So many of us today have families scattered throughout the United States or perhaps have a loved one serving our country in the military. Today, it is my desire to share with you some ideas how we can send some Christmas cheer to our distant family and friends. This time of the year is so important to those away from their families, please keep them in mind and share some kind of Christmas from your home to theirs.
Making Christmas Bright for family and friends far or near
1. Include a dated ornament for each person, uniquely fitted to each individual's interests.
2. Include a holiday newsletter personalized with handwritten notes from each of your family members to theirs.
3. Holiday wrap a cassette tape or video (DVD) of your family singing or sharing current family events.
4. Include candies or cookies which your family made together with them in mind.
Making Christmas Fun and Memorable for a Shut-in
1. Spend time in conversation together. Ask about Christmases gone by. (They love to share their stories with you). Let your friend to the talking. You will enjoy listening.
2. Take a miniature decorated Christmas tree to brighten the home. I sometimes will take a miniature poinsettia to brighten their room or home.
3. Offer to help your friend with shopping, wrapping, and delivering gifts. You will be amazed how gratifying this becomes.
4. Offer to make your friend's favorite Christmas cookies or treat.
5. Invite your friend to your home for Christmas brunch or dinner. If homebound, take your friend a warm Christmas dinner on a bright holiday plate with a small poinsettia to brighten the day.
Believe me, speaking from experience, you will be blessed far more than they. Once you do it, you will have the desire to do it every year. Lets all make a difference and give a gift of our time or cheer to a shut-in this year.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Day 10 - 25 Days of Christmas
Most of us know the story "The Night Before Christmas". But how many can say they know all of it? We all are familiar with the first part, but I would venture a guess that not many have ever heard of the second part of this traditional story.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all trough the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads,
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer, Prancer! and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleighful of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot:
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddlar just opening his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And his beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plumb - a right jolly old elf -
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to the team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle,
But i heard him exclaim, e're he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
(1823)
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all trough the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads,
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer, Prancer! and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleighful of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot:
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddlar just opening his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And his beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plumb - a right jolly old elf -
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to the team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle,
But i heard him exclaim, e're he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
(1823)
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