Experience Life in the New Year!

At a time when many people are already giving up on their New Year's goals and resolutions it's time to talk about Goals vs. Experiences.  From the Merriam Webster dictionary:

GOAL
Etymology: Middle English gol boundary, limit
1 a : the terminal point of a race b : an area to be reached safely in children's games
2 : the end toward which effort is directed : AIM
3 a : an area or object toward which players in various games attempt to advance a ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go to score points b : the act or action of causing a ball or puck to go through or into such a goal c : the score resulting from such an act
synonym: see INTENTION

Many years ago I was asked to share my thoughts on “Goals” during a church leadership meeting. As I thought about the word goals the first thing that came to my mind was the typical New Year’s Resolutions and the second thing was the endless goals we were expected to pass off in Primary (Children's Sunday School) as part of the Gospel in Action program and later the Young Women Personal Progress Program at church. These goals usually came from a suggested list. They were something quickly finished to earn an award. Although they were often worthwhile activities, they were often overdone projects and I never felt like I personally owned them.So as I prepared to share my thoughts about this subject I went to the dictionary. Although I understood the meaning of the word, I just needed to clear my head. The more I thought about this in terms of spirituality, the definition of the word Goal defined the reason those programs asked us to set goals. And the end point was to return to our Heavenly Father in safety.

Some years ago the LDS church made some changes to the children’s Sunday School award program. The Gospel in Action program was changed to the Faith in God program. And the goals are now called activities. The Young Women organization also revised the Personal Progress program and now refer to the goals as EXPERIENCES! I love this… in order to build their own testimony the youth will need to really feel like they OWN these personal experiences of study, prayer and living the gospel.

Part of the definition of the word experience says, “the fact of state of having been affected by or gained knowledge though direct observation and participation. Practical knowledge, skill or practice derived from direct observation of or participation."

I truly believe the revisions to these programs were inspired…  changing the focus to simple, faith promoting experiences.  And after the small token award is earned it has hopefully become a habit to continually experience and live the gospel as the youth grow closer to the final goal.

And now as I think about New Year’s goals and resolutions, I feel the important part of goals and resolutions is not about the end result. The important part is about the experience. It is only in the experience that we will learn and grow.

Just as an intention to do something does not always guarantee success goals are often given up. So as you give up on or revise your New Year’s resolutions and goals for you and your family… make sure to focus on the experience, not the end result. I believe our biggest role as a parent is to provide experiences for our children to personally own that will help them learn and grow.  In the future rather than give them goals with limits and boundaries, think about providing them with simple experiences.  What experiences do you plan to provide for your children this year?

TLC - Freak Show

Reality TV has brought the old time circus freak show into our living rooms. Really, how far is to far?  This is a funny promo parody including many of the current TLC listings with a twist...

I think there is a difference between education and exploitation.

Game Night!

The holiday season has afforded us much needed family game nights to learn some fun new games.  Check out these fun new titles...

The Magic Labyrinth

High powered magnets seem to be the new game gimmick of late and are the secret behind The Magic Labyrinth.  Game set up involves moving the walls aroud to create a maze. This is then covered and the board is spun around a number of times before play.  Place the magnetic Magician Apprentices in the corners attach a steal ball under each one.  

To begin play draw a lost object from the bag and place on matching symbol on the board. Roll the dice to determine the number of moves, using your memory to find our way around the maze  to the lost objects. The first person with 5 lost objects wins.  Tons of fun a different game every time.  Sound effects reccomeded for more joyful play!

Scribblish

Password Pictionary anyone?  By the creators of Cranium I saw the cheesey commericals for this and begged for it for Christmas. Kenneth gave in and it's really not a bad game.  How else can a bike ride to Saturn turn into a camping trip with a dragon?  Or the Three Blind Mice into a musical saddle?  Best to play with your wittiest friends!

Dixit

You will fall in love with this game for the artwork alone!  After dealing a handful of cards to each player, the first one selects a card and shares a short phrase to describe a  story or theme. The other players secretly select their own cards which match the description. All selected cards are shuffled and laid out on the table.  Players vote on which one was card was the origional inspiration for the theme.

Each correct answer gives points to the guesser and the active player. Each incorrect answer gives points to the player who submitted the guessed card. However, if all of the guesses are correct -- or none of them are -- then the active player gets no points and all the other players get points.  The game ends when the deck is empty. The greatest total wins the game.

Rory's Story Cubes

Simply a box of dice with pictures.  Roll and tell a story.  The players make up the rules.  Awsumb has been spending a lot of time writing his own little stories and of course LOVES make-believe.  He picked these up with his own money the other day and has been carrying them around all weekend. The cubes come in their own cute little box with magnetic closure.  This is a great activity for children of all ages. An expansion set of Story Cubes with Action words is also availabe.  Click here to read more about Rory's Story Cubes.

Dixit is a little pricey and the expansion set of cards is just about as pricey as the original.  But, can you imagine the possiblities of the cards from Dixit combined with the Story Cubes?

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!?!?!

Because my son has TOO MANY TOYS! last month I begged everyone we knew to send books this year for Christmas. I knew my son would love it because he can never get enough books.  I began thinking about this because some of the most fun he had on his birthday was shopping for books.  So when my Uncle said he was brining a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas I decided there was no topping that gift and books it was.

Then one night while kissing Awsumb goodnight, I realized he was in major need of a new bookcase. His little bookcase was double stacked and books were overflowing onto the floor. Not to mention all the shelves he had taken over in other bookcases around the house.  And that's when I had the idea to give him a new bookcase full of new books!  Friends and family joined in on the fun. I also pulled a few series from Kenneth's collection to pass onto Awsumb.

I wrapped up all the books and then wrapped the entire bookcase.  (excuse the iphone shot, I'll update with better photos later).  We gave him three guesses.  He said, "A rocket ship, a TV, or a bunk bed!"

He loved it and was pretty suprised!  After the weekend everyone started emailing me this You Tube video...


His parents have since removed comments and keep saying, "he's only 3!"  At any age that kind of  talk is not allowed in my house.  In an attempt to redeem their child this year they made a new video of their child opening books for Christmas.

I'm so glad that my child love to read and loves books. Awsumb has been wandering around with books tucked under his arm since he was a toddler.  He never destroyed or ruined books, even as a baby... Awsumb wondered in awe over the words and illustrations as he carefully turned one page at a time.  But even more, I am glad that he is thankful for gifts of any kind. Including 45 new pairs of socks!

Maybe Kenneth will edit some video of Awsumb's reaction later. I think this will be a pretty memorable Christmas!  And one that he will use for years to come!

No crib for a bed...

This tiny little manger, is empty you can see.

Fill it with straw, to make it as soft as can be.

In December add a piece of straw each day,

For service you give and kind words you say.

Show daily acts of kindness. Do them secretly

So this manger will be ready, for a special baby.

This Christmas I placed each piece of a new Playmobil Nativity set in Awsumb's Playmobil Winter Forest Friends Advent Calendar.  Remembering how much my little sister loved this activity when she was little, I also cut a few pieces of embroidery thread into hay for Awsumb to earn for the baby Jesus.  One night Awsumb had the idea to quickly unload the entire dishwasher before Daddy got home.  This is a new responsiblity for Awsumb and he often doesn't put large dishes or pans away or forgets to do the top rack.  So there he was furiously trying to unload every single dish and put them away before he was caught... when I heard such a clatter!  Instantly I knew what it was and told him to stay put.  Awsumb had climbed up on the counter with a large Pyrex dish to put it away on the top shelf. What made him think it even went up there in the first place I'll never know?!  And of course not only did it break into a million little pieces, but it took a few dishes with it as well.

Awsumb was so upset it took me a while to figure out if he was hurt.  And even after that he wouldn't calm down. He kept asking how we was "ever going to earn enough soft hay before the baby Jesus arrived, when he couldn't even do a simple job like unload the dishwasher?" 

Awsumb was sure that I was going to be sad and that old Pyrex must have cost at least $100. "I don't have that kind of money," he kept saying.  There was no soothing him.  To distract him I sent him to open the next box to his nativity. He came out of his room carrying this shepherd complete with hobo stick and exclaimed, "What is this?  A hint that I'm kicked out of the family." 

He thought it was a homeless guy, not a shepherd!

And of course that led him back to being upset there would not be enough soft hay for he baby Jesus.

In frustration he said,

 "Maybe we should just get him a blanket!"

The funny part is that the Pyrex was a replacement gift from my father after I had a major Pyrex disaster of my own 15 years ago.  Let's just say I learned that night not to put a pyrex dish on hot burner!  The pan exploded EVERYWHERE and the hot shards of glass melted into the vinyl flooring making clean up impossible. 

Looks like I need a new Pyrex, Dad!

Best and Worst of Christmas 2010

 

KLEENEX!  That's right my husband gave me a box of Kleenex....  Under the tree, wrapped with a bow and everything! OK, it's not as bad as it sounds.  First off you should know that years before we had children we stopped buying Christmas gifts to eachother.  Instead we buy cartloads of toys for kids in need. One year we filled the car with so many toys and games, that I had to get in and let Kenneth stack stuff all around me so it would all fit...  Too bad that was pre-digital camera days, because it was hilarious - my face pinned to the passenger side window surrounded by Hot Wheels race tracks and Little People Doll houses!

This was such a fun tradition for us during the years we were praying desperately to have a child of our own.  We continue the tradition now that we have a little boy. Every year Awsumb and Kenneth take a big bag of toys over to the Giving Tree at Microsoft and we look for other ways to help during the season.

Kenneth and I still exchange stockings.  Because of the size limitation this usually leads us to give only smaller more thoughtful items. And lucky for me all my favorite things fit in a stocking ie: perfume, jewelry, lipgloss, markers and pens, etc.  Plus there is usually enough room for a paperback and a movie.

So this year, Kenneth hands me this funny round shaped package all wrapped up with a bow and says, "this woulnd't fit."  What could it be?  And what an unusual shape, I must admit I was a bit excited!  So, I pulled off the paper when what to my wondering eyes should appear?  A cream and brown swirled box of Kleenex, more oval than round!  Because this has been the Christmas of surprises, I'll say that I was sure surprised!

Actually it was a pretty sweet little gift. I suffer from year-round allergies.  Years of daily nose bleeds, steroid sprays and trauma to my nasal passages has led to quite a mess.  When I see a new doctor I have to explain that, "NO I have never used cocaine!"  I take multiple allergy prescriptions and still resort to Benadryl many days just for some relief. 

I can never seem to keep enough tissue in the house and it's often at the top of my list.  These days I prefer Puff's to Kleenex. I guess Kenneth has been watching me lately as I look at the cute little designer boxes of Kleenex and pass them up, selecting thebig industrial - family sized boxes of tissue.  So he just wanted me to have something cute and fun... even though it didn't fit in my stocking!  But it sure is funny and I am never going to let him live this one down!

I shouldn't be so hard on him because of our last minute trip to Disney and all that we have going on we agreed to go really simple on our stockings this year.   Kenneth still managed to sneak in a Alfred Hitchcock boxed set of DVD's.  And in all fairness among Kenneth's stocking goodies was a DVD he got FOR FREE from the Disney Movie Club! LOL!  Hey, it was in the pile of DVD's and games set aside for Awsumb and I thought he bought it because he wanted me to put it in his stocking! 

What was the best and worst gift you received this year?

May your New Year be Full of a Million Dreams!

Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

When Awsumb was a baby we were asked to be in the church Nativity.   I suggested we let a couple of older children be Mary and Joseph, and would give permission for them to use Awsumb,

IF I could help choose the kids. 

 This little girl was so tender with Awsumb. 

Today she is Awsumb's favorite babysitter!

 

A friend of mine drew all these animals. 

Aren't they beautiful?

I served in the primary for many years

 and watched these kids grow up. 

I just love these photos!

(even with the orange stage lights!)

At some point we could tell Awsumb was getting heavy.  So from off stage we tried to get Mary's attention and let her know she could put him down.  I almost had a hard attack as she placed him in the rickety manger, his head was lower than his feet! 

But if I remember right, Awsumb never made a peep. 

He was a good little baby Jesus.

 

 This year Awsumb was asked to step in as King Herod.  He refused because he was upset about being a bad guy.  Awsumb was happy to be a shepherd with the rest of his class.  (no photos were taken.)  Apparently the young boy who did play King Herod never broke character and continued to glare at the baby Jesus throughout the program and songs!  I guess he was serious about never breaking character!  Kids are so funny!

When you read
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson,

you just know it's going to be the best story ever when you read that first couple lines...

 

"The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse."

 

And when you realize
"the rottenest kids in the history of the world,"
are going to take over the pageant like it or not,
you start to see the Christmas story in a new way,
in a pure and childlike way,
even though these kids are anything but pure or childlike!

It's a good reminder that God sees us for who we really are
and that there is a little good in everyone,

 even The Herdmans!

A Totally Awsumb Christmas

"For unto you is born this day

 in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord."

2001

“And there were in the same country

shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.”
2002

The Other Wiseman,

Having given away all he had,

Learned the most important gift

We have to give is Love.
2003

I played my drum for Him

pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
2004

The Night Before Christmas...

2005

You better not pout, you better not cry

You better not shout, I'm telling you why!

2006

Santa Claus is coming to town...

2007

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

2008

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart,

you won't find it under the tree

2009

Dreaming is Believing!

2010



Merry Christmas!

Love,

Kenneth, Wendy

 and Awsumb 

Duffy! 

Santa at Disneyland Ranch

Pluto the Reindeer? 

Minnie - Soarin' Over California! 

Pluto - Awsumb's favorite!

Winnie the Pooh!

and Tigger Too! 

Toy Story Mania! 

Last, but not least...

The Tower of Joy!

And this is my reaction when I realized I wouldn't have my photos back in time to send out Christmas Cards in a timely manner... sooooo.... here's a sneak preview!