Colby's Hope

Christmas

#Lighttheworld 2018

• 8:46 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

A few weeks ago the LDS Church launched their Light the World campaign to give service throughout the month of December. They´ve done this for the past couple of years and it involves many people during the Christmas season. I love this campaign because sometimes during this time of year we can get up in receiving gifts and thinking about ourselves, but Christmas is really a time to serve and think about others.

My mom has really embraced the #lighttheworld campaign and has a poster in our house for each of the days of service and reminds us to give service to others. She has always been an amazing example to me of putting others before herself and I hope to be like her someday.

I'm going to #lighttheworld this month and I hope you can too! The Light the World link I shared has many ideas of what we can do to spread Christmas joy this season. I'd also like to hear what you or your family do to Light the World so please share in the comments! I know that giving service will make our holiday season that much brighter!

Always have hope,

Colby 

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Bucket List

My Holiday Bucket List

• 2:58 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Every holiday season there is always plenty I want to do to get into the Spirit of Christmas. One of my favorite things to do is watch Hallmark movies, but I probably spend a little too much time doing that. This year I decided to be more organized and make a list of everything I want to do during the month of December so I can make sure I get everything done. 

What are your favorite things to do around Christmas time? Share them in the comments so I can add them to the list! Have a fabulous first week of December!

Always have hope,

Colby

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Christmas

My Favorite Holiday Movies

• 9:09 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

As some of you may know I LOVE watching Hallmark movies! I watch them all throughout the year but they are my favorite during Christmastime. They put me in the Christmas spirit and always have a happy ending. I'm not going to tell you all of my favorite Hallmark movies (but if you really want to know I will gladly tell you), but I'm giving you a list of some of my favorite holiday movies you can watch with your family this season.

Elf

The Polar Express

Christmas on 34th Street

Christmas Oranges

The Santa Claus movies

White Christmas

Home Alone

Holiday Inn

One Starry Christmas

Gift of the Magi

I hope you can enjoy these holiday movies just as my family and I have. Please comment on your favorite Christmas movies below!

Always have hope,

Colby

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Christmas

#LightTheWorld

• 6:52 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

I'm so sorry I haven't written in a few months, I've been really busy with school and other activities. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and were able to spend time with family and friends and count your blessings. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family!

Can you believe it's already December?? It even started snowing the other day! I'm so excited for the Christmas season and all of the lights, music, and yummy treats. My family has some fun traditions that help us get into the Christmas spirit.

The LDS church started a campaign last year called Light the World where we can spread Christmas cheer "in 25 ways over 25 days". I think this is a great way to do service with your family and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We have a calendar in my house along with a list of things we can do to complete the challenge each day.

I hope to take the opportunity to participate in Light the World by yourself or with your family. It's another great Christmas tradition! :) Every week when I post I will be adding the video for that day of Light the World, but I would encourage you to print the calendar or visit the website so you can see them every day. Have fun lighting the world this month!

Always have hope,

Colby

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Christmas

Light the World

• 6:57 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Sorry, this is so late. I was meaning to write it last week and it didn't happen. For the month of December, Mormon Channel is doing a month of service called 'Light the World'. They want everyone to perform an act of service every day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They have created a calendar and some videos to promote and get people excited about this. 

My family and I are going to be participating in this and working to #lighttheworld. You can go to mormon.org to find a calendar that has been created with what to do each day and some ideas on how you can perform those services. They have some really great ideas that are a big help as to what you can do.

My mom has printed this calendar and we have it in my family room along with a Christmas tree on cardboard that we put stickers on each time we complete the service. I think this is a great thing to do as a family because you can do it together and you can know where your service is going and who you are benefiting.

I love this idea that the Church came up with because not only does it help us do things that benefit others, but we can also reflect on all that He has done for us and the rest of the world. Each day of service is based on something that He has done and how we can do it too. I love this video that they put out to promote #lighttheworld. The world has so much good in it and I think we need to do better at recognizing all the good that is going on and we can help contribute to it. Please help me #lighttheworld! Share your ideas below. 

Always have hope,

Colby

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Christmas

A Christ-centered Christmas/New Years

• 5:04 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

I heard a great idea/tradition from my young women's leader a few weeks ago. We were talking about Christmas traditions and how to have a Christ-centered home. She shared this tradition with our class and I thought it was a really good idea!

This can be used at Christmas time or in the new year. Each person gets a piece of paper and writes a few things that they want to give to Christ this year. It doesn't have to be that big, it can just be simple. Like instead of reading your scriptures every other day, read them every day. Or you could do some service or spend more time with your family. 

I think this is a great thing to do as you're working on resolutions and goals to be able to have a more Christ-centered year. So I would encourage you to try this idea and see if it works for you! And another happy New Year!




Always have hope,

Colby

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1 year

Happy 1st Year Blogging!

• 1:21 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Last year on Christmas day is when I published my first blog post! It has been a very fun year since then because I've had fun blogging and being able to discover my passion for it. 

Through the fun times, I've also learned some things that I need to do better on to make my blog more efficient and fun. During my first few months of blogging, I would find others' ideas on how to have a good blog, or create good posts and things, but then I discovered that I just needed to make my blog my own. 

I've really enjoyed writing posts and trying to connect with my readers. I hope that you've liked reading my post too! It has really been good for me to share my faith and the things that I love with others. 

I hope I can continue my blog and doing the things I love. Thank you for being great readers and supporting me. Let me know if you have any suggestions regarding blog post ideas, or the site, or anything, I would love to take them! 


I'm going to try and do more meaningful blog posts that you can actually get something out of like quotes and talks. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and are able to spend time with your family and friends!

Christmas Advent GIF Day 25

Isiah 9:6 - "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 24

• 9:25 AM
• By Colby Christensen
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Matthew 2:11 - "And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."



Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Star Wars and Christmas

• 11:08 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

I went and saw the new Star Wars yesterday, and I think it's really good. There are a lot of good messages and good things to get out of it. Like the power of family, and what can be accomplished when we work together. I would recommend it if you have time over the break. It is a great movie and I'm sure you would love it. 

I have been really busy this past week and so I'm a little behind on the Christmas Advent days, so I will be posting two today!

Christmas Advent Day 22

Luke 2:15 - "The shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass."

Christmas Advent Day 23

Matthew 2:1 - "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem."

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 21

• 4:06 PM
• By Colby Christensen
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Luke 2:16 - "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."



Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 20

• 10:17 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Luke 2:19 - "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."



Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 19

• 8:36 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Luke 2:7 - "She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes."



Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Inspired

• 6:51 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

I watched a Hallmark movie last week that really got my mind running. The main character writes a book about what inspired her and how it changed her perspective on things. I began to think about inspiration and what it can do in our lives.

The definition of inspiration is "the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative." In other words, inspiration gives us an idea to do something from what we would normally think of doing. Inspiration can change people's lives. 

We can be inspired by many different things. I personally am inspired by things like pictures, words, music, people, books, movies, etc. Anything that moves us in a certain way can be inspirational. 

I'm grateful for all of the inspiration I have received in my life. It has made me a better person and helped me to realize what I want to do in my life. I also want to be a source of inspiration to others by the things that I do and say. 

Christmas Advent GIF day 18

Matthew 2: 9-10 - "And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them." 



Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 17

• 1:02 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Luke 2:13-14: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."


Always have hope,

Colby

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12 days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

• 10:41 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 1 Comments

In an attempt to try and pull the Christmas spirit out of all of us, I thought of a great idea. For the last 12 days before Christmas, here is a list of 12 things you can do with your family and friends to get ready for Christmas. I think doing these things will make it really fun and help you get ready for the holiday. Enjoy!

We don't have snow here, but if you do it might make it easier to do some of these things!

1. Caroling
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Sledding
4. Build a Snowman
5. Make Snow Angels
6. Visit Santa
7. Have Hot Chocolate
8. Ice Skating
9. Make Holiday Cookies
10. Deliver Cookies to Someone
11. Gingerbread Houses
12. Do some service for others

Christmas Advent GIF day 14

Luke 2:8- "And there were in the same country abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night." 

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Seasonal Service

• 10:41 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Last week my mom, brothers, and I went over to our friends' house to do some service. We made sack lunches for homeless people and it was really fun! 

When we had decorated all of the bags and put the food in, it had only been about 20 or 30 minutes. It was really fun and rewarding!  

I think that sometimes we look at service as something that can take a long time and be boring, but a lot of service opportunities are quick, easy, and fun! I encourage you to try and do service during this holiday season!

Christmas Advent GIF day 16

Luke 2:10 - "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 15

• 6:45 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Luke 2:9 - "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 13

• 10:30 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Matthew 2:2 - "We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."


Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Christmas Advent GIF day 12

• 12:47 PM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

Luke 2:6 - "And so it was, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."

Always have hope,

Colby

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advent calendar

Heaven is Here

• 6:31 AM
• By Colby Christensen
• 0 Comments

I recently finished a book that I absolutely loved! I've been wanting to read it for a long time, and I finally found it! The book I read was Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson. It was really inspiring and I learned a lot. 

For those of you who don't know, Stephanie Nielson and her husband were in a plane crash in 2008 and she was burned over 80% of her body. She made a miraculous recovery and has inspired many and has a wonderful life. 

As she talked about the challenges and experiences she had as she was in the hospital for many months and recovering, I realized how grateful and truly blessed I am. Even though I have challenges and hard things in my life, they now don't seem that hard compared to what she went through. 

One of the most amazing things to me that I read about was how she was able to move on and live life to the fullest. If something like this happened, most of us would probably just sit there doing nothing, not wanting to become active in our lives again. But because she decided to enjoy life, she has influenced many people. 

I loved Stephanie's book and it made me want to be a better person. She is a wonderful example to me of motherhood and womanhood. I hope that you have the chance to read this book one day because it is one of my new favorites. 

Stephanie also has a blog that I read very frequently. She blogs about many things like her family and her relationship with her husband. It is a very wonderful blog and you will come away feeling happier. It is called NieNie Dialogues. 

Christmas Advent GIF day 11

Luke 2:7 - "There was no room for them in the inn."

Always have hope,

Colby

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