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HOW TO MAKE THIS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
(Putting Christ Back into the Holiday Season)

 Contemplate whose birthday we are celebrating. What will you give Christ this Christmas season?

 Give presents of the heart. (Gifts of time, babysitting, service, etc.)

Visit and sing at a nursing home. Ask if there is a particular resident that has few visitors and go back another time. (Los Arcos Health Care Center 779-6931)

Go through your clothes, toys, possessions and give something away to someone less fortunate. Do sub for Santa or participate in a worthy cause to bring Christmas cheer to someone who might not have it.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Put this saying on a can or jar. Put in your extra change and make some small sacrifices–such as go without a pop, treat, make pizza instead of purchasing, etc. Put the money you save in the jar and then pray for a project that you can participate in and use the money.

The SALVATION ARMY (774-1403) has a list of names needing assistance. Many stores such as Wal-Mart K-Mart have Christmas trees that you can select a name to buy something.

There are boxes in many stores for food or other needed items. Consider sharing in this manner.

The Sunshine Rescue Mission (774-3512) need help serving meals and delivering holiday baskets.

Give Church related items such as scriptures, Church News, Subscriptions to The Friend, New Era, Ensign, church books or tapes, food storage items, 72 hour kit items.

Write a letter of appreciation to a teacher, coach, friend, or anyone who has been an influence in your life.

Write a thank-you note to your parents, a family member, and share some positive experiences.

Do your own life story to give out or the life story of someone else (even a one page history would be great!)

Do a tribute for a family member. Write to friends and relatives and have them share feelings about the family member you are honoring. Send a self-addresses, stamped envelope, have a deadline, and encourage pictures. Type up the responses and share with the person being honored and other family members.

Read The Polar Express and wear a bell during December to remind you that you truly believe and want to be Christlike.

Do the 12 days of Christmas for someone.

Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and share with a friend.

Start some simple traditions–foods that you will bake each year, obtain a new ornament, decoration, book, tape.

Read the gospels in the New Testament or make a determination to truly read and ponder the scriptures.

Make decisions based upon the thought, "What would Christ do?"

Simplify, simplify, simplify!!!!!!!!!! Many times less is more. . . . . . . .

SING! SING! SING! And LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! To Christmas carols. READ! READ! READ! Christmas stories.

Do something your roommates or family members want to do–no matter how messy, loud, or time consuming.

Do anonymous acts of service (shovel someone’s walk, leave a card or treats, pray and listen to the spirit.)

Someone once said that decorations should reflect your testimony. Find the symbolism in the decorations. Emphasize decorations centered around the birth of Christ.

Prepare early so you can truly enjoy the holiday season.

Consider what you can do for the missionaries. . . . .write to them, invite them to dinner, prepare someone for them to teach (the best present of all), give them small food items they can use in their apartments–breakfast foods, Kleenex, new toothbrush, stamps, postcards about our area, a picture of your family, etc.

Have a Shepherd’s Night. Eat a simple meal (bread, cheese, stew, etc). Sing songs and read scriptures about the shepherds. Sleep out around the Christmas tree. Ponder how the shepherds went with haste to see Christ.

Submit genealogy names and do the work. Attend the temple as often as you can.

Indicate a blessing you enjoy when you put the ornaments on the tree.

Turn off the lights except the tree light and listen to music.

Have "secret pals" in your apt/family the week before Christmas and do anonymous acts of service.

Give your children/grandchildren/family members a gift from the heart– an ornament they can take when they leave, a painting, life story up to date, scrapbook, special letter, etc.

Have family home evenings centered around the gifts Christ has given and write down what you will give. Save in an envelope, put on the tree, put on your mirror so you will remember throughout the year, etc.

Prepare a Christmas scrapbook of fun things you’ve done, pictures, stories, ideas.

Have a picture of Christ in your home. Put on a note, "Am I keeping Christmas all year through?"

Have a Christmas advent calendar and move one space closer to the stable. Read a scripture reference each day.

Give a basket of IOU’s that you will give throughout the year.

Remember the families you home and visiting teach. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!