Our church is a new host site for the Angel Food Ministries. My entire family is thrilled!!! My mother got us hooked onto the ministry over a year ago and our family has purchased several times and feel it is a tremendous benefit to families. Also, if you are looking to minimize your food budget in order to contribute more to benefit others, this will help your family accomplish that goal.
Check out the ministry...
About Angel Food Ministries - Angel Food Ministries
It's getting near to that time of year, when we all need to be reminded about what Christmas is all about.
Family Holiday Priorities
Sharing Our Faith
Fellowship with Family and Friends
Good Food, and
Making Memories
True Meaning of Christmas
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
Well the season for Trick or Treating sure came up really fast this year. This was our first year to go out and about with our littlest. We were able to go to the local 'Trunk or Treat' event at a local church. My DH and I have never participated, so we were a little shocked to see a line of over 200 kids at least to go through the trunk or treat, they probably had over 400 kids when it was all said and done. The church backs up about 15 cars in their parking lot and they hand out candy to the little kids, good idea and alot safer if you don't know which houses to go to, plus it was a really good opportunity to visit with parents and see alot of really neat costumes.
Needless to say our littlest was a little overwhelmed by it all!!! But he got the hang of it pretty fast. Also, he has never eaten candy before, so this was a night for alot of firsts.... Amazingly, he zeroed in on the lollipops in his goodie bag and by the time we left he had eaten over 3 lollipops!!! Sugar on a stick!!! I think we might have created a new candy monster...
He went as a race car driver, I think he was really cute and he didn't fuss over wearing any part of it and kept the hat on, once he saw all of the kids dressed up. Plus he loved to swing and run around with his pumpkin candy holder. Then we went back home and he helped dad hand out candy. Sorry I don't have any photos, but momma had to go the HS football game and work the concession stand as a band booster. From what I hear, he had a ball running to give out candy, he was running to meet the kids when they got to our driveway regardless of how scarey some of their costumes were and was handing out hugs as well as candy and had a ball waving to everyone as they left. He is 'Mr. Social'.
His usual bedtime is about 9:00pm and that night my DH was lucky to get him in bed by 10:30 and apparently he didn't put up a fight at all, he must have been exhausted. So I think he got into the swing of things and probably can't wait until next year!!!
Check out the rest of the photos!!!
Trick or Treat 2008
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