Happy Thanksgiving

Time to share a Thanksgiving flannel board figure  from one of Mom's most popular stories,  "The Turkey with the Terrible Temper."  Happy Thanksgiving! 

I Like to Think of Santa

I Like to Think of Santa

by Avon Allen Compton, a poem written for Christmas of 1988

I like to think of Santa
With a mild and mellow face,
A real benevolent sort of man
Who has both charm and grace.

 A Santa who adores all kids,
In fact, who doesn't really mind,
If kids hang, crawl, or sprawl on him--
You know the very kind.

The Santa that I'm thinking of,
Is one who understands and shares,
The thoughts of shy and fearful kids,
He listens to their cares.

I'm sure this sort of special saint,
Can nod his head and grin,
And make those sad, self-centered tots,
Feel better from within.

The Santa that I'm dreaming of
Is not a jovial boisterous guy,
But one who's rather quiet,
Yet has a twinkle in his eye.

I picture him with gentle hands,
And arms that give great hugs,
So every little girl and boy's
Heart strings get strong tugs.

Yes,  I like to think of Santa
With a radiant beaming face,
Who takes the time to understand
And love the human race!

Note from Tammy:  Brittany and I were just reading through some of the cute notebooks and things Nana Avon put together for Brittany and Jacob when they were young, I found this poem.  I don't remember reading it before, although I must have when she first sent it to me.  Reading it now really  makes me smile--it is a different picture of Santa--a gentle one who is in tune with kids.  Of course she would see Santa like that because that was how she was.  She was an all-year-round Mrs. Santa to her grandkids and her students, the kids in the ward,  wherever they were,  she would find them and love them.

Avon Compton passed away peacefully just last November after a long struggle with Alzheimers disease.  We will keep her memory alive by continuing to share her stories, poems and journals.  Thanks for reading her blog!

Merry Christmas 2012

Pilgrim Place Markers

Copy one figure for each person at your Thanksgiving dinner.  Write the name of each person on one figure,  then color and cut out.  Glue the figure to the end of a popsicle stick, then push each one into a large gumdrop to make them stand up.  Set them on the table as place markers for Thanksgiving dinner.

From #85 The Little Shepherd Boy Story, A flannelboard Story by Avon Allen Compton copyright 1977

Goes with "The Nativity Song" from Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, pages #52-53
Words & Music Link: http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=6f2d2ddde9c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=637e1b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Back in the day... Avon and Avonne's Story Shoppe