Inspirational Links O' The Month | December 2006

Thanks to Charity of Always Animate
for the animated graphics on this page.
To join her group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnimateAlways/

The little sayings interspersed throughout the page are courtesy of "Charity" as well. She has given me permission to share them with you. Her graphics always come with a Scripture verse or reference.

Welcome to the second December edition of "Inspirational Links O' The Month." Most of the links below will be related to Christmas. But as you can see below, I also wanted to include Chanukah links. I have two grandchildren whose father is Jewish, and they have the double blessing of celebrating both Chanukah AND Christmas.

The Shamash (taller candle) is the first candle lit each night of Chanukah, and is used to light the others.

On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right (as you face the Menorah).

The second night, two candles are placed in the two far-right positions -- lighting the left candle first, and each night of Chanukah a new candle is added, the same lighting procedure followed. **Thanks to Aish.com for this graphic.

There's no tradition regarding the color of the candles; so any color is okay. Actually, it is preferable to use olive oil lamps, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The candles must be lit before sunset and must remain alight for a half hour after dark, so when candles are used, they should be tall in order to last all the days of Chanukah.

Virtual Chanukah
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default.asp

The Jewish Outreach Institute
http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/index.shtml

Judaism 101:Chanukkah
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm

Click on the graphic below to hear a Chanukah tune, "Chanukah, Oh Chanukah":

Years ago we took movies of our holiday gatherings. We had an old Bell and Howell outfit -- anyone remember those? Anyway, I plan to have those films put onto a CD and share them with my children -- what joy I will feel presenting each of my them with a copy of our family's "yesteryears." I'm including a link to the business I will be using, and thought it might be something worthwhile to share with you. Do check it out if you have old video/films lying around gathering dust -- or slides or photos? Imagine them on a CD! I am! It's a family-run operation, and they do incredible work!
Film and Video Services
http://www.filmvideoservices.net/

Midi feature of the month can be found here:
CHRISTMAS MIDI
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Inspirational/December/SilentNight.mid

And here is a wonderful page of piano Christmas music:
Yuko Ohigashi Plays Christmas Music
http://www.yukopiano.com/media/japanese.htm

I am so pleased that this links page is a monthly feature in The Christian Online Magazine. Here is a link for your convenience, in the event you received this page from another source. I have long been a subscriber, and I encourage you to contact the talented editor, Darlene Osborne, and ask to be placed on the subscription list. You won't regret it.
The Christian Online Magazine
http://www.thechristianonlinemagazine.com

An internet friend authored this book, and I loved it! It fits into this Christmas season so perfectly ... would make a wonderful gift! It's a precious story based on the author's own childhood experience. The characters are based on her own family, and I asked her if she would object if I put a little "plug" for the book on this page. It is a Christmas blessing, I assure you.

The Christmas of 1957
http://www.booklocker.com/books/483.html

This very special page is for those of us who have lost loved ones.
What a comfort it is to me to know they are spending Christmas with Jesus.
Christmas With Jesus
http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/Pages/ChristmaswithJesus.htm

This is a wonderful page featuring Christmas music. It's from Catholic.net, and has a wonderful selection of quality midis for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Christmas Songs
http://www.catholic.net/christmas_songs/template_channel.phtml?channel_id=17

Photo cards are all the rage today what with digital photos and the new popularity of Polaroids (I still remember the day Polaroid hit the market! I'm dating myself, aren't I?). I searched all over trying to find some affordable blanks that I could use on special occasions with the digital photos that I print out myself. I finally found one site ... took a chance, and I was so pleased with the cards! They're professional quality and ... affordable! With the holidays so close, I decided to share this site, in case anyone has hit a brick wall as I did. I'm so excited about this find.
Holiday Photo Cards
http://www.partyplansplus.com/holidayframes.htm10:43 PM 12/8/2006

The Angel's Light
http://jeanamishearth.jeansheart.com/theangelslight.html

Salvation Army Lasses
http://poetrybyginny.com/SALVATIONARMYLASSIES.htm

True Meaning Of Christmas
http://www.frontporchinspirations.com/True_Meaning_of_Christmas.html

The Lord and Santa Claus
http://www.pennyparker2.com/thelord.html

Dance of the Christmas Trees
http://poetrybyginny.com/DANCEOFTHECHRISTMASTREES.htm

If you are enjoying the animated graphics on this page, won't you please check out Charity's page below. She does such beautiful work, and I'm so grateful to her for allowing me to share them with you!
Always Animate
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysAnimate/

Christmas Past
http://poetry-emotion.com/Christmas/Christmas_of_Hearts.html

One Star
http://www.frontporchinspirations.com/One_Star.html

The First Gift of Christmas
http://poetrybyginny.com/first_gift_of_christmas.htm

The Christmas Gift
http://poetrybyginny.com/christmas_gift.htm

The Star Appeared
http://www.frontporchinspirations.com/The_Star_Appeared.html

And remember, it's His birthday -- not your's. (Traditional Christmas Eve closer)
- Paul Harvey

CHRISTmas LOVE
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/CHRISTmasLOVE/

He Sent A Carpenter
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/Carpenter

New Year Countdown
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/NewYear

The Angels Cried
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/TheAngelsCried

This Must Be For You
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/ThisMustBeForYou

Christmas Through The Years
http://www.wwwebsbysusie.com/Christmas/ThroughTheYears

The Joy of Christmas is Jesus - DaySpring Movie
http://www.dayspring.com/movies/view.asp?moviename=thejoy.swf

Emily
http://poetrybyginny.com/EMILY.htm

But Once A Year
http://www.peacefulhush.com/pages/11/111once.php

Fudge & Candy Recipes
http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/cat0005.html

Tattered Dress
http://poetry-emotion.com/Christmas/Tattered_Dress.html

Will The Christ Child Come?
http://www.my-tgif.com/Christ_come.shtml

O Holy Night - The Birth
http://www.peacefulhush.com/pages/12/122santa.php

The Christmas Decorations
http://poetrybyginny.com/CHRISTMASDECORATIONS.htm

The Christmas Guest
http://4dw.net/tommyblue43/ChristmasGuest.html

More light than we can learn,
More wealth than we can treasure,
More love than we can earn,
More peace than we can measure,
Because one Child is born.

Christopher Fry

A friend's six-year-old granddaughter was rehearsing for her part of Mary in the Christmas play at her church. Having shared her fear of forgetting her lines, she was told that it was all right if she said it as she thought it should be said, using her own words.

Grandma was playing the part of Joseph, and tells her: "I'll pack the donkey for the long journey, and I'll lock up the carpenter's shop."

"Mary" then said, "I'll gather the clothes and food. Do you want chips or fruit for snacks?"

Thanks to Shay for sharing this precious (true) story.

The King Is Coming
http://www.frontporchinspirations.com/The_King_is_Coming.html

The Perfect Gift
http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/Pages/ThePerfectGift.htm

Greatest Gift
http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/Pages/GreatestGift.htm

The Birthday Story
http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/Pages/TheBirthdayStory.htm

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