_ Many New Year’s Resolutions involve weight loss. The key to losing weight and keeping it off is lifestyle consistency. You do not have to give up those rich, sweet foods you love completely; however it is important to eat smaller portions and eat them sparingly and slowly. Nothing is more important than exercise. Walking is one of the easiest methods of exercise. Walk outside or on a treadmill in your home. Use an iPod with your favorite music or an old Walkman with books on CD to make the time pass more quickly. It is hard for busy working parents to find time to walk, but it is well worth it if you can carve out the time. How much time do you spend sitting in front of the television in the evening? Shave an hour off that time and walk, walk, walk! If your family has a Wii, using one of the many dance, sports or exercise games is a great way to exercise and spend time together as a family. Many of the active games are quite strenuous and lots of fun. Yoga is a fabulous exercise to pair with a walking regiment. Yoga provides relaxation techniques along with promoting flexibility of muscles and strengthening of joints. The older you get, the more beneficial you will find Yoga. Local counties often include Yoga in their list of Parks and Recreation classes. These are typically less expensive than classes at private studios. Some churches offer inexpensive Yoga classes as well. Community colleges may offer affordable Yoga classes through their continuing education departments. Google Yoga for your town or county. You will be surprised to find a variety of options. The trick is making the time to take the classes, but the older you get; the higher up exercise needs to be on your priority list. A final option is altering beloved sweet recipes to make them less fattening. Try the Wilderness Mookies recipe with Splenda, light butter, and yogurt. Delicious!! Then go take a brisk walk or a Yoga class! Wilderness Mookies with a healthier twist Ingredients 2 cups light butter 4 cups splenda 4 egg whites 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons baking soda 6 cups quick cooking oats 2 cups chopped walnuts 1 cup dried unsweetened cranberries ¼ - ½ cup low fat plain yogurt for desired consistency Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini muffin tins with mini muffin liners. Spray lined tins with Bakers Secret or non stick cooking spray of your choice. In a large bowl, cream together light butter, and Splenda until smooth. Beat in the egg whites one at a time. Stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda & stir into the batter until well mixed. Blend in oats. Stir in the walnuts nuts, and dried cranberries. Mix in yogurt to get desired consistency. Spoon approx 2 tablespoons dough into each tin. Bake approx 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool in tins 30 mins. The entire recipe makes about 60 Mookies. Make fewer Mookies and freeze the remaining dough. GREAT FOR CAMPING TRIPS OR TO MUNCH BY A FIRE! NOW GET OUT THERE AND EXERCISE!
 There is nothing like Christmas at Walt Disney World.
Although the parks are crowded, the breathtaking decorations and the exciting special events are worth waiting in the long lines with the other vacationers.
 The Great Tree at Epcot is visible from as far away as the Seven Seas Lagoon. Epcot's Illuminations Light Show is especially enjoyable from one of the boats in the lagoon.
 The Chocolate Carousel at the Beach Club Resort always draws a crowd. The carousel really revolves and is made up entirely of chocolate - horses and all!
 The Grand Floridian Resort is elegant and filled with gorgeous Victorian ornaments and Christmas decorations. The floor to ceiling Christmas tree in the middle of the lobby is particularly spectacular. Surrounded by a grand piano, life-size gingerbread house, carolers and a bell choir, there is always some kind of Christmas celebration going on at any given time at this magnificent resort.
 The Christmas Tree at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom is lit every evening at dusk in a heartwarming ceremony that includes a salute to America's military.
 Disney's Animal Kingdom features authentic scenery including the Baobab Tree which is native to the Serengeti.
 The Chocolate Village at the Yacht Club includes a toy train circling the lighted village which is made of tiny intricate townspeople, trees and buildings.
 The American Adventure at Epcot features the most entertaining Christmas program on the Disney property. The Candlelight Processional is especially moving and is performed nightly by a choir and orchestra of hundreds of talented singers, musicians and a celebrity narrator.
 The Chocolate Christmas Tree at the Contemporary Resort is the centerpiece of a candy shop that greets vacationers as soon as they depart the monorail at the resort.
 Disney's Hollywood Studios sports the most spectacular Christmas Light extravaganza around. The lights "dance" to the Christmas music piped in all over the park.
 There are over a million lights in Disney's light show and Disney-made snowflakes fall on viewers as they enjoy the light spectacle.
 Disney knows how to do Christmas in a big way. Saving all year for a Disney Christmas vacation is well worth the effort and will give the family precious moments to enjoy and treasure for years to come. Here's to pixie dust and magical memories!
_
Although every country has different Christmas traditions, showing love for family, friends and their fellow man is something people in every country share in their own ways. And Jesus Christ is the one who showed love, the extravagant love of God our Father, in the most magnificent way.
For our neighbors to the south in MEXICO, there is warm weather during the Christmas season. People do their shopping in outdoor market stalls called “puestos.” Mexican families cut unique designs in paper bags and place lit candles in the bags to make lovely lanterns called “farolitos.” At night Mexican towns are lit up spectacularly by the farolitos which are placed on sidewalks, rooftops and windowsills.
In contrast, our neighbors to the north in CANADA have lots of snow at Christmas. Canadians have many of the same Christmas traditions as Americans such as decorating an evergreen tree, opening colorfully wrapped presents from family and the story of Santa Claus coming down the chimney with gifts for children. At the close of Christmas in Canada, families make a special cake with a bean inside. The person who gets the slice of cake with the bean gets to be “king” or “queen” for the day.
ENGLAND celebrates Christmas traditions similar to those in America as well. One unique children’s activity is the writing of letters to Father Christmas instead of Santa Claus. English children toss their letters to Father Christmas in the fireplace so that their Christmas wishes go up the chimney.
Christmas Eve is the most important part of the celebratory traditions FRANCE. All the church bells ring and French people sing Christmas songs called “Noels.” Christmas day is spent at church followed by a feast featuring the original Yule Log for dessert.
The advent wreath originated in GERMANY and plays a special role in German families’ Christmas traditions. Each Sunday in the month of December a colorful candle is lit on the advent wreath. Baking sweets is a huge part of the German Christmas -- especially the spicy German cookie known as “lubkuchen.”
The Manger Scene, or Presepio, is the center of Christmas celebrations in ITALY. Each year, Italian families go to the “Christmas Market” in their towns to purchase a new figure for their Manger Scene. Every day the families gather around their Presepio to light a candle and pray.
In SPAIN, Christmas celebrations begin on December 8 with the weeklong Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Music plays a special role in the Spanish celebration of Christmas as there is singing and dancing in the streets and neighborhoods every night during the season.
Americans got the tradition of Santa Claus from HOLLAND where Dutch children eagerly await the arrival of Sinterklaas, a jolly bishop who wears long red robes and a pointed hat known as a “mitre.” Sinterklaas travels by boat from Spain to Holland where he mounts his white horse and carries huge sacks of gifts to the homes of Dutch children.
Christmas festivities begin on December 13 in SWEDEN with St. Lucia’s Day, a celebration of the patron saint of light. The eldest daughter in each family dons a long white dress and acts as the Queen of Light. She goes to each bedroom and serves each family member coffee and treats. Afterwards, the entire family goes out to select their Christmas tree.
Christmas in ETHIOPIA begins on January 7 when Ethiopians celebrate the birth of Jesus at a church event they call Ganna. Twelve days later, on January 19, they begin a three-day celebration of Jesus’ baptism which is known as Timkat.
It’s summer during Christmas in AUSTRALIA, mate! And Australians love to celebrate with “Carols by Candlelight,” a beautiful event in which neighbors gather together at night to light candles and sing their favorite Christmas songs.
Christmas is not highly regarded in CHINA since there are so few Christians in the country; however those who wish to celebrate Jesus’ birth refer to Christmas as Sheng Dan Jieh, or Holy Birth Festival. They put up a “tree of light” and decorate it with colorful Chinese lanterns.
And the light of the world is always Jesus Christ for everyone on Earth who celebrates Christmas.
“For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
__ Luke 2:11
Feliz Navidad, Buone Feste Natalizie, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel, Melkin Yelidet Beaal, Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan, Zalig Kerstfeast, God Jul, and
Merry Christmas to all!
_ Have you ever been curious about the origins of those Christmas songs you’ve been singing since childhood? Here is the history of just a few. Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells, one of the best loved of American Christmas songs was originally written in honor of Thanksgiving. Author and composer, James Pierpoint, was a minister who wrote the song in 1857 for the children in his Boston Sunday School who were celebrating Thanksgiving in a church program. The song was so popular that it was repeated at Christmas and has remained a Christmas favorite every year since. O Little Town of Bethlehem! Philadelphia Rector, Phillips Brooks, wrote the lyrics to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868 following a memorable pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the nighttime view of the beautiful town of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine. Later that year, his church organist, Lewis Redner, wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday School children’s choir. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley, a hymn writer and a poet, was the younger brother of John Wesley, the famous preacher who began the Methodist movement in the Church of England. Charles wrote Hark! The Herald Angels Sing in 1739 as a poem for his book Hymns and Sacred Poems. Years later, in 1840, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata called “Festival Song” to celebrate the invention of the printing press. The melody of Mendelssohn’s cantata was then adapted by composer William H. Cummings to make a song using Wesley’s poem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Silent Night! In 1818, in the small alpine village of Oberndorf, the organ at St. Nicholas Church was broken. Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, wrote a poem called Silent Night and his friend Franz Xavier Gruber wrote a melody to go with it. The lovely hymn was sung at Midnight Mass without musical accompaniment and is now considered the most famous Christmas carol of all time. White Christmas! White Christmas is the most famous Christmas song of the modern era. The music and lyrics were written in 1942 by Irving Berlin and the song was originally featured in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby. The lyrics struck a sentimental chord with the families of soldiers off fighting in the Second World War as they waited for their loved ones to come home. Joy to the World
Joy to the World is a popular Christmas carol which is based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The melody was written by George Frederick Handel. The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts. His father, John Watts, was a Non-conformist imprisoned twice for his extreme views. Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps and attended Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington rather than a traditional University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Edinburgh in 1728. Psalm 98.
1 O sing a new song to the Lord,
for wonders he hath done:
His right hand and his holy arm
him victory hath won.
2 The Lord God his salvation
hath caused to be known;
His justice in the heathen's sight
he openly hath shown.
3 He mindful of his grace and truth
to Israel's house hath been;
And the salvation of our God
all ends of the earth have seen.
4 Let all the earth unto the Lord
send forth a joyful noise;
Lift up your voice aloud to him,
sing praises, and rejoice.
5 With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms,
unto Jehovah sing:
6 With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound
before the Lord the King.
7 Let seas and all their fullness roar;
the world, and dwellers there;
8 Let floods clap hands, and let the hills
together joy declare
9 Before the Lord; because he comes,
to judge the earth comes he:
He'll judge the world with righteousness,
his folk with equity. Have a joyful Christmas!
_ See the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will present GOSPEL CHRISTMAS Saturday, December 3, 2pm at Symphony Hall A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY POPS Saturday, December 17, 2pm at Symphony Hall The Atlanta Symphony Hall is located in the Woodruff Arts Center on Peachtree Street. Other activities at Woodruff Arts Center: High Tea at Table 1280Weekday high tea is a festive affair, the perfect break from the holiday hubbub to catch up with friends over a cup of tea, a glass of wine and a plate of mouth-watering sweets and savory treats. On select weekends Mrs. Claus, Scrooge and other storybook characters invite parents and children to make new holiday memories over warm beverages, scrumptious cookies and delectable finger foods. (Thursday- Sunday, beginning December 1st - Adults $22, Children under 12, $12) Dec 3 at 2:00 & 3:30; Dec. 10 at 2:00 & 3:30 Cookie and Cupcake DecoratingChildren and their parents are invited to Table 1280 to decorate their favorite holiday treats to eat on site or tuck away for an afternoon snack. Look for Mrs. Claus and Ebenezer Scrooge and some other surprise visitors! ($5 per person) Dec. 10 at 4:00 Dec. 17 1:00 & 4:00 Gingerbread House DecoratingGumdrops, candy canes and chocolate chips are the stuff of architectural masterpieces in the hands of creative children. They can decorate their very own Gingerbread House at Table 1280. ($15 per house) Dec. 10 at 4:00 Dec. 17 1:00 & 4:00 StorytellingTravel back to a time before iPads, televisions and computers—a time when imaginations created the imagery to support the story. Help your children stimulate their minds with some of Atlanta’s premier storytellers. Throughout the holiday season storytellers will be on-hand to share holiday classics as well as some of their own original stories. Bring your kids by the Storybook Nook where parents can participate by bringing in a book to donate to our troops through Operation Paperback. Dec. 3 1:30 & 3:00 Dec. 10 1:30 & 3:00 Dec. 17 1:30 & 3:00 Visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens – general admission 18.95 Holiday Model Train Show November 5 - January 7 The model train show is back! Choo choo trains and a holiday trolley chug along tracks in a beautifully landscaped whimsical village. The trains run during regular Garden hours 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and at night during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.See Santa Claus Dec. 3 & 10 - 10am-4pm Reindog Parade…you don’t want to miss this December 10 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join the once-a-year fun of dogs in the Garden! Dress your pooch in holiday finery to compete for prizes with celebrity judges or to just show off. Enjoy Pup Tent refreshments, Photos with Saint Nick, and connect with local canine enthusiasts and businesses in the Doggie Expo. The first 100 dogs to arrive receive a special Wag-Bag of gifts! Dogs compete in following categories:
Best Puppy | Best Senior | Best Botanical | Best Dog Pack
Best Dog-Owner Look-Alike | Not competing – just showing off! The cost is $15 per dog in advance, plus Garden admission for owners. Walk-up admission for dogs is $18 (maximum two dogs per person). Garden Lights Holiday Nights November 19 – January 7 5 – 10 p.m. Experience a dazzling extravaganza featuring nearly 1 million lights crafted into displays inspired by nature. Highlights include a galaxy of stars in the woodlands; whimsical bees, butterflies, and other lighted pollinators in the Edible Garden; and 200 show-stopping, color-changing topiary forms choreographed to holiday music on the Great Lawn. Just for Kids – Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts Nov 29 - Dec 18, 2011:
•Tues-Fri: 10am & 11:30am
•Sat: 11am, 1pm, & 3pm
•Sun: 1pm & 3pm
Dec 20 - 31, 2011:
•Tues-Fri: 10am, 12pm, & 2pm
•Sat: 11am, 1pm, & 3pm TICKETS 16.50 A Special Christmas at Stone Mountain Combo ticket Price: $49.75 (plus tax) per ticket with a minimum purchase of four tickets required. Admission includes both Snow Mountain and Stone Mountain Christmas. NEW for this season – Combo tickets allow you the option to do Snow Mountain on one day and Christmas on another. Now you can enjoy both events at your pace! AND they’re throwing in a meal to seal the deal (plus unlimited hot chocolate). Merry Christmas! You'll get a two-hour tubing session down a 400' hill on the famous Laser Lawn and experience the Avalanche Alley family tube ride. Also included in your ticket is all-day access to the snow play area, the Snow Zone. All access to special attractions including the Snow Angel Palace, Wonderland Walkway, the Sing-Along Christmas Train, The Polar Express™ 4-D Experience, the Snow Angel snowfall and fireworks finale, more than two million lights in Crossroads, nightly Christmas Parade, live performances including a new TOYRIFIC! Show. Also includes daytime admission to Summit Skyride, Antebellum Plantation and Discovering Stone Mountain Museum. Something on the Southside at Atlanta Motor Speedway Gift of Lights
November 18 – January 1 Sunday – Thursday, 6 pm – 9 pm; Friday - Saturday, 6 pm – 10 pm
$15 per car
Atlanta Motor Speedway will be lit up like never before this holiday season with the inaugural Gift of Lights. The most affordable lights display in the metro Atlanta area, the Gift of Lights will be a nightly drive-through event, with over one million LED lights in hundreds of displays. A Scenic Venture through Piedmont Park Season of Magic
Daily Carriage rides from 5 pm – 10 pm daily through New Year’s Day (leave from Magnolia Hall and Park Tavern)
Lights are free; Horse drawn carriage rides from $20
For the first time in the Park, couples and families can enjoy daily horse-drawn carriage rides, making Piedmont Park the only Atlanta park with carriage rides. Visitors will be carried through the historic and newly expanded areas of the Park, enjoying beautiful holiday lights under the scenic Atlanta skyline. Atlantans are also welcome to stroll through the Park to enjoy the festive lights for free. Also features carousel rides and “Jingle Mingles.” An All-time Favorite Classic Atlanta Experience – The Pink Pig The Pink Pig Ride the Pink Pig at Macy’s Lenox Mall now thru 1/2/2011. $3 a ride, purchase tickets on-site! An Atlanta family tradition and a portion of the ticket sales will go to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. An Elegant Experience at the Ritz Carlton HotelHoliday Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Carlton BuckheadNovember 25, 26, and 27 and December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 21 and 22 One of the most popular Atlanta traditions, Afternoon Tea is the time-honored setting for generations celebrating the season. Santa oversees the festivities, including musical entertainment and caroling by the Dickens Singers. $52 per adult, $47 per child. Prices are exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 404-240-7035. For the Literary Crowd – Try the Shakespeare Tavern SHAKESPEARE TAVERN presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Playing December 01, 2011 to December 23, 2011 $12 General Admission A Holiday Tradition at The Shakespeare Tavern is this very special adaptation of a timeless classic. A handful of actors bring the wondrous art of storytelling to life, transporting you to Scrooge’s London counting house that fateful Christmas when Scrooge meets three Ghosts and a certain little boy named Tiny Tim. This enchanting holiday experience will bring the magic of the season to Scrooge, to The Tavern, and to you. Two for the Price of One – Fernbank and Callanwolde Fernbank Museum and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center are partnering together to offer you the gift of savings this holiday season! Experience two great holiday programs for one price of $32, $27 for students and seniors and $24 for children ages 3-12 through Dec. 18 Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions around the World
November 16, 2011-January 8, 2012
Fernbank’s 2nd annual Winter Wonderland features dozens of cultural displays decorated in celebration of holidays and traditions observed around the world. Traditional holiday trees are decorated with the colors, imagery and symbols unique to world cultures, holidays and traditions enjoyed throughout the year. Christmas at Callanwolde December 5-18, 2011 Browse and enjoy the splendor of the Callanwolde mansion, elaborately decorated for the holidays by Atlanta's top interior designers. Special events for families and children, holiday shopping and music played on the historic Aeolian organ throughout the day, will pull you into the magic of Christmas at Callanwolde. Christmas on Peachtree Atlanta's newest indoor Christmas festival is located at 200 Peachtree Street (the former Macy's building) in downtown Atlanta; Christmas on Peachtree offers a mix of family-friendly festivities, food and shopping. See the stunning Symphony of Lights music and light show and let the little ones play in the Cartoon Network Children's Adventure Area, which includes a life size toy train! Enjoy a meal in the North Pole Café and shop in the retail village. Get your child's photo made with Santa with a number of affordable packages available for purchase. Take MARTA to Peachtree Center Station or use the abundant, discounted parking available at the convenient parking deck. A portion of every ticket sold will benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. And Now for Something Free – the Children’s Christmas Parade Saturday, December 03, 2011 10:30AM to 12:00PM Downtown Atlanta
The Children's Christmas Parade begins at Peachtree Street near Baker Street in downtown Atlanta. The route follows Peachtree Street and turns right onto Marietta Street. It will then turn left and end on Centennial Olympic Park Drive. The Five Points and Peachtree Center MARTA stations are within walking distance of the parade route. Limited parking is available in pay lots. Enjoy all the spectacular events the Christmas season has to offer in Atlanta!
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