The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Coomey

I decided that my blog is important enough to invite a guest writer .  What isn't sarcastic is that when I embarked on this project, I immediately thought of how much my sister loves this story.  Thanks, Jen!

It is when shopping is over that Christmas begins.

In second grade my sweet teacher read this story aloud to my class. I loved it. It was about a little girl and a doll, and it was magical. Every year I would check an old copy out of the city library and enjoy the story in December. When I was in high school my mom bought me this beautifully illustrated version! (Apparently, the library had this copy too, but it was always checked out by the time I got there. Looking back, I realize my mom must have done lots of searching to track down this book in the pre-amazon.com days.)

This story is about a little orphan girl (Ivy) who longs for a doll for Christmas and for a family, and about a doll (Holly) who wishes for a girl for Christmas. It is also about a childless couple who are rediscovering the joy that come come at Christmas time. It recounts the crossing paths of several characters. Both Holly and Ivy are determined and unwavering, and with a little luck, many wishes come true for Holly, Ivy and the other characters in the story. 

As I read this story I am always filled with the joy that comes from watching Christmas through a child's eyes. I am reminded that simple things truly matter most, and that Christmas can be a time of miracles.

The Christmas Train by Thomas S. Monson, Illustrated by Dan Burr

I watched the windup engine make its labored way around the track and saw Mark's face beaming.  I felt a supreme joy, difficult to describe and impossible to forget.  

When Thomas S. Monson, the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was a little boy, he desperately wanted an electric train for Christmas.  His family had more than many other families and he was delighted to get what he  his much longed for train set.  His mother had purchased a windup train set for Tommy's neighbor Mark.  When he inspected the set, he saw a train car that he wanted.  He knew his powerful train would easily pull it along with the other cars.  His mother allowed him to keep the car, but when they arrived at Mark's home, Tommy realized that the train car was truly meant to bring someone else joy.  He learned that Christmas was more about giving than getting.

This book stood our to me this year because I have a little guy who would sure love a train set for Christmas.  (He's getting one.)  Even though the book is a bit long for Joshua's age, he loves to read it and look at the pictures.  I keep reminding him that it is important to help all kids have presents on Christmas. 

There are moments in every person's life where getting seems far more important than giving.  We think that adding a metaphorical train to our collection is more important than ensuring that someone else has a bit of joy in their life.  I view Thomas S. Monson as a pinnacle of unselfish behavior, and it is great to see how the seed was planted early in his life. 

My favorite quote of Christmas 2016 comes from President Monson.  "Christmas is the spirit of giving, without a thought of giving."

The Friendly Beasts: an Old English Christmas Carol by Tomie dePaola

Two years ago, I did a countdown to Christmas of some of my favorite carols.  I had a lot of fun doing it and wanted to make it a tradition, but last year life got in the way.  I've decided to resume the countdown this year, but focus on Christmas books.  There are thousands to choose from and I've decided to narrow my focus to books that aren't wildly popular, but are still beautiful.  Enough explaining, here goes ...

"Jesus our brother, strong and good,

Was humbly born in a stable rude:

And the friendly beasts around him stood.

Jesus our brother, strong and good."

When I was growing up, we had a collection of Christmas books that came out every year when we decorated the Christmas tree.  One little paperback was a collection of songs and poems.  I was so taken with "The Friendly Beasts"in the book that I memorized it and performed it on Christmas Eve.  Last year, I discovered that Tomie dePaola, one of my favorite illustrators had done a version of the book.  I bought it.

This book uses a technique that I truly love.  The words to the song are only on every other double page spread.  Thus slowing down the book and making the reader focus on the illustrations. With folksy illustrations, he draws a close up of the animal sharing his gift.  On the following page the animals engage with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  The verse of the doves is my favorite.  The birds sing the Baby Jesus to sleep.  Perhaps it is because I love calming my boys with song, that I love this simple gift. 

On the pages without words, a subtle story is being told.  Similar to the Bible version, Jesus and Mary arrive on a donkey.  Then the cow gives place for Jesus in the stable.  The sheep arrive with the shepherds as the story tells.  But then the illustrations diverge from the Bible telling.  When the doves give their gift of song, three women arrive to greet the Savior.  It is not until the following page that you see three men entering the tale.  The final double page show villagers, children, and carolers all arriving to worship the Lord.  

It is obviously not meant to be historically accurate, but it brings to mind "O Come, All Ye Faithful." They have all arrived to adore or worship the Lord.  This is a beautiful story of giving and faith.

Superheroes

On Monday night we did a superhero Family Home Evening based on an idea I got from the Friend Magazine.  It shares all the qualities that kids have that make them super - brave, loved, patient etc.  We dressed up like superheroes for the night.  Joshua was super thrilled to be a part of it.  We ran around the house a couple dozen times yelling "Superhero!!!"

Henry tends to sleep through FHE, but luckily the next day Joshua wanted to spend the whole day being super.  So he got a dishcloth cape.

I'm not sure Joshua has retained any new knowledge of his divine nature, but he sure does kow how to be a great superhero. 

Worldwide Day of Service

This December, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is encouraging individuals to participate in a month long initiative to give service called "Light the World."  Today is a Worldwide Day of Service where they have asked as many people as possible to serve in any way they feel appropriate.

I love the concept of an advent calendar of service and wanted to do something special for today.  It is not my season to go stock shelves at a food bank or pick up litter by the ocean on a Thursday.  I decided to do something at home that hits close to home.  I sewed these developmental hearts for premature babies.  Honestly, I started earlier this week because even simple projects can take ages these day.  I was hoping to get them to the post office today, but unceasingly runny noses and damp weather have convinced me that it is wise to wait.

I plan to do little things every day until Christmas.  I'm not planning on blogging about most of them, but I might mention a few on Facebook.  I'm hoping that this deliberate effort in service will help it become a habit throughout the year.  

Hardscrabble Harvest by Dahlov Ipcar

The farmer plants

early in the spring.

He'll be lucky 

if he harvests a thing.

As a librarian, I have found it difficult to find picture books about Thanksgiving.  All I could ever find were drab, lengthy histories or mass market editions like Dora Eats Turkey.  A couple of years ago, I was lamenting about this to my mother.  Then a couple weeks later, she found Hardscrabble Harvest, a shining needle in  the Thanksgiving book haystack.

The story begins in spring when the farmer plants.  In romping rhymes, it tells the troubles the family has toga England a plentiful harvest.  Crows swoop down,  bunnies burrow, and the sheep get loose. But after a season of toil, they bring in the harvest.  The relatives visit and all feast on the year's success.

Dalhov Ipcar manages to use what could be drab harvest colors to make a lively, folksie picture book with a story in each illustration.  My test case, Joshua, loves seeing the naughty bunnies and restless horses.  When I read it to him the first time, I was sure he would wander away bored, but he was enthralled.

I love having books around for my kids to prepare for holidays or other events and this one has made our year round pile.  I am thankful to have finally found a Thanksgiving book worth sharing.

The Garbage Truck

We've decided that we need to document some of the cute, quirky things our kids do.  Joshua loves watching the trash truck.  Our apartment complex has a large trash compactor thing that all the trash is dumped into.  A couple times a week a truck picks it up, hauls it away, and empties it somewhere.  Joshua loves watching the process.  Here's a typical conversation we have.

Me:  Joshua the trash truck is here.  Do you want to come watch it?

Joshua:  Okaaaaaay!

He drops whatever he is doing then sprints into the dining area.

Joshua:  Up, up, up!

Me:  See the truck is lifting the dumpster onto the bed.

Joshua (waving):  Hi, truck!  Hi, truck!  Hi, truck!  Firetruck?

Me:  No, buddy, this is a garbage truck, not a fire truck.

Joshua:  Garbage truck?

Me:  They take all of our trash and send it away.

We watch the loaded truck start to back up.

Joshua:  Beep!  Beep!  Beep!

Then after the truck has gove on it's merry way, Joshua pleads with me.

Joshua:  More, mommy!  More truck.

Me (lifting him off the chair):  It's gone, but it will be back when it is empty.  I'll let you know when I see the truck again.  Go play.

Joshua:  Okaaaaaaaay!