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* Signed Tablecloth |
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Directions:One family in Ohio invited all those present at Thanksgiving Dinner to sign their names on the linen tablecloth. That was twenty plus years ago. The signatures were then embroidered and set for time and more signatures were added each year. It was recently displayed at a family reunion, and those that had not already done so, were invited to sign their names. It was a truly moving experience for this family to look over this family heirloom and remember those dinners and those no longer present. |
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* New Year Tradition |
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Directions:In Baltimore, after attending early mass on New Years Eve, one family invites an older adult – who would have been alone otherwise – to their home for supper and games. The children play until the New Year comes in, and the guest always has a great time and someone to bring in the New Year with. |
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* Happy Easter Hunting |
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Directions:For most 5 years olds, finding Easter Eggs during a hunt takes far less time than it does for a 1 or 2 year old. To remove the inequality while maintaining the fun, one mom in Washington gives each child a muffin pan to fill with hidden paper baking cups containing one or more goodies. When they’ve found a cup for each spot in the pan, they can begin enjoying what they’ve found. |
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* Gift Ideas for Seniors |
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Directions:Instead of slippers and boxes of powder, families could give a subscription to a favorite magazine and /or “IOU’s” for evenings out for dinner. A Calendar with birthdays of children and grandchildren marked on it, a box of birthday cards, and peel-and-stick postage stamps. Add a sheet of previously typed addresses to family members for cards or letters. Consider a homemade book of “gift certificates” for a chore that can be completed or games that can be played. Useful gifts like these would be greatly appreciated. |
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* Lighting up Winter |
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Directions:One family in Maryland saves their leftover Fourth of July Sparklers and uses them on winter nights. They love to see them reflect off the snow. To them it’s even more fun than the Fourth of July! |
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* Family Helps Family |
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Directions:One family in California has chosen a needy family to be the beneficiaries of their children’s outgrown clothes and toys. Each month, they give a box of items that they
clean out of their closets and toy box. A care package is sent each Christmas, small
presents at birthdays and treats for Valentines Day. This helps reiterate to their children how fortunate they are and the joy of helping and giving to others. |
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* Thanksgiving Pastime |
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Directions:In Pennsylvania, as one mom prepared Thanksgiving Dinner, she always felt that should simultaneously entertain her children and guests, which proved difficult at best. She decided to have them make a simple Christmas craft while she cooked. It’s now become a treasured tradition, and all look forward to making the first Christmas craft of the season. |
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* This one’s for Grumpy |
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Directions:It’s inevitable. If the Christmas gifts go under the tree before Christmas Day, there’s always going be those who snoop to find out which gifts are theirs. One ingenious mother in Michigan thought of a way to put a twist in the snooping. One year, she used four of seven dwarf’s name from Snow White. Only she knew which name went with each child. Trying to figure out the name she’d assigned to each child was as fun as the snooping and she kept them all in suspense. Great with adults too! |
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* Christmas Care Package |
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Directions:For a lot of families across the world, the convenience of living close to parents or siblings doesn’t always apply. For an older couple in Minnesota, whose children and their families all live in different states, they found this statement to be true. Several years ago, in early December, they would send each family a box containing Christmas items (a holiday video, recordings of Christmas music, handmade decorations and edibles.) The boxes were such a hit that they became a family tradition. Throughout the
year, they make and gather items for sharing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of
the holiday season. |
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* New Year Chore |
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Directions:At the first of the year, one busy grandmother in Mississippi prepares the birthday and anniversary cards she’ll send during the next 12 months. She leaves the envelope unsealed so she can quickly add a message before mailing it. She files the cards in chronological order in a small card box. No more forgotten or belated greeting cards for
her! |
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* Sharing Holidays |
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Directions:For one close knit family in Oklahoma, there were 3 main holidays that were spent with their extended families. To remedy the hurt of only spending one holiday with one family and two with the other or running between both, they chose to spend Easter and Thanksgiving with the extended family. However, Christmas was for their little family – alone. They spend their day together as everyone helps prepare the meal and clean it up. Candles are lit and dinner is served and eaten on mom’s best china. The day is spent with their new Christmas gifts in their jammies with no hurrying to one place or another or both! |
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* A Christmas Gift of Fun |
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Directions:Here’s an inexpensive gift that a whole family can enjoy, compliments of a family in Portland. Buy a disposable popcorn bucket, microwave popcorn, soda pop, and a gift certificate for a movie rental. |
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This recipe for Holiday Tips is from