Not sure if she has them, but Julie at Julie's Cross Stitch has always been able to get what I want (even if it's not already on her site) and has pretty good prices. Her direct email is julie@juliesxstitch.com if you want it. Hope that helps!! Carey

I think many children can be trained to not touch something you don't want them to touch. Starting when they're little (say around a year or so, give or take a few mos.), we teach them, "HOT, don't touch." A cup of coffee or tea can be helpful for this. Babies are naturally curious and want to see what mom or dad is drinking. We take their hand and put it to the side of the mug (when it's hot enough to be uncomfortable; not hot enough to burn.) Then we look the baby in the eye and say, "Hot. Don't touch. HOT." Reality can a very good teacher, especially when used by a parent to educate a child in a safe manner. Waiting until a 2 year old is ramming through the kitchen at an open stove door is not the time you want to educate them. But if children already practiced the "hot" lesson on the coffee mug, and you've explained when you are using the stove, that it's hot, the pots and pans are hot, see the steam-it's HOT, I'm turning the handle in because the pot is hot, stand back while I drain this HOT pot. . . many accidents can be prevented. One of our six is more "bull-headed" than the rest seem to be. He thought it was fun to get some little burns from our wood stove. We happen to have a friend who years ago burned over 80% of his skin from a jet fuel accident. When I asked him one day, he very graciously showed some of his burned skin(normally covered by his sleeves) to our children and explained how those burns have changed his life. Seeing someone in this way really helped drive home a lesson I was having a hard time getting across to our Mr. Experimental. We too, have our children cooking in the kitchen along side us. They love to help, and are learning to use knives and appliances as they grow. Yes, there have been a few minor burns, a few little nicks, but they also learn to be more careful, which is not dissimilar to the scrapes, bumps and bruises from playing outside and being children.

I love this thread! We do various things to put Jesus at the center of our celebration. We read the Bible, from the book of Luke. My DH and I take turns writing something that is read before we unwrap gifts. It is usually something aimed at our grand-daughter. This year my husband wrote a poem to read aloud. Here it is: There are things that only God can do, Because he loves both me and you. He brought the shepherds out that night And showed them an amazing sight: A star, a star as bright as day And a special angel to light the way. For lying in a lowly stall The king had come to save us all. What did those shepherds think theyâÂÂd see Maybe jewels and crowns and finery? Maybe velvet robes and silver rings And, oh so many kingly things? But when they got to the babyâÂÂs bed They found it in a farmerâÂÂs shed, With cattle standing round about And sheep and dogs and goats, no doubt. âÂÂWhereâÂÂs the king,â the shepherds ask? âÂÂAn angel called us from our task To greet His Majesty tonight. We saw a bright and heavenly light.â But the mother kissed the babyâÂÂs head âÂÂYour kingâÂÂs right here,â she softly said. âÂÂFrom heavenâÂÂs lofty throne above Come to earth to teach us love. And when HeâÂÂs done then he will go Back to the place we all can know A home prepared for us to be Alive with him through eternity.â Then the shepherd asked, âÂÂWho is this man That does these things no other can?â Mary smiled and said, âÂÂHeâÂÂs a shepherd too. There are certain things only God can do.âÂÂ

My perspective about Jesus is different to what it was when I was young. When I was a little boy, a picture of 'Jesus' was displayed on the church wall and I thought it was a representation of his likeness. I never questioned it because no one else did either; All accepted it as a good representation. Its reality was never discussed with us children. It was one of those things we grew up with and assumed it was factual. It was not! It was church art. Now, I am in my elder years and finally realize that no one alive alive today knows the likeness of Jesus. What we saw as children was an artist's view of a sincere man, one who was concerned about people. In "white" churches, he is depicted as a white man; In other places, he may have different skin color. Due to his location and parentage, he may have had olive colored skin. The truth is, no one today knows, with accuracy, what his physical features were.