DECEMBER 3rd:
• Thought/ story:
The Christmas Orange: A classic story about the true meaning of the season (perfect for overindulged children)
• Scripture: Luke 4:46-53
Event: Healing a Nobleman’s Son
Jesus Christ had power to heal
• Recipe: Gooey Chex Mix
(Use red and green M&Ms if you want to make this look festive. Cutting this recipe in half still makes a lot)
Ingredients: 17 oz. Chex cereal, 1 C. karo syrup, 2 cubes butter (you ned to use real butter), 1 C. sugar, 4 oz coconut, 5 oz sliced almonds, M&Ms.
Instructions : Mix chex, coconut and almond and M&Ms in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, mix karo syrup, sugar and butter. Boil this for three min. rapidly without touching or stirring. Pour over the cereal. Spread out on two cookie sheets to dry, then store in an airtight container. You can also use half Crispix cereal and half Chex cereal if you want to. (This can be made without the M&Ms if desired)
• Tradition:
As you’re doing your Christmas decorating and setting out the Nativity set, don’t put Jesus in place just now. This is a good addition to save for Christmas morning. As your family looks at the Nativity, this will help them to remember why the manger isn’t in place yet. If you have small children, it might be a fun idea to make or buy a stuffed Nativity set that they can play with and then have your nice (breakable) one off limits. Another idea to add excitement to setting out the Nativity set is to wrap the pieces in cloth or something else easy to wrap with and then have children unwrap it individually as you talk about each person or animal who took part in the first Christmas.
• Small Gift Idea:
Take a copy of the Proclamation on the Family which you may already have or can get at Deseret Book. Take it to an office supply store and get sticky stuff put on back. The recipient of this gift can then place the Proclamation in his or her Scriptures.
• Christmas Budget Tip: Experts recommend that families spend no more than 2-3% of their gross family income on TOTAL Christmas spending. For a family grossing $50,000 per year, 2% is $1,000; 3% is $1,500. This may sound high, but remember that this is for every possible Christmas dollar that is spent, including things such as extra cooking, Christmas cards, pictures, holiday cloths, travel expense, decorations, as well as gifts. Using this standard is a way to avoid overspending. The recommended payment option? Cash.
THE
CHRISTMAS
ORANGE
Jake lived in an orphanage with nine other boys. In the wintertime it seemed any extra money went for coal to heat the old buildings. At Christmas, the building always seemed a little warmer and the food a little more plentiful, but more than this – Christmas meant an orange. At Christmas each child received an orange. It was the only time of the year such a rare treat was provided, and it was coveted by each boy like no other thing that they ever possessed.
Each boy would save his orange for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it and contemplating the moment he would eat it. Some would even save it until New Year’s Day or later, much like many of us relish saving our Christmas trees and decorations until New Year’s just to remind us of the joy of Christmas.
This particular Christmas Day, Jake had broken the orphanage rules by starting a fight. The orphanage mother took Jake’s orange away as punishment for breaking the rules. Jake spent Christmas day empty and alone. Nighttime came and Jake could not sleep; silently, he sobbed because this year he would not have his orange to savor with the other boys.
A soft hand placed on Jake’s shoulder startled him and an object was shoved into his hands. The child then disappeared into the dark to leave Jake alone to discover a strange looking orange—an orange made from segments of nine other oranges—nine highly prized oranges that had to be eaten that Christmas night, instead of saved, admired and cherished for a later date.
This year may the orange remind us all of the unselfish love taught to us by the Savior that we share for each other.
Author unknown
Spreading the joy of families throughout the world. Hoping to give you and your family helpful tips and ideas to simplify your life!
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DECEMBER 3rd
DECEMBER 3rd:
• Thought/ story:
The Christmas Orange: A classic story about the true meaning of the season (perfect for overindulged children)
• Scripture: Luke 4:46-53
Event: Healing a Nobleman’s Son
Jesus Christ had power to heal
• Recipe: Gooey Chex Mix
(Use red and green M&Ms if you want to make this look festive. Cutting this recipe in half still makes a lot)
Ingredients: 17 oz. Chex cereal, 1 C. karo syrup, 2 cubes butter (you ned to use real butter), 1 C. sugar, 4 oz coconut, 5 oz sliced almonds, M&Ms.
Instructions : Mix chex, coconut and almond and M&Ms in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, mix karo syrup, sugar and butter. Boil this for three min. rapidly without touching or stirring. Pour over the cereal. Spread out on two cookie sheets to dry, then store in an airtight container. You can also use half Crispix cereal and half Chex cereal if you want to. (This can be made without the M&Ms if desired)
• Tradition:
As you’re doing your Christmas decorating and setting out the Nativity set, don’t put Jesus in place just now. This is a good addition to save for Christmas morning. As your family looks at the Nativity, this will help them to remember why the manger isn’t in place yet. If you have small children, it might be a fun idea to make or buy a stuffed Nativity set that they can play with and then have your nice (breakable) one off limits. Another idea to add excitement to setting out the Nativity set is to wrap the pieces in cloth or something else easy to wrap with and then have children unwrap it individually as you talk about each person or animal who took part in the first Christmas.
• Small Gift Idea:
Take a copy of the Proclamation on the Family which you may already have or can get at Deseret Book. Take it to an office supply store and get sticky stuff put on back. The recipient of this gift can then place the Proclamation in his or her Scriptures.
• Christmas Budget Tip: Experts recommend that families spend no more than 2-3% of their gross family income on TOTAL Christmas spending. For a family grossing $50,000 per year, 2% is $1,000; 3% is $1,500. This may sound high, but remember that this is for every possible Christmas dollar that is spent, including things such as extra cooking, Christmas cards, pictures, holiday cloths, travel expense, decorations, as well as gifts. Using this standard is a way to avoid overspending. The recommended payment option? Cash.
THE
CHRISTMAS
ORANGE
Jake lived in an orphanage with nine other boys. In the wintertime it seemed any extra money went for coal to heat the old buildings. At Christmas, the building always seemed a little warmer and the food a little more plentiful, but more than this – Christmas meant an orange. At Christmas each child received an orange. It was the only time of the year such a rare treat was provided, and it was coveted by each boy like no other thing that they ever possessed.
Each boy would save his orange for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it and contemplating the moment he would eat it. Some would even save it until New Year’s Day or later, much like many of us relish saving our Christmas trees and decorations until New Year’s just to remind us of the joy of Christmas.
This particular Christmas Day, Jake had broken the orphanage rules by starting a fight. The orphanage mother took Jake’s orange away as punishment for breaking the rules. Jake spent Christmas day empty and alone. Nighttime came and Jake could not sleep; silently, he sobbed because this year he would not have his orange to savor with the other boys.
A soft hand placed on Jake’s shoulder startled him and an object was shoved into his hands. The child then disappeared into the dark to leave Jake alone to discover a strange looking orange—an orange made from segments of nine other oranges—nine highly prized oranges that had to be eaten that Christmas night, instead of saved, admired and cherished for a later date.
This year may the orange remind us all of the unselfish love taught to us by the Savior that we share for each other.
Author unknown
• Thought/ story:
The Christmas Orange: A classic story about the true meaning of the season (perfect for overindulged children)
• Scripture: Luke 4:46-53
Event: Healing a Nobleman’s Son
Jesus Christ had power to heal
• Recipe: Gooey Chex Mix
(Use red and green M&Ms if you want to make this look festive. Cutting this recipe in half still makes a lot)
Ingredients: 17 oz. Chex cereal, 1 C. karo syrup, 2 cubes butter (you ned to use real butter), 1 C. sugar, 4 oz coconut, 5 oz sliced almonds, M&Ms.
Instructions : Mix chex, coconut and almond and M&Ms in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, mix karo syrup, sugar and butter. Boil this for three min. rapidly without touching or stirring. Pour over the cereal. Spread out on two cookie sheets to dry, then store in an airtight container. You can also use half Crispix cereal and half Chex cereal if you want to. (This can be made without the M&Ms if desired)
• Tradition:
As you’re doing your Christmas decorating and setting out the Nativity set, don’t put Jesus in place just now. This is a good addition to save for Christmas morning. As your family looks at the Nativity, this will help them to remember why the manger isn’t in place yet. If you have small children, it might be a fun idea to make or buy a stuffed Nativity set that they can play with and then have your nice (breakable) one off limits. Another idea to add excitement to setting out the Nativity set is to wrap the pieces in cloth or something else easy to wrap with and then have children unwrap it individually as you talk about each person or animal who took part in the first Christmas.
• Small Gift Idea:
Take a copy of the Proclamation on the Family which you may already have or can get at Deseret Book. Take it to an office supply store and get sticky stuff put on back. The recipient of this gift can then place the Proclamation in his or her Scriptures.
• Christmas Budget Tip: Experts recommend that families spend no more than 2-3% of their gross family income on TOTAL Christmas spending. For a family grossing $50,000 per year, 2% is $1,000; 3% is $1,500. This may sound high, but remember that this is for every possible Christmas dollar that is spent, including things such as extra cooking, Christmas cards, pictures, holiday cloths, travel expense, decorations, as well as gifts. Using this standard is a way to avoid overspending. The recommended payment option? Cash.
THE
CHRISTMAS
ORANGE
Jake lived in an orphanage with nine other boys. In the wintertime it seemed any extra money went for coal to heat the old buildings. At Christmas, the building always seemed a little warmer and the food a little more plentiful, but more than this – Christmas meant an orange. At Christmas each child received an orange. It was the only time of the year such a rare treat was provided, and it was coveted by each boy like no other thing that they ever possessed.
Each boy would save his orange for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it and contemplating the moment he would eat it. Some would even save it until New Year’s Day or later, much like many of us relish saving our Christmas trees and decorations until New Year’s just to remind us of the joy of Christmas.
This particular Christmas Day, Jake had broken the orphanage rules by starting a fight. The orphanage mother took Jake’s orange away as punishment for breaking the rules. Jake spent Christmas day empty and alone. Nighttime came and Jake could not sleep; silently, he sobbed because this year he would not have his orange to savor with the other boys.
A soft hand placed on Jake’s shoulder startled him and an object was shoved into his hands. The child then disappeared into the dark to leave Jake alone to discover a strange looking orange—an orange made from segments of nine other oranges—nine highly prized oranges that had to be eaten that Christmas night, instead of saved, admired and cherished for a later date.
This year may the orange remind us all of the unselfish love taught to us by the Savior that we share for each other.
Author unknown