A New Job!!!

I have been keeping a secret. Some of you knew something was up. I called and asked to use people as referrences. I even called asking for an address I lived at for two months. Many many details were needed. It is complete. It is official.

Starting TODAY I am working as a Special Eduation Teacher for Sequel Youth and Family Services. That's right as of today. If you follow the link you may notice Sequel seems very similar to Three Springs.

That is indeed the case. Similar, but not identical. Sequel acquired Three Springs facilities and employees. Although I am now a Sequel Employee I still work at Three Springs...for now anyway.

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

Today, while pondering in church I thought about what I might say if someone asked mee what I wanted for Christmas. I tried to think of how I might tell someone there was no gift they could give that would compare with the gift we were given in Christ. Nor, the further gift to have the fullness of the gospel on the earth today with prophets and apostles. What better gift is out there? I was also trying to figure out how I might share these thoughts in a blog post.

I don't think there is anything wrong with having a holiday season of food, family, and gifts. It seems rather fitting, in the United States of America, to welcome in the winter months with a Thanksgiving Celebration for all we have been given to maintain throughout the winter. Then to continue for a month or so of various gatherings that will keep your spirits high when the weather might seem otherwise.

My concern is that the traditions may be happening without the meaning. I remember a student commenting once she didn't know why there was a star on the top of a Christmas Tree. I had someone else mention we could decorate for Christmas as long as it wasn't religious. huh? I continue on my path of how I want to Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

After church today I went to lds.org to find something to watch or listen to. There I noticed they had a new topic page for Christmas with the title of; Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas. Here The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has already posted videos and ideas all in one place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Merry Christmas!!!

free to blog....

Today, I would like to thank Mr. George Washington. Not just Mr. Washington, but all those who stood with him, who faught along side him. I would especially like to thank those who died fighting for the cause Mr. Washington believed in.

I do not speak only of those who lived in the same time as Mr. George Washington. I also speak of those who have strived to maintain the prinicples of a free people thoughout time. Thank you for your efforts with quill, grand oratory, or musket rifle for allowing mee to be free... to have this blog and post this picture... which was found some where on the internet...(I didn't create it...I am not taking credit)

Monday Memory Moment

There aren't many things I remember having all of my life. I have a mouse I named Mickey. (I was very creative as a child. I also have a blanket which was made by my great-grandmother, Ella Glasgow. It is yellow with Raggedy Ann.

I don't remember being a big fan of Raggedy Ann and Andy. I do remember watching the show.

colder...

I like many have been commenting today about how cold it is. 14 degrees, the current temp, is better than the -13 wind child we had this morning. The wind chill right now is -1. This is according to my WeatherBug which reads from the Mountain Home Air Force Base.

With all the comments I still remember is being colder. To test I memory I decided to look it up. With the help of the National Weather Service and KBOI I found the following information.

as of this date (12/8/09) these are still record lows...
December 1990---I was 12 and a seventh grader...
20th:  -8
21st: -23
22nd: -25
23rd: -18
24th: -20
25th: -20
29th:  -17
30th:  -9

I still remember standing out for the bus, which was late, because it was too cold to start the engine.

Oh...and in case you are interested 0 was the record low for December 7th in 2009.

What was that about global warming?

It is now down to 10 degrees...

Monday Memory Moment

I got to Texas on December 3rd. I don't remember that day being cold. The next day however was colder than I expected Texas to be. It was December. It was also the Christmas Season!!!


I don't know who created the Texas Fort Worth Mission Christmas Program. However, we were directed to share it with as many people as we could. I remember going to our Bishop asking for his support. We were asking the ward members to have have us in their home to share it with them and their friends. We were a little surprised at his approach.


During Sacrament Meeting he asked the members to sustain President Gordon B. Hinckley as the Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was 2002. He then asked us to stand. He reminded the congregation that we had been called as full-time missionaries by the prophet they had just sustained and he expected them to support us in our efforts.


I greatly enjoy the program we were asked to do. I actually lead the program last year for the Young Single Adult (YSA) Branch I was in at the time. I have been in the family ward for a year. I was presently surprised when the YSA Branch Preseident called mee last week and asked mee to do the Christmas program from them again this year.


I hope to include enough details for you to be able to enjoy reading it, or share it with your family and friends.


Materials:
Hymnal to include songs listed. Numbers are from the 1981 LDS Hymnal. If all the links are working you can follow them to printable and playable music. The songs are meant to be sung.
Scriptures to include New Testement and The Book of Mormon. The verses are meant to be read.
Globe, something for a Star
I also like to use a nativity set with pieces.


If you are reading this in facebook you may need to go to my blog for the links to work.


www.alwaysmee.blogspot.com


I gave it a title...enjoy... 

A NEW STAR

Begin with prayer
Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful, no. 202

Matthew 1:18-23

   18 ¶ ^aNow the ^bbirth of Jesus Christ was ^con this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

  19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick ^aexample, was ^bminded to ^cput her away privily.

  20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a ^adream, saying, Joseph, thou son of ^bDavid, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the ^cHoly Ghost.

  21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his ^aname ^bJESUS: for he shall ^csave his people from their sins.

  22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

  23 ^aBehold, a ^bvirgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his ^cname ^dEmmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 2:1-7

   1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all ^athe world should be ^btaxed.

  2 (And this ^ataxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

  3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called ^aBethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

  5 To be taxed with Mary his ^aespoused wife, being great with child.

  6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

  7 And she brought forth her ^afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the ^binn.

O Little Town of Bethlehem, no. 208, first verse

Luke 2:8-14

   8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

  9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the ^aglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

  10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you ^agood tidings of great ^bjoy, which shall be to all people.

  11 For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.

  12 And this shall be a ^asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

  14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men.

Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains, no. 212

Luke 2:15-20

  15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

  16 And they came with ^ahaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

  17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

  18 And all they that heard it ^awondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

  19 But Mary kept all these things, and ^apondered them in her heart.

  20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

****At this point we would talk about the special feelings of a mother for a child. You could do this in general or specifics. Tonight I asked a friend who is new to the restored gospel about here feelings around coming to know the truth.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, no. 209

Matthew 2:1-11

  1 Now when Jesus was ^aborn in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

  2 Saying, ^aWhere is he that is born ^bKing of the Jews? for we have seen his ^cstar in the east, and are come to ^dworship him.

  3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

  4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he ^ademanded of them ^bwhere Christ should be born.

  5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

  6 And thou ^aBethlehem, in the land of ^bJuda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a ^cGovernor, that shall ^drule my people Israel.

  7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

  8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

  9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

  10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

  11 ¶ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and ^afrankincense, and myrrh.

With Wondering Awe, no. 210

Get your star in the sky. The find Bethlehem on your globe. (As missionaries we often used a balloon. This got the kids attention. We would ask some on to draw on it.) Talk about the star in the sky. The wise men saw it travel far.


We know that the world turns. If they noticed it maybe there were many others who noticed it too.


The Book of Mormon tells us of people on what is now the American Continents who were also looking for a sign to tell of the coming of the Savior of the world.


As in many cases there are believers and non-believers. In this case the non-believers were going to kill the believers if the sign didn't come by a certain day. That day...is tomorrow.


A prophet in the land is taking his concerns to the Lord...

3 Nephi 1:11-13, 21-22

  11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

  12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord ^aall that day; and behold, the ^bvoice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

  13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the ^asign be given, and on the ^bmorrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be ^cspoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

   21 And it came to pass also that a new ^astar did appear, according to the word.

  22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be ^alyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those ^bsigns and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the ^cmore part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.

Joy to the World, no. 201

Our Relationship with Christ***As missionaries this is were we would testify of the living reality of Christ. Doing this with the YSA Branch I have opened it up for the sharing of testimonies.


As always...follow the spirit.


Close with Prayer and song.

Silent Night, no. 204