January- A Candle

On the first month of Christmas, Our plan is unfurled, A candle to remind you of the Light of the World Many times you hear someone say I wish we could keep the spirit of Christmas all year long. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life we can sometimes lose that Christmas spirit as soon as the holiday is over. Our focus can drift onto lifes everyday, sometimes mundane tasks. This year, we would like to help your family focus on that Christmas Spirit in your hearts and minds all year long. Each month youll receive a token as well as a challenge to build on each month to help bring that heavenly feeling of Christmas into your home all year. This months challenge: Help focus your inner light by increasing your study of the Saviors life in the scriptures as well as in the monthly Church publications.

February- Bottles of Water

On the Second Month of Christmas Pure Life Water is the clue To represent the Saviors Living Water just for you! If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38. This months challenge: Seek out an attribute of Christ in the scriptures that you would like to have and try to emulate it all month.

March- A Jar of Jam

On the 3rd month of Christmas Sweet homemade jam To remind you of the sweetness We should show our fellow man! This months challenge: Do something really sweet for someone outside of your family.

April- Spices
On the 4th month of Christmas Some spices we do share To represent the spices brought By the wise men to show they care! Gold, frankincense & myrrh were given to the Christ Child by the wise man. They had both practical and symbolic meaning. They were symbolic of Christs life, ministry and eventual atonement. The gold would have helped the family in their exodus to Egypt. The frankincense was often used in sacrifices and the myrrh was used as part of the body preparation for burial. This months challenge: This month, think of what gift (or act) you can offer to the Savior personally.

May- Cookies
On the 5th Month of Christmas Some cookies for remembering That sweet is the peace The gospel brings This months challenge: For Family Home Evening, look up scriptures that bring you peace and share with each other why those scriptures help you to feel peace.

June- Bread and Butter Knife

On the 6th Month of Christmas This yummy bread and butter knife We bring to you to represent The Lord, the Bread of Life This months challenge: Think of ways that you can nourish yourself better with The Word and implement them in your life and your familys life.

July- Nativity Ornament

On the 7th month of Christmas Or Christmas in July An ornament depicting Who makes Santa want to fly! This months challenge: Christmas will be here before you know it! Start saving your pennies so that at Christmas time you can help make the holiday special for a family in need! Then at Christmas, be a Secret Santaadopt a family and surprise them with gifts using the money youve saved up!

August- An empty, decorative bowl

On the 8th month of Christmas An empty vessels a strange gift But fill it with the blessings That the Lord has blessed you with! This months challenge: For a family home evening activity, have each family member write down all the blessings that they are most thankful for. Fold them up and put them in the wooden bowl. Then take turns pulling them out and reading them out-loud.

September- A Candy Cane

On the 9th month of Christmas A candy cane for your tree As well as a little poem And a little pre-holiday treat!

Legend of the Candy Cane Look at the Candy Cane, what do you see? Stripes that are red like the blood he shed for me. White is for my Savior, who's sinless and pure! "J" is for Jesus, My Lord, that's for sure! Turn it around and a staff you will seeJesus my shepherd was born for me.

October- Angel doll, or ornament

On the 10th month of Christmas The angel, she will sing Just like the angels who announced The birth of Christ the King! This months challenge: Listen to good music that makes you happy and that has good messages. Notice how much better you can feel when you listen to appropriate music! (Even throw on your favorite Christmas songs to get you feeling Christmasy)

November- A Christmas Story Book, such as Twas the Night Before Christmas
On the 11th month of Christmas A book of stories for you to read, Tales of the season To help get you in the Christmas mood! This months challenge: Take time to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Be inspired by the love and service of our Savior through the tales of kindness of others.

December- A White Stocking with the poem on a bookmark tucked inside it.
On the 12th month of Christmas A stocking of worth With a special assignment For the Savior on His birth!

The White Stocking

It wasnt that anyone had really been forgotten, no children had been slighted or made unhappy and no adult had been forgotten. The presents had all been distributed and all the stockings were beautifully filled, all that is except one; it was the stocking intended for the Child of Bethlehem. Of all the people belonging at that Christmas gathering, only He had been forgotten. Only He had been left out of the festivities. This didnt seem quite right, inasmuch as it was His birthday that was being celebrated. This year, the little white stocking will be hung in a special place in our home. On Christmas Eve, we will gather the family together and each of us will write on a piece of paper, a gift for Jesus to be placed in the stocking. It will remain in the stocking until next years Christmas Eve, when we will reach into the stocking and pass out the papers from the year before. Then we will see how well we gave to the Savior through our gifts. We hope that you will enjoy beginning this holiday tradition in your home. Your gift could include personal goals you wish to achieve, family goals, ways you will be of service to others in the coming year, or relationships you wish to improve.