world for the sole purpose of giving us—us—true life. That, if anything, merits the most sincere rejoicing and celebration. And on the other, is the sickening materialism that permeates our country (and more tragically, the Church). That to say, Christmas and I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship.

For the last year God has blessed me with the opportunity to work in the retail industry (I started a year ago last Oct.). While working there I’ve met several people who actually hate the Christmas holidays. This shocked me. I grew up in a home where we celebrated Christmas to the max (sometimes without giving/receiving gifts). That time was a time of joy and worship and thanksgiving for the boundless gift that was given nearly two thousand years ago. Working with people who honestly hated Christmas was like trying to make 1+1=3. It just didn’t add up.

Then I was asked to work Christmas Eve. (Insert dramatic crescendo)

Seriously though, I have never seen a more disgusting display of human nature (even from those who were apparently “Christians” –they were wearing Christian apparel and purchasing Christian books). People were literally fighting over items that would presumably be given as a gift. In one eight-hour shift I came to understand how people could hate even the celebration of Christ’s birth. We (as a culture) have so entangled this holiday in what we want and what will get for others that we are missing point: these weeks are not for giving or receiving!!! They are for worship, thanksgiving, and rejoicing that God gave us hope. He loved us so much that gave us hope by giving His only SON into our sinful diseased hands to be murdered (John 3:16). He did that so we would have opportunity be in fellowship with Him.

Over these days of celebration remember what we are celebrating. We have been given the opportunity to spend these days away from school and work to thank Him for what he did. That is not an opportunity that should be soiled by more greed, selfishness, envy, or jealousy. Remember that He was born to for the sole purpose of dying in our place; let that focus color the way you shop, celebrate, and relax this Christmas. Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift, and that gift is for you. Merry Christmas!

Did you know that Zachary is a avid rock climber?!

Did you know that Heather's favorite food is mac n cheese?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Heather Young.

A Word From the Wise (The Wise Being God)

Dear Nadia,

Christmas seems so commercial to me. It's like everyone just cares about the gifts! How can I focus on the true meaning of Christmas?
 
Un-Christmas Spirit




Dear Un-Christmas Spirit,
Don't forget that it's up to you what you make Christmas about. You can choose to focus only on the superficial parts of Christmas, or you can choose to keep your mind on the beauty of the REAL reason for the season - Christ's birth. Here are some suggestions:

• Play Christmas music with lyrics that focus on Jesus (O Come O Come Emmanuel, Joy to the World, or Hallelujah [Light Has Come] for example).
• Set up a manger scene in a central place in your house. Seeing it often will remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.
• For Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas), create a special prayer time routine to deepen your friendship with Jesus.Spending good quality time with your Savior, born on Christmas day, will help you stay focused on Him all day long.
• Going along with this, in the weeks before Christmas, read through the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke: Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-40.
• Don't spend a lot of time thinking about the material aspect of Christmas. I mean, you'll think about it as you're picking out gifts for people, but don't let it take over your thoughts!
• Going along with that, consider giving something other than material gifts for Christmas. Maybe give your mom coupons for making dinner or doing extra chores. Write a letter to your friend to let her know you appreciate her. Gifts like these will keep your focus on the beautiful spirit of generosity that should be present during Christmas, plus they are SO special since they are a piece of your heart :)

Keeping your mind on Jesus during the hectic Christmas season is hard. It can be especially tough if others get swept up in the materialism and can't understand your desire to keep Christ as your focus. But don't forget that your Savior came down to Earth so that you could know Him and receive His power. That same power will strengthen you so that you can keep the CHRIST in CHRISTmas. God bless you!

The Magic of the Candle Light Service~ Haylie Gregory

I walk into my dimly lit church with my family. It’s a brisk Christmas Eve and we are dressed in some of our more holiday-like church clothes. The auditorium is quiet. Everyone is talking no louder than a whisper. In the front, there are over forty candles lit. They are the only source of light in the entire church.

I sit down next to my family as the pastor makes his way to the front. The pianist follows him. As the pianist approaches the piano, the pastor begins to speak. “Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and spend a time of worshipping the Lord in songs. We would like to begin with ‘Away in a Manger’”. We all stand up and begin to sing. There is no need for hymnals. We all know this song by heart.

The piano is played softly as the sound of our voices fill the air. It sounds so quiet and peaceful. It is how I always pictured the night our Savior was born, peaceful, quiet, and full of music and people who loved Him. My voice cracks a bit as I try to reach a high note, but I know that when it makes it to my Father’s ear, it will be a peaceful sound.

We continue to sing Christmas hymns throughout the service. I sing a bit louder as we all sing ‘O Holy Night’, my favorite Christmas hymn. I again imagine that night, that holy night that Jesus was born. I picture the starry sky, glistening like diamonds. I think of the smell of the hay that lay in the manger. I think of the animals around them; the Shepards and Wisemen bowing before the King. How lucky were they to of met the Savior, even at an early age. I imagine what it would have been like to feel sweet baby Jesus’ hand wrapped around my finger. What a holy night it must have been.

We finish our songs and sit down again. Pastor then opens his Bible and begins to read from Luke chapter 2, the story of Jesus’ birth. “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

When then stood up and gathered together in a circle. We each were handed a candle. Pastor lit his candle and said, “This is the Light that came into this world on Christmas day. See how this one Light can give light to so many lives.” He then lit the candle of the person next to him with his candle. That person did the same and so on. When my candle was lit, I shared it with my younger brother. “We as Christians are to share the light with everyone we come in contact with, just like we are sharing this light with the people next to us.”

After every candle was lit, Pastor said a prayer. “Lord, we thank you for giving us Your Light on that Christmas day. We thank You for giving us Your Son to save us from our sins. We pray that You will help us to share Your Light with everyone we come in contact with, just like we did tonight. Amen.” We all then sang one last hymn, Silent Night.

Once the song was over, we blew out our candles. However, the candle in our hearts stilled burned bright for our Savior. This light could never be blown out.

Did you know that Haylie thinks 'bubbles' and 'door key' are funny words to say?!
Did you know that Abby has had a dog, a car and severial other animals?!

Photographs property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photographs taken by Abby Whear and Haylie Gregory.

Christmas Without You~ Lauren K

Two left that day.
Two bells rang, and my angels flew away.

It's almost Christmas night, but, unlike you,
my heart can't take flight.

It won't be the same without you here.
I'll remember you, and somehow make you appear.

You're celebrating in your own way now;
I'll see you again—
just not right now.

Well, I must go and find some Christmas cheer.
But don't worry, I'll find it when I remember you so clear.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author!

Lauren is a teen girl living for the Lord! She loves turtle lattes, traveling, and watching info-mercials! She loves watching Disney movies and singing Christmas songs all year long. Through all of her life experiences (good and bad), God has never left her side, and she believes that nothing is too big for God! She wants to become a psychologist one day but is excited to see what other plans God has in store for her life!

Christmas Crafts~ Heather Young

Whether you make these Christmas-themed crafts for yourself or to give to a special someone for Christmas, they are sure to put a warm smile on the face of whoever receives them.

Cookie Cutters*

Can’t seem to find the perfectly shaped cookie cutter for those special holiday cookies? Running out of unique designs for all of your relatives? Look no further! (Well, look below.)

Things you will need:

Large (rectangular) disposable aluminum lasagna or roasting pan

Ruler

Permanent marker

Heavy duty scissors

Paper

String

Stapler or super glue

Metal file

Directions:

1. Using the ruler and permanent marker, draw straight lines, marking lengthwise, onto the bottom of the lasagna pan, at least 1 inch apart.

2. Cut the sides off the pan with the scissors and also cut out the strips you have just drawn. Since cutting aluminum can leave sharp edges, it’s a good idea to wear gloves during this step.

3. If you’re like me, you always design something on paper before drawing the real thing. If you want to go for it without sketching designs first, then go ahead and skip this step. Just be careful; the perimeter of your shape cannot be longer than the perimeter of your longest strip. You can measure with the string to make sure.

4. Take one of your 1-inch aluminum strips and mold it around your design. Use pens or cups to create curves, and table edges or a ruler to create 90° angles.

5. Close your cookie cutter by overlapping the ends of the strip and stapling them together two or three times.

6. Use the metal file to grind down any sharp edges. If you need to, you can fold the edges about 1/8 of an inch for a smooth, non-hazardous surface.

7. Once you have constructed your cookie cutters, be sure to wash them before shaping your delicious cookies!

*Credit to wikihow.com

Clay Ornaments*

Ingredients:

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 ½ cups water

Directions:

1. Combine the flour, salt, and water so that it makes dough.

2. Shape it however you wish. For a large selection of creative cookie cutters for cheap, click here. You can also make your own cookie cutters (see previous craft instructions).

3. Place them on a cookie sheet, and spray with a fine mist of water.

4. Bake at 350° F until golden brown or until the cookies move freely on the sheet.

5. After removing the tray from the oven, spray with clear shellac, varnish, or clear plastic spray paint.

6. Paint with tempera or acrylic paint and then spray with clear lacquer, varnish, or shellac spray paint.

*Credit to Art Today and Every Day by Jenean Romberg and Miriam Ruthz

If you want to create some lovely beauty products for the ladies in your family:

Coffee Scrub*

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring
1 cup sugar
15 drops peppermint oil
1/2 cup used coffee grounds

Directions:
1. Dry the used coffee grounds on a paper towel for 24 hours or until most of the moisture is gone.

2. Mix all the ingredients together and keep them in a sealed container.

To use: wet your skin and rub a small amount of the scrub in circular motions on your face and body. Rinse off. You won’t believe how soft your skin will feel!

Milk Bath*

Ingredients:
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 teaspoon corn starch
4 drops of fragrance oil

Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.

2. Keep them in a sealed plastic container or sealed plastic baggie until ready to use.

Scented Bath Bubbles*

Ingredients:
1 cup of sweet almond oil (or try sesame oil or light olive oil)
1/2 cup of honey
3/4 cup of liquid soap (preferably castile soap)
10–15 drops of essential oil

Directions:
1. Measure the oil out into a bowl.

2. Blend in the other ingredients and stir until it is completely mixed together.

3. Pour the mixture into a plastic or glass bottle.

Shake the mixture up before using. (Makes about 4 bubble baths)

Bath Salts*

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Epsom salt
1/3 cup course-ground sea salt
1/3 cup baking soda
5 drops of your favorite fragrance or essential oil (vanilla, lavender or almond extract work beautifully).

Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.

2. Allow to dry.

3. Store in a sealed container until use.

Chocolate Lip Balm*

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon cocoa butter
1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon beeswax
1 capsule Vitamin E
3–6 chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Heat cocoa butter, oil and beeswax just until melted.

2. Add Vitamin E and chocolate chips and mix well.

3. Use a dropper to place in small jars.

Tinted Lip Gloss*

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of honey
1 vitamin E capsule
1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon of beet juice (use the liquid from canned beets; add more for stronger color)

Directions:
1. Combine the honey, vitamin E capsule and almond oil together in a small pot on low until it’s about to boil.

2. Remove from the heat, mix in the beet juice then pour the mixture into a small container or empty lip balm tube before it cools.

Essential oils and flavored oils can be found in health food stores, online and at some pharmacies. Depending on the mood you’re trying to create, here’s a guideline to knowing what oils or flavors to use:

Relaxing: lavender, rose and sandalwood
Stimulating: peppermint, lemon and eucalyptus
Uplifting: orange, jasmine and rosemary

*Credit to SUSIE magazine

Flower Arrangement*

This craft would make a nice centerpiece at Christmas dinner!

Thing you will need:

Large basket (that sits flat)

Styrofoam

Knife to cut the Styrofoam

Pine branches

Poinsettas and other large flowers

Baby’s breath or other fillers

Scissors

Decorative wrapping paper (optional)

Fake moss (optional)

Ribbon for bow (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut the Styrofoam to fit the basket.

Note: The Styrofoam has to fit the basket tightly and will need smaller pieces cut and wedged into the spaces around the original rectangle. This gives a solid base to put the arrangement in.

2. Add flowers in this order:

-Large filler (pine branches), to form the base of the arrangement.

-Large flowers (poinsettias), small number carefully positioned.

-Medium flowers (holly sprigs).

-Small filler flowers that come last and fill in gaps in the arrangement.

Note: If any of the foam shows, cover it with fake moss or crepe paper.

Work from the top down, but lift the arrangement and look at it from different angles as you work. Don't be afraid to take flowers out and move them around until you're happy with the effect.

3. Add decorative wrapping paper and tie with a bow if you desire.

*Credit to http://crafts.kaboose.com/teen-christmas-ornaments.html

Did you know that Heather wants to live on a farm?!

The Perfect Christmas Gift~ Rachel Melillo

Christmas time! I love Christmas time! And as most teenagers, I love Christmas... for a multitude of reasons. I love to give, but it would be a lie if I said that I didn't like to receive as well. I remember each Christmas, my aunts and uncles would ask me what my favorite gift was and I would usually name the most expensive Christmas gift. In my head, it made sense for my favorite gift to equal the one that cost the most money.

Though I've always known that Jesus was God's gift to us, it didn't really sink in until I was older. One Christmastime after I rededicated my life to Christ, I realized how crazy it was that God would become a baby. A baby. I mean, think about that, the Maker of the universe became the most dependent human being possible. When it comes right down to it, all babies can really do is cry and go to the bathroom. That's really humbling. God didn't have to do that; He could have skipped that step and just hopped down to earth as a twenty-five year old man and then saved the world.

I've always heard of people referring to babies as God's gift to us. How much more amazing is it to think that God gave us a baby? He gave us a miracle baby from Himself. He gave us the perfect gift.

Did you know that Rachel's favorite number is 144?!?!
Did you know that Abby's favorite candy is Nerds?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Abby Whear.

Christmas Check List~ Haylie Gregory

Christmas comes and goes so quickly, so, in order to get the most out of this joyous holiday, I have made a list of things to do! Why don’t you try to do this list as well!

1)      Read Luke 1 and 2 and pray to God, thanking Him for the best gift ever, His Son!

2)      Send out actual Christmas cards, not those electronic ones you get in an email!

3)      Watch your favorite Christmas movie with you family!

4)      Go through all of your stuff and donate what you don’t want!

5)      Bake goodies and give them away! (I know, it’s hard to give away such treats, but it’s better to give than to receive!)

6)      Share some hot chocolate or apple cider with a friend!

7)      Volunteer at a food pantry or soup kitchen, better yet, just volunteer somewhere!

8)      Get a candy cane.

9)      Read ‘Finding Father Christmas’ by Robin Jones Gunn. It’s a great Christmas read!

10)  Hand out invites to your churches Christmas service! (Family and friends don’t count!)

11)  Sing Christmas carols at the top of your lungs, in the shower!

12)  Grab a friend and do some Christmas shopping!

13)  Buy a poinsettia.

14)  Relax in a peppermint-scented bath.

15)  Give God a gift… yourself!

Enjoy your Christmas holiday and have a Merry Christmas!

Did you know that Haylie has three colors in her eyes? Blue, green and brown! The ultimate hazel!
Did you know that Abby has five sisters?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Abby Whear.

White as Snow~ A Spiritual Article by Abby Massung

Christmas is probably one of our absolute favorite times of the year –and I am certainly no exception! I love spending time with family and friends and watching with anticipation as they open up the gifts that I put so much thought into selecting for them. Who doesn’t love all-you-can-eat cookies and goodies for a month (which I’ll inevitably spend the following month obsessing over how they increased my waistline FYI). On top of all that, there’s just something about the atmosphere at Christmas time that brightens up my entire outlook on life and the world around me.

  Christmas-time this year means some different things for me however. This year, Christmas-time includes tons of holiday shoppers to assist at my new job and lots of gift receipts to remember to print out. I must do all of this while smiling and wondering if I should say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” as I bid my customers good-bye. Certainly, it is a much more busy time of my life than it has been in the past.

  As I sit here, considering how to capture the actual meaning of Christmas, I think back to a couple years ago. Back to a time when I had one of my many random insightful moments while I stared out a window at the beautiful, white landscape of rural Michigan.

  As I’d been sitting there, I’d thought about how the snow that we receive, during the time we celebrate Christ’s birth, symbolized a very special significance of the occasion (my apologies to those of you who don’t actually get any snow for Christmas). You see,  just the night before, we’d had a huge snowstorm (which is really a daily occurrence here in MI). Absolutely everything was coated in a heavy layer of thick, white snow. The sight just made me really stop and think about the real meaning of Christmas and how it affects my life personally.

Salvation and Snow…

  Before the snow came, you noticed all the dirt and mess of our world. You could see the dead brown grass in everyone’s yards, and could easily pick out those of your neighbors who had and hadn’t taken the time to rake up their leaves that year. Then, with one big snowstorm in the middle of the night, God covered over everything, making it all appear so perfectly pure and clean. Overnight, my world had been turned into a beautiful piece of artwork.

  This made me consider Christ’s birth on earth, and why He’d come to us. Just as God sent the snow to hide the blemishes of the world and to cover for those who hadn’t taken care of their leaves, so did He send Christ in order to hide our blemishes and cover for those who hadn’t done all they were supposed to. Through Jesus, our blemishes, scars, and mistakes are covered up. That was His sole purpose for coming to us. That is why we celebrate Christmas. It is the day that God sent His Son to fulfill His promise of salvation for His creation.

Renewal…

 After the snow finally stops coming, another miracle takes place. Suddenly, life seems to have been brought back to everything. The flowers, once again, begin to bloom and the grass regains its former green glory. Just like that, God uses Jesus to cover up our sins over and over. Later on, in God’s timing, He is going to make us completely new and beautiful, returning us to what He’d intended us to be all long before Adam and Eve’s, and thus our, fall into sin.

  Isn’t it a beautiful thought then? Realizing that God chose to give us this symbol of the work He is doing in the lives of each of us every day? How He demonstrates to us how He comes along and turns our messes into something so stunningly beautiful and bright that it’s sometimes hard to look at?

Capturing the Meaning…

  You can never fully capture the meaning of Christmas because it’s more than just some definition that you can recite. Christmas is an amazing feeling that steals over your heart and soul as you allow yourself to be drawn in closer to God.

  This year, as you plan out gifts and anticipate the reactions you’ll receive from your friends and family, think about God’s most precious gift to you. He planned for and anticipated giving you His gift for thousands of years.

 Really, we don’t know just how long He was thinking about it. After all, since He already knows everything before it happens, He could have been looking forward to sending Christ to save us since long before Adam and Eve even existed. Just try to wrap your head around that!  

  If you get excited over something as small as giving your brother his favorite, newly-released DVD, think about how excited God had to be about offering us such an enormous gift! Just as you’ll enjoy seeing your brother’s gratefulness and joy over the gift you’ll give him, God would enjoy it if you showed Him just how grateful and excited you are over His gift to you. Take time this Christmas to read the Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20; you also might like to read about the times leading up to the birth of Christ as well), and truly offer God a heartfelt offering of thanks for the ultimate Christmas gift He gifted us, setting off our tradition of giving gifts. Also, considered following the examples of re-gifting that the apostles and saints of old demonstrate in the New Testament by sharing God’s gift with others around you!

Tips On How to Look Your Best Christmas Morning~ A Fashion Article by Haylie Gregory

Cameras are everywhere during the Christmas holiday. From plays to productions, from dinners to Christmas morning, cameras are going to be around. For me, Christmas morning starts early. The earlier we get up and ready, the longer the Christmas magic lasts, even without the snow most of you get. (Downfall to living in Florida) My morning are rushed, but I don't want to look bad in the pictures! I hate looking at pictures from Christmases past and seeing my nappy hair and non-matching Pj's. I'm going to share some tips I've learned that will help you look your best in a snap on Christmas morning.

When you wake up in the morning, is your hair a fizzy mess? A rat's nest? A disaster? Here are some ideas to help you overcome that.

~French braid your hair the night before. When you wake up Christmas morning, take the braids out and run your fingers through it gently. If you want, you can spritz some hairspray in it to make sure you keep the curls. you can even leave the braids in and take them out later.

~ Wash and straighten your hair the night before. When you wake up the nest morning, go over the messed up pieces with your flat iron. It'll look like you just did it.

~ Curl your hair Christmas Eve. Before you go to bed, put your hair up in a high ponytail and try not to squish your curls when you sleep (Example: When you lay on your pillow, throw your ponytail over your head so you don't sleep on it.) When you wake up the next morning, just take it down and tame the little bit a frizz it might have. You can either curl some of the pieces that might of messed up, let it down and leave it, or pull it back up in the ponytail, after you tame the frizz of course. Either way, you got some curly volume!

Makeup makeup makeup! Some girls wear a lot, some girls wear a little and some girl wear none. For those who wear makeup, here are a few ways to look like you just woke up that way!

~ Put a little bit of pressed powder or foundation on any red spots you see. If you broke out all over, put on your regular amount.

~ Put a small amount of mascara on your upper lashes. This makes them look long, but not too long.

~ If you want to add a  little more pop, add a little bit of eyeshadow on. I suggest wearing a light color that complements your eye color. For example, I have hazel eyes, so I will most likely wear a light green or light brown.



Before going to bed, think, "Will I be embarrassed to look back at these pictures a year from now?"

~ Wear your favorite pair of Pj's!

~ Make sure your Pj's match!

~If you have Christmas Pj's, wear them!

~Git slipper? Wear those too!

Have fun Christmas morning! Walk out of your bedroom and make your family wonder if you always look that good when you wake up! You girls are all beautiful, inside and out! Have a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Movie Party!~ By Kari Willinger

During the Christmas season, my family and I have a few traditions we like to do. I want to share these traditions and more with you. Traditions can come from all sorts of places, fun stuff for the family. One tradition my family does every year is bake cookies. We bake over 300 cookies in different Christmas flavors and give them all to our neighbors. This is not only a giving tradition but it is crazy and messy, the best combination for fun. Another thing you could do is make your own snowflakes to decorate your tree with, or take a nice nature walk and gather pine cones for decorating and be creative do what you want with the decorations.

 You can also have a movie night. Get about three great Christmas movies and spend the evening watching them. You can also do this with your friends instead of family for a kind of movie party. You can make Christmas treats and hot chocolate for snacks, and we can't forget the smores. Christmas time is a time to get out the best Christmas movies, whether they are cartoon or not. Here are a couple of movies that I think would be perfect for a movie night. I hope you enjoy these movies as much as I have.  

Elf

 

When Buddy (Will Ferrel) was a baby, he lived in an orphanage, until one Christmas eve night he climbed into Santa's sack and rode off to the north pole. When Santa finds Buddy he lets Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) raise him as his son. When Buddy grows into a man, Papa Elf allows Buddy to venture into New York city in order to find his birth father. After many misadventures and laughs, Buddy finds his father. Reluctant at first, Walter (James Caan) proceeds into a relationship with Buddy. When this relationships starts taking a toll on his work, Walter must sort through his priority's and find what is most important to him and what is worth giving away.

 

 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

 

Jim Carrey (the Grinch) has a way with words, as you can see in this movie. A great story told and with great laughs. This movie is about The Grinch, a nasty creature living on the outskirts of Whoville. The Grinch tries and rids the world of Christmas until he is befriended by a tiny Who of the name Cindy Lou-who. When Cindy befriends the Grinch, he slowly gets his heart back and loves Christmas just as much as everyone else.

 

 

Miracle on 34th Street

 

A wonderful Christmas story, a man saying he really is Santa Claus or is he insane? We go through this story with Kris Kringle in an attempt to save Christmas. One of my favorite things about this movie is that it talks about how you have to have faith on things unseen, you have to believe in them. Even though this is talking about Santa Claus, I like to take it with me through life, a very valuable lesson indeed. Watch as people learn to love Christmas and believe in Santa Claus, through this touching and lovable movie.

 

 

The Santa Clause

 

When Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally kills Santa, he is magically fitted to take his place. Watch as Scott tries to juggle his job, his son, and being the new Santa Claus. A person favorite to me and I hope to you as well. If you really enjoyed this movie, watch the other two!

 

 

Home Alone

 

As the McAllistar family gets ready to go on a Christmas vacation, they completely forget about Kevin, the youngest. When Kevin gets left behind, he starts to have a great time, until two robbers try and break into the house. Kevin immediately jumps into action, wiring his own house with booby traps. Laugh along with Macaulay Culkin at the absurdity but highly entertaining traps the robbers get flown into.

 

 

Frosty the Snowman 

 

A story about a magic hat, a magician, and a snowman. Watch as Frosty the snowman comes to life but is in danger of melting. As he befriends a little girl, they run to the north pole to save him. Little do they know that they are being followed by a magician who want his hat back. This hat is the very same hat that is giving Frosty life. A wonderful kids story that is funny and cute.

But This I Know~ A Short Story by Emily Ciszewski

December 13th,

Dear Diary,
They always say the first year without a loved one is the hardest. Who are "they" anyways? Did "they" lose someone? Or are "they" just "observant"?  It's not true.
Here comes the second Christmas already and, to me, it's just as hard as it was last year. I mean, yes, last year was a nightmare - mom and Jen bawling their eyes out,Haylie pretending to be all merry - Grandma Lu being extra quiet...and me? Let's just say I was last year's #1 Scrooge!
Kevin, my step dad, had a truck accident two years ago. I can truthfully say he was my rock. The kind of person everybody loves. Makes everyone laugh. He just had to go and die.

Last Christmas everyone brought food, presents, all that - the family and friends tried extra hard to make things easier for us.

I hated it.
This year it's like everyone forgot. Like - "everything is fine now".
I hate it too.
I know - I am so miserable.
Sorry. (Not really.)

Kay.



December 16th,

Dear Diary,
Mom decorated the tree with blue and white lights again. Kevin's favorite colors - a total Cowboy's fan. I guess we all decorated. Jen came home with Mike. Haylie made popcorn. Jen's so lucky to have someone to hang on - and college to keep her occupied. High school is so not the place to "get lost in studies"! Haylie tries to make everything seem so normal, at least for her friends. But I can see right through her. She hates this as much as I do. And mom... she can be so bubbly around her friends - but now - watching her today - I know she hates this too - like the rest of us.

When Kevin died, I promised I would I would start going to youth group and church every week. That lasted a month or so. I know mom is going to start nagging me to go to the Christmas service. I didn't go last year. Mom, Haylie, and Jen all went last year. How could I be expected to go and celebrate the birth of a King who let my best friend die? How am I supposed to forgive Him? Mom says we'll see Kevin again, in Heaven. He asked Jesus into his heart a month or so before he died. He was such an awesome Christian. Real.

Kay.

December 20th,

Dear Diary,
Today mom had coffee withone of her church friends - well actually, she's a neighbor that mom treats like a sister. I love her - I really do - it's just that mom always spills her guts when she talks to her. Plus, she cries. It's hard when she cries. Elaine, my 'aunt' loves coffee and I know she loves God and my family. She was talking with mom about strength - hanging on. I guess her mom has altimeters. But what really got to me was her talking about her faith.
"Mom was my faith helper - I believe in God and all - on my own - but without mom pushing me it gets so hard!"
I silently agreed about Kevin.
"Going on without her is just so hard!" They both cried. "This is the real test," she said, "when you have to go on alone and just believe he's there."

 I need to stop before I ruin this page with tears.


Kay.



December 23rd,

Dear Diary,
Today I saw Cammy at the library. She's the pastor's daughter - we're pretty good friends. I told her all about my Christmas cranks. She's a real person. I love that about her.
She said she can understand why I'm angry at God. She said she'll pray for me. She also said she gets mad at God all the time - but she doesn't give up on Him. He doesn't give up on her. Ever. I can't stop thinking about that. I mean, God and I were never best buds - like Cammy seems to be - but I never hated him. Maybe I could forgive him. Someday.

Kay.



December 24th,

Dear Diary,
I put all my Christmas gifts under the tree today. Mom is gonna love her necklace. We sang carols and sipped hot chocolate by the fire - it was nice. And singing about Jesus in a lame animal feed bin gave me goosebumps. Mom read the Christmas story for the first time out loud. It was nice. The pain is still here - inside - but it was nice. Jen and Mike are staying over tonight and are going to the service tomorrow. Mom didn't ask me to go yet.

Kay.



December 25th, Christmas Day

Dear Diary,
The service was good. Real good.
Mom never did ask me to go - all she said was "love you" and "we'll bring you back a ginger-bread man". I decided to go after they left. I'm glad I did. It was perfect.
Pastor Rich did a simple sermon. He read the Christmas story, with passion. And we sang carols. It was beautiful.During "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" is when it happened. I invited Him back in. I know He never left, but I felt like I needed too.There were no fireworks. No one knew. Nothing was "all better". But this I know - Jesus loves me.
What better day to sing it?


Kay.

Christmas Traditions~ A Fun Article by Abby Massung

What are some traditions that your family has during the Christmas season? Do you tend to go out to see a movie in the theater together every year? Perhaps there’s a certain gift that your parents give you every year for Christmas, like pajamas or a special ornament. What are some things that you can count on your family doing every Christmas?

  One tradition my family tries to keep every year, is an advent calendar. Every day of the four weeks leading up to Christmas, my family tries to do something special together. As we all get older and get jobs it makes this more difficult, but we still try to do some things, even if we can’t do something each day.

  One of our yearly events is “Super Sundae Sunday” where we pretty much pile more toppings on top of ice cream than any human should ever eat. Another thing we do is “Triple Treat Tuesday” which is pretty self-explanatory for the most part (in case you haven’t already caught on, my family loves playing with words and eating, LOL).

  Every year we have a family tournament where the winner and the person who take last place get to open up a gift of their choice a day early. At first, we’d just all gather at one table together and play Yahtzee, passing around a couple sets of dice (you’ll have to imagine how long it would take nine people to play just one game that way. Patience is definitely a virtue). After the year that my parents bought an air-hockey table, a table tennis table, and a Foosball table, on an amazing sale, our tournament got a bit more sophisticated, including charts and competing at a variety of different “sports.” Invariably however, I’ve sadly always been in the middle –never a winner, and never the ultimate loser. 

  Yet another tradition we have is to have what we call “Mom and Pops Restaurant.” This is where my parents get up early and cook up a bunch of breakfast foods Christmas Eve morning. They’ll set the table nicely, and my brothers and sisters and I would get to “order” breakfast off special menus that our parents made just for this morning. For my brothers, it was always seemed to be a contest to see who could eat the most food.

  I have two all-time favorite traditions though. The first is where my Dad reads the Christmas story before we eat Christmas dinner. We all gather around the table before the meal, and he reads the story from the book of Luke out of our big family Bible. The second is when we buy a bunch of toys and things for Toys for Tots. We buy everything from a mp3 player and iTunes card, to dolls and other little toys. It’s fun getting to pick out things to give, and seeing the happy, grateful faces of the volunteers who receive them.

 

 What traditions does your family have, and which ones are your favorites? Which ones are you most likely to carry on with a family of your own one day? This year, why don’t you try starting a new family tradition? It could be something as small as reading a Bible passage together before dinner every Sunday in the four weeks prior to Christmas, or as big as a family cookie bake-off to see who can come up with the best unique cookies and bake them.

 Whatever you do, just make sure to have fun and not lose sight of the true reason for Christmas and its meaning!

   P.S. I would personally discourage making a tradition of going to Florida for Christmas. It’s not as warm as you might think, and you’ll very likely end up spending more time bumper-to-bumper on the highway trying to get there than you’ll spend actually visiting the state. One guess as to what my family did last year ;)

Abby came to Florida the one year it wasn't 80 degrees for Christmas~ Haylie

We All Have Problems~ An Advice Column by Nadia

"It's almost Christmas time and that means lots family get togethers. I have this one relative that I don't really got along with. How do I handle this?"

~ Fighter

Dear Fighter,

I've read up on articles by women who are manners experts and the bottom line in this situation seems to be, if you can politely avoid contact with the family member, you should be ok. For example, you can avoid sitting by them at the dinner table or in the living room; you can greet them politely, but then other than that, not initiate conversation otherwise. If contact with this person is unavoidable, just be as kind and polite as possible.

Perhaps that person is really agitating and aggressive, and everything they say puts you on edge. Try talking to another family member about your feelings beforehand. Tell a trusted relative about your frustrations and ask them to help you out if you get into a sticky situation with that person. If you really need to just get out, perhaps you can retreat into your room for a few minutes to cool down, or go have a calming conversation with a good friend in the corner for a little while.

Also, before you go to your family get together, pray to God. He is the provider of everything. Ask Him to help you to show meekness and kindness to this person.

 I hope the spirit of Christmas will pervade your home and that you will have a wonderful holiday season! I know that you have it in you to be mature, kind, and peaceful, even if your agonizing relative cannot do the same. You've got God's strength in you! You can do this! God bless you, and have a very very Merry Christmas!

:) Nadia

Remember Your First Love~ A Dating Column by Haley Oscar

 Mistletoe, snow ball fights and long, winter walks through the 20 feet of snow, if you live in Wisconsin, describe one, special holiday. Christmas is in the air! The greatest holiday is upon us! People go out of their way to buy their loved ones a gift, and when I say that,I mean tackle and attack to get the sales on gifts they will get you, on Black Friday of course. Other than the attacks and the "Merriment" of the season, December tends to be a romantic time of the year as well. We all want that special someone to be there with us. We all secretly hope for him to somehow end up under that mistletoe on Christmas Eve with you. Let's face it, EVERYTHING about this holiday screams romance, and it screams it even louder if you live in Wisconsin.  It seems to snow every three hours here!

 

 

In this season of romance, crazy shoppers and insane amounts of shoveling, we seem to forget the real reason why we have Christmas in the first place. We seem to forget that 2,000 years ago, a little baby was being born to parents who had no idea about what this baby would do. They would love Him dearly and teach Him right as He grew. He would grow up to be an amazing speaker. Large crowds would follow Him wherever He would go. They were attracted to His words. He would give these people hope. He would show them true love and He would heal their sickness and their broken hearts. He would love YOU so much that one day, He would die so you didn't have too.

 

 

That would be years down the line from that single moment. Then and their, this baby boy was being brought into the world through a miracle. His parents would look down at him in awe, totally unaware of what this baby would grow up to be and, one day, do.

 

 

 As you go through this season of wants, I encourage you to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. If Mr. Winter Romance hasn't made his way to you yet, then relax. He'll make his way to you in God's perfect timing. Put your focus on the true lover you have now, Christ. Try reading the stories of Jesus' birth in Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-12 and Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-40. You could give a gift to that Ebenezer Scrooge in your life. Show him or her a little of Jesus' love for them. Who knows, they may get out of the Scrooge attitude. You could even write a letter to your future husband telling him that you're thinking about him in this season, maybe even drop a little hint to him about that mistletoe fantasy of yours!

 

 

With that I wish you a very Merry Christmas full of blessings and love!

 

Haley

 

Song of Songs 2:16

The Song That Got Me In The Christmas Spirit

I love country music and Chris Young is my current favorite. This Christmas song got me in the Christmas mood. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.

Haylie