A Caldwell Christmas

Down town Caldwell Idaho during Christmas

I know this is late, but I wanted to share these pictures I took.  Caldwell is the town to the west of Nampa.  They have a very nice light display.  It's not Temple Square, but it's fun. Mom, Mark, Holly, Willy, Andy, Annie and I went on Christmas Eve to see.  I didn't bring my camera so had to come back.  

A tunnel to go under!

The grapes remind me of the Bellevue Botanical Gardens at Christmas.  

I loved the blue tree with the flag on top.  It's massive!

One of my favorites- the bears decorating the tree!

I loved the variety of colors- purple, pink, red, green, blue, white, yellow, orange. 

It really was something to see! 

I loved the Winnie the Pooh theme too.

You can walk across the bridge.  They had the lights moving in succession so it looked like a waterfall.

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The reflection on the water was nice too. 

This time I took the dogs, both on a leash and with my camera.  The dogs got the hang of standing still and waiting while I took the picture.  I took the picture of a family in front of the big blue tree and they took mine with the dogs in front of this little snowman. I'll definitely go back next year.

Crafting Episode #1

I saw this and of course Pinned it.  The flowers are felt and it's on wood.  I made a knock off yesterday. 

This one is very inexpensive and I didn't have to roll up felt!  I bought one of those frames that's 1 dollar at Michael's that is in the shape of a heart, then went to the dollar store and bought 3 stems of baby pink roses, cut them off and hot glued them on to the back where the picture goes.   You can't tell it's crackled from the picture but it is some what- not 'cause I tried but because I made a mistake and had to paint it again.  All I need now is pink ribbon, and to paint or mark on welcome, if I decide to do that.  I did this all yesterday!  The ribbon should be a dollar, so it should end up costing me 5 dollars! 

I made one of these also at Christmas time.  No picture, but I gave it to my mom.  She bought herself a Christmas tree for 20$ after the holiday was over, so she'll need bigger ornaments. It's just a ball, glue and epsom salt- easy and inexpensive.  Also a steel from Pinterest. 

This next craft is my own creation- no knock offs here, but there are so many garland ideas and I really wanted to make one.  I was going through the dollar bins at Michaels and they had the cardboard shapes- 5 for a dollar. Shapes were a gingerbread man, a tree and stockings.   I got mine for cheaper due to a coupon, so they were only 70 cents.   I cute and glued Christmas scrapbook paper to them, then with my coupon bought red vinyl letters, then bells for the top of them, so they make noise, and ribbon tied in between.  It was hard to figure out how to do the bells, where to put the ribbon and how to get the thread in.  I had that old fashioned twine, but it didn't work, but mustard yellow yarn did the trick.  My mom helped me for a few hours with the stringing up.  We put it up in her house, but I took them home.  If you buy everything with a coupon it's very affordable.  Does Michaels know what you can do with these?  Maybe I should tell them!

I love crafting! 

Christmas at my house

I went to a SA dinner and came home the winner of this tree! I was so happy.
It was this that got me in the mood to decorate. I'm so thankful!

For some reason I'm attracted to these manly men Santas.
I have to contain myself from getting a new one each year!

Here's a group of singing animals and a little black dog.
I had 3 black dogs growing up, so they remind me of them.

I have a collection of Christmas stuffed animals.
Coco got his mouth on a few this year and made them his chew/throw toy,
but I still have a lot.

There are 4 stocking and only 1 person. 2 are dog paw stockings
and the others are just so cute I couldn't not hang them up!

My friend Terry gave me this BEAUTIFUL amazing gift- this stained glass angel. It was such a shocker to turn around from the computer and see this in front of the tree.
I've left it just where she put it!

My beautiful tree all lit up! I love it!
My home is beautiful. There are a few pictures missing-
another woodland Santa setting, the 3 small lighted green tress and the white colored tree out front, and a lamp and TV decorations. I think this year is the prettiest yet. I wish my house was this pretty all year long.

Picture A Christmas!

Anna

The 3 wise men

Walking to Egypt or maybe from Egypt

Noah/Gabriel

Elizabeth and Mary

Zacharias in the temple

Joseph and Jesus

Simeon

Not Just Luke 2

The Christmas Story

Many people are familiar with the Nativity story as told in Luke 1–2.

But there are many other places in the scriptures that talk about the

miraculous birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.

Consider including these verses in your personal scripture study this month:

Old Testament	New Testament	Book of Mormon	Doctrine and Covenants	Pearl of Great Price
Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7	Matthew 1–2	1 Nephi 10:4–6; 11:13–21	D&C 76:41	Moses 5:57
Micah 5:2	John 1:1–14	Alma 7:9–13	D&C 93:1–4
		Helaman 14:1–9
		3 Nephi 1

The 5 Gospels Tradition

Many families will read from Luke ch 2 on Christmas Eve night as part of there traditions of celebration. I grew up with this tradition and sometimes we'd read from Matthew chapters 1-2 as well as Luke. I remember one Christmas Eve well, it was just my mom, dad and me. We read about Zacharias and Elizabeth and about Simeon and the widow at the temple too. It was a wonderful night filled with the spirit.

Another tradition came to me from a friend over 10 years ago. The tradition is this: Instead of reading of the Saviors birth one night a year, read about his whole life by reading all 4 gospels the 3 months before the sacred holiday.

Christs birth is prophesied in The Book of Mormon. It's in Helaman chapter 14. You can read it here. Even in America they knew about the star and 5 years from the date specified in that prophecy they saw the star.

Then in the next book called 3rd Nephi Christ comes to the people in America after his resurrection in the old world. Some call this the 5th gospel. This book tells about his visit after his mortal life on earth. He comes to his other lost sheep, also his covenant people, in the Americas after his resurrection in the old world.

If one starts on Oct 27 with Matthew continuing with Mark, Luke, John and then 3 Nephi reading 2 chapters a day you will
finish on Christmas!

2 Stories, 1 Message

Many Christian do not believe that in the next life if we run into each other we will know each other or that those on the other side are worried about us at all. Some think that we will be sitting on fluffy clouds praising God. I'm not sure where they get those ideas. They are not in the bible at all. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know different.

Lazarus and the rich man on earth

There is one story in the New Testament about just what I'm talking about. It can be found in Luke 16 In this chapter the Savior is telling us a story. Some will say- it's just a story. Yes- but a story about the afterlife by he one who would really know about that. Had we not listen up?

This is the story: 2 men die. One was rich and unrighteous and had no name. The other was a poor beggar named Lazarus who went to Abraham's bosom. The rich man when to hell, and SAW ABRAHAM AFAR OFF and Lazarus. He asks Abraham for Mercy, by having Lazarus bring him just a little water. Abraham explains that he had received good things on earth (They have their reward) and poor Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted. Then Abraham explains the gulf that the Savior had not yet breached, so there is no passing in between. Once hearing this he begs Abraham for Lazarus to be sent to his 5 brothers as he thinks they will believe someone that comes from the grave. If they will not hear Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

The rich man tormented in Hell and Lazarus in Abraham's bosom.

Lessons about the after life.
1. We recognized each other.
2. We will feel pleasure and pain.
3. We will think about our family.
4. We will each be ourselves.

During the Christmas season another story is told by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol has the same message, only this time the rich man IS visited and BELIEVES and CHANGES, and the poor is helped too. Scrooge is shown the chains of Hell, the pains of the afterlife if life is lived poorly, and the happiness, yet heartache of those living now. Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited not by family, but by a business partner, or more aptly described as a partner in crime. We have all seen a movie or two done by Hollywood, or Disney, or the Muppets, or seen the play on stage or read the book. Which ever is your favorite the message is the same.

It matters how you live your life.
We will know each other in the next.