Christmas Cheer

In lieu of yet another blog post, I decided to share a few photos that best capture how much fun we enjoyed this past Christmas season. All of our immediate family came to Bear Lake to celebrate the holidays and as you'll see, we had a great time. My brother and his wife and daughters joined us, as did my youngest sister, and her hubby. My mother (who lives in nearby Montpelier) loved seeing everyone, especially her two great-grandchildren.

We began our festivities by meeting up with some of Kennon's family in Pocatello for a fun feast on the 23rd of December. Then we journeyed to Preston, Idaho with our son, Devin, and his wife, Emily, to enjoy the traditional festival of lights.

The next day was Christmas Eve and some of our clan enjoyed another tradition: the annual Crane Trapshoot Adventure. (Shooting at clay pigeons, they determine who is the marksman/woman of the year.) Kris, Devin, and Emily had a blast, literally. ;)

That night we enjoyed our annual Christmas Eve Feast. We prepared a plethora of tasty finger foods, plus Kennon cooked up some lovely tenderloin steaks, and our sons steamed up shrimp to go with everything. Here my mother, Genevieve, and my daughter-in-law, Emily, are posing with some of our creations.

Since the next day was going to be a bit crazy (Kris had to leave early the next morning for work; the rest of us were planning on attending church in our ward, etc.) we opened most of our gifts that night. Here Kris is enjoying an entertaining family photo book that Snapfish helped me put together for everyone this year.

Devin is showing off one of his favorite gifts, a fancy new phone.

Kennon looks on as I unwrap the gift he surprised me with: tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Salt Lake City on the 28th.

 Derek and Kristen arrived with their cute offspring on Christmas Day. Here my granddaughter is posing with the adorable "Minion" hat her talented mother made.

Our grandson was also sporting a cute "Minion" hat. He took great delight in yanking it off in time to pose with his parents.

 We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Dinner, and then visited, played a variety of games, and watched a few fun movies. The next day, it was time to play in the snow. Here my nieces are posing with my granddaughter before playing in the white fluffy stuff.

 These girls had a great time riding the four-wheeler and hanging on for dear life in the attached sled.

Round two of the annual trap shoot. Kris drove back down for a couple of days, and he, Derek, and my brother, Tom, had a wonderful time blowing up clay pigeons. Later on, they would network between 3 computers and play an old school game, "Myth." A good time was had by all.

 Here I am, sporting my new Christmas Apron, a gift from a good friend. It came in handy as I continued to prepare delightful cuisine for everyone.

In this shot, my sister, Trudi, is posing with her new camera. 

 The next afternoon, Kennon and I left Hotel Crane in the care of our offspring, and headed to SLC for the concert. That night we toured Temple Square and enjoyed the beautiful lights.

 On the morning of the 28th, we enjoyed seeing several of the sights of SLC. Among other things, we journeyed up to explore "This Is the Place" monument, and visitors' center.

 We even made it out to the Tracy Aviary Park, which neither of us had ever seen before. It was a lot of fun, but things were turning off cold by then.

I think even the birds were a little bit chilled that day.

 We had tickets for the afternoon concert, so we headed to the Energy Solutions Arena shortly after eating lunch. It was a pleasant surprise to run into a couple of my cousins who happened to receive tickets to this same concert from their kids. Their seats were one row ahead of us. Quite the coincidence. We all had great seats and loved the show.

It was an awesome concert, something Kennon and I thoroughly enjoyed. If you ever get the chance, it's well worth seeing this band perform.

The holiday fun wasn't over yet. We enjoyed hanging out with some of Kennon's family at their condo over by Bear Lake on New Year's Eve. The next day, we savored New Year's dinner with my mother, and our son, Derek, our daughter-in-law, Kristen, and our wonderful grandchildren who were on their way home after spending a few days in Wyoming with Kristen's family.

Despite a silly camera battery snafu, we were able to recapture one of our 4-generation shots that was lost on Christmas Day. (Yes, I'm still pouting over that one. Grumble . . . grumble . . . complain some more.) We'll have to retake the one of Kennon's mother posing with Derek and his children. (Verdene had come down to join in the fun the day after Christmas.)

I think everyone had a great time. I apologize that not everyone's pictures made it into this post. My silly camera had issues during the holiday week and not all of the shots taken turned out, or even survived. (See grumble, grumble, complain some more comment above.) It was great seeing everyone, and to me, that's what the holidays are all about: spending time with loved ones.

Happy New Year!

Gifts of the Heart

My mother has always been a great example of what being a "giver," is all about. She has taught me lessons based on that subject for many years. I will always remember the night she "encouraged" me to help her take dinner into the home of one of my seminary teachers. That family had been in a nasty car accident about two days prior, and their youngest child, an infant, had been killed. I didn't know what to say or do, but my mother taught me that what matters most is simply being there.

There were other lessons, like the time I tripped over a garden hose lying in the front yard and dropped a plate of cream puffs. It was to be part of the dinner she had planned for a family whose mother was home, recovering from major surgery. She didn't lecture on my lack of grace, she merely sighed, helped me pick up the mess, and then instructed me to retrieve the second plate of cream puffs from our house, a treat intended for our family. Not only was I entrusted with carrying the second plate, but I was allowed later on to create a different dessert for our own family.

Years later, after my father's untimely death, my mother was working as a CNA at a nursing home. At the time, she worked with the most difficult wing; her patients had all been diagnosed with a form of Alzheimers. One lady was blind and had been assigned into that unit simply because it was more difficult to care for her. That Christmas Eve, my mother asked all of us to accompany her back to the nursing home. We brought plates of homemade sugar cookies we had decorated earlier that day, and my guitar. We went from room to room, singing Christmas Carols, and sharing treats with those who were alone. I've never forgotten how I felt that night, nor the tears that raced down the face of the blind woman who had felt forgotten and discarded.

This past year, my mother has faced a series of major changes in her life. She had been living with my youngest sister. But when this same sister announced her engagement and upcoming wedding, Mom decided it was time to move on. She wanted to return to Bear Lake, where she had lived for a time after my graduation from high school. We found her a cute apartment in a nearby retirement complex, and now I see her on a daily basis. It has been a fun experience, and she is still teaching me lessons on giving. She gets by on a frugal income these days, but her heart is still very much intent on helping those around her.

This past Thanksgiving, we took in 3 plates of food to ladies who live in Mom's retirement complex. These were some of my mother's new friends, and none of them had plans to do anything special for that holiday. So before we consumed our own feast, we helped our mother take plates of food into these sweet ladies. We later heard how thrilled they had been by the tasty treats we had brought to them that day. In a sad twist, one of these women passed away about a week later. Here is the rest of the story:

We didn't know it at the time, but this dear lady had avoided celebrating Thanksgiving for years. It was on Thanksgiving Day that her only daughter died of a drug overdose. For understandable reasons, Thanksgiving was a time of mourning. Before this year's Thanksgiving season, this same woman had told my mother that she wasn't going to do anything for Christmas either. But after the plate of food was brought into her apartment, this woman caught a bit of my mother's holiday spirit. The next day, she went out and bought gifts for her family, and Christmas cards. She began decorating her apartment for Christmas. People who knew her, said she was happier than she had been in a long time. Then she collapsed upstairs while doing her laundry. She was rushed to a hospital, but her heart, which had undergone a loving transformation, gave out.

I accompanied my mother to her friend's funeral. It was a bittersweet day. Earlier, my mother had been given a Christmas card made out to her by this same friend. We talked for quite some time about how my mother shouldn't feel regret, since she had brought such joy into her new friend's life during her final days in mortal mode.

To me, that's what the holiday season is all about: bringing joy into the lives of others. This is a time of year when we lovingly share with family, friends, and those who need it most. And as I have learned, compliments of my mother, it isn't so much what we give, but how we give. When those gifts are from the heart, they possess the power to change lives and boost spirits. And those are the best gifts of all.

The White Stocking

Several years ago the bishop of our ward gave every family in our small town a small white Christmas stocking. He challenged us to gather as a family and privately decide on an individual basis what our gift to the Savior would be for the coming year. Our gift would be written on scraps of paper, and then folded and placed inside of the white stocking for safe keeping. During the holiday season, this stocking would be kept on the Christmas tree as a reminder of what we had pledged to do in the coming months. After that it was to be placed in an area where it could be seen often to help us remember what we've pledged.

Our family took this challenge to heart and each year on Christmas Eve, we gather as a family to retrieve our personal pledge from the white stocking. Silently we reflect on how well we came through on whatever our gift to the Savior was that year. Then after some thought, we decide what next year's gift will be.

As you may have guessed, these gifts are not of a material nature. They are gifts of the heart and mind, promises of self-improvement. Most in our clan select Christ-like attributes---the choice is up to each individual.

Wouldn't it be a remarkable thing if each year at Christmas-time, the entire world population would take a few moments to reflect on a gift to the Savior? Instead of focusing on the materialistic trends we see this time of year, simple gifts of the heart would be rendered.

This time of year I think of the shepherds who were the first to see the Christ-child after his humble birth. The gifts they brought were simple in comparison with those that were later given by the wise men, and yet I'm certain they were treasured most by our Elder Brother. They were gifts of humility, kindness, and love. Faith, hope, and charity were at the heart of these oblations. These are the character traits our Savior longs for each one of us to embrace and share.

So this Christmas season, as we bustle about preparing for this sacred time of year, let us reflect on how best we can celebrate the birth of our Lord. I think most of us will find that the most joy will come from sharing the simple gifts that were given long ago in a humble stable where the Prince of Peace was born.

Christmas Crash

Yep, I did it again. In trying to keep the Yuletide burning bright, I totally overdid things. My body let me know what it thought about that tradition yesterday. I could barely move. Most uncool. ;)

Is it part of our human nature to make the holidays as wonderful as possible? I actually feel guilt over Christmas cards that didn't get sent this year. (I made a valiant effort, but did not get a card sent to everyone that I normally do.) And my mother's gift is still sitting on my piano bench---a testimony that the gray cells don't function as well as they used to. (It didn't click that I'd left it there until we were pulling in my mother's driveway down in Utah. I still can't believe I forgot it.)

I made a plethora of food and Christmas candy. Then after consuming my share of the goodies, my stomach rebelled. Toast wasn't even my friend yesterday.

What makes me sad is that I absolutely love the holiday season. I love hearing from friends and loved ones who also make a valiant effort to send out Christmas cards. It's the only time I hear from some of them.

I love Christmas music, I love the lights, and I especially love the reason for the season. As I'm busy bustling around, I figure it's my way of showing love and respect for our Elder Brother by doing as much good for other people as I possibly can. I participated in the Toys for Tots drive our valley sponsored yet again this year. I made well over 25 plates of candy to take around to neighbors and friends. And I did my best to make or purchase thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Even the one still sitting on my piano bench contains items that I know my mother will love . . . eventually.

I guess my question today (and yes, I'm a day late with this post . . . I do apologize) is: have we made the holidays more complicated than they need to be? Is it good to go around in a brain stupor for a couple of days afterward because we pushed ourselves beyond what our bodies (mine in particular) consider cool? Am I the only one who runs myself into the dirt each holiday season? I don't think so. I saw a similar glazed look on my mother's face a couple of days ago. She did most of the holiday baking in her abode this year since my youngest sister is still recovering from a car wreck she endured earlier this month. Then I arrived and took over the the helm . . . after already doing so in our realm. (We didn't head down to my mother's house until the day after Christmas.)

I'm already making myself a list of do's and don'ts for next year, in the hopes that it won't be as crazy as this year was. Any bets I'll ignore it? ;) What think the rest of you about this strange phenomenon? And what can we do to change things around? I seriously doubt our Elder Brother likes it when we make ourselves sick on His behalf. I suspect He likes it better when we strive to be more like Him all year long---stretching things out so it's not all clumped up together at the end of the year.

That's my goal for this coming new year---to slow down, savor the good stuff, and ignore my overactive conscience that constantly harps about the items I did not accomplish. I may not succeed, since being an overachiever seems to run in my bloodlines, but I'm going to give it a shot. (Bad diabetic pun) I would like to live to see other Christmas holidays. Words to live by . . . literally. =D

Merry Christmas

Wow, where did this month go? ;) I can't believe how fast it passed by. True, we've had a few adventures in our family this month, but still, here we are---it's the week of Christmas.

Today, I plan to make several batches of homemade candy. It's a tradition in our small town to share plates of goodies with our neighbors and friends. It's a fun way to let people know you're thinking about them. And my husband and sons have always enjoyed sampling the delicious treats that arrive at our house each year. (I, of course, try to behave since I have to face the wrath of my diabetic doctor in the near future.)

Since today will be yet another crazy day . . . I decided for today's blog, I will share some fun holiday photos. Some were taken this past week, others are classic shots from the past. Enjoy and all of you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Here's a shot my sons will cherish. A blast from the past--2001. ;) [They're all hams who take after their father . . .]


Here Devin and I are posing (not hamming it up) at a Crane family Christmas party in 2005.

Here was a fun food event at the same party. Wonderful creamy chocolate. Need I say more?!

And a shot of Kennon & I at yet another Christmas event--the traditional Christmas Eve feast.

Our sons love this event as well. Here are Devin and Kris getting into the holiday spirit.

My mother has always loved Christmas. Here she is posing as one of Santa's little helpers.

This is a picture of our sons enjoying the musical Christmas presents they received that year.

And what would Christmas be without snow? We usually have plenty of that. ;)

This was Kristen's first Christmas with our clan. It was a fun year.

The traditional Christmas penguins.

This shot captured the excitement Kennon's mother felt when she learned that her kids and her spouse gave her a trip to Hawaii this year for Christmas.

Grandpa Kennon reading a fun story with our cute granddaughter, Aari. It will be so fun with her at Christmas this year. =)

Remember that Santa is watching closely during this final countdown . . .

May you receive your heart's desire this year . . .

And may we all remember what this season really means.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Let The Good Times Roll

As with every household this time of year, things have been slightly crazy here. We're madly dashing about, trying to keep up with all of the events\traditions that are a big part of this holiday season. The house is fully decorated with accompanying light strands hanging from various locations outside. This despite below zero temps in our neck of the woods. ;)

In way of good news, I finally finished up a project I've been working on for a couple of weeks for Kennon's side of the family. Whew! I'd reveal what it is, but they have a habit of periodically reading my blog posts, so mum is the word for now. Just know it's really neat and I'm hoping they'll love it.

I finally found the item on the tag I drew from this year's angel tree for our valley. Can I just say it wasn't easy?! ;) It involved traveling to another town to secure the heart wish of a five-year-old boy. To me, this kind of thing makes the holiday season complete.

I made round one of the candy I normally stir up this time of year. And most of it is already gone. Sigh . . . Oh, well---I guess that's a good sign. ;) Today I'll be making up my grandmother's old-fashioned caramel recipe. Yes, it's melt-in-your mouth goodness!!! Something we look forward to each year.



Once all of the candy is made, then it's time to put plates together for neighbors, and the lucky people I visiting teach, and home teach with my husband. (Yes, I'm doing double-duty in that realm these days. Good times.)

Most of the gifts for family and friends have been purchased. They're all still waiting for a wrap session in the near future. I'm anticipating tackling that duty tomorrow. And I still have a couple of packages to get in the mail if they are to arrive before Christmas Day.

Speaking of items that go in the mail, I have a mountain of Christmas cards that need attention. I'm not sure when I'll work that in. If you're reading this and you haven't received a card yet from me, no worries--they'll show up eventually.

Tomorrow is our ward's adult Christmas party. Every year we dress up and gather at the church for a delicious gourmet meal. It usually involves roasted beef or pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies-and-or-salad, and all kinds of fancy desserts. Then as we sit back wondering how we managed to eat so much, we are entertained by a traditional Christmas program. It is filled with music and humor, and ends with something tender about the birth of our Savior.

For this year's event, I've been asked to round up a handful of YW from our ward (since I'm still their fearless leader) to help serve the food. This is proving interesting since our numbers are dwindling in the Young Women realm. We're currently down to five very busy Laurels, four Mia Maids, and one Beehive. Good luck to me I say. =D

Two of those girls are starring in a local high school musical. (My husband and I went to see it the other night and were so impressed. This year's musical production is "The Secret Garden," possibly one of the most difficult musicals performed by our high school to this date and time. And they've done a fabulous job with it.) At least two of our YW have been sick all week with the gumbooie (My pet name for an undesirable bug) and one has been in Utah, stranded because of the weather. So today, I need to call around and see what I can come up with for serving girls. I wonder if I could borrow some from another ward . . .

I'm still in the planning stages for the traditional Christmas Eve festivities. All of our kids will be here for this event this year and we're really looking forward to all of it. It has been a tradition in my side of the family to create fun finger-foods, fondue, and yummy seafood like scalloped oysters and shrimp prepared in Louisiana shrimp boil for this dinner.

When I was a young girl, I loved Christmas Eve and all of the fun foods my mother created each year. This tradition started in her family when she was a little girl, and it has been a favorite holiday celebration ever since.

Years ago, our bishop at the time, gave each family a small white Christmas stocking. He challenged us to use it each year, giving gifts to the Savior as part of our celebration. Since then, our family has faithfully adhered to this important tradition. We gather around the Christmas tree and take the white stocking down. We empty out the pieces of paper we wrote on the year before and hand them around. Since this is a very private and personal thing, we never divulge to each other what our gift to the Savior has been during the past year. Usually it is something like being more Christ-like, rendering service to those around us, etc.



After we ponder how well we did with our gifts to the Savior, we use new pieces of paper to write down what our gift will be during the coming year. Then this stocking is hung in my china cabinet where we can see it all year---a reminder of our pledge to our Elder Brother. This is a great way to keep our focus where it needs to be during this holiday season. A quiet reminder of what it's all about.

As we all continue to bustle about, preparing for the days ahead, may we periodically reflect on the reason for the season. Take the time to enjoy loved ones and favorite traditions without getting bogged down by life's crazy demands. Enjoy each day as it comes and do as much good as your heart can hold. That is when Christmas miracles begin to take place, and when the holiday spirit comes to life.

The Best Gift

Several years ago our bishop at the time, gave each family in our ward a small, beautiful white stocking. He explained that he would like us to think about a special gift that we could give to the Savior during the coming year. It could be items like having more faith, being more patient or kind with those around us, etc.---gifts that would indicate we're striving to be more Christ-like.

Each year since that time, our family has kept this tradition. On Christmas Eve, we bring out the white stocking and empty its contents on the table, giving each family member the piece of paper that bears their name. Then we spend a few moments in silence, pondering the past year. We take a mental inventory, considering if we succeeded in giving this gift to the Savior.

Fresh slips of paper are then passed around. We spend another few minutes deciding on what our Christmas gift to the Savior will be during the next year. Writing it down, we then fold our pieces of paper, write our names on the outside, and set it inside the white stocking. The white stocking is then placed inside of my china cabinet where it can be seen all year. It is a reminder of what we have offered to our beloved Elder Brother.

I love this tradition. It helps me keep a perspective of what is really important. What we are offering are gifts of the heart, items that can never be purchased, wrapped, and placed under the tree. These are gifts of compassion and faith, presented with love to Someone we can never fully repay for the sacred gifts He has freely given to us all. I don't think any of us can quite comprehend what He has made possible. His gift of love paves the way for us to inherit eternal life if we so choose. His sacrifice atones for our mistakes if we will humbly submit to His will. The price we pay is so small in comparison to what He endured on our behalf. It is my hope that this Christmas season as we bustle around with last minute preparations for the days ahead, we will spend some time thinking about the reason for the season. That we will remember the humble way our Savior entered this mortal realm---a reminder that it is truly the simply things in life that matter most.

Here is a poem I wrote a few years ago that hopefully captures what I'm trying to say in today's blog:

Ode to Christmas ‘95

‘Twas the month of December and all through the house,
I continuously cleaned up after my sons and my spouse--
In preparation for celebrations ahead,
Various activities I was beginning to dread.

First on my list, decorate the tree,
After assembling it from a box filled with debris.
Finally the tree was in its place, limbs attached with loving care,
We pushed it into a corner to hide a hole that looked quite bare.

Then my husband cringed—it was time to string the lights,
This is an adventure that never quite delights.
A tangled mess from last year; we stared with great dismay
Wishing we could throw the jumbled strands away.

Instead we persevered, though it was tempting just to pout
The tangles at last were gone, but half the bulbs were all burned out.
The mystery of the moment then became
Quite an entertaining little game.

Finding the bulb that affected the line
Caused contention and the occasional whine.
Finally the lights were hung and lit,
I found myself wishing that was it.

But no, the bliss of things to come
Kept me on a steady run.
Shopping, wrapping, hiding gifts,
Wishing I could be more swift.

As cards arrived and guilt nudged,
Knowing my own stack hadn’t budged.
Quickly to the computer I flew
Hoping to type a clever thing or two.

Copies were made, and cards were stuffed—
I wondered if my ancestors had had it this tough.
Cards were mailed, allowing the true fun to begin,
Time for candy-making skills to kick in.

I bake and sweat and bake some more,
Another wondrous Christmas chore.
Relatives come to spend the week
As the house is trashed, I stifle a shriek.

All that scrubbing—all for naught,
Everywhere I look the place is shot!
Christmas Eve comes—it’s here at last,
And we quietly reflect on what has passed.

Tired but happy, we realize,
Christmas isn’t about the gifts we buy.
Nor the cooking or cleaning or even the lights,
Nor caroling about the town on frosty cold nights.

Christmas proclaims the birth of the One,
We call our Savior—God’s Chosen Son.
Who gave us a gift we can never repay,
The chance to return to our Father someday.

And so as we hurry with errands galore,
Let’s try to remember Christmas means so much more.
We must reach out to others with love in our hearts,
For that is how the greatest of all gifts starts.

Cheri J. Crane 1995

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! =)



Return to the Neighborhood

And subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy.And when you get a minute, check out the Neighborhood's newest venture, Your LDS Radio.

It's the Little Things

There is a tendency in our culture to be in a hurry. To be so focused on our own concerns and worries that sometimes we neglect those around us. I’m as guilty as anyone else with regard to this unfortunate state of mind, but I am learning the importance of reaching out in small ways to help others whenever I can.

I put this to the test the other day. I had driven down to a Utah village to run several errands before the wintry storms make traveling through the canyons entertaining. My list of things to accomplish was long. There were numerous items to be found and purchased in my quest to be ready for the upcoming holidays. Since my oldest son lives in this fair city, he went with me to assist on my big day of shopping.

We ventured to a fabric store where I was hoping to find satin binding for a couple of blankets I’m making for a certain new granddaughter. In our haste to enter the store, I realized I had left a card in the car that contained the measurements needed. Calling myself not nice names, I exited the store to find that card. It didn’t take long to locate this item and upon my return to the store, I noticed an older woman was approaching behind me. She was limping, walking with the aid of a cane. I paused, sensing she might need some assistance. Two or three people gave me disgruntled looks, walked around me, and hurried into the store. I continued to wait, then held the door open for this good woman. She smiled and thanked me profusely, giving me a much-needed warm fuzzy. This small act of service didn’t take much time. But as I considered how long it would have taken her to manage things on her own, I was struck by how much a simple thing on my part had helped.

As the day progressed, there were other opportunities to render aid. Some came in surprising forms. We entered a one-stop shopping type of store where I found numerous items that were on my list of things to buy. Included were several baking ingredients I will be using in the days ahead as I make holiday candy and cookies. When it came time to check out, the lines at the front of the store were long. But this gave me a chance to spend some time visiting with my son as we waited. We had a good visit, and then it was our turn to empty our cart onto the checkout counter.

I noticed that the clerk was an older woman who looked extremely tired. Figuring it had been a long day for her, I then observed her nametag. She possessed the same name as my mother. Since this is an unusual name (Genevieve) I commented on how pretty it was. She smiled and thanked me, stressing that it was unusual. I shared that my mother had been given this same name. We visited about the challenges of learning to spell such a name in the first grade as this good woman continued to ring up the items I was purchasing that day. Her countenance changed. And when a silly bottle of molasses leaked on her scanner (son # 2 dearly loves homemade ginger-chip cookies) she didn’t complain. She hurriedly cleaned things up and told me she would buzz for someone to replace that item. Knowing that other people were impatiently waiting in line behind me, I declined her offer, but thanked her for her willingness to go the extra mile on this. She was still beaming when we left the store.

My son commented on how our brief conversation had seemed to help this woman. It hadn’t taken much effort on my part, and very little time to make that difference. We talked about how important it is to be kind and considerate, realizing that everyone is struggling in today’s troubled world.

A few minutes later as we drove on to our next stop, my son stopped the car and graciously allowed someone who was trying to pull out from a nearby parking lot a chance to enter traffic. This person waved and smiled their gratitude at my son’s thoughtfulness. Again, it hadn’t taken long to render a small act of service that may have altered someone’s mood for the better. (We ignored the honking behind us.)

I suspect these are the things that will really matter someday. I seriously doubt I will be lauded for my shopping skills while in mortal mode, nor the holiday baking. What will be called into account will the times I neglected to help someone when the opportunity presented itself. We’re all busy, we’re all stressed. It seems to be a current theme of our day. But we can make a huge difference in the lives of others if we so choose. Small acts of selfless service are truly the best way we can emulate the example set by our elder Brother. In my opinion, this is the best way to honor His upcoming birthday. So my challenge is this: as we all hustle and bustle to get ready for the days ahead, take a look around. It doesn’t cost a cent to be gracious, to smile, to be patient, or to simply hold a door open for someone who needs it. These little acts of service won’t hinder us in our daily quests, but they just might make all the difference in the world to people who need a small boost.

Return to the Neighborhood

And subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy.And when you get a minute, check out the Neighborhood's newest venture, Your LDS Radio.

What Christmas Means to Me

With Christmas right around the corner, I've been pondering what this particular holiday means to me. I love all of the holidays, but Christmas will always hold a special place in my heart. This is a magical season when we commemorate the birth of our Savior. The beautiful passages from Luke fill our hearts with sacred imagery. Touching lyrics and songs capture what this holiday affirms. Hearts soften as we remember loved ones, and help those who may be in need.

Early this morning, I found myself bombarded with rhyming words. Don't make fun. This happens to me on occasion. ;) I blame my grandmother Jackson who taught me to write poetry at a fairly young age. Since then, I've utilized this gift whenever the whim surfaces. Hopefully today's attempt conveys what I'm trying to say:

Charity for others
Helping those in need
Remembering we're sisters\brothers
Intervention is our creed
Sacred songs inspire
Timely for this day
May our hearts' desire
Always reflect our
Savior's way.

And here is a blast from the past, lyrics from a song I wrote a few years ago for a community Christmas musical production. I think it pretty well sums things up.

What Christmas Means to Me

1st: Christmas is sharing
Christmas is caring
Smiling at all that you see
Doing for others and making hearts light
That is what Christmas should be

Chorus: Christmas is often a feeling inside
A warm glow that touches your heart
A feeling I wish we could carry all year
Giving this world a fresh start.

2nd: Christmas is children
Their smiling faces
Eternal hope in their eyes
Snowflakes and wonder
As stockings are hung
A sleepless night watching the skies.

3rd: Christmas means loving
The people around you
Looking past faults to forgive
The best gift of Christmas
Is peace on this earth
A way we can all learn to live.

Cheri J. Crane

Return to the Neighborhood

And subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy.And when you get a minute, check out the Neighborhood's newest venture, Your LDS Radio.