Avenger's Cake: What's it worth to you?

I have always enjoyed searching for new and exciting recipes and ever since being a mom, finding that perfect DIY how-to for cakes that impress.

My son, my delightful firstborn, has turned eight and we are eagerly anticipating his party.  In preparation, since we are living with my in-laws, I have begun work on it quite early to ensure maximum success with minimal interruption or being in the way of a herd passing through the kitchen or random items being thrown on the counter space I find so vital during these things.

The process began when my son chose to have an Avenger's cake.  Then came the research on my part for a cake that was equally "cool," but also doable for my limited skills.  It was nearly instantaneous...Sunshine and Summer Breeze blog.  It looked really neat and all the other moms would be jealous with envy at my skills, while also being so. totally. simple.

According to Michelle, the super-blogger mom who gave a blow-by-blow on how to make this cake the first step was finding a picture to copy.  She happened across a coloring book page (how fortuitous!).  My search was not that easy.  I spent hours... days searching for a picture that would be easy enough to follow.  The black outline couldn't be too detailed because after all we're dealing with frosting, but the choices found on Google picture were everything from glossy pictures from movies and the professional renderings of comic book artists (which were beyond my skill) to crude child-like drawings which would have made me the laughingstock of all the moms (and my beloved husband).  I had to find just the right combination of elements... and I did.

Now, our super-blogger mom touted the glories of how cheap this cake was (less than $5).  And I'm sure it was for her because she used cake mix and frosting from a can (blech!).  I pride myself on homemade deliciousness... not the easy way.  Mine was still pretty cheap considering I made a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and the decoration is made from homemade buttercream frosting (less than $10).

On Monday, I made the two cakes.  Yes, two.  I used a 9x13 glass dish because my son invited around 30 people to join him at his celebration.  Chocolate cakes with added cocoa powder for richness.  Yum.  And then put them in the freezer to wait until Saturday.

Tuesday, my beloved husband helped me out by coloring the picture I had chosen (since I am not familiar enough with the characters to do it myself... it would have taken an inordinate amount of time) and he even used his computer to make the picture larger than it was... that is an important detail to note for later.

Wednesday, I was busy... so I did nothing concerning the cake.

Thursday was the day I set aside to work on the decoration portion of the cake.  I had purchased a $4 cake platter from Walmart since I didn't have one that would fit a two-layer 13x9 cake, so I used this as my "cardboard" and taped the picture onto it.  Michelle uses wax paper, but in the comments on her page, someone mentioned plastic wrap being much easier to peel off at the end; so I used plastic wrap making sure it was pulled taut from every direction and taped it securely.

I made two batches of buttercream frosting and tinted a large dollop with the gel colors I found in the baking aisle (I guess the drops are way outdated now).  It took a little while for the color to go from grey or steel to black.  One of the difficulties of living in my in-laws is that I don't have any of my kitchen tools to use, so I went with Michelle's way (the plastic bag with a tiny slit in the corner).  In theory, that method should work, but I encountered a few issues.

Even with the outstanding job my husband did of enlarging the picture, some of the lines were still too thin and detailed (like the A on Captain America's helmet and the detail lines on Iron Man's arms).  Otherwise, minus the newbie mishaps like air pockets in the bag and smearing fresh lines with my arms, it turned out fairly well.

As Michelle progresses her tutorial, she explains how to "color in" the different sections with colors. This is where it got dicey.  As I worked on coloring in the upper portions of the picture, my arm naturally got tired, so I rested it down.  But then I noticed my arm felt a little moist and sticky.  I had rubbed off part of Hulk's arm and leg!!

Another difficulty I faced was making sure I colored in all the areas for one color before moving on. The next photo you will notice one of my goofs... I forgot to fill in Captain America's face and I had to re-tint more frosting after the fact (along with two other sections you likely won't notice because they're so small).

I thought I was in the home stretch and so excited about being nearly done.  But the worst was yet to come.  I decided to do red first.  After getting over the pink stage, I got a semi-decent red (my husband says I'm being too picky; but I think it's still too muted).  I eagerly colored in the red portions of Captain American and then moved on to Iron Man.... but in my haste, I rubbed out Hulk's arm and leg... again!  Off to make more black to redo it.

But no worries. Next came blue.  It turned an ugly teal.  I tried to darken it, but it still looks too bright (maybe more picky-ness?).  As I was coloring in Hulk's pants, one of those ugly air bubbles got out of control and a blob of blue buttercream bubbled out of the bag (my son would love my use of alliteration!) and fell right onto Hulk's body.  More rubbing out and re-doing the black outline.

By the time I reached the green, I was desperate to finish.  No longer was I carefully filling the space.  I was squeezing that bag as hard as I could and minimally directing it into place and smudging it into the cracks.  By all appearances, however, it looks pretty good. One tip I got from Michelle's comments was to use a knife to smooth the back.

 It has been in the freezer for about 8 hours and I practiced peeling off a corner of the plastic and it came off cleanly.

The finished product came out very nicely... though I must say for all the comments on Michelle's blog about being able to maneuver it into place, that didn't work for me.  I nearly decapitated Capt. America since it thawed immediately upon contact with the fresh frosting on the cake.

Thanks to Michelle.  For all my griping, she really does have an ingenious method.  Maybe all my troubles are just mine because I'm simply not that good at all this crafty stuff.

Until next time... decide what your children are worth to you and aim higher than you think you are able.  The results may surprise you!

Summertime

Every summer, my goal is the same.  Rest. Have fun with the boys.  Stay in town.  This years is no different.  We are not taking music classes in Waunakee which cuts down on travel time (40 minutes each way) and we are staying around the house and finding things to do within biking and walking distance.

The boys, yes both, are taking swimming lessons.  This is a huge deal, especially for the older, who is afraid of the water.  He has progressed tremendously and was dunked (by me) several times without getting hysterical.  Jonah is just having fun.  Learning safety in the water and so proud of himself for kicking and blowing bubbles.  He has never had trouble getting his face wet.

Next week, Jeremiah starts soccer practice.  He really wanted to be on track so he could run, but our community sports does not offer it... so soccer was his backup plan.  I am so excited to see how he deals with the team and coach aspect and running a lot in the heat.  He can be a wimp sometimes.  :-)

My own personal goal this summer is to ride my bike everywhere we go, while pulling the boys behind me.  Serves a few purposes.  One, saving gas money and two, probably the most important for me, losing weight.  I went a whole week riding my bike, except for the large shopping trip and dropping off huge boxes.  But everything else--swim lessons, library visits, general errands around town-- were completed using my bike.  The boys are having lots of fun with this new aspect of summer transportation.

I will try to track my progress here on the blog.

Current weight: 230

My Son, my Firstborn

My child had a birthday last Saturday.  He is five.  The wonder of being able to hold up an entire hand of fingers and say, "I'm five, you know."  He said he feels bigger and stronger and absolutely better about everything because he's five now... and it only happened a little while ago.

He is the brainy child.  He is my intellectual.  Watching nature all around him.  Naming all the different kinds of birds, insects, trees, flowers and fish... who ever wanted to know all those?  But he can tell you... and takes great delight in surprising you with his knowledge.

My boy wanted a superhero party.  Last year, it was a cake picnic with four different kinds of cake.  This year he wanted a strawberry cake... which turned out his favorite color:  PINK.  Adding blue piping around the edges and a Happy Birthday Jeremiah with multi-colored sprinkles and candles made it absolutely perfect.

He and his three friends ran all over the playground pretending to build a cake from sticks and sand and played house and chased each other.  Miss Elizabeth (aka.. Mrs. Spiderman) said Jeremiah could be her husband for the day.

My boy, who looks just like his Daddy and Poppy, who was induced ten days early and caused me 36 hours of labor, four hours of pushing and attempting to come out forehead first, is now five years old.

Happy birthday, Mr. Moo.

Fighting Fair

Rather than just sticking to the facts and make yet another article about how to resolve conflict and fight appropriately with your significant other, I will share a personal anecdote of our last fight.

It started well before the words started flying.  Doesn't it always?  I mean, what actually started the argument was something so stupid.  He interrupts me.  I hate that.  It wasn't just this one time, it is a consistent pattern and I was already "up to here" with it.  He sat down beside me to discuss our finances, which lately is a rather sticky topic anyway.  Every time I opened my mouth to say something, I was unable to finish.  And rather indelicately, I began yelling at him because, if you recall, I was "up to here" about it.

Naturally, my Beloved assumed I was getting angry because of the topic of discussion (which I wasn't... honestly) and things naturally progressed from there and he started yelling at me, getting really close to my face and, horror of horrors, touched my face while he was yelling two inches from me.  Well, that just blew my lid off... he better NOT touch me when he's angry because that just highlights my distrust of anyone when I am in that situation.

Then came the mocking and laughing and taunting and "I'm stronger than you are" which doesn't allow me to have any space to calm down and think rationally.  What to do?

If you're sticking to the "how to fight fair" topic, we both failed miserably for several reasons.  First, we have very opposing views on what is acceptable during a fight, which (even at this time) are unresolved; but even more than that, of those things which we can agree upon, we lost our cools collectively and let things get really personal and started yelling.

Recently, a friend of mine helped me think of a picture that will help me keep myself reined in when being provoked.  My picture to help me (which is different for everyone) is that of a board room to keep the professionalism present.  I was raised in a sterile environment and was not encouraged to use or express any emotion and when I worked in the outside world (as opposed to being a stay-at-home mom), I was quite comfortable with my role as an employee and showing decorum in a professional setting.  You would never yell and scream at your boss, right?

Anyway, the board room in my head will be attended by our two sweet boys.  If I have my children watching, I will be so much more motivated to watch what I say to their father and how I say it.  Keeping things in a quiet tone are supposed to help keep things calm rather than heightening everything.  That is my goal.  If we can actually do that and talk about our issues at the same time, BONUS POINTS.  Most likely, though, it will just be a segue into setting a time to discuss the initial topic later when we're both ready for it.

My goal before our next big fight, which is scheduled for sometime early next year (possibly between February and April 2013), is to study and learn different tools to help me, at the very least, keep my end of our "fight" sterile and calm.  Learning to use my tools can only happen if I have tools to begin with.

Until next time, keep the peace as much as is possible with you and learn to "fight fairly" for the sake of others.

Meat Loaf Patties with Pan Gravy

It seems like I have been cooking things I really don't care for lately, but I am convinced if I can find that superstar recipe there will be absolutely nothing my family and I don't like.  I guess it doesn't always hold true, but meat loaf is another one of my nemeses.  Don't like.  Don't want to.

I did, however, find a recipe that makes the meat loaf bearable.  It is a little involved, but really quite easy.

Meat loaf patties

1 1/3 lean ground sirloin (or just regular beef, as I used)

3 T. bread crumbs

1/8 cup milk (just a splash)
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp. grill seasoning blend

1 rounded T. tomato paste

1 med., finely chopped onion (reserve 1/4)

Place ground sirloin into large mixing bowl and create a well in the center.  Fill with bread crumbs and dampen with milk.  Pour egg over bread crumbs and add grill seasoning, tomato paste and 3/4 of the onion.  Mix until combined.  Form into four large oval patties (or as many smaller ones as you wish).

Pan fry meat loaf patties in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes on each side under a loose tin foil tent.  This reflects the heat and allows steam to escape.  Removie patties to a platter and follow recipe for the gravy.

Three-condiment Pan Gravy

Pan drippings from meat loaf

2 T. butter

1/4 onion (reserved from meat loaf recipe)

2 T. flour

1 - 1 1/2 beef stock

1 T. ketchup

1 T. steak sauce

1 rounded tsp. spicy brown mustard

After removing patties from skillet, add butter and onion to pan drippings and reduce heat.  Cook for two minutes, then sprinkle with flour (watch carefully to not burn up drippings).  Cook for another minute, then whisk in one cup of beef stock.  Bring to a bubble.  If gravy is too thick, add stock.  Stir in ketchup, steak sauce and mustard.  Remove from heat and drizzle over meat loaf patties.

Serve with mashed potatoes drenched with the gravy and your favorite green vegetable.

A Brisket (or roast)

One of my least favorite things to eat has been any kind of roast.  The taste is dry and has a "roast-y" flavor I have never enjoyed.  It ends up rolling around in my mouth, chewing and chewing and then a big wad in the side of my cheek that never gets swallowed.

My Beloved husband has always loved a good roast, however, and in trying to be a model wife I have searched out recipes I thought he would enjoy and hoped I might be able to tolerate.  The following recipe is one I found in my Jewish cookbook for brisket.  Since I didn't have a brisket, I swapped it out for a chuck roast.  In serving it for our shabbat meal, even I had to say that I really and truly enjoyed it.  It was tender, falling off the bone, and for the standard "roast-y" taste, the sauce covered it up and made it into an almost bar-b-que flavor.

Try it out!

Beef brisket (or a chuck roast)

1 (10-ounce) bottle teriyaki sauce

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Place the brisket in a baking pan (or I used a crockpot).  Cover with ketchup and pour entire bottle of teriyaki sauce over it.  Pour onion soup mix on top of meat and sprinkle over it with brown sugar.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees (2 1/2 hours for 7 pounds of meat) (for about 2 to 3 pounds, cook for about 1 hour).  In a crockpot with about 2 to 3 pounds of chuck roast, as I used, cook on low for about six hours.

Please note, a brisket takes longer to cook than a roast, so make sure you account for that.

Do Politics Matter?

Have you heard the retort, "Well, this world is gonna burn, anyway!"?  I know I have.  And, I would have to say that until yesterday I had a very apathetic attitude about politics and how our government works.  Yes, I had a big day yesterday.

Our church has missions' month every March and one of our speakers (three years in a row, now), was Julaine Appling, a strong-minded, clear orater about the importance of legislating values.  Now, don't get me wrong... I am all for getting "good" laws passed into our system; it just hasn't seemed likely or possible.  What I realized yesterday was that it takes regular people, like myself, to change laws.  It takes one or two people to make a phone call to their representatives.  It takes one or two people to share their thoughts with like-minded friends who will then share the passion to get things changed to better our own lives.

God has been priming me, I think, for a little while by sending messages via Facebook and email through friends who are passionate (maybe?) about certain causes.  One of them was a 30-minute video talking about how parental rights are being violated.  That caused me to sit up and take notice for once.  I am a mother.  That is my job.  I value being able to make decisions for my children that I deem "in their best interest".  What if that was taken away from me?  It already is.  People around our country have experienced it.  Being arrested for not wanting your child to have "Sexual Tolerance" teaching in Kindergarten, being court-ordered by a judge that you are only allowed to take your child to church one service a week, being told by a family physician that you must get permission from your underage child for the results of a drug test YOU paid for.

IT IS HAPPENING.  TODAY.  In our Free and Liberated Country.

So, what are you going to do about it?

Sitting in church, hearing Ms. Appling talk about her role in Wisconsin Family Council and realizing that you CAN and SHOULD legislate morality was eye-opening.  Everyone else is making laws based on what they believe is right, why not me??

Were they legislating morality when they legalized gay marriage?  YES!
Were they legislating morality when they legalized abortion? YES!

The candidates you want to put into office are those that closely mirror your values and beliefs when it comes to upholding marriage and family.  If your candidate does not have those in line, nothing else they try to fix (jobs, economy, etc) will turn out properly.

God puts up kings and takes them down.  He has given each country and people their own set of government and laws.  Ours is a republic (or was)... and is so close to being ruined.  It is our responsibility to keep things the way God intended until He decides to "let it burn".

If we aren't legislating our biblical ethics and morality, it will be someone else's views and opinions.  Stand up and start talking!

Until next time, review the issues in your area and get ready to VOTE!

Does He Really Care about Apples?

I have struggled getting back into my writing groove since the holidays.  So much tends to keep me preoccupied with other things... like life.  Homeschooling my children, grocery shopping, budgeting and seeing how much money I can't spend.

It was a little disconcerting this morning.  I went to the store with my two helpers and I had a list of items I "had" to get for food and was under orders by my Beloved to spend no more than $50.  I thought No problem.  My list isnt' that long.  The thing is... I failed to think of how many of each item I was going to purchase.  After buying three orange juices (since my boys guzzle it down so quickly), two cereals, two canned mushrooms, a bag of chocolate chips (for those cookies we're going to make), two bags of Doritos, two packages of butter, salad dressing, two loaves of bread and some fishy crackers for the boys, I had used up all my allotted money.

I had picked out some yarn for the new afghan I wanted to make (three skeins at $2.88 each) and a booklet of some patterns since I'm still new to the world of crotcheting and need some help.  I put those back since they weren't part of my necessities.

But then, I realized Jonah was still holding onto the bag of 4 apples he had picked out.  He is on an apple craze.  My money was run out.  I promised my Beloved that I wouldn't go over $50.  I already used the $10 in cash that I got from selling an item on Craigslist just that morning on a birthday present.

I couldn't take those apples away from Jonah.  He was so excited while picking them out.  He sniffed and kissed each one before putting them in the bag.

Since I had already paid for everything by the time I found out about those apples, I can't believe I seriously thought about just "forgetting" they were there and walking out of the store with them.  I can't do that!  I'm supposed to be a Christian.  But I DO NOT want to take them away from my child.  He deserves to have his apples.

I went to the woman who oversees all the "self checkout" items and told her about my oversight on the apples.  I told her that maybe I could pay for them with the change in my wallet.  Two quarters, several dimes, and about ten pennies.  Maybe a nickel was thrown in there for good measure.  All four apples rang up as only $1.88.  Whooo!  I should be able to afford that.  Right?  After counting up my change ("Sorry, Jeremiah.  You won't be getting your allowance this week"), I had a little over one dollar.  I asked her to take out two of those smelled and kissed apples, and I had just enough to cover it.

I HATE MONEY.  All it does is show you what you're not able to afford, even when it is a good thing for  your child.  Jeremiah saw the yarn he helped me pick out discarded on the table beside the checkout counter and asked me why I wasn't getting it.  Trying to explain... Food is way more important than buying yarn.

I don't have a moral to this story.  This is my heartache right now.  Maybe I'm just being too emotional for other reasons.  I have never had to count pennies and take something out of my cart before.  This isn't about my ego or pride.  The only thing I want (and I know it is the same desire of my Beloved) is to provide for my family all the good and healthy and fun things in life.  It shouldn't be this difficult.

Reminder:  God will provide all we need.

I guess we only needed two apples today.  And we will get more of what we need tomorrow.  And the day after that.  For all the days of our life.

Until next time, remember that God loves you and is always near.

Preparing Him for the Other Woman by Sheri Rose Shepherd

While I was pregnant, after being married to my Beloved for six months (and only having known him for six months prior to that), I realized I wasn't ready to be a mother.  Well, actually, I knew that before I got pregnant, but that is part of what happens when you compromise during marriage.  I couldn't pray for a certain gender, I could only pray I wouldn't mess up my child.  I knew, from experience, the power a mother has on her children... especially a mother who stays at home full-time and homeschools.

The first several months after my son was born were extremely difficult.  I was struggling through post-partum depression without the help of medication.  I couldn't bond with my child.  There was nothing about motherhood that pleased me.  I didn't like breastfeeding.  I wasn't getting any sleep.  I couldn't understand why all the other mothers I saw and spoke to expressed joy about this "job" of being a mother.

Then my son started smiling when he saw me.  He started talking to me.  He wanted to play games.  He preferred me to his Daddy.  Only I could get him to stop crying and comfort him.  He was the quintessential Mama's boy (and still is).

Then I got pregnant again.  I fervently prayed for another boy.  I knew two boys could only quadruple the fun I was having with Jeremiah.  But Jonah... my sweet Jonah.  He is the opposite of his brother.  He is rough and tumble, wrestle and yell, Daddy's boy all the way.  He has just begun to realize, though, the importance of Mommy and is giving kisses and hugs now.

This just shows the importance of a mother's role in the lives of her children.  The way my husband treats me is indicative of how his parents raised him.  How I raise my boys is how they will treat their wives and children, also.  Everything is passed down.

My oldest son (as I am sure every mother has experienced) asked me if I could marry him.  I told him that, unfortunately, I couldn't since I was already married to his Daddy.  I explained that when he got older, he would find a nice girl that he loved and he would get to marry her and have his own house and children with her.  But when I saw his eyes tearing up and his lip trembling, I quickly added that it wouldn't happen for a really long time and only when he was ready.

Oh, the tender hearts of our boys.  They aren't men, yet.  We are training them up to be men.  Courageous and strong.  Adventurous and bold.  But also tenderhearted and loving.

How do we teach them all these important characteristics?

The book I have been reading by Sheri Rose Shepherd called "Preparing Him for the Other Woman" gives a lot of suggestions on how to build character and prepare them for marriage.

The introduction explains the commodity of men fighting for their families.  The epidemic of divorce in our society only proves that people (men and women, both) do not know the meaning of "till death do us part".  They have not been taught how to work together and MAKE their marriage work.  How to compromise.  How to understand and communicate with their spouse.

We need to teach our boys what a "real man" is.  In a world where boys grow up having a relationship with their video games, ipods, televisions and computers... where does family come in?  Even pornography is no longer such a dirty secret that embroils shame.  It is a coming of age ritual and entertainment.

Our boys need to have a role model (preferably, their fathers) that stands against immorality and infidelity.  Someone who will live a godly, self-controled life who is a strong and loving leader.

There is more to come in this excellent book.

Until next time, pray for your sons.  Pray that you and your husband (or another role model) will provide  your son with a good example.

The End of 2011

When reaching the end of the year, people usually reflect on the past and look forward and create resolutions for their future.  As I look back, I remember several deaths, sicknesses, acts of God, political upheaval (RECALL WALKER), not to mention the list in my personal life.  Our world is falling apart.  No, I'm not an alarmist.  I am merely watching our world collapse from the inside out.  The structure on which our country was founded is no longer active (in a perfect world, it would be ideal... but it is no longer practical with millions of people) and our leadership is corrupt and destroying our alliance with the one country that is important... Israel.

Before I get into doomsaying, there is one thing of which I am absolutely certain: our world will not get better.  It is the end, so prepare yourself.  I guess that would be considered doomsaying; but it is true.  Our country has made some decisions that are now irreversible.  Our economy is failing and is in such a death-spiral that it is not recoverable.  The choices all of us ("we the people") are making in leadership and living are corrupting everything, from sickness to general life.  We are not going to be the richest, most prosperous "free" country in the world for much longer.


My Precious Gifts

But, to look ahead in the next year (and future years to come)... for me, I see my family.  I see two precious little boys who are growing up so fast.  They need structure and strong teaching to mold their minds and hearts to be courageous in the times to come.  I want my boys to be men who lead and stand for Truth and righteous living.  My role, as their mother, is so important because they see me everyday, all day.  They listen and watch.  I am their model for life and attitudes.  Their father is just as important, but he isn't present all day long. 

I am going to teach my sons how to respect and love their wives and lead their families to serve God.  I am going to show my sons strong work ethic and teach them how to be diligent in whatever task they have set before them.  I am going to encourage my sons to see the weaker person and find the compassion to help in whatever way they can, to not neglect the widow and the orphan.  I am going to teach my sons to stand strong for what is right, even if it is not the popular choice and they lose friends in the process.

Mothers have such an important role.  Where else will they learn everything they need to know for their own lives: school, daycare, babysitters?  I don't think so.  No one cares for your children like you do.  Take the time and effort to train your children in the way that desperately needs to be done, especially in these scary times of uncertainty and nearing the end of the age.

Until next time, hold your children tight and teach them what only you are able to teach.  Teaching them to be responsible, loving, respectful adults... and that Mom loves them the most!

Candle #8

                                               

Our last candle.  My son said that he loves watching all the candles and he wishes we could keep lighting our Hanukkah candles all year long.

As is so appropriate, when drawing our year to a close or looking forward to any new thing, we have hope.  The last candle represents "A New Beginning."  There is new life in Christ.  Your past no longer matters if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior.  You are free to look ahead.

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ,

he is a new creature;

the old things passed away;

behold, new things have come."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Candle #7

Hanukkah is drawing to a close.  This evening, we lit seven candles (not including the Shamesh), the seventh representing "Completion and Rest," which naturally follows "Creation".

If you recall, God created the world in six days and on the seventh day, He rested.

Tomorrow is our pomp and circumstance, the culmination of this eight-day celebration.  We are having our Hanukkah Party with all the good food, games and gifts.

"And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done;

and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,

because in it He rested from all His work

which God had created and made."

Genesis 2:2

Candle #6

It's Christmas.  We're celebrating Jesus' birth.. and at the same time, we're celebrating the sixth day of Hanukkah, beginning in just a few hours at sundown.  After an hour of opening Christmas gifts, we still get to relax and look at the Hanukkah candles and open one more present.

Tonight's candle represents "creation".  How appropriate.  God created the world in six days... and we are on day six of Hanukkah.  Okay, I'm overdoing the significance.  You can make the rest of the tie-ins yourself.

"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth,

who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens! 

When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,

the moon and the stars which

Thou hast ordained."

Psalm 8

Candle #5

On our fifth day of Hanukkah, which begins tonight at sundown, we are also celebrating Christmas Eve this year.  The candle, though, represents the "Grace of God."  After hearing about the judgment candle yesterday, God's grace is a welcome gift.

The Jews are seeking the Messiah.  They expect Him to conquer their oppressors and set up a kingdom.  I know that the Messiah has already come once, in Jesus.  During His first visit, he was our sacrificial lamb who saved us from our sins, if we believe on His Name.  He died on the cross and rose from the dead to make our redemption and salvation possible.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Candle #4

And the fourth candle represents Judgment.

"But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds."

Romans 2:5-6

Candle #3

Our third day of Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown when we will, again, light the candles.  This time, there will be three candles, plus our Shamesh, who has been serving us well.

Yesterday's candle reminded us that we need to be unified with each other.  Tonight's candle represents the unity of our Trinity.

"There is but one true and living God.  God is an infinite, all-knowing Spirit, perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (MacArthur, J., MacArthur Quick Reference Guide to the Bible, W Publishing Group, 2001).

 "And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water;

and behold, the heavens were opened,

and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove,

and coming upon Him, and behold,

a voice out of the heavens, saying,

'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.'"

 Matthew 3:16-17

and

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 

entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

showing forbearance to one another in love,

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

"There is one body and one spirit,

just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Motherhood: The Greatest Job on Earth?

... or the easiest, according to my beloved husband (when he's not being his usually sensitive self)?

Can I just be honest for a second?  I know this is the "season of joy and peace" and all that other nice, cushy sentiment, but right smack dab in the middle of our celebratory week, I'm having a terrible day.  I know, how cheery of me.

It all began this morning.  The boys woke up at 6:30 to have breakfast with their Dad.  Now, before you start berating me about how that's such a wonderful time and your children all woke up at 3:00 a.m. all dewy-eyed and beautiful, that's not how my experience with motherhood began with the boys so I am still adjusting to this phenomenon. Besides, when they wake up that early, the rest of their schedule is off for the entire day and possibly even the next few days.  So, back off!

After my Beloved left for work, the boys started the cocophany of bickering and sniping back and forth, culminating with Jonah's peircing screams.  Of course, they were at the Christmas tree "touching" ornaments and discussing who would get to eat the candy canes.  Mama Bear came out from the den with her hair raised in terrifying proportions, growling that they better knock it off before she started knocking heads together.  So, they calmed down... in my dreams.

I decided to sit down in my recliner and supervise until I woke up.  Then the arguing and snatching started with their lego rocket/submarine/spaceships (yes, they are convertible transformer-type air/watercraft, which makes them especially coveted).  "Jeremiah, leave your brother's legos alone.  He can make it however he wants."  "But Mama, he's not doing it right.  Here.  I'll just show you."  **piercing screams**  "JEREMIAH!  LEAVE HIM ALONE!! It's NOT YOURS."  *Huff*

Okay, that minor catastrophe averted... for now.  Okay, boys.  I need to read my Bible.  Now, that's gotta impress them.  Mama is going to spend time with God and everything shall be as it is meant to be.

Ahhhhhh....

Hmmmm....

"Mama, Jooosh peeese"

Maybe if I don't answer him, he'll go away.  Oh crap, here's the other one.

"Yeah, Mama.  Can I have some juice, too, please?"

"Okay, fine.  Let's get some juice.  Once I sit back down, though, you're on your own.  Play nicely.  I get to read my Bible and spend time with God.  In peace.  Alone.  Got it?"

Okay, that's done.  Now, where was I?

"Mama, look!  Watch me!"

Ignore.

"Mama, did you see what I built?"

"Jeremiah... this is MY time with God.  Please just play."  "Jonah, stop touching the tree." "Get out of my room."  "Sit down! You just threw a block at your brother."  "Stop pinching him, he's on time-out."  "Just be quiet!!!  I'M TRYING TO READ MY FREAKING BIBLE!!!" (Yes, that last one was a word-for-word quote from mother dearest).

Now, if that just doesn't warm God's heart to hear me screaming at my children because I'm trying to read my Bible, I don't know what will.  What better example to show to my children than a mother who is cranky and irritable and screams because she's going to "spend time with God."

Might as well just throw in the Mommy-towel right now.

It didn't get much better from there, either.  My son lied to me... again.  What am I supposed to do?  Spank him?  Again?  I'm tired.  I'm a failure.  I don't know how to reach him.  They just are not getting along and are not listening to me (as though, that's something new).  I did what any other sane mother would do in that situation.  I cried.  I talked to my child and cried.

So, he cried.

I think he just felt bad that Mama was crying.  Does a 4-year-old really understand the seriousness of lying and how trust is now broken?  Maybe.  But, he has a sinful, rebellious heart that has not, yet, been touched by the Holy Spirit.  Oh, how I pray it does.  Soon.

Rather than fight the natural forces of sinful children, I did the only thing I could think of.

We watched tv.  All morning.  So there.



----  Almost lunchtime  ----

We're still watching tv.  The boys have been quiet.  Once incident when I went out to get the mail where Jonah was tempted by a talking snake and stole the candy cane off the tree and offered some to his brother.

When talking with a two-year-old about sin, be very careful how you phrase things.  I told Jonah that he stole my candy, that before he takes some, he has to ask.  So, he very sweetly (and stickily) asked me "Mama, tandy peeese??"

Jeremy called me about buying some eggs from a local farmer and told me that I'm not really a failure.  Can't tell you how much that lifted my spirits.

Now, I have to go.  Jonah has bonked his head for the 5th time this morning.  More crying.

My day of tears has only begun.

Candle #2

Last night was special. The boys are older and can appreciate lighting candles and, of course, opening presents. We’re still working, though, on appreciating new foods and not telling Mom that her food is "yucky and disgusting".

Tonight, is the second night of Hanukkah. The candle stands for "Unity".

Those of us who believe in God (and even those who say they don't) tend to limit God. We know, in our head, that all of His attributes are in perfect, harmonious balance but we invariably emphasize one of His traits or qualities over another. What do we call that? In Exodus 20:3, it says "You shall have no other gods before Me." When we redefine God into what we wish or choose to forget certain attributes, we are essentially creating a god in our own image. "We crudely patch together anecdotes and selected scriptures that reinforce his idea of the divine" (Grabbe, D.C., CGG Weekly, August 7, 2010).

The key to peace here on earth is to love and be unified with others. Philippians 2:2 says "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." We don't all have to think the same way. God knows we will have differing opinions and contrary personalities. He created us that way. But each of us is beautiful. We were created in His image and bear the responsibility to love and care for everyone (who is unlike ourselves) and recognize each person's God-given role in our universe.

"and I have made Thy name known to them,

and will make it known;

that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them,

and I in them."

John 17:26

Candle #1

Tonight (at sundown) begins the wonderful celebration of Hanukkah.  We have eight days of lighting candles and remembering the miracle God performed... but before I get ahead of myself, I'll start at the beginning.

Judea was part of Egypt until 200 BCE when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt. Judea became part of Syria and King Antiochus III the Great, wanting to conciliate his new Jewish subjects, guaranteed their right to "live according to their ancestral customs" and to continue to practice their religion in the Temple of Jerusalem. However in 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus III invaded Judea, ostensibly at the request of the sons of Tobias.

The Tobiads, who led the Hellenizing Jewish faction in Jerusalem, were expelled to Syria around 170 BCE when the high priest Onias and his pro-Egyptian faction wrested control from them. The exiled Tobiads lobbied Antiochus IV Epiphanes to recapture Jerusalem. 

When the second temple in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, Judaism was outlawed.  In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple. Antiochus's actions provoked a large-scale revolt.

Mattityahu, a Jewish priest, and his five sons led a rebellion against Antiochus. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated.

The festival of Hanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event.  Judah, one of Mattityahu's sons, ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, olive oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. The story goes that there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.

Many people see a menorah (seven candles), used in the Temple, and think of Hanukah.  But the one used for our yearly celebration is called a Hanukkiah and it holds nine candles.  Eight are in one level (one for each day of celebration) and one is either off-set or raised up, and it is the Shamesh ("Servant Candle") and is used to light the other candles.

Tonight we will be lighting the Shamesh and day 1 will commence our eight days of remembrance.

For this evening, we will be lighting our Hanukkah menorah as you see below and I will explain to my children that this first candle (not the Shamesh, which represents Jesus) stands for the "One True God".

 "Hear, O Israel!

The Lord is our God, the Lord is One!

And you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your might."

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Imagination: Friend or Foe?

"Child-development experts are recognizing the importance of imagination and the role it plays in understanding reality. Imagination is necessary for learning about people and events we don't directly experience, such as history or events on the other side of the world. For young kids, it allows them to ponder the future, such as what they want to do when they grow up" (Wall Street Journal, 12/2009, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204844504577100713531520358.html?mod=business_newsreel).

The article also states that children who are more creative and imaginative are able to solve problems with their imagination and have a greater social understanding and taking the perspective of others.

Yesterday, when talking to my oldest (who is 4 years old) about planets in our solar system and looking them up in the encyclopedia, he began relating to me the history of Star Blazers and how the planet Gamilon, a world beyond Earth's Solar System, declared war on all of Earth. The nations of Earth fought against the Gamilons, but one by one, Earth's fleets were defeated. When the nations of Earth refused to surrender, Gamilon began bombarding Earth with Planet Bombs.

I had to stop him because I realized he thought all that was true.  When I informed him that Star Blazers was a pretend story, he was stunned.  "Really?  Oh..... really??"  Thanks to his Daddy, he began watching Star Blazers at Nana and Poppy's house during our Thanksgiving trip.

My children have no lack of imagination, especially my oldest.  He is teaching my youngest how to have one as well.  They are constantly playing superheroes and, just this morning, were singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" while swaying together in a diaper box (which has also doubled for a fort).

Regardless of what "the scientists" say and their reasons for encouraging this development, I am pleased when my children show creativity.  It does cause raised eyebrows from some and a couple of socially interactive issues when my oldest goes to school, but in the end, I am certain he will be the one to come out on top with his being well-adjusted and pursuing whatever avenues in life he wishes.

Until next time, appreciate and encourage your children to be who they are.