Sunday School Play

Act 1:
Mrs Sandra:  Good morning, class. Next week we will have our Christmas party.  This year we are going to draw names and exchange gifts.
Mrs.  Billie: We really want you to think about the person that you choose.  Get them a gift that really reflects who they are and what they like.
(Mrs. Billi passed around a plate with names in it.)
Mason: I got Kylie
Kylie:  I got Jordan
Jordan: I got Bobbye Sue
Bobbye Sue: I got Mason

Act 2:
Mrs. Billie: Good morning.  Welcome to Sunday School.  Mrs. Sandra is talking with Brother Frank, but she said we could go ahead and get started.  I know you are all very excited, but before we exchange gifts, we want to talk about why we celebrate Christmas.
Jordan: Christmas is Jesus' birthday.
Mason:  Jesus came to die and save us from our sins.
Mrs. Billie: Yes, and why do we give gifts to others?
Bobbye Sue: The wise men gave gifts to Baby Jesus, so we give gifts to others. 
Kylie: It  is better to give than to receive.
Mrs. Billie: Right, OK, you may all exchange gifts now.
(They all give each other there gifts.  They all look sad).
Mrs. Billie: What's wrong, Kylie?  Mason gave you a beautiful new gown for your baby doll.
Kylie: Yes, ma'am.  But I traded my doll to get cookies for Jordan's cookie jar.
Jordan: I traded my cookie jar for some new markers so Bobbye Sue could color in her color in her coloring books.
Bobbye Sue: And I traded my coloring books to get a caboose for his train set. 
Mason: And I sold my train set to get Kylie a gown for her doll.  That's why we're all sad, Mrs.  Billi.
(Mrs. Sandra walks into room): I have the saddest news.  That new family that's been coming to church; the one with the baby girl and the little girl and the little girl - their house burned down last night.  The lost everything.  Why do everyone look so sad?"
Mrs. Billie:  Mrs Sandra, our kids did such a good job at getting their gifts, that actually gave up their favorite things to get stuff for others.  The only trouble is they gifts that got all go with what they gave up."
Mrs. Sandra:  Oh, dear.  The Gift of the Magi.
Bobbye Sue:  The gift of the what?
Mrs. Sandra:  The Gift of the Magi.  It's a story of a  very poor married couple who wanted to make Christmas very special for each other.  His favorite thing was his gold pocket watch  and hers was her beautiful long hair.  He sold his watch to buy her some ribbon for her hair and she cut and sold her hair to buy him a chain for his watch.
Kylie: What did they do, Mrs Sandra.  She couldn't use the ribbon and he couldn't use the chain.
Mrs. Sandra: Well, the story says they put them gifts away until they could use them.
Jordan: I have an idea.  Can we give the gifts we got today to the family whose house burned down.
All kids: Yes! Let's do that!
Mrs. Billie: I think it's great idea!
Mrs. Sandra: Me too.  I am so proud of you.  All of you have truly grasped the true meaning of Christmas.  

Christmas Day 2010

Merry Christmas everyone.  Santa was VERY good to the Crippled Mama this this year!!!  Not only did he bring me a new stove,  he also brought me a new "Mama-only-kids don't-touch!!!"  laptop computer.  I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hopefully, I'll be able to write more.  I like to writ

kayce's blog: saturday's giveaway

kayce's blog: saturday's giveaway: "Today you can win your favorite KH women's dress. Post this on your blog for 10 extra points to win."

Christmas Countdown: Six Weeks to an Organized Christmas!

Christmas Countdown: Six Weeks to an Organized Christmas!

Thanksliving, Christamas at th Barretts, and Other Ramblings

The other day I finished creating my "Holiday Planner".  I've had several over the years and even bought Marcia Ramsland's  Simplify Your Holidays .  There's one online I would love to down load, but at last, it $15.00 bucks and I can not justify it.  I like creating my own planners and stuff because I can take things from various site and personalize them.  I need to find some Thanksgiving devotionals to print and use the week of N0v.21.  Years ago I got Barbra Rainey's "Thanks Living"  I love it!  It really focuses on remembering the Thanksgiving history and putting a biblical prospective on things.   I maay takee this and sorta make our own "Barrett Thanks Living Devotional".  For the past 2 years, we've had company on Thanksgiving Day and I sadly admit that I have been as diligent on this aspect of the holiday that I should be. 

We are also contemplating having some friends over,  The wife/mom is a nurse and has to work that day.  All their family lives out of state.   I love to have people over.  I know the holidays are about family (which I'll talk on in a minute) but I just love to give and serve to others.  Yes, I know you can (and should) do this all year around, but there's something about the holidays that energizes people; energizes me!  I not one of these people that can got serve food to the homeless - wish I could.  However, I know that although my physical abilities are limited I can serve God through serving those who pass through our home.

Christmas at the Barretts  - we are hosting a Christmas get together on Dec 11, for my side of the family.  I live halfway between mt Uncle's family and mom and my siblings.  I'm supper excited!  I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters so getting everyone together is hectic,  Not sure they'll all make it, but hoping most of them will.

Shopping -   Hoping to start shopping this week,  will do most of it on line .

Thanksgiving Planner Sample

Thanksgiving Planner Sample

Planning Thanksgiving - 2010

OK,  so four weeks from today is Turkey Day.  It's gonna be a simple Barrett affair.  We may have 2 SILs and a BIL here - but not sure yet.  We are hosting Christmas for my family on Dec. 11th.  I'm kind of excited to go back to just a basic Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to it being a bit more laid back.  The kids can help cook, we can do a Blessing Journal, watch the parades, movies, just relax and enjoy each other.

THE MENU SO FAR

~HONEY BAKED HAM

~CHICKEN & GNOCCHI SOUP

~DRESSING

~GREEN BEANS

-CARROTS

~MAC & CHEESE

~CONGEALED SALAD

~CRANBERRY SAUCE

~SAUSAGE BALLS

~TRAIL MIX

~PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

~BROWNIES

 

Gospel Stocking

OK.  So  as our general gift to family and friends this year I thought about making Gospel Stockings.  Including:
   - Baby bottles - to tell of His birth
   - DR. ducks - to tell of His healing
  - pencil erasers - to tell of his teaching
   _ dove tokens- to tell of His baptism
   - crosshatched cross bookmarks  - to tell of the crucifixion
   - glow in the dark skeleton- to tell of his death and burial
   - 3-D form suns to symbolize Him being raised from the dead
     -cut out of a right hand to symbolize the Jesus sits on the right hand

I have the stockings and most of the other stuff I can either make or get from oriental trade.  Bobbye Sue wants to use this idea as our Christmas card to so I need to think of how we can design this!

My plan for 2011

     It's been years since I've posted on this blog!!!  I'm hosting a get together for my side of the family on Dec 11, so I need to really start deep cleaning the house and prepping.   Hopefully, can start buying gifts soon.  Will buy most of them online  Bobbye's Sue's wants a baby and the I also want to get he some scrapbook and arts and crafts stuff.  Dalton is all about making videos and has Barrett has some ideas for him  Need to pray about something inspirational and cheap to give friends and  family

My gift closet

Will update - Keeping a stocked gift closet it key to my planning. Always be on the look out for potential gifts, check clearance aisles and bargain bins at you favorite stores. Another think I love is freebie sites - freebies make great stocking stufers.

My Cleaning Schedual

Part of my year round planning is cleaning my house - I'm far behind!!!

June 15 - June 21: Kitchen
June 21 - June 28: Laundry
June 29 - July 5: Play room
July 6 - July 12: Sun Room
July 13 - July 19:Dining room
July 27 - Aug. 2: Living room
Aug 3 - Aug 9: Bath rooms
Aug 10 - Aug 16: Master Bedroom
Aug 17 - Aug 23: Dalton's room
Aug 24 - Aug 30: Bobbye Sue's room

What Santamama's reading...

I'm going to try and read a different Christmas/Holiday day book every couple of weeks & I'll write about it.

My first book is Eve's Christmas by Janet daily.

I'm also reading thru Created to Be His Helpmeet with a group of women on Cafemom.com