My oldest Air Force friend came to visit this week so I have been trying to think of easy meals that will feed her army and mine :) One thing I know about Kara after our seven year friendship-she does not like spice. Since she asked me to post the recipe I am making this "Kara proof." I usually double the spice, but John and I like it spicy!
I love these enchiladas, they are one of the first meals I ever learned to make. My cousin posted an almost identical sauce recipe so I am thinking this must be an old family recipe. Either way I replaced the chicken that I grew up with for veggies!
The key to making really good enchiladas is the tortillas. You gotta use the "Cafe Rio" style you cook at home ones from Costco, or homemade. Anything else and these are just ho-hum.
Vegetable Enchiladas
Filling:
1 zucchini
1 green pepper
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 c. frozen corn-defrosted
1 c. spinach
1 c. black beans
coconut oil
lime juice
Grated cheddar and pepper jack cheese
Sauce:
2 T. butter or olive oil (I go back and forth on this one, obviously olive oil is healthier but butter is well butter)
2 T. flour
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. chili powder
1/4 t. cumin
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
8 oz. water
Dice veggies. Heat coconut oil (or olive oil, but I think you should jump on the coconut oil bandwagon :) over medium heat. Add garlic and onion. Cook for 2 minutes then add zucchini. Cook another 2 minutes then add pepper. Once veggies are soft at corn, black beans and spinach. Stir until spinach welts. Remove from heat and splash with a little lime juice.
While veggies are cooking melt butter or heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add flour and spices and stir until thickened. Add tomato sauce and water. Cook, stirring occasionally until boiling and thickened.
Grease a 9X13 pan
Fill tortillas with veggie mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll and repeat. Cover with sauce and cheese. Bake at 375 for 25-30 or until bubbly.
Enjoy!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Two years
About two years ago while listening to BYU Radio I heard a program titled "History of Hymns." This episode was focusing on a hymn I have loved for a long time "Lord, I Would Follow Thee." They were interviewing the author of the hymn. She told a story of spending the day with her sister a couple of days after her sister's baby died. They were shopping for clothes for the funeral. She said she just wished she could have ran ahead of her sister into every store to tell the salespeople "please be kind to my sister, her baby just died. She may seem distant or mean to you today, but this is what she is going through, please be kind."
I remember fighting back tears that morning as I drove to church. Not too long before that I had delivered our stillborn son Samuel. I wish I could have worn a sign telling the world what I was going through because I am sure I came across as mean or uninterested to many people at that time. I also wish others had known so they maybe would have been nicer to me.
Two years this week we said good-bye for now to your little boy. We came home to a nursery that he would never sleep in. To clothes he would never wear, to dreams that would never be realized. And it was hard. Really really hard. We sold the nursery set, and the clothes because even though I wanted another child I didn't want one in that crib or outfit.
That June while brushing my teeth in the Norwich dorm bathroom I knew we needed to start trying again for a baby. I didn't feel ready, but after a lot of prayer, pondering and attending the Temple I knew that was right. So we tried and for the first time we didn't get pregnant with fertility medicine. I wish I could have worn a t-shirt that said "I'm not cranky I'm on clomid" because boy I knew I was cranky. I can think of a couple of relationships that took some bad blows those couple of months that I don't know will ever be repaired. I can also think of a lot of relationships that have grown because another woman understood my crankiness and heartache during the fertility treatment months.
After more prayers, pondering and attending the Temple we decided to try adoption. Man, those were hard months. I still have not processed them completely and I have a feeling it will be years before I can totally make sense of those. But as adoption opportunities arose and then failed life was pretty hard and dark.
And then I got pregnant. Totally natural, unplanned pregnant. It was a miracle but oh the emotions of being pregnant after a miscarriage. Oh and add moving to Hawaii during your first trimester and being on large doses of progesterone. On Monday I commented to John that I was finally in the second trimester and could stop the progesterone which I was so grateful for, he commented that he was too. I of course snapped back "oh yea I am sure the mood swings, hot flashes and dizziness has been really hard for you." Yea it's not out of my system :)
I share these not for a pity party or to try to explain the roller coaster of the last two years. I know that is our trial, and while I hope I can help others with theirs because of what I have been through, I don't need others to understand what we have gone through.
I share this because all morning I have been thinking of the line from "Lord, I would follow Thee,"
Who I am I too judge another
When I walk imperfectly
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can't see
I vividly remember two particular conversations that occurred around the time we lost our son. Both were women talking about wanting another child. Both had what they viewed as legitimate concerns about having another child. But boy I didn't view them as legitimate. At the time I was so mad that they would talk about those things to me after the "real" struggle we had been going through to have another child. I had to restrain myself from lashing out at them and letting them know how hard life could be really be.
I won't say how long it took for me to realize that though they probably could have used a little sensitivity in who they discussed this problem with, these were real humans with real problems that to them seemed HUGE! They were experience sorrow that I couldn't understand and that I had the audacity to judge because of what I have been through.
My trials are so public. Very few people don't know the struggle it has been to have another child.
Over the last two years I have learned most people struggle more quietly. Few people share their financial concerns, or marriage problems or addictions or concerns about parenting on their blogs or even with their friends. They just struggle. Day in and day out, silently and unsupported. No one is running ahead of them to warn others of their trials. No one is checking in on them like my amazing friends have done for so long.
So I am learning to just give the benefit of the doubt. I heard once that if you treat everyone like they are going through a major trial that is about to break them you will be right 98% of the time. I need to cut people some slack and just let things go.
I am learning to just serve those around me to whatever capacity I can.
I am learning to just love. Everyone has their story. They have their reason for acting how they do (though that doesn't always make the way they are acting right). Regardless just love them. Love goes a lot further than lecture.
I am learning to just compliment as a way of comforting. I really do believe that is the best way to help someone, share what you like about them, or your confidence in them. I am trying to just listen more, talk less, love more and compliment more.
I am learning to just see the good in all things. Yes everything has good, even the really really hard things.
And last I have learned I would take my trials any day of the week over just about anyone else's :)
I remember fighting back tears that morning as I drove to church. Not too long before that I had delivered our stillborn son Samuel. I wish I could have worn a sign telling the world what I was going through because I am sure I came across as mean or uninterested to many people at that time. I also wish others had known so they maybe would have been nicer to me.
Two years this week we said good-bye for now to your little boy. We came home to a nursery that he would never sleep in. To clothes he would never wear, to dreams that would never be realized. And it was hard. Really really hard. We sold the nursery set, and the clothes because even though I wanted another child I didn't want one in that crib or outfit.
That June while brushing my teeth in the Norwich dorm bathroom I knew we needed to start trying again for a baby. I didn't feel ready, but after a lot of prayer, pondering and attending the Temple I knew that was right. So we tried and for the first time we didn't get pregnant with fertility medicine. I wish I could have worn a t-shirt that said "I'm not cranky I'm on clomid" because boy I knew I was cranky. I can think of a couple of relationships that took some bad blows those couple of months that I don't know will ever be repaired. I can also think of a lot of relationships that have grown because another woman understood my crankiness and heartache during the fertility treatment months.
After more prayers, pondering and attending the Temple we decided to try adoption. Man, those were hard months. I still have not processed them completely and I have a feeling it will be years before I can totally make sense of those. But as adoption opportunities arose and then failed life was pretty hard and dark.
And then I got pregnant. Totally natural, unplanned pregnant. It was a miracle but oh the emotions of being pregnant after a miscarriage. Oh and add moving to Hawaii during your first trimester and being on large doses of progesterone. On Monday I commented to John that I was finally in the second trimester and could stop the progesterone which I was so grateful for, he commented that he was too. I of course snapped back "oh yea I am sure the mood swings, hot flashes and dizziness has been really hard for you." Yea it's not out of my system :)
I share these not for a pity party or to try to explain the roller coaster of the last two years. I know that is our trial, and while I hope I can help others with theirs because of what I have been through, I don't need others to understand what we have gone through.
I share this because all morning I have been thinking of the line from "Lord, I would follow Thee,"
Who I am I too judge another
When I walk imperfectly
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can't see
I vividly remember two particular conversations that occurred around the time we lost our son. Both were women talking about wanting another child. Both had what they viewed as legitimate concerns about having another child. But boy I didn't view them as legitimate. At the time I was so mad that they would talk about those things to me after the "real" struggle we had been going through to have another child. I had to restrain myself from lashing out at them and letting them know how hard life could be really be.
I won't say how long it took for me to realize that though they probably could have used a little sensitivity in who they discussed this problem with, these were real humans with real problems that to them seemed HUGE! They were experience sorrow that I couldn't understand and that I had the audacity to judge because of what I have been through.
My trials are so public. Very few people don't know the struggle it has been to have another child.
Over the last two years I have learned most people struggle more quietly. Few people share their financial concerns, or marriage problems or addictions or concerns about parenting on their blogs or even with their friends. They just struggle. Day in and day out, silently and unsupported. No one is running ahead of them to warn others of their trials. No one is checking in on them like my amazing friends have done for so long.
So I am learning to just give the benefit of the doubt. I heard once that if you treat everyone like they are going through a major trial that is about to break them you will be right 98% of the time. I need to cut people some slack and just let things go.
I am learning to just serve those around me to whatever capacity I can.
I am learning to just love. Everyone has their story. They have their reason for acting how they do (though that doesn't always make the way they are acting right). Regardless just love them. Love goes a lot further than lecture.
I am learning to just compliment as a way of comforting. I really do believe that is the best way to help someone, share what you like about them, or your confidence in them. I am trying to just listen more, talk less, love more and compliment more.
I am learning to just see the good in all things. Yes everything has good, even the really really hard things.
And last I have learned I would take my trials any day of the week over just about anyone else's :)
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
February menu
We have moved to Hawaii and are still to get settled. Which means getting back into meal planning! I think we will be eating differently in Hawaii. First, food is expensive here! I told John I feel like you have to pick-veggies or meat-you can't possibly afford both. He agreed veggies are the way to go. Second, electricity is crazy expensive here (our landlord is thinking of getting us solar panels-fingers crossed that works out!) so cooking in the oven is really not an option every day. Third, it is crazy hot here, so cooking in the oven is really not an option every day. Fourth, I want to try to get as much as the meal prepared while Caleb is at school so we can spend our afternoons at the beach doing homework and learning to read :)
Sunday-roasted red pepper panini
Monday-Breakfast burritos
Tuesday- Pasta with Green Pea Pesto
Wednesday-Broccoli slaw and peanut sauce wraps
Thursday-Tuna, artichoke and couscous salad
Friday-Pizza
Saturday-Leftovers
Sunday-New King Ranch Casserole (this year we are celebrating "Alamo Day"-I think Caleb made that up, but this is the date the battle of the Alamo started so we are eating some traditional Texas food. The fact it is a Whole Food's recipe makes it more so-did you know they are a Texas company?).
Monday-Tacos
Tuesday-Still thinking-any suggestions?
Wednesday-Stir-fry quinoa salad
Thursday-Tuna salad sandwiches
Friday-Pizza
Sunday-roasted red pepper panini
Monday-Breakfast burritos
Tuesday- Pasta with Green Pea Pesto
Wednesday-Broccoli slaw and peanut sauce wraps
Thursday-Tuna, artichoke and couscous salad
Friday-Pizza
Saturday-Leftovers
Sunday-New King Ranch Casserole (this year we are celebrating "Alamo Day"-I think Caleb made that up, but this is the date the battle of the Alamo started so we are eating some traditional Texas food. The fact it is a Whole Food's recipe makes it more so-did you know they are a Texas company?).
Monday-Tacos
Tuesday-Still thinking-any suggestions?
Wednesday-Stir-fry quinoa salad
Thursday-Tuna salad sandwiches
Friday-Pizza
Low fat, low sugar whole wheat banana bundt cake
Caleb has been asking for banana bread since New Orleans. We had a couple rotten bananas so I thought for a treat on his first day of school I would turn on the oven (if you knew how humid it is today you would know the act of love that required :) and make him some bread.
The best thing about this cake is it's sweet enough I can pass it off as a dessert in our home. However, it's healthy enough to eat for breakfast. I love the crispy top and bottom of a bundt cake, but if you don't have a bundt pan you can use a regular bread or cake pan. It just won't have the great crisp that makes this cake so amazing.
I forgot to grease the middle portion of the bundt cake today so no photos. It is still incredibly delicious even though I was scrapping it from the pan :)
Deliciously healthy banana bundt cake
adapted from here
The best thing about this cake is it's sweet enough I can pass it off as a dessert in our home. However, it's healthy enough to eat for breakfast. I love the crispy top and bottom of a bundt cake, but if you don't have a bundt pan you can use a regular bread or cake pan. It just won't have the great crisp that makes this cake so amazing.
I forgot to grease the middle portion of the bundt cake today so no photos. It is still incredibly delicious even though I was scrapping it from the pan :)
Deliciously healthy banana bundt cake
adapted from here
- 4 over-ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
- 1, 6 oz cup fat free greek yogurt
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1 cup Oat flour
- 1 cup Whole Wheat flour
- 2 T ground flaxseed
- 1 T chia seed
- 1 whole egg
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 c. honey
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 t. nutmeg
- Handful chopped walnuts, chocolate chips or raisins (optional)
Preheat oven 350. Grease bundt pan
Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl
Mix together wet ingredients then add to dry ingredients, stir.
Pour into bundt pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
*You can use all Whole Wheat flour, I do that from time to time if I don't feel like making oat flour
Easy and as yummy as a recipe gets!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
January Menu
So if you need ridiculously easy meals, that can be prepared in a kitchen with the counter space that makes a NYC studio seem luxurious-this is your month! We have ZERO staples in our kitchen so life is a little interesting. Also everything we buy has to be eaten this month or tossed, and I hate tossing food. It really is like a cooking challenge reality show!
Sunday- Rice and bean burritos- Whole Foods Ranchero beans, Spanish rice, grilled peppers and avocados-wrap in whole wheat tortillas and enjoy
Monday- BBQ Pepper sandwiches- Saute peppers with BBQ sauce, toast buns with Pepper Jack cheese. Top with spinach and avocados
Tuesday- Lobster Ravioli and red sauce
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Out
Wednesday- Pasta and red sauce
Thursday- Hamburgers
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Out
Sunday- Pesto Phyllo
Monday-Ranchero beans and veggies
Wednesday-leftovers
Thursday-Quinoa Salad
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Out
Sunday- Something is phyllo dough
Monday- Tacos
Tuesday- Black bean and corn salad
Wednesday-Leftovers or out, lets be honest am I going to be cooking a lot the same week we have to get packed and moved out of our place yet again!
Thursday-Leftovers
Friday- Graduation! We are outta here!!!!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Thanksgiving
Do you know what year the first nationally declared Thanksgiving was held?
Any guesses?
1864
This one might be a little bit easier, what was happening in the United States in 1864?
The Civil War
How long had the Civil War being going on, and how many people died during the Civil War?
Over three and a half years and over 600000s Americans died.
November 1864 was towards the end of the Civil War, it ended the following spring. Most the big battles had occurred by then, estimating over 500000 causalities by the time of the first Thanksgiving holiday.
As I have read and reread books about Thanksgiving to Caleb this year I am always struck by the same thought-what on earth did people in the United States to have to be grateful for in 1864? That had to be one of the darkest times in our nations history, but people gathered around and gave thanks for what they did have, even with all they didn't have. The pilgrims were the same way. More people died than lived that first year in Plymouth. But people offered thanks and praise to God for His goodness.
This year I wanted to cancel Thanksgiving, I wasn't feeling very cheerful. This year has been stressful and emotional. In fact the last three and a half years have been long and emotionally draining.
And then I thought of what it would be like if we were in 1864 and asked to celebrate and give thanks.
That would be much much harder.
And I find myself grateful that Thanksgiving is a holiday that came about during a horrible war that affected so many Americans.
We all have good times and we all have bad times, but we can all be grateful whatever the season of our life.
So I made a goal, instead of expressing gratitude for one blessing a day this month I was going to write down ten things a day.
After a couple of days I decided to challenge myself and have a theme a day. I started off easy: what am I grateful about being married to John, being Caleb's mom, living in Montana, my calling. Those were a little too easy so I thought I would challenge myself. Why I am grateful for our time in Texas? What about infertility? Or having had a stillborn son? Those ones stretched me. But I realized there truly are significant but subtle blessing in every aspect of my life.
President John F Kennedy sums up the other critical and often overlooked aspect of gratitude: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter word, but to live them."
I have found it is pretty easy to write down one or even ten things a day that I am grateful for. However, to actually live a life of gratitude can be very difficult.
Even with all that we have been through the last four years, and knowing we are a week away from another move with more changes and challenges. I am trying to not only list the things I am grateful for, but have a grateful heart and life. To take time to express my gratitude to those I love, and have optimism in the future because I can see so many blessings.
I am trying to follow this advice each and every day.
"I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we go through life we 'accentuate the positive." I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we are more generously compliment virtue and effort."-Gordon B Hinckley
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Any guesses?
1864
This one might be a little bit easier, what was happening in the United States in 1864?
The Civil War
How long had the Civil War being going on, and how many people died during the Civil War?
Over three and a half years and over 600000s Americans died.
November 1864 was towards the end of the Civil War, it ended the following spring. Most the big battles had occurred by then, estimating over 500000 causalities by the time of the first Thanksgiving holiday.
As I have read and reread books about Thanksgiving to Caleb this year I am always struck by the same thought-what on earth did people in the United States to have to be grateful for in 1864? That had to be one of the darkest times in our nations history, but people gathered around and gave thanks for what they did have, even with all they didn't have. The pilgrims were the same way. More people died than lived that first year in Plymouth. But people offered thanks and praise to God for His goodness.
This year I wanted to cancel Thanksgiving, I wasn't feeling very cheerful. This year has been stressful and emotional. In fact the last three and a half years have been long and emotionally draining.
And then I thought of what it would be like if we were in 1864 and asked to celebrate and give thanks.
That would be much much harder.
And I find myself grateful that Thanksgiving is a holiday that came about during a horrible war that affected so many Americans.
We all have good times and we all have bad times, but we can all be grateful whatever the season of our life.
So I made a goal, instead of expressing gratitude for one blessing a day this month I was going to write down ten things a day.
After a couple of days I decided to challenge myself and have a theme a day. I started off easy: what am I grateful about being married to John, being Caleb's mom, living in Montana, my calling. Those were a little too easy so I thought I would challenge myself. Why I am grateful for our time in Texas? What about infertility? Or having had a stillborn son? Those ones stretched me. But I realized there truly are significant but subtle blessing in every aspect of my life.
President John F Kennedy sums up the other critical and often overlooked aspect of gratitude: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter word, but to live them."
I have found it is pretty easy to write down one or even ten things a day that I am grateful for. However, to actually live a life of gratitude can be very difficult.
Even with all that we have been through the last four years, and knowing we are a week away from another move with more changes and challenges. I am trying to not only list the things I am grateful for, but have a grateful heart and life. To take time to express my gratitude to those I love, and have optimism in the future because I can see so many blessings.
I am trying to follow this advice each and every day.
"I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we go through life we 'accentuate the positive." I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we are more generously compliment virtue and effort."-Gordon B Hinckley
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Christmas is coming...
I love Christmas.
I also love the word intent.
A couple years ago John and I had a lot of talks about how to make our life and traditions more intentional. Instead of just living, or go off of what every body else did we were going to be intentional in our actions.
And thus began how we do Christmas.
I belong to a Church rich in symbols, however I find a lot of people are very apprehensive about symbolism and how to interpret symbols. John and I decided to use Christmas as a time to teach our son about symbols. We have tried to make Christmas intentional, symbolic and lots of fun, and yes we feel we can have all three :)
The first thing we decided to attack was Santa. I am personally not a fan of lying to my child and Santa is a lie. I know that every family needs to do what is best for them. But we opted out of Santa. We don't go around telling him Santa isn't true, we tell him about the real Saint Nick and say the Santa in books is just like any other character in books-not real, but a symbol of a great man.
Caleb is also extremely literal, he tells me he thinks it is ridiculous that people actually think reindeer can fly. I have a feeling that even if we did do Santa he would have figured it out by now.
The next step was our presents. I spent hours researching what other families do and came up with what I felt worked for our family. John and I talked about it and we thought it was worth a shot. John especially hates consumerism.
We do four gifts. One is completely fun and from "Santa." Then we go off the idea of the three wise men. I read a lot of scholarly articles about the gifts and what they really meant. I especially like this one because it is short and sweet, but there are some very long in depth ones out there that are fun to read if you are like me and like to read about history and religion.
We do ours slightly different from what I have read, but I think the idea is to find whatever works for your family.
I love that gold showed that the Wise Men knew who they were seeing, the King of Kings and Prince of Peace. Our family does one gift that shows we know who that individual is and what makes them unique. If you have spent much time with my son you know he is about the most imaginative little boy in the world. His gift has always been something that helps him create and use his imagination. John is huge into the outdoors and views that as a great way for our family to connect, so he often gets outdoors items. And I get baking stuff :)
Frankincense was used to worship. So we get something that helps us worship. Caleb always gets church books, John gets white shirts or ties and I get a journal. We have done other things but the idea is something that helps us to get closer to God.
Myrrh is the hard one and people interpret it in a lot of different ways. The general consensus from Biblical scholars is that myrrh was given because the Wise Men knew Baby Jesus would one day die for them. The above mentioned article states that myrrh was used by the wealthy to make their home smell more pleasant. I read another article that mentioned it was used as a comforting sense (almost like lavender oil of today). So we do something that comforts. Caleb loves to read and it is very soothing to him, so sometimes he gets books. Last year he got a drum set because he loves to hit things and make noise :) John has gotten iTunes gift cards because he can't fall asleep unless he is listening to music.
I just read my friend's blog that suggested having stockings being consumable items like gift cards, candy or membership to a children's museum. John and I just talked and we are going to try that this year.
We have also asked grandparents to support us in this and have limited them to three gifts. Anything we get beyond three from each parent we give to charity. I feel like a lot of times parents can control themselves but grandma's can't :)
The other thing we do is a Christ-centered advent calendar. I remember as a child my family trying to have a little bit of family time each night during December. I really love making and spending time with family during the holidays. We have used our traditions and found ways to tie them back to the Savior (gingerbread houses-the wise man built his house upon a rock, Christmas lights-light of Christ).
Each year we pick a theme for the year and we try to focus our scriptures or stories around that aspect of Christ's life and ministry. One year we did faith, hope and charity, this year we are going to do peace. By reading scriptures and doing activities that relate to the idea of peace we hope to better remember Christ as the true source of peace (once I get it put together I will post it). I love traditions but I also love trying new things. I have found this to be a perfect way to keep some of our favorite traditions as well as try new things to help us celebrate our Savior's birth, life, death and resurrection. This allows for flexibility which we need because our life has never been 9-5 normal. This year we will most likely be spending the better half of December in hotels moving around the country. However, I plan to come up with activities that we can do wherever we are so that we can still enjoy the holiday season (we are thinking Christmas tree in the car and nativity scene on the dashboard). But every night we will make time to read a scriptures and think about Christ.
We also do a family service project once a week in December. My greatest Christmas memories as a child were saving our coins throughout the year and then donating them to a charity. I hardly remember a single present I got but I remember driving to Salt Lake in our VW van and dropping off the jar and feeling so good that children in need could now have shoes. My friend made a list of service projects and I love my cousin's idea for a book drive for children's hospitals. Maybe it is simple or elaborate, I just want Caleb to know we serve.
I am a HUGE believer in doing what is right for your family, you know your family better than anyone else. I am just sharing my ideas and traditions because they have helped us. I do encourage all to take a minute and really think about what they are doing for Christmas-is it intentional? Is it building your family or your faith? We all can accomplish the same goals in different ways. That is what I love about life!
I also love the word intent.
A couple years ago John and I had a lot of talks about how to make our life and traditions more intentional. Instead of just living, or go off of what every body else did we were going to be intentional in our actions.
And thus began how we do Christmas.
I belong to a Church rich in symbols, however I find a lot of people are very apprehensive about symbolism and how to interpret symbols. John and I decided to use Christmas as a time to teach our son about symbols. We have tried to make Christmas intentional, symbolic and lots of fun, and yes we feel we can have all three :)
The first thing we decided to attack was Santa. I am personally not a fan of lying to my child and Santa is a lie. I know that every family needs to do what is best for them. But we opted out of Santa. We don't go around telling him Santa isn't true, we tell him about the real Saint Nick and say the Santa in books is just like any other character in books-not real, but a symbol of a great man.
Caleb is also extremely literal, he tells me he thinks it is ridiculous that people actually think reindeer can fly. I have a feeling that even if we did do Santa he would have figured it out by now.
The next step was our presents. I spent hours researching what other families do and came up with what I felt worked for our family. John and I talked about it and we thought it was worth a shot. John especially hates consumerism.
We do four gifts. One is completely fun and from "Santa." Then we go off the idea of the three wise men. I read a lot of scholarly articles about the gifts and what they really meant. I especially like this one because it is short and sweet, but there are some very long in depth ones out there that are fun to read if you are like me and like to read about history and religion.
We do ours slightly different from what I have read, but I think the idea is to find whatever works for your family.
I love that gold showed that the Wise Men knew who they were seeing, the King of Kings and Prince of Peace. Our family does one gift that shows we know who that individual is and what makes them unique. If you have spent much time with my son you know he is about the most imaginative little boy in the world. His gift has always been something that helps him create and use his imagination. John is huge into the outdoors and views that as a great way for our family to connect, so he often gets outdoors items. And I get baking stuff :)
Frankincense was used to worship. So we get something that helps us worship. Caleb always gets church books, John gets white shirts or ties and I get a journal. We have done other things but the idea is something that helps us to get closer to God.
Myrrh is the hard one and people interpret it in a lot of different ways. The general consensus from Biblical scholars is that myrrh was given because the Wise Men knew Baby Jesus would one day die for them. The above mentioned article states that myrrh was used by the wealthy to make their home smell more pleasant. I read another article that mentioned it was used as a comforting sense (almost like lavender oil of today). So we do something that comforts. Caleb loves to read and it is very soothing to him, so sometimes he gets books. Last year he got a drum set because he loves to hit things and make noise :) John has gotten iTunes gift cards because he can't fall asleep unless he is listening to music.
I just read my friend's blog that suggested having stockings being consumable items like gift cards, candy or membership to a children's museum. John and I just talked and we are going to try that this year.
We have also asked grandparents to support us in this and have limited them to three gifts. Anything we get beyond three from each parent we give to charity. I feel like a lot of times parents can control themselves but grandma's can't :)
The other thing we do is a Christ-centered advent calendar. I remember as a child my family trying to have a little bit of family time each night during December. I really love making and spending time with family during the holidays. We have used our traditions and found ways to tie them back to the Savior (gingerbread houses-the wise man built his house upon a rock, Christmas lights-light of Christ).
Each year we pick a theme for the year and we try to focus our scriptures or stories around that aspect of Christ's life and ministry. One year we did faith, hope and charity, this year we are going to do peace. By reading scriptures and doing activities that relate to the idea of peace we hope to better remember Christ as the true source of peace (once I get it put together I will post it). I love traditions but I also love trying new things. I have found this to be a perfect way to keep some of our favorite traditions as well as try new things to help us celebrate our Savior's birth, life, death and resurrection. This allows for flexibility which we need because our life has never been 9-5 normal. This year we will most likely be spending the better half of December in hotels moving around the country. However, I plan to come up with activities that we can do wherever we are so that we can still enjoy the holiday season (we are thinking Christmas tree in the car and nativity scene on the dashboard). But every night we will make time to read a scriptures and think about Christ.
We also do a family service project once a week in December. My greatest Christmas memories as a child were saving our coins throughout the year and then donating them to a charity. I hardly remember a single present I got but I remember driving to Salt Lake in our VW van and dropping off the jar and feeling so good that children in need could now have shoes. My friend made a list of service projects and I love my cousin's idea for a book drive for children's hospitals. Maybe it is simple or elaborate, I just want Caleb to know we serve.
I am a HUGE believer in doing what is right for your family, you know your family better than anyone else. I am just sharing my ideas and traditions because they have helped us. I do encourage all to take a minute and really think about what they are doing for Christmas-is it intentional? Is it building your family or your faith? We all can accomplish the same goals in different ways. That is what I love about life!
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