Planning a Provident Christmas

After 2 1/2 hrs. of waiting, we're almost in the store!

Black Friday has added a whole new meaning to Christmas…even more so, when the great pre-season ritual begins Thanksgiving eve. 

Never having fully experienced this “enduring” activity before, I joined my daughter-in-law Thursday “night” (and I use that term broadly, as it turned into a 10 hr. marathon which began at 8 PM Thursday and ended Friday at 6 AM. 

My daughter-in-law and other crazy people we stood in line with!

Most “enduring” about this tradition was the waiting. Most of that time was spent either circling Toys “or” Us, in a stand off of survival in the unseasonable cold weather of Mesa.  The “inner circles”  were equally tedious and long, but without the wind.  Adding to the insanity of the experience, we found ourselves using her cell phone to call other crazy people in the family who were in Utah doing the same thing, or checking Bev to see if she had found the things she was looking for.  

Crossing that experience off “my bucket list,” I can now revert back to my more rational life, and go about preparing for Christmas in a more provident way.

One of the burdens of both reading and TV watching, is that we are bombarded with grandiose illusions of what Christmas and every other holiday should be. When we add commercialization into the mix of “holiday cheer” the expectations become even more burdensome. 

We love our children, and grandchildren, and dote on them, but there comes a time when parents must simply, simplify and rein in the ruthlessness of rampant materialism which raises its head even higher in December.

So how does a provident person celebrate the real spirit of Christmas, or any other holiday? First we need to examine our own heart and evaluate how it aligns with the celebration. To do this we need to understand the underpinnings and core values of the holiday. When there is no personal spiritual connection to the real meaning of a holiday, whether it is Veterans Day, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas, it is easy to give the occasion a materialistic makeover, and forget the reason for the season.

Once we acknowledge our commitment and belief in Christ, we can then plan Christ-centered activities instead of submitting to Santa’s substitute celebration. Activities which promote peace on earth and good will toward men should be our focus, events which promote on the real meaning of Christmas and bring lasting joy, not debt and depression. A provident person will choose wisely the better part. Often the simplest gifts are the best. 

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, cheerful service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
     --Oren Arnold--

Simplifying Christmas does not make it any less important or fun for families. The youngest child as well as the oldest grandparent can equally can find joy in service and sharing. Here are some ideas:

--Orchestrate a “Pay it Forward” activity where you as a parent or grandparent make a cash donation to a family or individual with the challenge that they in turn use it to bless someone else’s life. When you “cast your bread upon the water, it will come back-- buttered.”
--Reenact the Nativity story with simple costumes, music, and Jewish foods. Play Dreidel, or a game from your own culture.

--Take a musical program to the Nursing Home; children can break a Piñata, and share the goodies. Sharing friendly handshakes with the elderly is important.
--Go caroling with other families, and learn the songs of Christmas.
--Host a neighborhood sing in, or wassail-fest where everyone shares favorite songs and Christmases past.
-- Organize a food or clothing collection for families who may need help this winter.

--The Twelve Days of Christmas was something our family as well as the Eberhard family, did for many, many years. We picked 2-3 families we could “bless” and surprise with 12 days of deliveries. This took some orchestration, but it was so fun hearing the delivery stories, and how they “almost” got caught.

Here are a few ideas for rhymes for the deliveries:

1) It's the first day of Christmas And we thought you'd like to know

We think you're really special, And it's time we told you so.

1)The trees look nice and frosty. But there's no partridge to be found

But pears are always welcome. So we left some on the ground.

2) On the second day of Christmas, 

We looked for Turtle Doves

These are really Wash and Wear 

And sent with all our love (Dove soap)

6) The six geese a laying, Will really have a ball

With balloons and streamer, You can decorate the hall.

-- Instead of a present, ask your children to write a story for you from their life, an experience that taught them something, or where they felt God’s love for them. These would be treasured more than perfume or necktie by any parent or grandparent. Steve’s oldest sister and her husband, are currently on their 4th mission, and don’t need “things.” But their 12 children take turns organizing a “story” topic for the year, and each sibling writes something for their parents. I know that book of stories is one that has been a real blessing to them over the past 15 or so years.

-- Read the scriptures with “real intent”, have children take turns sharing a scripture that to them exemplifies what Christ would do. Make plans as a family to orchestrate what you learned.
-- For a family activity, have each child add a piece a straw to your nativity scene, representing something specific that they will do as a gift to Christ this year. Or another version is to write what your gift to Christ will be, on a slip of paper, and everyone puts theirs in a box. After Christmas see if the rest of the family can guess what your gift was, by the changes you made.

--Families or neighbors can with you to tie quilts to donate to the hospital, or women’s shelter.
-- Make tree decorations together as a family, or decorate wreaths to hang on someone else’s door.
--Adopt a family, or a school class and provide something they need.

There are hundreds more equally good ideas which will reaffirm the goodness of mankind in the lives of others.  Plan now for a Merry Provident Christmas.

Simple Nativity Script

Traditional Nativity Play

Oh come all ye faithful—Opening song

Narrator #1: More than 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah declared: 

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall 

conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7: 14).

Narrator #2: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (Mary & Joseph enter)

Song: O, Little Town of Bethlehem - Everyone

Narrator #1:  ”And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that
she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:5-7)

#2: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid. 

Angel:  Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.  

Narrator #1 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us And
they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15,16)

1979-Christmas play at the Nursing Home

Song: Away in a Manger:                      

(Shepherds enter from the back

Narrator #2:  suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

Narrator #1: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star (Angel carrying star enters on stage) in the east, and are come to worship him. and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came
and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they
saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2,9-11)

2012 Nativity in Monticello
Orchestrated by Ashley & Anthony

Song:  -  Have a Very Merry Christmas

Narrator #1: This is the month when all the world looks heavenward and
walks in the light of that new star that shone so long ago. This is the month
when all the world is aglow with lights representing the Light of Christ, when
all the world resounds with the eternal hymns of Christmas, when all the
world pauses to smile and to reflect, when all the world remembers the greatest
miracle of all the birth of the Savior of mankind in a stable so far away.
This, then, is the most beautiful story ever told. The story of that silent, holy night, when the Son of God, our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, was born.

Song: Silent Night- Everyone

(Donkeys, Angels, and Wise Men can also be added for larger groups)

By the sweat of thy brow…

This summer, Steve’s sister gave us a shadow box containing mementos from a wreath we had made for Grandpa Wilcox’s funeral.  In it was the quote:  “He hoed to the end of the row.”   It exemplified the life of a man who knew and lived by the precept of “work.”  He didn’t quit a job until it was finished.  He also taught his children to work, training them in sugar beet fields, the family garden, and in the barn milking cows.

   My own parents were also farmers, with similar expectations that children would be involved in the work that needed to be done on the farm. My older brother had more of the important responsibilities like driving the Caterpillar tractor, grain truck, and milking.   I took care of the yard, helped mom inside, painted the house, and learned to sew for younger siblings. 

   I never knew that our parents were practicing a very important principle…one I didn’t learn about until 20 years later at a parenting workshop taught by H. Stephen Glenn.  It is based on the premise that children need to be valued and given tasks where they learn to be “significant contributors” to a family’s well-being, not just passive recipients.   

 Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison

Children need to play important roles in family dynamics.  When this happens in a family it becomes “on-the-job” training for life.  One of Glenn’s books, “Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World” teaches seven building blocks for developing capable young people.  If parents defer the responsibility of teaching children to work, then kids learn roles from the media, where substance abuse, self-medication, casual sex, violence, and materialism is taught.  Sadly this is the case with many youth today.

  Children deserve parents who treat them as capable beings, and take time to tutor and teach them relevant tasks.  If a mother’s goal is having a “perfect” home, she will probably do all the work herself, and thus never raise a responsible child. The more important goal is to coach children on how to do meaningful tasks.

 Children who learn step by step how to cook, clean, garden, and be dependable, will eventually take pride in their work and will find joy.  In addition, their accomplishments need to be celebrated and appreciated.  For many years we used Margaret Van Dyke’s idea of a Family Brag board.  She hung these boards in several rooms and put short little notes of appreciation identifying each child’s current accomplishment.  These notes later were added to scrapbooks as milestone reminders of their successes.

All the so-called "secrets of success" 
will not work unless you do.  

    Another good book on parenting is Linda and Richard Eyre’s “Teaching Children Responsibility.   We tried many of their strategies over the 30 years we were raising children.  We soon learned that any strategy works in direct proportion to the amount of effort parents put into it.  (I’ll share some of those ideas in a future column.)

  Both Scouting and the 4-H program were great tools that also help teach children life skills.  We salute scout leaders who take time weekly to work with boys and girls.  We’re blessed as a community, for Blanding has had an abundance of outstanding leaders.

You cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind. 

The 4-H program was very up-close and personal in our family. For over 25 years I taught 4-H clubs which usually involved at least 1 or 2 of our children and their friends.  I liked 4-H because it locked us into a weekly schedule, that guaranteed that teaching would take place in the home.  We covered a gamut of skills from sewing, basic cooking, photography, child care, gardening, flower arranging, quilting, canning, bread making, etc.  In addition our 4-H club did community service, did demonstrations, modeled clothing, participated in the fair, won ribbons and money!  Doing things in a social situation is always makes learning more fun.  Our sons had a friend in the neighborhood who often came over on Fridays, and ended up helping with our Friday night cleaning routine. It was more fun for them, and I think he even liked it and learned a few things in the process.  He has thanked me many times for showing him how a functional family operated, and for the things he learned.  

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.  ~J.G. Holland

Once a child has gained a skill it gives them confidence and courage.  Untaught, children flounder and often fail.  Too often parents expect schools to teach their kids life skills as well as academics, but a provident parent will teach critical life skills at home, and then give their children opportunities to use the skills on a regular basis.  If you can help some of their friends in the process, they will find satisfaction and confidence as well.  I promise, it will be worth the effort and it will might even help keep your house clean, and it will make your future daughter-in-laws happy that your boys know how to cook and clean.  "The difference between "try" and "triumph" is a little "umph."

Favorite Garden Recipes

Hopefully, it will be awhile before we’ll be saying, “Arrivederci Roma”, as the tomatoes are finally coming on strong. I have to confess when it comes to canning-- Romas are my favorite.  There is less moisture content, which means thicker salsa, with less time and electricity needed for cooking, or dehydrating.

 

   Here are some of my recent favorite tomato recipes. I always use a food processor (not a blender) to do my chopping/dicing.  This also saves tons of time.

Garden Sweet and Sour Sauce

From Adelle Lovell

1 C. water

8 C. chopped tomatoes (not peeled)

6 C. sugar, mixed with 1 C. clear gel

2 C. soy sauce

4 C.chopped onions

4 C. chopped peppers (all kinds)

4 C. pinapple tidbits with juice

3 ½ C. of Cider vinegar

Mix together and bring to a boil.  Stir often so it doesn=t burn.

Pour into sterilized Jars.  Water bath, or steam process for 50 minutes.  Makes 15-16 pints.  Good with chicken, pork, rice, meatballs, etc.

Lime Salsa

12 C. diced tomatoes (do not removes skins or seeds)

3 large yellow bell peppers, small diced

2 large green bell peppers, small diced

2 large onions, fine diced (or run through food processor)

4 large jalapeno peppers, finely diced with seeds removed

2 tablespoons salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 cup bottled lime juice

4 teaspoons minced garlic

3 T. cilantro chopped

Directions

1. Dice tomatoes and place in fine mesh colander to drain extra juice/water. If you use Romas, you can skip this step.

2. While tomatoes are draining, dice remaining vegetables and place in large pot.

3. Add salt, sugar, tomato sauce, garlic, cilantro, lime juice. Add tomatoes to pot and stir well.

4. Bring just to a boil, then ladle into sterilized pint‑sized jars.

5. Process for 12-15 minutes

Fiesta Salsa From Blue Ball canning book (my favorite source for canning questions.)

7 C. chopped tomatoes

2 C chopped peeled, seeded cucumbers

2 C chopped & seeded banana peppers

1 C. chopped onion

½ C. chopped peeled, roasted Anaheim or Big Jim peppers (skins removed)

½ C. chopped jalepeno peppers

 ¼ C. minced cilantro

3 garlic cloves minced

1 T. minced fresh marjoram (or oregano)

1 tsp. Salt

 ½ C. cider vinegar

2 T. lime juice

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepot.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 min.  Ladle hot salsa into sterilized jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.  Add lids, Process 15 minutes.  (When cutting or seeding hot peppers wear rubber gloves to prevent hands from being burned.)

Roma Chips

Shauna Hurst

Slice Roma tomatoes 1/3” thick and place on cookie sheet (or drying rack)

Sprinkle with seasoned salt, garlic, and chopped basil leaves.

Dry in oven set at 200.  Don’t overcook. 

And finally, A Peach of an Idea!

Freezer pie filling

Line a pie pan with foil. Slice peaches (or other fresh fruit), add sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Pile into pie pan, cover with foil and freeze. After it’s frozen, just lift the whole thing out of the pan, seal in a freezer bag and keep it until you want to bake a fresh peach pie in the middle of a snowstorm. Then, peel off the foil, drop into a pie crust and bake. Absolutely delicious and tastes fresh no matter when you finally make the pie.

Pleasures for the “Simple” Minded

“Hoarding” was the topic on Oprah a few weeks ago. I felt smothered and claustrophobic just watching it. I could only stand it so long, and then I decided to step over my piles of laundry and papers, out to my flower beds which always revive me.  But alas,  they had the same symptoms as the house spotlighted on TV.

Hardy perennials were overgrown, Calendulas crowded their neighbors, and oregano spilled out of its allotted space like a tangled green octopus.  Inspired by the show, I started pulling out the overgrown and over productive plants, giving their less assertive neighbors more space, air, and sun.  I filled a whole wheel barrow in about 15 minutes, and it made such a difference.  There is something very liberating and need-satisfying about cleaning things out.  Everything needs space to breath and grow whether they be plants, homes, or teenagers. 

My Corner Contribution of recycled clutter that week only consisted of three things: an end table and two towels, but I was so glad when someone came by and retrieved them, and my front room now has a little more space because of it.  As I watched Oprah I was dumbfounded that anyone would literally have clothes piled high in EVERY room of their 3 level house.   I couldn’t help but think of all the humanitarian programs in need of good clothing.  That woman needed a cause to help her overcome her addiction so she and her husband simplify and reclaim their lives.  My worst nightmare would be to leave this life, with a huge mess for my children to take care of.  If we live another 20 years, maybe we’ll have the garage cleaned out!

After watching “The Hoarding Horror Movie," I next decided to clean out a corner shelf in our family room.  I found two undelivered wedding gifts, three misplaced recipe books, seven errant quilting books, and then Bonanza!-- a Prevention Magazine titled “The Simpler Way.” 

Just the titles of the articles confirmed my recent efforts:

--Cut the clutter and have more “breathing Space”.  (Already I know my plants are happier!)

--Rev-up your energy and feel great! (Ripping out weed and overgrowth --What a rush!)

--Say Good-bye to Personal “Money Robbers!”  (We become rich because of the things we do without, not because the things we buy.)

--And Move into a Larger House—Without Moving!  (When there is less “stuff” in a house, it’s less stuffed, and it is bigger!)

Simple living is the goal of provident living, and without knowing it most of us have built layers and layers of complexity around us.  We have more gadgets, appliances, CDs, toys, and tools than we can keep track of, much less store.   Gandhi once wrote, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”  When we declutter we let go of the things that entangle us, so we can “stroll” through life with greater grace and ease.  That means getting rid of entanglements.

  Another great mind, Albert Einstein knew a few things also about being focused and organized.  His mantra:

--Out of clutter, find simplicity

--From discord, find harmony

--In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

While you work to reclaim your life and your home, it helps to change things up throughout the work day.  A 20 minute nap is a great recharger.   Mix seat work, with tasks that require movement.  And them Mom’s famous quote: “A change is as good as a rest,” which I truly believe.  Well, that’s the summary of that little booklet, which was really designed to sell a bigger book…now it’s processed and tossed away, and I feel good-- and motivated!  Hope you do too.  Let me hear about your success stories: 42janetkw@gmail.com

Jammin’ Away" With Jalepenos

Jammin’ Away

Well, that’s one crop out of the way!  After two weeks of drying, bottling, and jamming apricots in every way possible, I’m taking a breather before the beans begin.   With all this rain, things are growing like the tropics…hmm, am I up for that bumper crop?

Some Like It Hot

If you’re tired of making fruit jam the same old way, try adding 1-3 jalapeños into the mix.  Follow any pectin based fruit jam recipe, but grind or chop up the hot peppers and measure them as part of the fruit.  It will give you a nice jump start with your toast in the morning, and is also delicious with cream cheese and crackers. 

My personal favorites are jams made from peach, plum, pear or raspberry with jalapeños –oh, did I mention apricots!   I’ve also added them to cherries…but Debbie Bayles makes a triple berry jam they call “Halle Berry“ ‘cause it’s so darned hot! You’ll have to ask her how many peppers they add.  Try it, you’ll be surprised!  And in a good way.  Not sure how many jalapeños to use?  Let you teenager or husband bite one, and tell you how hot they are!

Now if you’re a jalapeño purist, you might prefer this great recipe which is the first one I used to make hot pepper jam.  It’s from Shirley Christensen and was printed in that great Monticello Cookbook they did in 1991.

Hot Pepper Jelly

1 ½ C. green bell peppers

1 ½ red bell peppers

8-10 jalapenos peppers

6 ¼ C. sugar

1 ½ C. vinegar

1 bottle Certo

   Seed peppers (wear gloves when doing jalapenos) and grind.  Mix with sugar and vinegar.  Bring to rapid boil and add Certo.  Boil for 5 min.  Remove from head and stir for 5 min more, until peppers go to the bottom.  Put in sterile jars and seal.

Once you’re converted to the tangy taste of jalapeño jam, you’ll be wondering what to do with all your plain old jam.  In case you can’t “think outside the bottle” here’s some creative possibilities to explore, some of which are featured in the book All That Jam.

--Jam can be used as a sweetener in bread, rolls, or other pastries, consider it as flavored sugar.  I often use it in my whole wheat bread, instead of sugar or honey.

--If you want a more assertive flavor make jam bars, crepes, or fruit cakes of any flavor

--Jam is a good base for making barbeque sauces, or other sauces for grilling

--Use as glazes for chicken or ham: peach, apricot, cranberry, grape. 

--Use Jam as one of the layers in a trifle, instead of fruit, or Jello

--Use as the sauce for fruit pizza

--Mix with plain yogurt, or a topping on sundaes. Even Choke Cherry jelly is good on ice cream!

    Here’s an easy recipe for sweet and sour sauce from the Utah authors, Hollee Eckman and Heather Higgins

1 ½  Cups Apricot pineapple jam

1 C. chicken broth (can be made from bullion)

½ C rice vinegar

2 tsp. Soy sauce

½ green pepper coarsely chopped.

Combine everything except green pepper in med. Saucepan.  Cook on high heat for 5-7 mintes stirring frequently, until smooth and thickened.  Reduce heat and stir in green pepper and cook another 2-3 min.  Serve over meatballs or pot stickers.  Makes about 2 ½ cups.

   But never, no never, throw old jam away….that is like throwing out a sack of sugar!

=======================

Games for the Young in Heart

Reunion Games

     My love affair with games started back in the Golden Era of the Fifties, BT-- Before TV. There were five of us kids and we were often snow bound on our farm and games prevented the onslaught of cabin fever. When we weren’t snowed in, we still lived 4 miles from the nearest neighbor who had kids, so we learned to play games with our parents. (Shocking, I know!) Our favorites in those days leaned towards parents’ preferences like Scrabble, Pinochle, Canasta, Aggravation, and Dominoes with a math twist that Dad taught us, so we’d learn to think. We also had a pool table and ping pong table downstairs, which provided lots of friendly competition. Outside we played Annie-I-Over, Horse, Boss of Bunker Hill, Run Sheepie Run, and other games.
     Games are great gathering catalysts and leveling agents. They bring people of all ages together in a friendly, fun challenge, where humor is bound to spill over. There is something very wholesome, joyous and enduring about occasions when families are joined together in a common light-hearted activity. We need to create more opportunities for games in this world of stress and hard work. This gives the left side of the brain time to rest, and the right side a chance to let loose and shine.

With plenty of time still left for reunions and family gatherings this season, both both the formal and informal kind, here are some games that I’ve used over and over with variations through the years. 

Gathering Games: What to do while waiting

Guess how many balloons, candy, angle worms, etc. are in a container:

--or guess how long all the 4 year-olds would be measured end to end, or the teen-agers, or the circumference of a tent or trailer.

--or guess the combined weight or height of all the siblings. Then, of course, the fun thing is doing the measuring! Have prizes for each winner.

Water Rockets: Most recently we’ve upgraded an old Cub Scout activity of shooting soda or water bottles 1/3^rd full of water. My husband has rigged up plastic pipes and a compressor, which makes creating pressure a lot easier than manning a bicycle pump. We’ve done this with kids, Young Singles, and Old fogies and it’s always fun. Get some prizes for those who actually manage to catch one of these high-altitude missiles!

Giant Genealogy Chart: Post the basics of the family tree, i.e. parents, and grandparents. Have each person write down their name and birthday under their parents names. This is fun for cousins to see how they are connected.

Whole Group Get-acquainted Games:

I love noisy games that involve everyone and these are some of the best:

1. Where the West Wind Blows

Everyone sits in a circle; the leader is IT the first time around. If a person matches the criteria IT calls out, then they get up and run to a new seat. Anyone losing their seat, becomes “it”.

Example:

The West Wind blows for everyone wearing contacts, or with sandals or, with a beard…. The West wind blows for everyone who is a cousin to Hailey Wilcox, or a grandchild of Kay Shumway, is a teen-ager,or anyone over 60. It is fun to come up with exotic, strange descriptions, just to see who matches!

In games like this, it’s important to switch games while everyone is still having fun. Keep things moving. I’ll share more another time.

2. Name Bop game: “It” stands in circle, everyone else is seated on chairs. Go around the circle and have everyone give their first name loud enough so that everyone hears and remembers. (If they know each other, pick a category like states). Call on someone to stand and call out a name. That person must jump up, call out another name, before he gets bopped (use rolled up newspapers, wrapping paper inside cone). If he gets hit, then he is “it”. Out-going “It” must stand and say a name before he sits down, or he can be bopped. A wild crazy game. One of my favorites.

3. Family Outburst

Have several members of the family get together and make category cards ahead of time. Each card needs the category listed on one side, and 10 possible right answers on the other side.

Possible family categories: Missions served by family members, favorite places to camp, favorite reunion foods, Favorite primary songs, TV shows, Disney characters, etc, Chores grandpa had to do as a child, Places Grandpa took the family for vacation, States the family now lives in, Names of 1^st cousins, things people forget to bring camping, etc

Divide the whole group into two teams. A moderator holds the cards and gives one with the answers on to the opposing team. When timer beings, the other team shouts out answers they think are on the card. Let them know that not all answers are on card, only 10. They have 2 minutes to name as many as possible in their “outburst”. Award 1 pt, per right answer. Assign a couple of people on the opposing team to be the listeners to mark of the ones guessed. Switch back and forth, making sure teams have the same number of turns. Award prizes to team with most points.

4. Reunion Bingo

-- Design and print off Bingo sheets ahead of time. Most squares on the sheet you will leave blank. However, you can fill in 4 or five with things such as: Someone who was born the same year as you. Someone who has lived in more than 4 states, etc. (If you want a template for this, e-mail me.)

-- Collect information

The purpose of the game is to learn something about their relatives. So ask questions you want to know. It’s important to ask a different question to as many people as possible. Write down the answer in each square and have them sign it. Do that for as many squares as possible.

-- When you have all squares filled call out “Ebenezer Pickle” or some other illustrious family name. I’ve used this many times for reunions of all kinds and as a class get-acquainted activity when I was teaching school. It’s one of my favorites

Pitch Perfect: Haunting Melodies

Pitch Perfect written 

by Janet Wilcox  September 1999

Revised July 2016

                                         Mr. Hanson and our 8th grade class

Where is Grandma Janet?

Barbara walked calmly to the piano and then with perfect pitch, hit each note that our choir teacher, Mr. Hansen played on the piano. 

"That's very good.  You'll be a real asset in the alto section."  She sauntered back to her seat, and the next student warily approached the piano.  One by one our music teacher tested each of us to see which part we could best sing.

" I wish I'd never come to school today," I thought. My insides did a quick gyro flex, then slowly twisted into a figure eight­, pushing my diaphragm up in to my throat. I clenched my clammy hands tightly and thought, "I know my voice won't even come close to the pitch. I can't even hear it. I'll probably squeak."

This was the day my mother had warned would eventually catch up with me.  "Some day you'll be sorry you didn't develop your voice."  For years Mom had practiced and gone to voice lessons herself and developed a beautiful soprano voice, but I ignored her urgings to learn how to sing.  Instead of corralling my wayward talent, I had let my voice wander off into an uncharted wilderness of monotone bliss.  Never had I tried singing a part or joined a chorus.  However, I could read music, and play a respectable hymn on either the clarinet or piano.  That was my concession to music.

Now here I was, herded in with the rest of the 8th grade sheep and expected to sing on tune.  Everyone would know instantly when my voice spun off into ear‑jarring disharmony. There would be no privacy for this public tune up. How embarrassing!  I knew I could never get my voice to match the tone of the note played. My brothers had teased me enough, so I knew I did a definite disservice to any song I attempted to sing. I didn't know if any sound could even squeeze past the contorted knot I felt in the pit of my stomach.

Tamra, then Linda each took their turns.  Their voices soared to the high notes like dazzling butterflies topping a swaying daisy. I tried to imagine my shaky voice inching up the scale.  Yes, there it was, crawling toward the note like a rheumatoid centipede.   Then I heard Mr. Hansen call my name.

 He hit the F above middle C.  Some strange tone bounced from my mouth, landed somewhere in the cracks between the black keys.  It then somersaulted back down, sprawling some­where between D and A flat.  From the scowl on Mr. Hansen's face I could tell there was no relationship between it and the note he had played. I must have been at least two full steps off, which way I wasn't sure. 

"Try this one," he grimaced, as he hit another key.  Again I tried to match the note.  I couldn't tell if my ears couldn't hear the pitch because of the pounding of my heart, or if it just wasn't sending the message to my voice; whichever it was, they definitely were not synchronized.  My voice quavered between two discordant pitches, then careened into the crevices between the keys.  I knew I was off pitch, but I was unable to make the necessary correction.  I heard a few muffled snickers from the chorus seats behind me. In desperation he tried one more note.  Surely, anyone could hit Middle C.  I was sure I came close, but at the last moment my voice veered off to the left landing in the bass clef. 

       Mr. Hansen removed his glasses, and rubbed his brow, while rolling his eyes heavenward. I could tell by his perplexed expression; he was at a loss about where to put me. In a somewhat desperate query, he asked, "You don't happen to play the piano, do you?"  I'm not sure who was more relieved, Mr. Hansen or myself--when I replied, "Yes." 

"That's great," he said.  "You'll be our accompanist."

For years afterward that was my role-‑ in both church and school.  I was the accompa­nist.  Even in college, I willingly volunteered for that ­safe, nonthreatening position, and never gave my ­voice a chance to sing a part.  The piano was my musical shield for 35 years.  Then one day, in a desperate move, to encourage my teenagers to join the church choir, I found myself promising that I would go, if they would.  It seemed an easy trade off for them, but to my neophyte voice box, it was a precarious position.  I remem­ber well the first time I showed up at choir practice. I carefully positioned myself between two friends whose strong alto voices I knew would drown me out.  While I first learned to hear the notes, then to sing them, they would be my crutch.  I could follow them-- their voices were strong and true.  They helped erect musical fences to hedge in my wandering voice when I couldn't hear the tune.  They sang louder, asking the pianist to pound out the alto part, politely letting me waffle up and down the notes as I retrained my ears and my voice to hear only my part.  Like a newborn colt, I staggered from side to side, wobbling to and fro, only occasional­ly hitting the notes. For months, I followed them, learning to listen, and trying to make my untrained voice match their tones.  Though I knew the notes and could play them on the piano, my inexperienced ears allowed my voice to meander into the nethermost parts of the keys. 

           It was over a year before I began to notice I could occasionally hear the part and sing it even when I wasn't next to the strongest voices.  I was starting to hear the part, and match my voice to it.  I began to feel a part of the harmony, not part of the discord. 

In other parts of our lives disharmony often arises, and we need a tune up, to pull our lives back into balance.  Like our voices, our spirit also must be trained to listen, to hear, and then respond to spiritual promptings.  We have to train ourselves­ to recognize God's subtle proddings and­ to be in tune with the still small voice.  The Holy Ghost is there to guide and inspire us.  His promptings are accurate and true, but often we fail to hear God's quiet melody because of the worldly discord around us, or the disharmony in our own lives.  Sometimes we seek the reckless rhythms of the world and refuse to listen to the spirit. Thus, we never hear the better part God has for us.  However, when we choose to follow God's way, we may need to rely on good friends, to keep us on the right path and to keep us in harmony.  They may have to sing loudly in our ears at time, to keep us on pitch. But finally the real test will come.  Eventually our spirits will need to stand as soloists in God's choir, in tune and able to sing.

Provident Recipes: Bugs and Soap

    The gardens are in and growing, weeding is in full stride and soon canning season will arrive, when we celebrate the “fruits” of the harvest. But to ensure there will be fruit, Calvin Balch has a recipe for Pickled Moths you ought to try! After years of ill-timed spraying routines, we’ve been thrilled thus far with the results of this recipe for catching moths, gnats and flies and an occasional wasp. We anticipate that our fruit crop will be nearly worm and insecticide free this year. You might want to try it, even though you’re getting a late start.

Concoction for Catching Moths

1 Gal water

1 C. sugar

1 C. Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix together and put 1-2 C. in hanging containers on each fruit tree Use a couple of containers on large trees. As it evaporates replace, or reconstitute.

Soap's on

Since we’re talking recipes, here’s one for liquid laundry soap that costs about $2.50 for 5 gallons and “no,” you don’t have to use lye. All the ingredients are available at Clark's Market. It is easy to make, especially if you’ve have an electric cheese grater. It cleans as good as soap that cost four times as much. You will still need to spot spray extra-dirty spots like collars.

Ingredients

4 cups hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha laundry soap bar*

1 cup Washing Soda* (NOT Baking Soda)

½ cup Borax*

5 gallon bucket with lid

Directions

-Put hot tap water in saucepan.

-Grate the Fels-Naptha soap and add to saucepan.

-Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.

-Add melted soap, Washing Soda and Borax.

-Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

-Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

- Stir before each use. (The first time you stir it, it will be very thick, but just stir it and each time after that, it’s no big deal to stir it quickly) I put my big batch into smaller containers after I finished, so I can just shake it. I figure I’ve got a 6 month supply.

To use:

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 128 loads)

- Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 320 loads)

-Optional: To give this laundry detergent a pleasant scent, you can add drops of essential

oil once soap has cooled (like Lavender; Rosemary or Tea Tree oil).

“Thy Speech Betrayeth Thee"

     No, it’s not the immigrant influence, nor the mindless vulgarity of TV and music. My guess is that nothing has led to the decline of the English language as quickly as texting. Relying on phonetic shortcuts and second grade vocabulary skills, cell phones have in a single leap taken us backwards in a few short years to the almost inane communication of the unschooled. The July 2 Deseret News reports that 54% of all teens use texting as the most common form of communication.

     In addition, rather than talking in person to another and developing some social skills in the process, many have become isolated and stymied in their communication skills. Another problem that has developed is a general pattern of coarseness and impropriety, as people use abbreviations such as OMG, when normally they wouldn't take the Lord's name in vain.

     I know it must be a great tool to use for quick messages, but some have become so enamored with texting, that they can hardly make it through a movie or church without sending a message. They even text, when the recipient is in the same room, or when at a dinner or group activity when they should participating face-to-face. Instead, they turn on their phone and ignore people right next to them. Yes, they are communicating, but the message is rudeness. I sat by a young women in a movie in SLC recently, and the light was distracting to all others in her radius as periodically she had to feed her texting addiction. What has happened to common courtesy and conversation?