My Christmas Journal

December 1: My Manifesto
Starting December 1st, I will keep a Christmas journal. In it, I will write something every day to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream about the holidays of my future. I will include photos, recipes, paper clippings, favorite cards, lists, whatever inspires me that day. I am taking back my Christmas, I am letting it be something I relish and, most importantly, I am giving at least fifteen minutes every day to record the events of that day no matter how crazy this season becomes. I hope you will share, encourage and understand as I make something with my own hands, my own words and my own memories.

December 2: Write about advent calendars that you have known and loved. Use one this year.
During this extended Thanksgiving Weekend (J&K & kids plus Jayden drove home yesterday afternoon; Christensens drove home this afternoon) the guys went hiking, hunting and played basketball and the girls made magnetic advent calendars. I think we've started a fun tradition to do crafts together on Black Friday. I'll post my calendar just as soon as I get it finished.
Here is Ellie Lash's fun freebie advent calendar. And here is an advent calendar from CatScrap. You have to check them daily to get that day's digital scrapbook freebie. Weeds & Wildflowers has daily freebies here. Christie Lemmon has advent freebies here. Scrappy Pony's are here. Designer Digital's are here. 12 Days of Christmas freebies can be picked up from Girl Talk here, from Sweet Digi Scraps here, from Little Dreamer Designs here.

Vintage Countdown to CHRISTMAS Bingo card & magnets from Etsy.com

Laura had a friend take photos of her family today to have a current picture to put on a Christmas card. This is the sample she emailed me so I could see how cute they turned out. I can hardly wait to get my Christmas card!

Dec 3: Write about the 1st things that come to mind about the Christmas season.
The first sign that we are entering "the Christmas season" around here appears before Halloween in our local stores, namely, Christmas decorations. And although we are not ready to put up our decorations that soon, we have discovered that if we don't purchase replacement bulbs and fuses at that time it will be impossible to find any in stores when we are ready to put up our decorations. The second sign, which occurs right after Thanksgiving, is that magically every house for blocks around us is outlined in sparkling little lights. It gets dark early after Thanksgiving -- pitch black by 6 PM -- and having our world lit by houses covered in twinkling little stars really is beautiful and infuses us with the Christmas spirit.

Dec 4: Christmas cards &/or newsletters
The honors for sending us our first Christmas card, newsletter and Christmas gift this year all goes to Pete & Kristine Widtfeldt. It appears that all three items were delivered mysteriously by a clandestine massager the day after Thanksgiving. Their parcel included a family photograph card, full length newsy letter and wrapped gift. Pete tells me that Kristine prepares for the next Christmas season the day after the current one ends. That's about the time I'm putting stamps on this year's cards. Ho, ho, ho.
Today we celebrated birthdays for John Roger, Karin and Laura. Karin turned 30 so we combined our efforts to make a 30th birthday tribute book for her. Karin & Jim came down for Thanksgiving so we had a little birthday celebration for her down here. They announced they are expecting a baby in June. Here is one of the pages I helped to format for her book. Laura stayed home for Thanksgiving and hosted the Hill family in her new home so we didn't see her for her birthday. Although there was sickness in her family, she said she had a nice birthday. We talked to John and Nancy on the phone and sang Happy Birthday to him. An eventful day.

Dec 5: Christmas Past: favorite and not so favorite memories
Another favorite Christmas memory is how my parents kept Santa's arrival at our various homes a complete surprise from us. There was never any hint of shopping, gift wrapping or setting out gifts on Christmas Eve, it just all magically appeared Christmas morning. I would listen intently from my bed for some tell-tale sound of activity but never heard a peep. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. To this day, I am amazed at how that happened for eight children. I also remember with fondness the soda pop, sugared cold cereals, candy and gum we were given for Christmas that were always strictly forbidden every other day of the year. They were such a delightful treat on that rare occasion. I loved listening to Christmas carols on records, especially Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians version of The Night Before Christmas. I also loved anything that Bing Crosby sang.

Dec 6: Download FlyLady's Holiday Control Journal and decide what parts to use.
http://flylady.net/images/HCJ2003.pdf

Dec 7: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Describe your favorite sights & sounds.
Katie's family had many portraits taken outdoors by a friend so we mounted the photos onto digital pages and had them printed as a Shutterfly book. Very strikingly attractive!

Christmas carolers is a sight and sound peculiar to Christmas that I really enjoy. Tonight we had two carolers who sang Rudolph, The Red Nose Reindeer. I was blown away by how enthused they were, especially considering the weather. I was also floored by their talent. The little one on the right has MAJOR singing ability. I asked them to wait while I ran for my camera to document it so that some day when she wins American Idol, I can say I knew her when she was just knee high to a caroler.

Dec 8: What is the spirit of Christmas? Try to infuse every day with it this month.
The Christmas spirit is being extra kind and considerate of others, even total strangers. It is little acts rendered with a smile that make people feel good such as holding open a door, letting them in front of you in line, making pleasant small talk while waiting, looking for opportunities to serve that you might have let pass any other time. It is always being mindful of the great gift we have been given by our Savior, who came to earth to live in very humble circumstances that we may be exalted. It is loving one another.

Dec 9: Christmas traditions
Decorations:
wreath on the front door
white lights outlining the eaves
electric candles in the 4 front windows
poinsettias in the entry and dining room
cinnamon scented wallflowers
lights and ornaments on a tree
Willow Tree nativity figures on the mantle
needlepoint stockings at the fireplace
advent calendars
dining table center piece
Food:
nuts, hot chocolate, eggnog, candy canes, sugared cereals, turkey & all the fixings, sparkling fruit drinks, Toberlone, Almond Roca, waffles with whipped cream, fruit and syrup, fondue.
Things to Do:

Dec 10: Your favorite gift wrap
I love these pretty Christmas Treat Bags! Wouldn’t they look lovely on each plate on a Christmas table setting as placecards or even lots of them hanging off the Christmas Tree as decoration and then if you needed a last minute gift for someone you could just whip one off the tree! http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-treat-bags.html

In Japan, the art of wrapping gifts in cloth is called furoshiki, and it’s brilliantly ecofriendly. Secure open ends with a button, safety pin, or knot. Vintage scarf; burlap rice bag; wool scarf with a knitting needle; tea towel with rickrack; scrap from a vintage kimono. Vintage wallpaper; Chinese newspaper topped with colored paper; recycled map; grocery bag with Japanese beads. http://christyhulsey.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/more-fun-non-traditional-gift-wrap-ideas/
http://christyhulsey.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/funny-paper-wrapping-paper/

Dec 11: Christmas tree traditions and things that decorate them
We finished up the Lewis edition of the Handcart trek journal by the deadline tonight to have them printed as books for their family members to get as Christmas gifts. I think they will really enjoy them. Here is a sample page from the book.

Tonight, Nate, Mandy, Haley and I watched the movie Christmas Vacation to get in the Christmas spirit. It is a comedy of mishaps that teaches Griswald that Christmas is not about material things but about people. The event of watching a Christmas movie as family reminded me of Christmases when I was in elementary school. This was in the day before cable or satellite TV movies or DVD rentals. It was a tradition for one of the 3 national broadcasting stations to broadcast the movie The Wizard of Oz and families gathered to watch it during the week preceeding Christmas.

Dec 12: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - Relate it to yourself. What are you thankful for?
We watched It's A Wonderful Life on TV while Nate strung lights on my Christmas tree and Mandy and Haley made gingerbread houses. After a couple of hours of labor, Nate became frustrated when the strings of lights he had wound so carefully around the branches would not light up. But Mandy & Haley got very creative and made beautiful frosted houses. This is the first time while watching the movie It's A Wonderful Life that I realized it was a take-off on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I am touched by the message just as deeply each time I see it. It is definitely a classic. Now I understand what this writing prompt means. I am thankful for all the daily acts of kindness done by my family and friends that make my life heaven on earth.

Dec 13: What people will you see this Christmas season?
At our Ward Christmas breakfast this morning, we had a talent show. After ward members had finished performing, the full-time Elders asked if they could sing a Carole a Capella. Elder Habermann sang the 1st verse in German (he is German), Elder May sang the 2nd verse in English (he is from Tennessee), then they sang the 3rd verse in harmony - one in English and one in German. It was beautiful. They'll come to our home for dinner Dec 27
Dec 14: Favorite Christmas music

Jim and I attended this concert at the Conference Center with Rick and Joan Kempton. The audience broke into a standing ovation after ever single number that Brian Stokes Mitchell sang. He sang Through Heaven's Eyes on the movie soundtrack of Prince of Egypt. He said he hasn't been able to sing it in public for lack of a large choir. With the Tab Choir standing behind him, he sang it for us. It was outstanding. Sam Cardon came up and did the arrangement for him. I would like to make attending this event an annual Christmas tradition.

Dec 15: Your traditional events
When we went to tithing settlement, David & Melinda & family came with us. They took the occasion of our annual meeting with the Bishop to announce that they are expecting a baby on the 29th of July. Gavyn is sure he will be getting a brother. That means that all of our sons will be blessed with babies in 2009. David & Melinda spoke in their Sacrament Meeting today on the commandment to not take offense and gave wonderful talks. A very eventful day for our family.


Dec 16: Taking inspiration from the Sound of Music, what are a few of your favorite things?
In the spirit of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, some of my favorite things are expressions of wonder and excitement on the faces of my grandkids and how much they resemble their parents, young womanhood on Haley, young motherhood on my girls and girls-in-law, fatherhood on my boys and boys-in-law, the joy my kids get in association with one another, the softness of a baby's skin, the fun the Bishop has in serving, Christmas carols, and the humor and camaraderie we share in our RS
Presidency Mtgs at the Enchanted Farmhouse. These are the gifts we made for our RS Board Members today. It is a Symphony bar and the note says:

Relief Society is like a symphony -- alone we are a unique instrument in the Lord's hands. Together, we are His Masterpiece.
Thank you for your Christ-like service for Relief Society in 2008.
We love you,
Carla, the Jans, Berta, Sonya



This is a gift I was given today by the other Jan in our presidency (and my next door neighbor). It is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. It captures the spirit of Relief Society -- women with unique gifts and attributes coming together in love for one another just as the Savior loves us, in spite of our imperfections -- and maybe even because of them.

Dec 17: Where are you shipping packages? What are your favorite Internet shopping sites?
This year my packages are being sent to Wisconsin and Idaho. In fact, I just learned that some of them arrived today. How funny that it would be the very day I get the prompt to write about it. I have most definitely taken advantage of shopping on the Internet this season. My go-to sites this season are Shutterfly, Gap, Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids, SilverLime, and Urban Outfitters.

Dec 18: What last minute preparations still need to be done?
This is a close-up and wide shot from our porch of Mt. Timp today. By all estimates, it seems likely we will have a white Christmas. One last minute preparation that has to happen is shoveling the walks--actually, first minute, last minute and several minutes in between.












We also still need to go grocery shopping for the crowd that will be arriving here tomorrow for Christmas, wrap gifts and send out our Christmas cards. So we're not too worried about running out of things to do.

Dec 19: Christmas lights and sparkle
After many frustrating false starts with faulty lights, Nathan has done an amazing job of putting lights on our tree. It's fun to sit in the room with it as the only source of light, listening to carols, sipping hot cocoa and drinking in the magic of the season. Thank you, Nate, for your hours of effort in behalf of our enjoyment. Much appreciated.


Dec 20: Your letter to Santa

Dec 21: Christmas dinner menu, recipes, traditions

Rock Salt Roast Prime Rib
"A very juicy prime rib that bakes inside a shell of salt and mustard. It is accompanied by a creamy horseradish sauce."

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (4 pound) prime rib roast
• 2 cups prepared hot mustard
• 4 cups rock salt
• ---------------
  
• 1 cup cream
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil.
• Liberally coat the roast with mustard, so that it is entirely covered. Put a thick layer of rock salt on the foil in the roasting pan, about the size of the bottom of the roast. Set the bottom of the roast on the salt, and press down to embed the salt into the mustard. Completely cover the remainder of the roast with rock salt, pressing it into the mustard. (A lot of salt will fall off into the pan, but that doesn't hurt anything).
• Bake uncovered, in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (65 degrees C). Let stand 15 minutes. The roast will be encased in a 'shell'. Hit the shell sharply with the back of a knife, and it will crack open and start to fall off. Remove the shell, and place the roast on a cutting board. Slice, and serve with horseradish sauce.
• Horseradish sauce: In a small bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in horseradish to taste.

Dec 22: Stockings
Dec 23: Nativity
Dec 24: Christmas Eve

Dec 25: Christmas Day
Butternut Squash Soup
INGREDIENTS
6 tablespoons chopped onion
4 tablespoons butter
6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, saute onions in butter until tender. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
2. Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.

Dec 26: The day after - Peace
Dinner at Brick Oven with the C's
Dec 27: Document your personal weaknesses.
Dec 28: New Year's Resolutions
Dec 29: Hopes for the New Year
Dec 30: Highlights of the past year -- personal and current events.
Dec 31: New Year's Eve
Jan 1: Favorite songs of the past year
Jan 2: What Christmas means to your inner child
Jan 3: Ponder on a moment of perfection from this season.

Jan 4: What will you remember to do next Christmas?
Jan 5: Putting things away

Stranger

Write about something nice a stranger did for you.

Haley rode a school bus home from an away volleyball game, arriving at the high school after 10 PM where I picked her up. Just as the school bus pulled away from the high school for the night, she realized her cell phone must have fallen off her lap and still be on the bus. It was an expensive phone with lots of the latest high tech features. We tried chasing after the bus but could not find where it went. We started calling her cell phone hoping the bus driver would hear it. It was a noisy bus and she had been back in the very back. After dozens of calls over 1/2 an hour, we gave up. We had no idea where the buses parked, which bus it was or who the driver was. The school district had changed garage locations within the last couple of years and it could have gone anywhere in the county. We knew that the bus would start again very early the next morning picking up school children long before the district offices opened. We had to come to grips with the fact that, more than likely, a kid would find it, use it to play video games until the battery ran out, then discard it. I was heartsick. The next morning, as I was driving Haley to school at 7:30, I asked her to try calling her cell number one more time. I struggled with the wisdom of that idea because the ringing phone might alert a child to its location who otherwise would not see it, and they would then pocket the phone. No one answered. A minute after Haley left the car, my cell phone rang. It was a young girl who said she had just found the phone on the school bus and seen that there were many calls from my number. She had just arrived at Canyon View Jr High, on the opposite side of town, and would leave the phone in the office. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. What a very considerate thing for a stranger to do! As I kept repeating "thank you," she giggled and hung up.