Christmas Week Happenings 2011

Our Christmas Vacation was 10 days in Troy's original hometown of Pella, IA.  It was an important year as Troy and his father Mike had not spent a Christmas together since the 80's.  There's much to mention, so it is hard to keep this post to an acceptable reading length, so I may have to break it up into three posts;  Christmas Week Happenings, The Recipe Box Make Over Project, and notes from The Unthinkable.

However, if you are just looking for a summary of our Christmas; a sample of photos are below

• We went birdwatching (Bald Eagles, Cardinals, Pelicans, Hairy Woodpeckers, Barren Owl, BlueJay to name a few)
• Watched Hallmark Christmas movies
• Tried new recipes (such as Sandy's Calico Beans and Baked French Toast)
• Learned tips and tricks on how to be frugal from Cindy
• Everyone submitted their Bowl picks and the guys watched every game, while Mike tracked all the results, (Mike is currently ahead)
• Cindy and Scheris walked ~6-7 miles each morning
• Alyssa did puzzles beyond galore, sheesh, who knew
• Visited antique stores
• Attended the local LDS branch
• Went to Christmas Eve Service at the Third Reformed Church
• Had a large meal with the Schuring relatives and the home where Troy's dad was raised and played a White Elephant game with a Sports theme and we came home with great gifts (Iowa Camelbak waterbottle, this Kelty picnic pack, and an UnderArmour beanie.
• Did family history, copied family photos and artwork
• Visited the oldest home in Pella, also where Troy's Grandfather lived for a few years
• Saw Santa
• Took the yearly photo of Alyssa in front of the Pella Town sign
• Learned a bit more about family member Gideon Rietveld's Patent #1778608, filed February 4, 1929 for his Match Box Holder design
• Did a few craft projects: felt poinsetta napkin ring holders, Antique Recipe box make overs, Photo Block Puzzle
• Relaxed in the hot tub
• Read books
• Visited and lunched with Alyssa's Great Grandparents and received tons of intricately hand crocheted doilies
• Alyssa and I dusted, photographed, and documented Cindy's 80 something Precious Moments and that was fun to read the names and touch each piece
• Drove by the Kansas City Temple, nearing completion of construction
• But most importantly this year - we gathered each night to dessert and discuss different aspects to the Original Christmas Story

All in all, it was a valuable family investment, but I do think we overstayed our welcome by about 6 days.  No matter how sweet they smile and won't admit it, I think our poor hosts had to have been sick of us.  I realized it isn't really possible to relax at the home of Family or feel good about relaxing when you know the hostess of the house is slaving over the details while the boys sit around watching football.     

wear out (one's) welcome

To visit so often or stay so long as to become a nuisance.

 

Needless to say, Grandpa's eyes appeared glossy when he drove away, so he was either super tired after hosting us for 10 days, or the air quality was bothersome, or he already was missing his son and grand daughter!  I think we overstayed our welcome.    

Summary of Christmas Discussions
Day 1
Read story in the 'Especially For Mormons' volume 3, when Mary tells Joseph of the pregnancy.  You can find it printed here.
DAY 2 - Saturday
We watched all 6 LDS Bible Videos
DAY 3 - Sunday
Listen to Charles Osgood – Luke 2
DAY 4 – Monday

Discussion: As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we should remember to really focus on what Jesus did at the end of His mortal life and ministry.  The wondrous and true story of Christmas can be organized like so; 

• Preface - His birth in Bethlehem of Judea
• Prologue - His three-year ministry
• Substance -  His sacrifice
• Finally - the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us

There would be no Christmas, if there had not been Easter. The babe of Bethlehem would have occurred but he would have been just another baby.

We went on to detail the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. 

The significance of this mortal birth was more critical than we often realize.  It was not an experimental thing, nor an event that was optional in the plan of salvation. The coming of a part-divine part-mortal Jesus into the world, Son of Mary and Only Begotten of the Father, was an absolute necessity. The human family could be saved in no other way. Only the Lord himself, by coming into mortality, partaking of the nature of man, living a sinless life, atoning with his blood for the sins of men, dying, and rising from the dead with his physical body could bring about redemption. Eternal justice would admit no other way.

DAY 5 – Tuesday
Family Discussion:  We do not worship Mary, but we do revere her!   She is among the most worthy and noble of women—the most privileged of all mothers. And while Mary is not typical, she is an example to all mothers.
 We can conclude that as the Father chose the most noble and righteous of all his spirit sons to come into mortality as his Only Begotten in the flesh, we can also know he selected in the pre-existence, the most worthy and spiritually talented of all his spirit daughters to be the mortal mother of his Eternal Son.  Her life was one of faithful, obedient receptivity. She did not ignore counsel, but “kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

Day 6 - Wednesday
This night we pulled out Jesus' stocking.  We read our prior year committments and re-wrote 2012 gifts to our Savior and sealed them in envelopes and placed them back in Jesus' white stocking!

DAY 7 – Thursday - The Day we celebrated Christmas with gift exchanging
Read the children's classic story of Tootle.  About a month ago, this was introduced in Relief Society by Linda, a mother of four boys.   

The story tells of a young locomotive who is in training to become a big locomotive.   The locomotive will learn all the skills that  will be needed to become a successful locomotive. 

The most important skill that each train must learn is to STAY ON THE TRACKS NO MATTER WHAT.  

Tootle came to the school and was seen as a potentially successful flyer, running important routes, such as Chicago to New York.  He did very well in mastering most of the skills he would need to become such a wonderful locomotive. 

One day he was tempted to race a black horse that was in the meadow beside the tracks.  In order to win, he decided to leave the tracks and cut across the meadow.  He found that he really enjoyed the meadow and began visiting it more often.  He was failing at his original goal and the reality of reaching it was getting further away.  The people of the village came up with a plan to get Tootle back on track and out of the Meadows, as they had noticed grass and buttercups on the small train's wheels.  The community was critical to supporting this up and coming Leader, they had to help him remember the important lesson of "staying on the rails no matter what."  So they all worked together to help Tootle be the best train he could possibly be.  Eventually Tootle raced to get back on track. “This is the place for me” said Tootle. “There is nothing but red flags for locomotives that get off their tracks.”
Tootle became the famous ‘Two Mile a Minute Flyer!’

What a profound message this story holds for our lives.... what is our mission here on earth, where are those 'fun meadows' that distract us from returning home to live with our Savior? What is preventing you from becoming the BEST YOU?   How can we avoid the red flags and assist our fellow 'brother and sisters' in the doing the same? Distractions are everywhere and idleness is easy to justify, all of which don't really help us stay on track.  Pretty soon the fun goes away, bad habits linger, and we are frustrating our divine purposes, even longing for a way out.  BUT there is always a way to get back on the tracks, so we should not delay that action.  We each will face different kinds of distractions, but Heavenly Father has given us a designated path to come home, through the Lord Jesus Christ.  I love this book that reminds me to be weary of the 'meadows' and lean on my Faith to get me through the hard times. 

Here are some photos from the trip.