During the first week of December, I received an email from an 18-year-old young woman who asked my help in finding her a poem for her grandmother’s funeral. Kirsty had a close relationship with her grandmother who had died unexpectedly. She didn’t have a chance to say goodbye. Kirsty searched for just the right poem, but was unable to find it.
I wrote back to Kirsty and told her I would try to help her either by writing a poem or finding one with the thoughts she had included with …

By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there;
The children were nestled
all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums
danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief,
and I in my cap,
Had just settled down
for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn
there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed
to see what was the matter.
Away to the window
I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters
and threw up …

Can you name the gifts given on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas in this classic Christmas carol?

I’ve always enjoyed singing the Twelve Days of Christmas in an attempt to see if I could remember each of the symbols, especially when repeating the previous ones in order for the next day. It always seemed like a fun, nonsensical Christmas carol, whereas the gifts from the recipient’s lover are actually Christian symbols.

Do you know when the Twelve Days of Christmas are?

I always thought they were the 12 days leading up to December 25. But, no …

Three Kings, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, tells of the Three Wisemen who followed the bright night star to find the baby sleeping in a manger…the baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate on the 25th of December.
Three Kings came riding from far away,
Melchior and Gaspar and Balthazar;
Three Wise Men out of the East were they,
And they travelled by night and they slept by day,
For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.
The star was so beautiful, large and clear,
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere,
And by this they …

Soon, our inquisitive Kaitlin will be asking the very same question as Virginia. When our children asked about the existence of Santa Claus, I told them even though their friends choose not to believe in Santa Claus, he exists as long as they believe in their hearts.
We are very fortunate to live in a country where we have the freedom to choose to believe or not. Just as we are able to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, we can also celebrate Santa Claus and the goodness they both represent.
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
The New York Sun …

Handprint gifts are so precious to grandparents and parents, alike, for Christmas or any special occasion. They can be used on wall hangings, pillows, plates, and tote bags. The handprint gift possibilities are endless. Unfortunately, our grandchildren and children can’t remain small forever, but painted handprint gifts can capture the years when they were young…and still wanted to spend time with us as in contrast to the years when they become independent teens….

Kaitlin presented us with an early Christmas present this year. It is the Christmas handprint wreath made with fabric paints pictured …

My granddaughter, Kaitlin, asked me to share some Christmas jokes and riddles with you. Last Saturday we had lunch at Roy Rogers’ Restaurant. The prize included with Kaitlin’s lunch was a puzzle with Snow Jokes underneath and Emily’s was a puzzle with Chilly Chuckles underneath. Emily is a little too young to enjoy them this winter, but Kaitlin really enjoys reading the riddles and jokes to everyone. Sadly, I answered only two correct! How many of these winter jokes and riddles can you correctly guess the answers to? (The answers can be found …