So close to CHRISTmas...

This is one of my favorite days of the year... December 23rd.

Christmas Eve goes so very quickly with last minute gift wrapping, getting the children-now teens and older, off to bed before us (!) and suddenly it's Christmas with all it's gift unwrapping, excitement, and FOODS, and then in America, it's "over". As I grew up in England, we had Boxing Day on December 26th, and I liked that.

If my childish memory serves me right, it was a day to play with our new toys plus that was the day my daddy took us girls to the 'Fox and Hound' Pub in our little village of Shenstone; and we would watch all the men mount their horses, and gather their fox-hounds/Beagles, and with blaring coronets they would dash off to get their fox. Not sure if they ever did.

I'm thankful I never saw that part as I am one of the biggest animal lovers on the planet. But I remember the excitement. The joy of being with my family and doing something together. I remember the smell of dad's cigar smoke; the excited chatter at the pub; the warmth of wearing hats and mittens - pretty sure mum knitted those; and the cold, crisp air that filled my lungs.

As you are last minute preparing for Christmas, please remember those who might not have warmth, a home, a job, comforts we take for granted, and the joy that Christ can bring. We often need to be 'Christ' in the lives of those around us.

Remember them in your thoughts, and your prayers, and with your knitting and crocheting. It might be a bit late to make them something this year, but it's never too late to make something warm like a hat or two, and take them to your local shelters. Or hand them out to the one on the street corner who needs warmth; maybe with a gift certificate to a fast food place. You can still do that today, tomorrow... in fact, you can do that next week or next month.

We can also put out some food for the little birds, and a blanket for a stray cat who may wander into your yard.

Let us remember what matters most amidst the hussle and bussle... LOVE and family. Hold those little and big ones close, and tell them how much you love and appreciate them.

Bev
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/christmas

The LIVING CHRIST

PDF printable Version

(This is officially what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe about Jesus Christ.)

THE LIVING CHRIST
THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to "become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His "other sheep" (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised "dispensation of the fulness of times" (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: "His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father" (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—"built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE

January 1, 2000

Just a hat pattern I'd forgotten about...

BEV'S FAMILY HAT
(pattern by Beverly A. Qualheim - Copyright 2002 - 2009
Size H or I hook depending on how tightly you crochet.

4 Ply worsted weight yarn
Kids 2-7 (ch 36), Age 8-10 (ch 42), Age 11-14 (ch 48), teen and adult (ch 56)

ROW 1: Dc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Ch 2. Turn.

ROWS 2-(as many rows as you need for width of head): Dc in 2nd st from hook across to end of row - in Back loops only-- to form ridge. Ch 2. Turn.

On your final row for the width -don't ch 2 at the end, just end off, leaving 18" tail.

Sew sides together.

TOP of hat - make a running st through the last row of dc, and gather tightly. Add a colorful pompom to the top to keep the top tightly shut. I run pompom tail threads under a couple of stitches and tie tightly to secure. This looks really bright and pretty if you use different colors every few rows to create colored stripes.

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HUG THE ONES YOU LOVE TODAY!
Bev

Amidst the troubles of the world.. there is hope and peace...

Welcome to the world to my new little grand-daughter born today in NYC. I hope grandma will get to see you someday. Love to you and your mama, and daddy, and brother Jackson.
We miss you so much...



This is why we celebrate CHRISTmas!





And a Christmas recipe from my sis Lynn!
Lynn's Choc Cake Cookies
Chocolate Cake mix;
2 eggs;
1 stick butter;
1 TBsp water.
Goop it all together with hands. Make into balls and roll in powdered sugar; flatten gently with a glass. Bake for 8-10 mins in 375 degree oven.


Hug the ones you love!

Bev
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/christmas
Bev

Back!! Christmas plans

So, I have like 50 logins and passwords for various places and I could NOT remember the one for this blog. I kept trying to sign in over and over with every password I could possibly think of! I just gave up every single time until today when I finally reset the dumb thing.

Now I have one more to remember!

How are your Christmas plans coming along?

We are planning a peaceful Christmas time... we have one daughter coming home to join our youngest in fact we are driving up to Salt Lake City to get her and go see the lights on Temple Square; but all of our other children have other plans. I guess Shaun and Joanna are staying in NY; Chris and Danielle are going to her grandparents in Oregon; Timmy is on his mission still so we will mail him a box.

I decided to do our family newsletter but not mail them out. I will be emailing it to family and friends this year. Hope to get that started this week. I have a made a few gifts for grandbabies, and one each for my daughters and one for Mike but that will be it giftwise this year. It hasn't been an easy year for most people and we are no exception. So peaceful and quiet with just one or two gifts to open sounds like Heaven to me. :)

I am grateful to have food and still have a roof over our heads. So much more than many people in this world; and I have not taken it for granted even once this year. Many of our friends have lost their homes and had to move away to look for work.



Christmas really is not supposed to be hustle and bustle and shopping for lots of bargains. It is supposed to be a time set aside for us to remember the Lord Jesus Christ's birth; Heavenly Father's gift to us. I think we cannot understand the deep value of that gift, but someday we will and we will fall to our knees to thank Him.

Christmas Eve I plan to listen to my husband read Luke 2 from his Catholic Bible and I am going to look up some quotes, talks and scriptures from General Authorities--plus I want to piece together the story of Christ's coming to earth from the Book of Mormon, from Helaman.

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Still making hats for Warming Families as we creep closer to that 25,000 goal!! It's exciting. I will be leaving wf after the hat challenge at the end of the year. It's time for me to move along and I have a new Yahoo group called Cheerful Hearts and hands, to take it's place in my life as my WF chapter will close of course.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cheerful-Hearts-and-Hands/

I will still be able to make things for my 'shelters' and such. Not sure exactly which directions that group will take; but I know I want it to be positive in it's quest to help others with out knitting and crocheting. It will be interesting to see.

I'd love to start something locally again like we used to have with Crafting Angels, but my life has taken such a different direction since those days will several part time jobs filling every waking hour; but it might be nice to take off 2 hours once a month or so. Not sure who would come anymore... but I would definitely call it "Cheerful Hearts and Hands" as I love that name!

Well everyone have a wonderful week! Make it great!

HUG the ones you love,
Bev Q
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com