It snowed off and on all day long yesterday! At times, it was breathtaking! I snapped this photo, the second that I looked outside and saw these big beautiful flakes falling from the sky, came inside and downloaded the photos onto Facebook. When I looked back out the window, it had stopped. I'm fine with it stopping, as long as we have five minute intervals like that every day from now till Christmas. Well... actually... I'm fine with it every day until March 21st!
A few Christmas thoughts and then I'm off to get busy. I'm excited to be helping with the refreshments for a training meeting in our ward tonight. I'll be making treats for 75. Very happy to have something extra to focus on today. Watching, as the funerals of the beautiful children have begun, brings me to tears once more. Nat and I shared tears off and on through lunch, as these sweet children remain close to our hearts and minds. The topic comes up repeatedly, wherever we go. I'm so thankful to have this joyful time of the year to celebrate. Emotions may bounce from one extreme to the other. It's an extra special gift to have the holidays to bring the reminded of peace on earth and good will to men. We're in this together, friends.
Something old:
In my own personal opinion, teachers, policemen and firefighters all deserve the pay that doctors and attorneys earn, but that's not the way it works. I'd love to be able to afford to gift every teacher, principal, librarian, resource teacher, aide and bus driver who helps each of my children every day of their little lives. Before suggesting gift ideas for those who work so hard to mold the lives of our children, here's some thoughts on gifts not to give our teachers. According to many teachers... most teachers have more than their fair share of apple-themed crafts, teacher quotes on everything from chalkboards to coffee mugs to painted yardsticks, and receive far too many candles and homebaked goodies. Speaking of mugs, they are the topic of many an inside joke to teachers. Plates full of cookies and candy, which are a frequent gift, often end up being tossed before they are eaten because of the mass quantity received on that last day or two before the Christmas break. Just some food for thought. (no pun intended.)
My favorite idea ever, although probably too late this year...keep in mind that twenty-some other moms are all trying to come up with an affordable and clever idea for the same teacher. If you know the room mother, give her a call today, and suggest that each student contribute to one gift for the teacher. Once, one of my kiddos brought home a note asking each parent to send money in an envelope labeled "Room Mother". The room mother collected the funds and purchased one gift for the teacher. Sweet!
Here's the best teacher gift suggestion ... give gift certificates! Whether it's for five dollars or twenty, they add up and are greatly appreciated. Even if it's only a few dollars, who doesn't mind getting three dollars off any purchase!? Consider gift cards from:
local restaurants ~ who doesn't love a night off from the kitchen
Staples or Officemax ~ what teacher doesn't need office supplies and often
book stores ~ for their own reading pleasure or for a book for their class room
bath & body works ~ tell them to pamper themselves and they can choose their own favorite scents rather than yours
a local craft/hobby store ~ gift cards to Hobby Lobby or Michaels would surely be appreciated
theater tickets ~ (sort of a gift certificate)
iTunes or Amazon Gift Cards
One last thought on the matter, why not include a short little note written by you or your child thanking the teacher and telling them what they love about them! That would be the frosting on the cake! Just sayin.
Something new:
When I went in for lunch yesterday, I was met and greeted with a plate full of goodies from my friends at Chili's. There were several different treats but my favorite was one that I've never heard of or tried before. Pretzels dipped in white chocolate/almond bark and then rolled in crushed candy canes. OH MY! SO tasty! I'd have never put them together. The salt, the sweet and the mint was to die for! SO simple! SO GOOD!
Something borrowed:
Seriously, this is one of the prettiest and most simple things I've seen all season long! I'll be doing this in January for my snow tablescape. Love it!
Something to do:
Monday night, we had our family party with the B's. After a fun dinner, Wendy pulled out a little gift for each person in the family. We all sat around in a circle and starting with the youngest, Miki, we picked one gift. The person who opened the gift could keep it or give it to the person that Wendy had bought it for. She chose gifts that were specially intended for each of us. (Mine was a jar of Nutella! Imagine that!) As each person took their turn opening, they shared the gift for who they thought it was intended for. With the passing of each gift, the giver told the recipient something that they love and appreciate about that person. The gifts were exchanged back and forth until the final gift was opened, along with many nice compliments between us all. Wendy's message was about being good givers and receivers of gifts, based on the Christmas Devotional Message presented by the First Presidency of the LDS Church. Very nice calm activity and very sweet spirit throughout the game. Would be a great Christmas Eve activity!
Today:
lunch with Denise
a trip to Sam's Club
find a new purse because my second new one in the past month has died already
a stop at the Post office (NEVER go to the PO on the busiest day of the year 15 minutes before closing!...hence, a second trip for one more package heading to California)
baking
a nap
loading up and setting up at the church
a training meeting
Life is good. Even with pain and suffering. It's very, very good. AND...we're expecting a white Christmas!
It is the time to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart – and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much; he who gives time gives more; but he who gives of himself gives all.
Thomas S. Monson
Sophia, I am a Kindergarten teacher and the BEST gift I got last year was a heartfelt letter from the grandmother of a little girl I had. Unfortunately, the little girl had been in the Foster system, but luckily she had ended up in my class! She is the sweetest thing and got out of the system in November. Her grandmother received custody of her and even though they lived far from our school, drove her to my class everyday! At the end of the year the grandmother emailed me the best letter ever! I printed it out and put it on my bulletin board to remind me of why I do what I do! Thanks for suggesting that because those are the best gifts!
Posted by: Rita | Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 09:27 AM