12 Days of Christmas Carol - True Meaning

It has been so fun getting many Christmas Greetings from friends and family. Here is one of my favorite that was sent to us by a church member, Nola Judd with the message behind the 12 Days of Christmas Carol.

I never knew this, did you?

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There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

“Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home.” ~Carol Nelson

When we read this, we smiled for it reminded us that Christmas is all about fond memories of family and friends past and present. Even in the comfort of our homes, we still long to be near to share our love and the joy of our Savior’s birth with each of you! The next best is to let you know you are thought of and missed and to share with you what has brought us joy and happiness this past year.

Winter – Is the time Karl is busy in this woodworking shop. He has made many beautiful and unique turned bowls, candlestick holders, vessels, and containers with air-tight lids. His new projects this year included tea-tables with in-laid wood trim (white maple in sapele; dark wood like mahogany) with turned as well as tapered legs. His latest project is a beautiful end table for our family room. It is so fun to have a wood worker in the family! I have my order in for future items!

Spring – In June we took a trip to MaCall Idaho to spend a weekend with Karl’s brothers and sisters. Karl’s family rented a condo and just relaxed for several days, visiting, shopping, sight-seeing. It was beautiful country and the time together will be cherished. From there we went down to Utah to visit Paul and Sarah and Noah and Gabe and enjoyed the SLC Zoo and “This is the Place monument”. Karl & Paul even got in a few rounds of golf.

Karl’s Yard/Garden was in tip top shape this year! We spent extra time weeding and we think that made a big difference! Karl was able to give away bunches of beets, carrots, squash, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower. We also were able to preserve some beets, cucumbers, beans and carrots! We are by no means experts, but we are learning and enjoying it at the same time.

Karl was able to complete his vision of the fire pit in our back yard. It looks beautiful and now has electricity so that accent lights go on at night as well as electrical outlets, if needed. It really highlights the backyard, especially at night. This year was on of the best for the dahlias. Karl planted approximately 150 tubers in the southeast corner of our lot and they all bloomed profusely starting the end of summer through to mid October frost. They were stunning in size, color and variety. Deep reds, bright yellows and oranges, candy striped, water lilies, whites of all varieties. He really knows how to grow them.



Summer - In July we were able to take a quick trip to Hayden, Idaho to visit Mom and Dad. They are both doing well and we treasure the times we spend together with them. Dad and Mom continue to live lives of faith and gratitude amidst hardships and challenges mainly due to Dad’s health issues. They had to postpone a trip to our home in June, however, there have been many visits by family either by phone or in person which has helped bring joy to them.

Fall – We were fortunate to fly back and spend approximately 10 days between David and Rebecca’s family in Midland, MI and Blair and Down’s family in Harrisburg, PA. We enjoyed our visit so much! Besides the time with family, we thrououghly enjoyed seeing the other side of our great country. We rented a car and drove from MI to PA and back to MI. We got to see the start of the fall colors, New England harvest scenery and a day in Getteysburg, (a must see for all!). We had our traditional pumpkin party complete with corn maze, bobbing for apples, carmel corn, pressing cider, and just having fun hanging out together. Melissa, Mishana, Melia and Sherry and families all joined in along with several additions, Fillmore cousins, Izzy and Landin! We were able to enjoy our new deck as well.

Family Updates – Blessings and challenges beset our families this year. Karl’s younger sister Vicky passed away in September due to cancer. She was 59 years young. She had a beautiful funeral service and we enjoyed so much being together with family. We attended her funeral in San Antonio, TX. Having a testimony of the Plan of Life and love of our Savior brings us comfort as we move through these times.

Melissa and her boyfriend Mike made their friendship formal and were married. Karli is an accomplished diver and has represented her High School at district and state diving competitions. Kayla is keeping busy with volley-ball and fast pitch softball and both are doing well in school.

Blair and Dawn have a charming “turn of the century” home in Harrisburg. Abie is playing lacrosse and Q is doing well in school this year as well as playing soccer too!

Mishana and Mike are barely keeping up with their girls. Tayler, Tristen and Riley have been busy in fastpitch soft ball, volleyball and soccer. Sometimes playing on multiple teams at once. Tristen was voted “most valuable player” by her volley ball team! Good going Tristen! We hear that all the girls are keeping their grades up along with their busy schedules.

Melia and Justin are busy working hard; Melia with her floral business, Justin on his job and both on their property. They in the middle of trying to sell their home in Yakima and are looking at plans to start building on their property in the country. They already have trees, grapes and flowers that they are tending there.

David, Rebecca, Sarah, Emma, Martha & Hannaha are all keeping busy on their 20 acres in Michigan. David built a 3 stall born to keep their horses warm this winter, Rebecca and the girls grew a massive garden and keep the eggs gathered daily and sell weekly for extra spending money. I think David even cultivated, planted, cut and baled several cuttings as hay as well.

Sherry, Blaine, Nathan, Brandon, Kaden, & Allie have been busy as well. Blaine photo-shooting with published prints in local news papers of Little league baseball games, request for interior design using his wildlife photos and even some portrait business. Sherry has been busy homeschooling and creating fun adventures for her family. The boys participated in the first piano recital and Allie is now wearing “big girl panties”!

Brent, Eliza, Shayne, Bradshaw & Paul are getting ready for great celebrating as Brent will be graduating from Parker School of Chiropractics and will become a Dr of Chiropractic medicine on Dec 13th! We are so proud and happy for them. It truly has been a family sacrifice! We are going down to Dallas TX to experience this proud moment and to spend some time with the grandkids.

Paul, Sarah, Noah and Gabe flew into Idaho this Thanksgiving to visit grandparents before driving to visit us for four days. Paul has been working hard this past several years as a Sr Account Manager for Sound Concepts in Orem UT and was invited this summer to become a part owner. Congratulations Paul for pulling it off and Congratulations to the whole family who will be welcoming a new little Hirschi boy to the family in March 2009!

We send to each of you our warmest wishes and we pray for love, joy and peace to be your friends this New Year.
Love, Karl & Shayne

PS And we will make an extra special effort in 2009 to keep in touch better via our blog!

Hi Everyone ! I just found a new tool (thanks to Blaine). It is a sight where you can create "word clouds" . I like typing in my favorite scripture and wooolaa - a poster with the key words of that scripture emphasized. Pretty cool huh?

Fall 2008 Trip To MI & PA

Wow! I can't believe I am actually doing this! After two years I am posting to our blog! Lot's has happened, but I have not been organized enough to record and then my fear of technology inhibits me even more!

Alas, I am in movement once more!

I am so excited that I have "figured out" (a bit) how to do a slide show! We have many more pictures, but I could only fit in 5 to this show . . . (how do I insert additional pictures?) Oh well, I can only get better!

The country was BEAUTIFUL in both places. The leaves were just starting to turn. Being with family again was the BEST. Everyone is growing up so fast. Yikes! We need to get back there soon!

Hopefully I will have more frequent pictures to post. Now that I have a small new camera - our old one got STOLEN. Yes, we had a house robber enter and take all that he/she could see and grab that they thought was valuable.

We are grateful that there was no vandalism. We are also grateful for the beauty's of the season and the hope that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into our lives.

May each of you walk in love and truth today -
Love Mom/Shayne/Grandma

Make a Smilebox slideshow