First Sunday of Advent

We're slowly trying to build up our family traditions and Advent is becoming an important one.  Rather than succomb to a gaudy, frantic, commercialized Christmas, we're deciding to focus on the simple, gradual and deliberate anticipation of the coming Christ-child.  

For the first Sunday of Advent, we made a wreath out of our holly tree's branches and talked about the symbolic lyrics of The Holly and the Ivy.  We read 2 Corinthians 4:6, John 1:1-5 and had Christmas tea and ginger snaps.  After Luke prayed we cuddled upstairs before bedtime and read chapter 1 of Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin and the beginning of The Jesus Storybook Bible. Thanks for the early Christmas gifts, Grannie Stannie and Papa Billy!

We're really looking forward to this Advent season. Tell me how you are celebrating!  

Giving Thanks

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration this year.  Though none of our family was able to join us, we were glad that a few friends from our church did.  We did it potluck style - totally the way to go for Thanksgiving, btw.  More great food, much less stress.  If I never have to cook a complete meal myself, I'll consider it a major life accomplishment.    

We read Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation, prayed, shared what we were grateful for, played a game, talked and watch football, and ended the evening around 10:30pm.  It was great.  

Leah and John chowed on the brined, organic, grassfed ("and expensive," reminds Luke) turkey.  And we - by "we" I mean "Luke" - finally put together the acacia wood picnic table from Ikea.  The kids loved it!

Our friends:  Sarah and Luke Goodrich (Shalom and Baby Naomi were napping), me and Luke, Doug and Andrea Stevens (with Baby Noah), Scott and Amy Herbert, and (not pictured) our lovely housemates John, Kristi, and Baby Jack Stofer.  

Amy is uber-creative (literally - she has German roots) and brought a turkey sculpted out of raw veggies.  She can make anything.  She's amazing.

And because it wouldn't be a Thanksgiving blog entry without a recipe, I'll share my favorite this year.

Cranberry Chutney

(tweaked from Shalali's recipe at www.pintsizedfarm.com)

3 c. organic cranberries (regular are grown with lots of pesticides)

1/2 c. pecans

1/2 c. sucanat or rapadura sugar

2 t. sea salt

1/4 c. whey (drained from kefir or yogurt)

1/2 c. orange juice

1/4 c. lemon juice

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 c. soaked raisins

Mix above ingredients and lightly pulse in food processor.  Let sit at room temperature for about 48 hours (or according to taste) and then refrigerate.  This is a true chutney because of the fermentation process and not only tastes great, but helps with digestion.  And we all know we can use a little digestive help during the Thanksgiving glut-fest.  

Happy 8th anniversary to us!

On November 18th, Luke and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.  (Leah clearly got into the celebration as well.)  

We're not big into giving gifts, but we love a good meal at a yummy restaurant.  Luke really went above and beyond and took me out for tapas at Bambule'.  Many of you know that Luke loves big portions and small prices, so tapas has always made him a little nervous.  But because he knows I love variety (I grew up eating at Vegas buffets, what can I say?), he decided to sacrifice.  And - because he ate slowly, had extra bread and drank lots of water - he was rewarded with a full stomach.  See?  It pays to be selfless.  It was a delicious meal with great atmosphere and even better company.  

He also went out of character and took me shopping(!) to get a girly winter hat so that I don't feel like I look like a boy with my short hair.  

We had a great time and were reminded again of why God brought us together.  

We are grateful.  

(And a special shout out to Nefret for free and enthusiastic babysitting!)

Wanna cry?

Then check out this video on the redeeming power of Christ's love.  It's really powerful.

Mandatory "Children with Pumpkins" photos

Though I didn't take the pictures by the unwritten October 31st deadline, I still feel somewhat secure that I am a halfway decent mother.

Check out John's weightlifting skills.

And we are not neglecting to cut Leah's bangs, she has firmly decided to grow them out.  She has strong opinions about her hair and she's only four.  Oy.

Storytime

Leah has been into mimicking the librarians at storytime.  She displays the books on the table, sets up her little chair and forces John to sit down on the floor and listen.   But alas, the toddler attention span does not a good listener make.  

(Insert Tom Brokaw-presidential debate joke here.)