Joy to Everyone this Christmas ~ video link

I received this video link in an email from BYUarts as a thank you for supporting their performances. The email said :

We appreciate your faithful support of the many music, theatre, and dance performances we have presented this year. As a token of our gratitude, please enjoy a free Christmas song composed by Stephen Jones, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University, who teamed up with BYU alumni and some of Utah’s finest studio musicians to create a gift of music this Christmas season.The song, “Joy to Everyone This Christmas,” is part of an effort to share love, peace and joy this Christmas. BYU alumni, faculty, staff and students pooled their expertise to produce a music video and Web site as a medium to share their gift.

Take a mintue (well - 4.13 actually) and enjoy this Christmas treat!

Christmas traditions - #6

Service.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

A big part of Christmas for me and Rick is being involved in giving service of some sort. Big projects. Little projects. Service projects for strangers, for neighbors, for family, for missionaries, sometimes for those poor in spirit who need a lift. I'm pretty sure that every year we've been involved in something. This year Rick made some wonderful suggestions of people we could help, and even though I may receive the credit, he has been the one behind me with the idea and the means. One year when I was the YW president, the Bishop helped buy a mobile home for a family in need. The YW were called in to clean the home and decorate it for Christmas and all the girls really got in to that project. Another year when I was involved in RS, we bought food for about 20 families and took turkey dinners to all those people. I've been involved in taking bread baskets and long distance calling cards to all the single women in the neighborhood. When our kids were little, we did the 12 days of Christmas to brighten the lives of various neighbors and friends. We've contributed anonymously to people who were struggling and we've invited single women to Christmas programs and to come over to our house for dinner. We've been involved in providing Christmas gifts for a family in need, buying children's clothing and other needed and wanted items for Christmas gifts.
This year at the MTC, they involved the 2000 missionaries in assembling 10,000 hygiene kits for Humanitarian aid. The missionaries loved being able to provide some service and do some good, even before they reach their fields of labor.
I just don't think Christmas would feel right if there weren't some sort of service involved. It's been fun to watch various families and to see what their service projects have been. I really like the Skeens idea of giving cash to their daughters and their families and letting them decide how they would spend it to provide service for someone in need. Instead of giving gifts to one anther, the Smiths choose a family in their area and provide Christmas gifts for them. There are many great ideas and ways to serve and it doesn't have to even involve spending money. To me giving of time, giving attention, giving of ones self is what brings happiness throughout the year.
We have Andy's missionary picture on our piano this year. He and thousands of others are out there doing what the Savior would do. They're giving of themselves, and helping to lift the burden of another. We can't all have that full-time opportunity to serve, but we can serve within our own sphere of influence. In front of his picture is a little manger that was made by a carpenter in our ward. He made one for each of he Young Women and we put a little bundle of straw in each. The idea is do give service each day through the month of December and as you do, to put a little hay in the manger. After a month of doing this, the manger fills up and is ready for the Christ child on Christmas day. I love this concept! Doing some little service each day for a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or even a stranger will help make your Christmas month so much better.
"In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. “It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.” Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever. " Thomas S. Monson, “The Best Christmas Ever,” Ensign, Dec 2008, 4–8

Christmas traditions - #5

Dave, Courtney, Rick, Pat and I were fortunate to attend the 1st presidency Christmas devotional last night at the conference center. We loved to see the lights at Temple Square and to hear the words of President Monson, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf. The choir numbers were beautiful and the messages were inspirational. We always enjoying watching the fireside on TV most years and this year it was a special treat to attend the meeting in person. The conference center was so beautifully decorated and there is always such a good spirit there.

The Bethlehem innkeeper never got a second chance to house the holy family, but those who seek to follow the babe born in his stable will not only make room for Christ, they will emulate his light, his love and his care for others.
That was the message shared with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide on Sunday as the faith's First Presidency presented its annual Christmas devotional in the Conference Center, with music by the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.
Speaking amid brightly decorated Christmas trees and poinsettias decorating the dais, President Thomas S. Monson said the innkeeper missed his greatest opportunity the night Christ was born. "Long years afterward, it would not do any good for him to repeat over and over again the words, 'If only I had known who they were, I would have made room for them."'
Today, many enjoy homes with rooms for eating, sleeping, playing, sewing and TV, "but no room for Christ," he said. While many desire to make room in their hearts for the Savior, "no matter how successful we have been thus far. ... I am confident we would all wish to do better." This Christmas season is the time to do so, he said. - Deseret News, Monday, December 8, 2008

It was a wonderful evening -except for the part where we got stuck in a parking garage for 45 minutes :( but we had a good time visiting. An added perk was seeing all the temple square lights turn on at once - at exactly the stroke of 5:30, they all went on. Quite a sight! The whole evening was another touching reminder for me to remember Jesus Christ and to do some good.

Christmas traditions - #4

Tradition #4 is attending the BYU Celebration of Christmas concert. We have attended most years over the last decade. One year we were in attendance and little did we know that our son Andy desperately needed to reach us. Rick had a new cell phone (just when they were coming out) and we were requested to turn off all cell phones for the concert. He complied like they requested and unfortunately, this was the day that Andy broke his arm very badly while snow boarding at Park City and we couldn't be reached to help him. The rescue guys wouldn't give him any pain meds until they had cleared it with us, so he was writhing in pain all the while we were enjoying the concert, for more than a couple of hours. That wasn't a good memory, but I always think of it when I go to the annual concert.
I digress...
The concert this year was wonderful. Truly wonderful. It fills your soul and is so moving. A group of friends attended from our ladies Dust Busters group (along with a few others - including Rick who didn't want to miss the concert.) The concert is so well done and I enjoyed hearing each of the the groups sing the following numbers:

Combined all choruses- Sing We Now of Christmas to open

BYU Singers

• In the Bleak Midwinter
• Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Men's Chorus

• A Babe is Born
• Ding! Dong! Merrily on High

Concert Choir

• A Newborn Child
• Susses Carol

Women's Chorus

• Still, Still, Still
• Il est ne le divin Enfant

BYU Philharmonic

• Trepak, from the Nutcracker
• Fantasia on Greensleeves
• Sleigh Ride

The finale was a special guest performance by solo opera soprano singer - Jennifer Welch-Babidge (one of Gary and Nancy's friends through UFO) singing O Holy Night with the Philharmonic and the chorus accompanying her and singing as backup. They also sang the Hallelujah chorus from Messiah and finished with the beautiful Carol of Joy by Eileen Berry. Below are the moving words to this beautiful Christmas carol:

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry,
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky;
Lengthening shadows, dark closing in;
Then through the stillness, carols begin.

O fallen world, to you is the song!
Death holds you fast, and night tarries long.
Jesus is born, your curse to destroy;
Sweet to your ears, a carol of joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold, barren hillside shrouded in snow.
Deep empty valley, veiled by the night;
Hear angel music hopeful and bright.

O fearful world to you is the song!
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong.
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound,
Carol of joy, a Savior is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies.
Look up, sad hearted! Witness God's love;
Join in the carol swelling above!

O friendless world, to you is the song!
All heaven's joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn:
Now unto you, a Savior is come!

If you are interested in listening the the concert, it will be rebroadcast on Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm and it is available over the internet as well on Classical 89.1 FM radio that evening.

Christmas traditions - #3

What is a Christmas creche? Creche is French for "crib" or "place of safety," like the manger in which Jesus was placed. Now, universally and reverently, the word creche is used to describe the sacred scene. Key figures encircling the baby Jesus in the manger crib are Mary, Joseph, beasts of burden, either one angel or a host, a sheperd with a lamb about his shoulders or a flock of sheep around his legs, and exotic Wise Men and their gifts. You'll see that it is a gathering of good company to brighten the celebration of Joy! (from the book - The Christmas Creche by Elaine Cannon.)

I love the Christmas creche. I love what it symbolizes and I love seeing how different cultures and countries create their own art to represent the moment when Christ was born.
I began collecting creches many years ago and now I have a wonderful collection. It is one of the few things I "collect" and I love getting each one out at Christmas time. I decided some years ago to only display this collection in our living room, leaving all the Santa decorations for the family room. The display has created a wonderful environment in the living room and I enjoy just sitting there, relaxing and pondering - while listening to beautiful Christmas music. Here is a little tour through my collection. If it came from somewhere special, it is noted:
Top of curio cabinet - from Hawaii (given by Colleen)
Top shelf - from Peru (given by the Mejia family)
Middle shelf - from Mexico & New Mexico (from Claire) & nut carving from Florida (Victoria)
Bottom shelf - store bought



















I made this set when we were first married. We did it in Homemaking meeting over several months. We cleaned the green ware, glazed it and fired it. The little sheep with the broken leg has been on MANY adventures (inside family joke...) The creche use to be housed in a wooden stable which fell apart last year. I'm looking for another one.














Under our tree I have a native American set from New Mexico (far left), a Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus from Portugal (from Dave), a complete set from Zimbabwe (from Dustin) and a complete set from Venezuela (from Jord.)














I have various sets here and there and a few that are kid friendly so that the little ones can have fun playing with them and telling the story of what happened on Christmas all by themselves.














Jordan made me this wonderful stitched wall hanging a couple years ago (with the pattern provided by Lee.) I LOVE it! It looks great on the wall in the living room.














On the mantle I have Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus sets from the following people/places: etched glass made by Janet and Dave, olive wood carving from Israel, ceramic set from Venezuela (from Jord), and two store bought ones give from neighbors. Over the mantle is a beautiful copy of a painting by J. B. (a ward member and family friend.)














I bought this large set one year from Costco and I have really enjoyed it. One year R accidentally bumped into it when it was sitting in a different location and sent the Baby Jesus flying across the floor, breaking it into many pieces. We were able to glue them back together and "resurrect" the baby Jesus. He lives on to this very day!














I started collecting the pieces to this Willow Tree set several years ago. I recently got the wooden manger to add to it and completed the set. It's also one of my favorites.














This is a little curio shelf that belonged to Rick's Gram. One the top is a small set from Portugal (from Dave), second down is a very nice set from Peru (from Margie), a set from Japan (from Susan), a complete clay set (from Colleen), and a set I made with YW years ago, by a little pillow made by Lee.



















I hope some day to get a set from Argentina and one from Mongolia. A Lladro piece from Spain would also be very nice. I enjoy my Christmas Creche display very much at Christmas time!