• Homeschooling the Rebel, Part 1
• Lincoln vs. Darwin: What's the Difference?

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Let's Be Scientists!
  
• Amusing Mathematics 

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY EAGER TO READ!

By Janet Colbrunn

Most people enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit by decorating, shopping and participating in Christmas programs and celebrations. However, writing the annual Christmas newsletter is often considered to be a last-minute chore for the procrastinating letter-writer of the family. Fearful that it sounds boastful or worse yet, boring, the family letter is finally sent and reaches busy friends and family, who skim over it and set it aside to read later because they have more urgent things to do. Our family has taken this whole communication dilemma and wrapped it up with a theme to create a strategy that makes the annual family letter not only compelling to read but fun to write too.

This innovative approach began in 1985, the year of the big family move with three young children, when I had so much to tell our friends back home. I knew that individual handwritten notes were too time consuming, but I resisted sending duplicated newsletters since they were uncommon at that time and widely regarded as impersonal brag letters. One day I came across a box, left by the former owner, full of stationery with an artist’s rendering of our new house on it. It almost shouted, “I’ll write your letter!”  Indeed, as I wrote about our activities from the perspective of the house (you know how the walls hear all) it did seem to write itself! Best of all, the playful attitude of the letter concealed the shades of boastfulness concerning how well things had gone for us that year.

Each year after that, we followed three easy steps to write a new creative Christmas letter. The first step is to make a list of events, accomplishments and activities for each member of the family. This task can be accomplished in a festive family atmosphere around a fire or in the car on the way to Grandma’s house every Thanksgiving. As each individual’s strengths and accomplishments are celebrated, the family creates a bonding experience, an unexpected bonus to the process. 

Step two requires the family to select a theme. Themes may be selected from three categories: list letters, format letters and perspective letters. The easiest themes are list letters. These letters might list the top ten TV shows or best selling books. Each show or book, of course, would describe the activities of one particular family member. Sometimes themes are drawn from various media formats. A crossword puzzle, game board and dictionary are among the options. Some letters can be written from a perspective other than that of the family members. Perhaps, the house, the family dog or a guardian angel might “write” the letter. One letter appeared to have been written about our family from the perspective of having lived 100 years ago with a picture of us in Victorian dress, taking on a stoical pose. The possibilities are endless.

Step three allows the family to blend the topics with the theme, adding humor and creativity to develop an informative and entertaining package for their friends and extended family to enjoy. The letters can be copied onto decorative Christmas stationery or enhanced with drawings, pictures, stampings and scrapbooking materials as well. The creative Christmas letter format perks up a boring annual report and tones down what may otherwise appear to be a brag letter.

Three other benefits emerge from the creative Christmas letter-writing experience.  First, parents and teachers can take advantage of the opportunity to enhance creative writing skills as children are actively involved in the authorship of the family letter.  Next, as years go by, letters can be compiled in a notebook establishing a written family history that contributes to a sense of roots and family values. Furthermore, Christians, who strive to share the true meaning of the Christmas message, find it more personal and effective to share their faith in a unique way every year.

Our family has compiled all the letters that we have written over the years, including those written by the families of our adult children, and produced a book to offer theme ideas and guidelines to others who desire to give their letters a creative flair.

Ideas for Writing Creative Christmas Letters That People Are Actually Eager to Read!  is written by Janet Colbrunn and is available at bookstores and from writingcreativechristmasletters.com for $14.95. A website purchase provides a free bonus ebook on motivating children in creative writing.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Ma always did the carving in the old days on the farm
When roasted bird at meals occurred she'd slice it to a charm;
But last Thanksgiving Father said, when Ma was carving ducks,
Her cooking, though 'twas passable, she couldn't carve for shucks.
Dad said agen, he noticed when a chicken came on deck,
Though all the rest got legs or breast, he always got the neck;
Henceforth he'd wield the knife himself, and now I'll go to work,
Events I'll trace, tell what took place when Father carved the "turk."

Christmas mighty soon rolled round, and Dick and me and Sue
Had fixed a little game on Pop, and Ma was in it, too -
We had a turkey on the farm, I'd heard Dad oft remark
He'd pledge his word that very bird came out of Noah's ark.
We chloroformed the gobbler, and though for hours we tried,
No ax or gun (we tried a ton) would penetrate his hide.
When in the oven birdie went Mom whispered, with a smirk,
There'll be some fun for every one when Father carves the "turk."

'Twas Christmas day, the table gay with fixings for the feast,
And ev'ry guest dressed in his best, a score of them at least;
A hungry horde sat round the board as Dad took up his knife,
All sharpened like a razor, for the battle of his life.
Hushed was the din as Ma brought in the gobbler, brown and slick-
Mom winked at me, I winked at Sue and Sue she winked at Dick;
All bowed their heads as grace was said by Reverend Joseph Burke,
Then still as death we held our breath while Father carved the "turk."

Dad shed his coat and bared his throat, and then he butted in,
The gobbler's hide to cut he tried, but couldn't pierce the skin ;
Its breast he jabbed, its neck he stabbed, and gave it such a slap
It went right swish clean off the dish and flopped in Sal Smith's lap.
'Twas soon put back, again Dad hacked; oh, things were going some!
When Dad's knife slipped and off it whipped the top of Father's thumb;
Dad stomped the floor, and strange oaths swore, while Reverend Mr. Burke
Begged Heaven, in prayer, our lives to spare while Father carved the "turk."

We fixed the old man's damaged thumb, then Dad, sad to relate,
Upon the table knelt and chased the turkey round the plate;
One knee was on the gobbler's breast, the other in the pie,
While gravy flew on me and Sue and hit the ceiling high,
We ducked beneath the table, 'twas the safest place to go,
While Pop was wrestling up on deck we breathed a prayer below;
Then came a crash, an awful smash; in my brain long 'twill lurk;
That deafening roar, when on the floor, went Father and the "turk."

We scrambled out and picked Dad up; you should have seen him prance -
The carving knife lodged in his shoe, the fork stuck in his pants,
His face was smeared with grease, his beard and whiskers full of pie,
Ere he could see Ma dug out three potatoes from his eye.
Then old "Doc" Jupp patched father up, and said 'twas very plain
He'd turkeyitis of the pants and gravy on the brain-
Another gobbler soon was cooked and each one went to work,
And ate, you bet, but don't forget 'twas Mother carved the "turk."

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Thanksgiving Comes But Once a Year

by Thornton W. Burgess

Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
But when it comes it brings good cheer.
For in my storehouse on this day
Are piles of good things hid away.
Each day I've worked from early morn
To gather acorns, nuts, and corn,
Till now I've plenty and to spare
Without a worry or a care.
So light of heart the whole day long,
I'll sing a glad Thanksgiving song.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Giving Thanks

by Author Unknown

Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

A Naughty Pumpkin's Fate

Author Unknown

A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
"What a stupid old place! How I long to aspire,"
Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."

"My son," said the mother, "pray do be content,
There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!"
But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 'tis true,
And acted just like some bad children will do.

With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan
To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"

Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
They cut in a minute, and laid him aside

Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,

A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day."

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link