Posted by admin on Dec 22, 2014 in Christmas Past 2014 | 4 comments

On the 11th Day Christmas Past, “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store!” Question: What did a young pioneer boy learn about where Christmas comes from? (To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts on Facebook or our blog of story below.) Christmas Surprises Peter Hagen sat at the kitchen table in their small cabin and watched his mother remove four loaves of bread from the oven. Usually the smell of freshly baked bread made him feel happy, but today he was worried. “Will we have a Christmas this year?” Peter asked his mother. “Of course we will,” Mother replied. “We’re not in Ohio anymore, but I think our Christmas will be just as good as if we were. You’ll see.” Already Peter missed the gaily decorated Christmas tree, wrapped presents, delicious cookies, and the friends with whom he’d spent so many happy hours. It was just ten months ago that ten-year-old Peter, his five-year-old sister, Ruthie, and their parents had journeyed west from Ohio by covered wagon to settle on the plains of the Dakota Territory. Peter couldn’t understand how his father could think that living on a farm in such a lonely area was worth leaving their comfortable home in Ohio. “How can Christmas be the same?” Peter asked his mother. “There aren’t any stores where we can buy presents, or any friends to enjoy shopping with even if there were stores.” “Well, Peter, there are many kinds of gifts we can give besides the ones we buy in a store,” answered Mother. That evening at supper Peter was still worried about celebrating Christmas in their new home. “Dad, will we at least have a Christmas tree this year?” he asked. “We’ll have a tree,” Father said as he smiled at Peter and Ruthie. “We couldn’t bring our tinsel and glass ornaments with us, so we’ll have to depend on you to make the decorations for our tree.” “That might be fun,” said Peter. He noticed Ruthie was smiling too. “I’d like a doll for Christmas,” Ruthie said suddenly. “A big doll with a pretty dress.” “Maybe, Ruthie,” Mother answered finally. “But don’t count too much on it.” Oh, I hope she can have a doll, Peter thought. I still wish we were back in our old home where there were stores so we could buy things. “What would you like for Christmas, Dad?” Peter asked. Father thought a moment and answered, “I suppose a new saddle for our horse.” “And what do you want, Mom?” Ruthie asked. “I would like a piano just like the one we left behind,” Mother replied. “I do miss my music.” Peter couldn’t help but join in with a wish for himself. “I’d like some ice skates. It’s not easy to skate on the pond in my boots.” After supper Peter and Ruthie...

Posted by admin on Dec 21, 2014 in Christmas Past 2014 |

Answer 9th Day Christmas Past:  The Moody family had a wonderful time dedicating their Christmas to be a true family celebration, focusing on each other and not Santa. Congrats to 9th Day drawing winner, Rebecca Dawson, who won a genuine Bethlehem Baby Blanket from Israel! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s Question website blog...

Posted by admin on Dec 20, 2014 in Christmas Past 2014 | 5 comments

On the 9th Day Christmas Past, Christmas away from loved ones. Question: What special plans did the Moody Family make for Christmas while their Father was away? (To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts on Facebook or our blog of story below.) Mother’s Homemade Christmas “It snowed! It snowed!” shouted my sister. We jumped out of bed and ran to the window. Snow was rare in our little town of Thatcher, in southern Arizona, and on that Christmas morning in 1908, our excitement knew no bounds. Awakened by our chatter, Mother joined us. Together we stared at the beautiful sight, knowing that we would remember it for a long time. The full moon sat low in the west. Only a few clouds remained from the night’s storm that had clothed the earth in a beautiful white robe for Christmas. “You know,” Mother said, “I think Heavenly Father knew that Santa wasn’t coming to our house this Christmas, and he sent the snow to make this day special.” Each of us knew in our hearts that Mother was right. Our father, known to all of Thatcher as Bishop Moody, was far across the Pacific Ocean serving as a mission president. Of course, we had wanted to go with him, but because of the lack of schools, the primitive conditions, and the heat, our parents had decided that we should remain in Thatcher. This was our first Christmas without Father. In order not to let his absence cast gloom on our holiday, we had planned a very special Christmas just by ourselves. Not even Santa would be a part of our celebration. For weeks, secrets, whispering, and sometimes a “Don’t you dare open my dresser drawer” had permeated the house as we had made gifts for each other. Since a Christmas tree was out of the question, Mother had designated a special chair for each of us where our gifts would be placed. Accordingly, on Christmas Eve we each decorated our chair with strings of popcorn, paper chains, bright red bells, and other homemade decorations. On Christmas morning, Mother shooed us back into our beds while she made the fire and tended the babies. She told us to stay there until she called, but we eventually climbed out of bed, got dressed, and waited. What a sight met our eyes when Mother finally called us to come downstairs to the parlor! The chairs were arranged in a semicircle around our high-topped parlor organ and were loaded with exciting gifts and packages. Mother had placed a beautiful star on each chair with a name on it: Mama, Hazel, Ruth, Delia, Flora, Mabel, and Rupert. Mother must have worked for months. She had crocheted a cap and mittens with a matching scarf for each daughter, had renewed our last year’s doll and made it...