~*~Life as Me~*~

Alphainventions.com brings me blessings, truly!

Well I have to say it, for the last week or more I've been getting more traffic here in my lil blog space and according to my stats reports they are stayers....people who come here, and stay for a while. In total, from all the visitors that have come here from alphainventions there have been FOUR people who have stayed here less than 5 minutes in total. That means that out of the other 300+ they have stayed longer and all of whom have clicked various other posts on this blog and taken an interest in what i've written about. Three people even spent around 4 hours reading everything on my blog since I began this one in June! Do you know what that is like for my self esteem? I mean, it's like 'wow' someone is actually reading this waffle that I spend ages even just thinking about! Take a peak at this, this is just a peek at what makes me smile:

Its when I actually see that my blog is even a tiny bit worth reading it feels worth it. That said, I do blog for myself, to empty my head or for my friends and family afar to keep up with us here in our lil home but lets face it, its always nice when someone stops by, gets comfy and stays awhile. Innit?

Anyway, the downside is I cant return the favour to these people cos there's no real trace on who they are. My ''regular'' readers I know their ip's, towns and a lil bit more but all these new people...well I just dont know and I wish I did because I would love to comment on their blogs and see what their world is about. Anyway, thanks to Alphainventions I have a whole loada new readers and that makes me happpeeee!!

I have to also mention my new matey Dena, she is full of wit and charm that you just gotta go check out her blog...HERE. This is what she wrote about me...take a giggle:

Jesus v. Santa

If you go to my Tech Inventions and Websites page you will see a website I have discovered and really enjoy. It is called Life As Me. The article is written by that author and it does an excellent job at explaining how one can be Mormon (or any Christian for that matter) and still tell her child about Santa.  I guess it is the belief that Santa is for the secular kids and Jesus is for the Christians and the two shall never meet.

However, Santa Claus is based on a Catholic Bishop, St. Nicholas.  He was born in the third century and eventually became the Bishop of Myra. If you want to learn more about the real Saint Nicholas go here:

St. Nicholas Center

So because the real St. Nicholas was a follower of Christ, you can join the two together and help build the faith of your child. However, you can allow them to have the mythical Santa Claus as well. A little imagination never hurt anyone.  In fact, Jesus is the one who gave us the wondrous gift of imagination, he gave us the land of dreams. He wouldn’t have done that if it wasn’t something he thought was important and necessary.  Therefore to take away a child’s ability to marvel is downright cruel and inhumane!

I can prattle on forever but she makes a much better case than I. So go…..you’re still here? Go read her article already. LOL

Dena is a woman who knows her mind and is not afraid to share it, albeit in a fair and non offensive way, I admire any person who can do this and still be true to themself. You ROCK Dena!! ;)

So, are you going over to Dena's place? Or you gonna stay for a while longer? Make up your mind ok, its cold with that door open!! ;) Oh, and thank you for coming by here, and for staying and reading my blog! Feel free to leave your blog addy and i'll come return the favour!

**sigh**

More posts soon...and another recipe that is just sooo delicious!! ;)

~*~Debs~*~

Question and Answer for you

Since my post over on Modern Molly Mormon there has been a few things said for and against Santa at Christmas. All are valid and acceptable so I decided to do some blog hopping to see if I could find any other arguements for and against the big guy. I'm surprised, no I'm shocked and appalled that some women have actually ARGUED quite meanly about this subject. How silly and sad is that? I mean, if us adults cant debate then what right do we have teaching our kids? Isn't there opposition in all things? Do we not open our minds to some other opinions? If not then we should!! :P

Here is my original post on this subject about how we do things in our home, though its not a full and final but it gives an idea on my balance of the Holy season.

So now I want YOUR feedback. Whatever your opinion is fine, I will not and do not want to convert anyone to Santa, I ONLY want opinions. If you want to share any stories, traditions, feelings on the subject, please do, I really want to know. If you have a blog leave the link, I will reply to everyone who comments.

THIS IS NOT TO BE A BITCHFEST, IF YOU CANNOT BE POLITE THEN PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT. ANY NEGATIVE OR PERSONAL ATTACKS WILL BE DELETED.

So, come on, share what YOU think about Santa v Jesus.

~*~Debs~*~

Jesus v Santa

Something has been a topic of many conversations for me this week, I have been asked a few times how, as a Latter Day Saint we deal with Santa. Not really a challenge but this is how I do it.

So hands up who believes in Santa? (Both my hands are up!!) I refuse to verbalise any admission of his mythical being....for three reasons:

1. Because the theory was bought about from a kind and loving gentleman (St Nicholas) for the purpose of children having a gift to open and to feel loved and cherished in the depth of a dark and poor world.
2. Because children are full of imagination, dreams, hope and wonderment. As they grow older they will defer from such things and begin to contend with the real world.
3. Because I believe I focus on Jesus Christ enough to make something fun out of the season.

However, its HOW a belief in Santa is portrayed

that can and will make a difference to the child, siblings and other family members (not to mention society). My older boys are now 19 and 18, when I ask them how they see our Christmas's past they never once quote any gifts they did or didn't have, they reminded me of memories, our visitors, seeing family, going out for walks, baking, making decorations, family nights in with a video (dvd's weren't thought of then!), games nights or anything else we used to do. How did I manage this? Simple (well looking back its simple!) I made sure that my time and effort with them was not moreso over the Christmas holidays, I have always been a hands on mum, whether its reading their school reading book or talking about a choice they have to make. I emphasise time with them, for them and about them. Of course there are days when I cant or something takes me away, but because I priroritise them first that is few and far between.

So now I have Charley, and the tender age of 4. He has a good concept of Jesus and is loving the various ways I am trying to share the story of His birth. We sit and read a variety of books, we read the kids New Testament Stories, we colour pictures and talk about Him as well as watch dvd's depicting his birth. This has instigated more interest from Kirsten (12) and Jay (19) so they too are sharing with Charley as well as learning themselves. (My 18 yr old son Scott lives away for college) We have some great talks about Jesus Christ, why he was born in a stable, why couldnt Mary and Joseph be in a better place than a stable? Why couldn't God delay labour until they had found somewhere clean, warm and comfortable. It's all a wonderful time to just talk, share, learn and teach. In comparison the questions about Santa are fewer and not as intense as the ones about Jesus Christ.

So where does Santa come in? Easy, I want to use Santa as a way of teaching imagination, apprciation and faith to my son. So when he see's a commercial for something he wants I say 'we'll put it on your Santa list and speak to Jesus about it'. He's cool with that and gets excited when we do his prayer and/or our family prayer. When he asked me how Santa knows where his list is I said 'easy, Jesus works all things out and lets Santa know what to do and where to go, just like he does with us'. This is a big concept for a 4 year old so with many questions I am still on that route. I dont want him to lose his mythical imagination, I dont want him to grow up too quick and I dont want him to believe that year in and year out Santa will bring loads and loads of things and not know that ALL things that are good are done of God and Jesus Christ, there needs to be a balance between an innocent childhood and the sure foundation and faith in who we are and where we're going.

Reading our Advent Scripture this morning, Charley said to me 'mum does Jesus get presents to?'. I thought for a moment cos my natural answer would have gone right over his head. He sat near me waiting for an answer, so I just related to something he could understand, so I told him 'Jesus gets a gift every time we pray to Heavenly Father in His name, and when we do something nice for someone else and also when we go to church'. I feared this was too much for him when his face screwed up then he said:

So, are WE his gifts?

I think whichever way you want to look at that its hard to say no. Kids are just so innocent and spiritual, all we have to do is guide them.

I am grateful, at least this year that my youngest and last biological child is showing signs of not being materialistic and definitely a son of God learning and soaking up the reality of his being yet enjoying the magical times of his childhood. Who knows what could happen next year when he's in full time school, but I take comfort in my older three not being materialistic and inclined to be grateful and content so why should Charley be any different?

Faith. I have faith.

How do you do Jesus/Santa in your home?

~*~Debs~*~

Ooooh I say!

I nearly messed it up. Thankfully I found my way round. I have to say, i'm not a fan of this new designing struction on typepad. Honestly, as good as they are with all kinds of things to actually change things around is not an easy task. Blogger is better in that dept.
But I done all I can do now...the blog look i'm on about...haven't you caught on yet? :) Anyway, till I find someone incredibly intelligent to make me a really nice template this is gonna have to do. A bog standard, three column doodie. But look at the sides...go on take a peek...only a teeny weeny border of wasted space there! Now I dont feel like i'm walking through a 1' narrow tunnel when I check my blog! In fact its so good you can actually spread out your arms from one side to another! Go on try it...go on!! ;) Santa's giving it some thought look....think he likes it! ;)

On from that, Princess Kirsten and I have found some ways to tell if you are stressed...all au naturele (sp) of course. From the top...

Last night, going through our water damaged Christmas decorations I decided to call it time and make us all a drink. Leaning to put the milk back in the fridge I leaned to open the back door to let the dog out.

Only it wasnt the dog sat there.

It was the top of the tree!!

Later on Kirsten is sat with the phone in her hand waiting for her friend Whitney to call and arrange things for the weekend. As she was so busy yapping she turned to turn the tv down

With the phone.

I lay on the sofa while Kirsten chose a Christmas movie for us to watch, the dog jumps on the back and chews on my hair as usual. I grab him to play and start munching him.

I got his bum end.

Kirsten goes in the kitchen to make us a drink. She put the sugar in the fridge. The milk in the cupboard. The hot chocolate went in the bin and the sealy thing off the milk in the cup.

Seriously.

Other than that yesterday was a pretty good day all round. Oh and we have been invited to Florida next summer by my friend (female) who has a house there. Now its not enough that she has the house, which is totally massive and jealously awesome but she lives over here and goes there when she needs a break! Oh boy, soon as she made the offer I accepted! She is about 10 miles from Disney Land...now thats what I call cool!! :)

Another bit of exciting new is I have just been invited to share some input over on a really cool blog that I mentioned yesterday...Modern Molly Mormon...the details are still being ironed but I am SO excited cos the site has all the things that tick my clock...Lds, fellow mums, talkers, crafters and a lot more. Go on over and check it out, even if your not Lds i'm sure you'll still love it.

Right, gotta move on now. I'm 9 days late for putting up our tree and decorations. I have only ever once been late and that was last year. Its not good. Seriously, how can you get into the spirit of Christmas with no tree? I'm not sure I even have all the pieces for it though, last night we were missing a crusial part, the part that holds the branches!! Not conclusive yet that all the decorations are damaged but it's looking bleek. So far we have only managed to play music, make a few decorations and cards...thats about as festive as we are right now. Not good. Must do better! So off I go to see if I can save Christmas in the Willson household!! :)

 

~*~Debs~*~

A whole loada cr*p

Some minor things have been bugging me lately, not in a horrible way but more in an amusement way. Here are a few:

* shorcut words so much so you gotta spend an hour figuring out one simple sentence. ie. spesh = special. Might as well just write with pictures!

* invisible trackers dont work, and I know who you are! :P

* lies always come back at ya, however small and for whatever reason

* a burnt apple pie will always be burnt, no matter how  good a cook you are

* blogs/sites that automatically play their taste in music is very frustrating. I often have a talk on then suddenly a blast of unwanted music screams out and shakes the house.

* you can spread the love as much as you want, only a small percentage only ever comes back

* why is it so neccessary to swear on a blog? I know they are personal but surely there should be some iota of self respect going on there? I never return to a blog once i've seen that which is a shame cos there's some really good ones out there.

I feel crap today. Been on meds since Monday and my stomach feels like its all cramping up and about to explode the inside. Thankfully it hasn't but it feels so sore! Most of today has been spend slouching on the sofa, watching Christmas movies with the kids. Originally we'd planned on clearing out Kirsten's wardrobe ready for new stuff from good ole Santa. The upside is she's made a start and found another 8 full outfits for the 90 things out before 2009 pledge we've made. I wonder if anyone else is taking this aboard and decluttering their home?

As a rule (a 20 year rule) my 7' high, 5' wide (at the bottom) Christmas tree is put up lovingly and frustratingly on the 1st December, this year its still sat in the shed wondering what is happening. This weekend Jay, Kirsten, Charley and I shall do the battle and get this house all festive and alive. We were hopeful to move in the next week or so but as its fell though (which trust me, is my luck totally) we are now mentally readjusting to be in this house for a while longer. Trust me, that is not a good thing but hey, we have two choices here, whinge about it or get on with it. We choose the latter for sanity's sake! So, on with Christmas. Kirsten has been doing an About.com art course, focussing on Anime's which she is doing and adapting for the front of her Christmas cards, yesterday she spent almost all day doing them and was so proud of what the end results were. I want to show a picture of them but she says no. humpffff!

Charley has been working on a folder of his artwork for his daddy. Rather than do it in scrapbook style we have inserted the pages in a basic grey cardstock covered folder and inserted pages with photos and memories we have noted down with Charley drawing over the pages. When this is finished I will definitely post photos, he is so excited and proud of this project!

The kids have made a small collection of decorations this week too, they have done some candle holders, more pom poms, small decorated jars with tiny baubles inside and a ribbon saturated card holder. Now they have used up this supply of goodies to alter they are ready for the next batch...but I have not back up batch! So good ole t'interweb served a wonderful tool in finding and printing off some stuff that they can do....wanna see? Go check this site out and I dare ya not to find something you just totally adore! I wish i'd found it earlier because there is so many gorgeous things in there to have a go at, though I may still try, at worst they will be nice for next year!

Moving on, our puddy tat decided to go exploring today....regardless of how often we got her down she went right back up again, and spent about 5 hours there.....birdwatching? sightseeing? plane spotting? (Taken through the window so look out for the smudges!!!)

In all she was about 20' high in this bare tree, loving whatever it was she was doing but didn't she realise there was nothing up there?
Last night whilst we (the kids and I) were reading, Tillie and Jake were playing around (she's coming into her own now at last) but she still loves to tease the dog and sit wherever is small enough that only she can go....like here....

All the time watching Jakeyroo....

then Charley boy....

Dontcha just love the quiet days in preparing for Christmas, making, playing, talking, reading and just being together? No? Well we do! :)

~*~Debs~*~