Little Women Home Companion-Christmas 2003

Little Women Home Companion
Christmas 2003
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their children,to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus: 4-5
A Visit With Marmee
I hope that many of you have had the opportunity to watch the movie version of Little Women. We have had the opportunity to watch two versions one older and one newer. The poem that is included in this months issue is in the new version as a song. The girls are singing it as they leave their home taking their precious Christmas breakfast to the Hummels, a little family that is starving. I hope that we all will take time this month to share warm and cozy times with our family and friends but I also hope that we will all be challenged as the girls were to reach out to others in need.
Poetry Thyme

Here We Come A-Caroling

Here we come a-caroling
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen.

Love and joy come to you
And a joyful Christmas, too;
And God bless you and send
You a Happy New Year-
And God send you a Happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
But we are neighbors' children
That you have seen before.

Love and joy come to you
And a joyful Christmas, too;
And God bless you and send
You a Happy New Year-
And God send you a Happy New Year.

God bless the master of the house
Likewise the mistress, too;
And all the little children
That round the table go.

Love and joy come to you
And a joyful Christmas, too;
And God bless you and send
You a Happy New Year-
And God send you a Happy New Year.

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Tea Thyme
Gifts in a Jar
Here are a few links to some qiuck gifts in a jar recipes that you might enjoy.
The Country Cottage
http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/CountryCottage/HomemadeJarMixes.htm

Mary Mae's
http://members.tripod.com/~MaryMae/jarlinks.htm

Pastor's Wife
http://www.pastorswife.net/jars8.htm
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The Work Basket
I love candles! Every year I consider trying my hand at them and then run out of time. My daughter and I have made a few of the rolled up beeswax candles and enjoy maiking them. For those of you are more adventuresome I have included a link to all kinds of candle making projects.
http://candleandsoap.about.com/blprojects.htm?terms=grubby+candle

Thimbles and Threads
Teaspoon Ornament
I purchased these very small demitasse spoons and decided that they would make lovely ornaments. Simply tie a ribbon around the spoon right before the base and add some string pearls and silk roses. Glue a ribbon to the back of the spoon handle to hang it with. This would make a sweet gift to share with your teatime friends.

Jenny
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From Jo's Writing Garret

Dear Mommies and Daughters,
Christmas is upon us! Holidays are such special times for families and friends to share together. As I am growing older holdiays go by so quickly. Before I know it, it's Christmas again. Some of my favorite memories are spending time with my family. Spending time at relatives homes and enjoying their stories of years gone by. This Christmas as the days get hectic, I would like to challenge you to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. To spend time with your family.
May you have a very blessed Christmas,
Caiti
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Little Women Companion

Experiments
Our chapter opens with the March girls enjoying a little free time from their labors. They all decide to have a week to themselves doing only what they please. As the week goes by they find many things within their household uncomfortable. The beds are unmade, the furniture and blinds undusted. Things are out of place and messy. The state of the household begins to make the girls uncomfortable. The days seem so long when they please themselves. By the end of the week Marmee gives Hannah the day off and decides to truly let the girls fend for themselves. After meals that are unfit to be eaten, and a day of uncertainity the girls decide that they do not wish for more of the "experiment" of pleasing themselves. They heed Marmee's advice. "Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty"

Quote from Little Women by Lousia May Alcott

Jenny
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The Cottage Pantry

Peanut Butter Candy
1 box of powdered sugar1 stick of butter1 teaspoon of vanilla3 tablespoons of milkPeanut butterMix with your hands, 3/4 cup of confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk until firm. Add remaining sugar. Roll as a pie crust. Spread with desirable amount of peanut butter. Shape in a roll, cut in half. Wrap in wax paper. Place in freezer. Slice when firm.
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Sparrow Post

Meg's Christmas Story
I glanced in the window at Mr. Martin’s Store. Inside was all decorated for Christmas. The front window display held a new box of colored pencils. I would have to forget about buying them for Amy. It looked as though I would not be buying store bought gifts for my family this year, at least not for Amy. I had not been able to find work in weeks, which meant no money to spend on gifts. And I could not possibly beg money from Marmie. The civil war had left us poorer than we had been before.
I turned away from the store window. Wind hit my face and the snow blinded me for a moment. My spirits seemed lower now than it had been before I looked in the store window. Nothing seemed to be going the right way this year. I went around the shop’s corner.
Our home was a little walk farther. When I would arrive home I knew that I would walk into the house tired, depressed, and empty handed without presents. And on top of that I was not in a Christmas mood.
Across the street was a small home I had past by several times on different occasions. It had never caught my eye before, but tonight, it did. A family stood by a window decorating their skinny Christmas tree. Every member’s face was lit up. They did not seem to have much on their tree. But they had something better than that. The love that they showed to one another. Something clicked inside of me. My spirit seemed renewed. I longed to be inside our home spending Christmas with my family.
Snow was coming down quicker now. I raced home. Warm lights were glowing from the house. I walked into the parlor. My family was occupying themselves in some way or other. “Merry Christmas,” I said happily.
I realize now that Christmas is not about the decorated trees or presents, but it comes from the heart. It‘s about sharing time with family. Most of all it is about the birth of Jesus, being born years ago in a little town called Bethlehem.
Caiti
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Our Window Seat
The Shoe Box
By Francine Rivers
Francine Rivers will draw you in the book The Shoe Box by the first page. This wonderful story about a little boy around six years old carries a shoebox around everywhere he goes. When his mother no longer can care for him and his father is in jail he moves in with a married couple that has no children. They love this strange little boy. But secretly the couple wonders what articles are hidden in the box. The children in school and his teacher even wonders what the “shoebox thing” is about. If the boy is asked what’s in it he just says “Just Stuff.“ When his church begins a Christmas Play he wants to be a wise man. A woman makes him the most beautiful outfit for his part. On the night of the program he carries in his shoebox as his gift. He lays it near the manger. After the program his friends and family ask him where the shoebox went. The little boy just smiles to himself; he knows where it has disappeared. This story has a wonderful heartwarming end. If you are able to obtain a copy of it this Christmas, pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa and sit on the sofa by the roaring fire for a wonderful Christmas story!
Caiti
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Marmee's Nature Journal
This time of the year I love to cuddle up by the light of the fireplace. An eggnog or cinnamon bun candle is making the house smell wonderful. The lights in the windows welcome friends and family home. What a wonderful time to talk with my Lord thanking Him for a warm home and food to eat and most of all for the salvation I have through His Son Jesus Christ. I hope that you are all enjoying many cozy times too.

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Till Next Thyme
We hape that your homes will be warm and cozy and filled with the love of Jesus Christ as your share this special time with your family, friends, and others that God sends your way this season.
From our home to yours,
Jenny and Caiti
Merry Christmas
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Little Women Home Companion is a monthly (when possible) bimonthly (when not) and occassionally quarterly newsletter for mothers and daughters.
Copyright 2003-2004 Little Women Home Companion
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~Blessings~
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