Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. Today, I turn another page as I leave my job as an instructional assistant. I have enjoyed this job more than I can say, but going forward, I must be available to handle certain family needs at a moment’s notice. As a result of this change, I need a bit of Christmas spirit to lift mine. Whatever you are doing this week, I hope you take care of yourself.
Happy Birthday to all of you who turned a year older this past week. And Happy Anniversary to you and your loved one for reaching another milestone year together.
Quote of the Week: “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” –Charles Dickens, in A Christmas Carol
Movie of the Week: To keep with the spirit of today’s quote, I want to suggest the George C. Scott version of Scrooge. This version is the most serious, but I believe it captures the complete change of heart that Ebenezer Scrooge experiences. The transformation he makes from miserly and miserable to generous and joyous is definitely a spirit-lifter.
Joke of the Week: How does Santa wash his hands? He uses Santa-tizer.
Recipe of the Week: Since we are at the last weekend before Christmas, with only one other weekend remaining in 2024, Buffalo Chicken Dip is sure to be a favorite for any gathering.
What you’ll need:
8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 rotisserie chicken, pulled off the bones
1 bottle of Buffalo wing sauce
ranch or blue cheese dressing
8-ounce package of Monterey-Colby Jack cheese
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a baking dish, begin with spreading the cream cheese on the bottom. Layer the pulled chicken, the wing sauce, and salad dressing, then sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Serve with your favorite finger foods, such as tortillas, celery stalks, or any type of crusty bread or toasted pita wedges.
Holiday Tip of the Week: I have ALWAYS loved to wrap presents, but this year, I have learned a really cool way to guarantee quick unwrapping. It creates a shortcut that’s kind of like the pull tag when you open a package of gum.
What you’ll need:
wrapping paper
spool of ribbon
scissors
tape
present to wrap
Cut your paper to the size of the package you need to wrap. Place one end of the ribbon at the top of the wrapping paper and take the ribbon all the way down the middle to the bottom, adding just a tad more than the paper. Wrap the present as usual, ensuring the tab falls across the body of the present. Be sure it’s visible, and try to explain its function to the first person unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning. Good luck, and have fun with this!
Nugget of Wisdom of the Week: As we head into the last weekend before Christmas, it is VITAL that we don’t go overboard with our to-do lists and totally zap our Christmas spirit. Even for children and teens, it is possible to get so caught up in doing that family gets swept to the side and we lose sight of the reason we celebrate Christmas, which is to bring happiness to others.
I know what you’re thinking…how can we get everything accomplished and not lose what’s important? I’m glad you asked. First, if you have a literal list of things to do before Christmas, rewrite your list to include only the absolute necessities. If possible, push the least important things until after the holiday. Remember how, a few weeks back, I mentioned the lady on the radio who felt so overwhelmed by all she had to do to get ready for Thanksgiving that she dreaded the day? We don’t want to be that way.
Second, if you must keep an intense schedule, be sure to take the necessary breaks, sprinkling fun activities in between. Sing along with Christmas carols while cleaning or cooking. Stop for a special hot drink while running errands.
Third, instead of tackling those intense to-do items alone, enlist the help of a friend or family member so that you can make memories of doing those things together.
And finally, look for chances to spread good cheer to others. Open doors for others, giving them a HUGE smile. Let the other driver go ahead of you in traffic. Carry a bag for an elderly person who needs a little help. You can find many ways to make someone’s holiday brighter without spending any money. Merry Christmas to you and your families!
Shout-Out of the Week: This week, I want to give a shout-out to everyone who will be traveling this weekend and during the holiday season. I wish you safe travels to wherever you call home. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.