CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Countdown: 21 Weeks

Christmas in July

I can't believe that Christmas in July is at an end! I enjoyed reading your blogs and have come away with some yummy recipes to try, some great decor tips, gift ideas, and a warm feeling from being a part of the CIJ community.

As we wind down and our thoughts turn to the upcoming holiday season, I want to remind you that a stress-free Christmas is possible. We can do it!

If you don't feel that you can create your own stress-free plan, there are some great resources out there. One of my favorites is Organized Christmas. The site offers four plans: Christmas Countdown, House & Holidays Plan, 101 Days to Christmas, The Rudolph Club. There are several printable worksheets that will help you get organized for the holiday. You can start here and customize the plans to fit your family's lifestyle.

Thanks for visiting me this month. I hope you've enjoyed The ABCs of Christmas!

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Zoo Lights

I have to confess that I have never been to a Zoo Lights display. My kids have attended the one at the Phoenix Zoo a few times. I've just never really wanted to go. I do, however, love Christmas lights. And since a friend gave me this subject as a solution to my search for a "Z" word I decided to use it.

And coincidentally, the local newscast on July 23rd ran a story that the Phoenix Zoo started putting up the Zoo Lights that day!

Phoenix, Arizona

St Louis, Missouri

San Diego, California


Houston, Texas


Portland, Oregon

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Yes, Virginia...

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Countdown: 22 Weeks

Oops, I goofed! I should have posted this on Tuesday, but I guess I was so caught up in the CIJ posts, I forgot. So now it's really 21 1/2 weeks until Christmas...

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Xmas

Many people do not like the word "Xmas". They think that it is taking the word "Christ" out of the word Christmas. However, Xmas is derived from the Greek letter Chi (X) which is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ. The "mas" comes from the Latin derived Old English word for Mass. 

In this day of political correctness the word Xmas has been incorrectly thought to be a secular substitute for the word Christmas. Not so.

I think the time has come for people to be less sensitive from both viewpoints. I am not offended by the phrases "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" or "Merry Christmas". Let's lighten up. Let's feel free to greet each other with joy and enthusiasm during the holiday season no matter what phrase we favor.

Or, maybe we could switch to the beautiful French phrase "Joyeaux Noel"!

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ We Three Kings

As I was thinking about what word to use for the letter "W" none of my thoughts were inspiring. I was trying to think of Christmas songs beginning with "W", when We Three Kings came to mind. It's a carol you rarely hear. I'm not even sure it's played on my Pandora station.

It's a song I remember singing regularly as a child. I'm not sure why it doesn't get much attention these days. Could be I'm just not listening in the right places.

Anyway, here's a version I found on YouTube... Enjoy!

CIJ; The ABCs of Christmas ~ Vacation

If you have children in your life, you're familiar with Christmas vacation. It's the two (or more) weeks between the week before Christmas and the week after New Year's Day. The first week is usually pretty calm as the kids play with all of the new stuff they opened on Christmas morning. But the second week can be brutal as boredom sets in.

Looking for something to do? Check out these suggestions:

The holiday season is always a good time to think of the needs of others. This is an easy project for kids to participate in. Pack the supplies in a large plastic bag and carry them in your car. When you see a person in need you're ready with a helping hand.

Keep the fun of Christmas going with these holiday related sight words

Make the transition from Christmas to the season of winter with this fun word search. You can also design your own word search puzzles here. I have used this site often. It's easy and the kids love personalized word searches.


We made these for Mother's Day one year, but they're a fun craft for any time. They were not as difficult as I thought they would be. The kids were four and six years old when we did them and needed minimal help from me. You can find the directions here.


Click here for directions

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Ugly Christmas Sweaters

I have not embraced the Ugly Christmas Sweater fad. It's been going on for quite a few years now, and although I enjoy seeing UCS designs I've never had the desire to wear one. I have a daughter who attends UCS parties and she has amassed a small collection of the sweaters.

Truth be told, it was hard for me to think of a theme that started with "U", so here we go...

An Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake - now this is a cute idea!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments!

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Tinsel

I love tinsel! If I had "real" trees instead of artificial, I would drape them in tinsel from head to toe. I don't use it on my trees because I don't want to have to clean it off before I pack the tree away for storage.

My best childhood memories are of when we used to get real trees and the tinsel was the last decoration to go on it. This was in the days before my mom discovered the silver aluminum tree which had no lights and only green glass balls. {{sigh}}

If you're a tinsel lover like me I think you'll enjoy these photos...

Why, yes I do! There's no such thing as too much tinsel or too many lights.

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Stockings

I feel like I've shared the Christmas Stockings I've stitched for family and friends many times on this blog and frankly I'm bored. So I'll share the new stockings I've stitched this year in my December posts. For today, I'm focusing on unique (to me) stockings I found on Pinterest.

These quilted stockings are simple and elegant

Beautiful

I wonder if I could make these?

Festive Crazy Quilt Stocking

Don't these look warm and cozy?

Here's some ideas for "stuffers" to fill those stockings!

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Let's have some fun today! I'm devoting this post to all things Rudolph...

http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2016/12/easy-rudolph-brownies.html

Printable Rudolph Sheet Music

https://www.houseofhawthornes.com/rudolphs-been-hitting-sauce-again/

https://hungryhappenings.com/resees-cup-rudolph-red-nose-reindeer/

Yes, we owned this book when I was a kid!

Fun craft for small kids

And of course, I have to include the classic recording of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry!

CIJ; The ABCs of Christmas ~ Quotes

Do you ever struggle over what to write in a Christmas card? If I'm writing several cards at a time I feel like my greeting becomes stale. My brain freezes at the thought of writing something witty, loving, inspirational, or fresh.

Today I'm sharing some general holiday greetings that will work for anyone. And, now that we have some fresh greeting ideas, maybe we should get out our Christmas cards and start signing them!

CIJ: The ABCs of Christmas ~ Peace

Peace. Do you have peace in your life? Does anyone? Peace seems to be a diminishing element in our lives these days. It is being replaced with chaos. I think most of us long for peace. But we often forget that peace can begin within ourselves.

I sang this song in the 3rd grade (1964) for a Christmas program at my elementary school. The tune and lyrics have always stayed with me. I didn't hear this song for many years and then it started making a comeback in the late 80s.

This is a simple song with a powerful message: