Light the World Day 7 2017: Serve Children

Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me:   Ideas presented include teaching your children and grandchildren about the Savior.  This idea touches my heart.  In the past, we have gathered grandchildren together and told the Christmas Nativity story.  This year there will be just Sheri and Tony and I.  Still the tradition will continue as we tell the story of the Nativity.  I will also check with my children and assure that they are carrying on the tradition with their children.
Other ideas include smile at a child, make a child feel special, play with a child.  And then donate a toy to a children's hospital or children's program.

5 Keys to Raising Good Kids

https://curiousmindmagazine.com/parents-who-raise-good-kids/

This article attributes these five ideas to Harvard psychologists. 
1. Spend quality time with your children.  This suggests spending some time each day with your children.  Questions you could ask are, What was the best part of your day? What was the hardest part of your day?  What is something nice somebody did for you today?  What is something nice you did today?  What is something you learned today?
2. Let your kids see a strong moral role model and mentor in you.  Admit mistakes and apologize.  Take time for yourself  so you have energy to be attentive.
3. Teach your child to care for others and  set high ethical expectations.  Caring for others' well being and avoiding selfishness are important qualities.  More important than being happy, is to be kind and happy.  Let your children work things out, considering the consequences their decision might have on others.
4. Encourage children  to practice appreciation and gratitude.  A child that shows appreciation is not a spoiled child.  Encourage an attitude of gratitude.  Children should say thank you to friends, teachers, family members on a regular basis.  Demonstrate by being grateful yourself.
5. Teach them to see the big picture.  It is normal for children to be concerned about their inner circle.  This zooming in is important.  however they also need to zoom out, and see others in their community.  This includes being in tune to the new child in school, or the child being teased.  Also talk about conditions in the world, and hardships of other children.

Jesus Teaches that We Must Become as Little Children

These are some hard, but truthful teachings from the Savior.  If we do not become as little children, we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  Then he also teaches that we must care for the little ones, and love them as we love the Savior.

Dec 11: Jesus Ministered to Children and So Can You

Jesus said, suffer the little children to come unto me.   Jesus was a champion for children, and he used them as an example to teach humility and faith.  He taught how it would be hard on the person who neglected a child, that we must become as little children to inherit the kingdom of God.  Very significant teaches we can exemplify.  We can make a difference in a child's life.
This day provides a challenge to talk to your children about what to pray for as a family.   Children can have an insight into what is important, and needed.   Their voices are important.

Light the World for Children

The light the World is a tremendous opportunity to create the spirit of Christmas by doing as Jesus did.  It includes daily activities to accomplish this.  LDS.org includes an adult advent calendar.  Out primary president presented on the same theme, and gave each of the children a children's oriented advent calendar, which simplifies the program for kids.  Hopefully you can click on the picture and print your own.  The calendar came with a candle.

Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me

Suffer [let] the little children come to me.  What more profound words express the Savior's love for us all.  This is the lesson I taught today in Primary, five and six and seven year-olds.  They know the teachings of Jesus, and they feel his love.

Caleb and Annie Wedding, Dinner: Annie's Song, Original, Caleb Singing to Annie

Naked cake

Caleb and Annie

cutting cake

Annie and Momma

With Granddaughters

Hayley, Camberly and Ayden

 We tried to get the grandsons picture, but they were just too busy to sit still long enough

With Siblings, Mark, Charity, Tony, Natalia, Jeremy, Miranda

The Halls

The decorated call and leaving

Cake was delicious, as was the food; I had salmon.  Good company and I missed lots.  At a country club behind Livermore.

Merry Christmas from Children

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-12-24-kids-and-christmas?category=topics/christmas

An Art Linkletter type synopsis of children telling what Christmas means to them.  It is through the eyes of children that Christmas has the most meaning. 

Merry Christmas