happy belated

New year that is.  Yes, it’s seven days into twenty-ten, but happy new year anyway.  I hope you’re off to a better start than I am!

Oh, don’t worry it’s really not that bad.  I’m just off to a really slow beginning, trying to accept that vacation mode is over.  I’m not quite there yet, though I need to be—see my dilemma?  In the back of my mind are the wonderful days surrounding the holidays; days where we slept in, roamed around in pajamas until mid-afternoon (seriously), played games, had little to no structure and overall had a blast!  The last two weeks were relaxing.  Being home and soaking in the comforts of all that represents was true bliss.

And now?

Now I need to get moving and fast!  So yesterday, I decided to check some fresh cookbooks out the library.

                                                photo by salt & chocolate

What?  Cookbooks have nothing to do with getting organized and doing my work?  Well, you’re most likely right…but they were the motivation needed.  Knowing I wouldn’t sit to browse through those books until some projects were completed, my plan worked perfectly.  The boys’ room is decluttered, laundry is being washed, meals have been thought through and I’ve actually cracked open the lesson planner to find out exactly what we’re supposed to be doing for homeschooling in January.  Oh, I still really need to get ‘in the zone’…really.  But at least it’s fun along the way.

So, happy belated new year!

happy belated

more advent fun

{painting & glittering wooden ornaments}

{making a snack for the birds :: pipe cleaners & plain Cheerios, hung outside on the trees}

{making ornaments for decorating & giving :: glass ornaments w/tops removed, acrylic paint dropped in & swirled around}

We also continue with our advent calendar of activities; some of what we’ve done recently~

chosen items for families around the world through the gift catalogs of World Vision & Gospel for Asia

snuggled up in PJs and read a book together

given the gift of laughter by telling jokes

gone out to eat as a family (a treat!) and given an extra tip to our waitress

enjoyed a movie together as a family

given the gift of our time by making a ‘coupon’ to serve another

surprised a neighbor with flowers on their doorstep

 

Hope the Advent season has been an enjoyable one for your family!

more advent fun

gifts of the season

A kitchen full of the season’s sights, sounds and smells…true gifts of Christmas ::

siblings exchanging decorating ideas

gingerbread filling our senses

just as much icing in mouths as on cookies

a new Christmas CD to enjoy (one of Mama’s birthday presents last month)

family togetherness, including our home-for-a-visit nineteen yr-old

full hearts celebrating His coming

Christmas.

gifts of the season

to stir the soul

I am consistently amazed by the minds of young children :: the questions that arise from their understanding of whatever is being presented causes me to think, to reflect. I’m not only referring to my little ones, but also the many children I’ve had the privilege of teaching through the years. Truly a sight to behold.

Today in the midst of baking gingerbread cookies, pondering the Nativity story…a few of these questions stirred my soul.

“Mom, do you think Jesus missed heaven while he was here on earth?”

“Do you think he was really excited to go back after 33 years of being gone?”

Hands stop the mixer from stirring as this soul feels just as jumbled as the dough…

Oh, my.

I understand the feeling of longing for home, of being away from the place that represents comfort, peace, familiarity. Of wanting so much to return to the place where I belong. Home is dear to me; and while I enjoy travel and seeing new sites…home is often on my mind even then.

But that is not the story of our Christ. He wasn’t just here to visit and take in new surroundings, to collect snapshots. This was a mission He had been waiting to fulfill, one that involved much suffering, much pain. When all was complete, was He ready & excited for the journey home?

I answer my little one with a yes.

Yes…..I’m thinking he was ready to be home; and what a gift that He came.

photo credit

to stir the soul

adoration

To you Jesus, the One and Only…

explaining Your story to young minds and hearts pauses me, moves me to contemplation.

You left the glory of heaven.  You came to earth.

little ones ask ‘why?’ and I explain :: but this heart is stirred, watery-eyes accompany my mind’s race to understand such profound love.

You promised to come :: and You did.

 

I am amazed and stunned really.  The greatest story ever told still rocks my world, still leaves me speechless. Once again we pause to reflect on Your coming into obscure surroundings and situations.  A humble entrance into a world that would both embrace and reject You.

will both accept and deny You.

I simply respond with adoration :: not always consistent or fervent, this act of worship. And I have no words fitting for such sacrifice…

…but perhaps maybe just that I love you and that I thank you.

simple adoration.

adoration

peanut butter goodness

I am really enjoying the new ‘toy’ in my kitchen, the VitaMix high performance blender :: a long-awaited & saved for treat!   Daily we’re whipping up smoothies, soup has been cooked in it, and the children really wanted to make peanut butter…so we did!  Just roasted peanuts with a little extra canola oil added in. 

Jordyn, our 6-yr old, commented that ‘it tastes just like real peanut butter!’.

Um, sweetie…it is!

peanut butter goodness

candy trees and other treats

   

Candy Trees to give away!  As part of our Advent celebrations, we made these to share with those in our community who serve us, such as our grocery cashiers, the lady who delivers our mail, our church secretary, etc.  Very simple & easy ::

red & green chenille stems

holiday wrapped candy (these were Crunch chocolates, but could use Reese’s cups or other)

yellow cardstock or construction paper cut into little star shapes (could use a punch or even star shaped stickers?; I used my Cricut machine to cut ours)

Twist the chenille around a pencil or around a finger.  You could press one end into the candy, but we used hot glue.  Add the star with glue and voila!  A simple & fun craft.

We also found some fun little online activities ::  trim a tree or make a custom made e-card to send (you can even add music)!

candy trees and other treats

advent celebrations

This year we decided to do a countdown until Christmas Day as a part of Advent :: a string of envelopes marking the passing of time, each with a card explaining an activity we’ll do to keep focused on the ‘reason for the season’. What fun we’re having! This simple tool helped me to prioritize the many, many ideas I had floating through my head and to plan them out. All other thoughts were put to rest for another year.

Each day we open a card during morning basket time. There is a short focus on a theme of the season, such as sharing or giving, and then we have a craft or activity to complete. I opted for some quick & easy ideas some days and others have more time & effort required.

Practical and fun is what I was aiming for :: ideas that could work for a 4-yr old or an 11-yr old, and the 6-yr old in between! So far we’ve….

~prayed for those who may feel alone this season, may Jesus be near to them

~given the gift of a smile

~bought a gift for our Angel Tree sponsor child {our church is participating in this program}

~given the gift of a hug

~written notes of appreciation (or draw a picture) for someone in our family

~shared a special something with a family member

~shared the gift of a Christmas carol with someone—over the phone, at home or somewhere else

~made a treat for those in our community who serve us; example~the lady who delivers our mail

The activities or crafts that have been a part of our celebration (such as the treat mentioned in the last idea)?….well, I’ll share those in another post!

advent celebrations

granola goodness

Oh yum…

the nut & seed granola recipe from Feeding the Whole Family cookbook (available here from Google books; page 81) is SO delicious!  We’ve enjoyed it on ice cream, yogurt or simply plain.  This recipe is sure to be repeated often; fortunately my 11-yr old can handle doing this herself and I’ve dubbed her the ‘granola queen’.  The eight cups the recipes makes was gone fairly quickly so we’ll probably double it in the future.

A great snack!

granola goodness

feeding gratitude

As any parent knows, it’s an intentional act to foster the right attitudes and character traits in our children.  As we approach the celebration of Thanksgiving, encouraging a grateful spirit in my children has been a highlight the last week.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the resource A Child’s Book of Character Building which takes various traits such as honesty, diligence, or patience and with simple stories explains the importance from a biblical standpoint.  The easy-to-remember definitions are appreciated as well :: for example, thankfulness is defined as ‘being grateful and saying so’.  This book is one we’ll use again in future years.

We’ve also found some great Thanksgiving books to read!  A few of our favorites right now:

Give Thanks to the Lord

Thank You for Thanksgiving :: the fun rhyming text is great, also a wonderful way to tie together the holiday with the approach of Advent as the book emphasizes being grateful for the gift of Christ.

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving :: great family read-aloud or for older children

The Thanksgiving Bowl :: fun for preschoolers as well~Our almost 4-yr old and 1st grader loved this one!

Mary’s First Thanksgiving

The Legend of Squanto :: a Focus on the Family radio theatre CD that is excellent!  A story of triumph over tragedy that offers more of the Thanksgiving story.  This is our second year listening to this audio and it will probably be a tradition.

Hope you’re anticipating the week as we pause to give thanks!

 

photos :: some of the children’s crafting for the season

 

feeding gratitude