A Month of Thanksgiving~From the Christmas Lists of Babes

My children teach me much about contentment. And the lessons often come from their Christmas lists.

This will be a lean gift-giving year for us, and I'm already dreading the day after Thanksgiving, when the floodgates open and Christmas shopping is on!

But, the pressure I feel is my own. It's wrapped up in my ideas of what Christmas should look like for my loved ones. The proof that I'm the one with the contentment issue is here:

Chapstick! Little Elisabeth would like her own chapstick. We can do that.

And then there's one of our older children not quite knowing what to put on his list. Not because he wants so many things, but precisely because he doesn't want so many things.

Books. Pens. Play earrings. Play horses. Baby dolls. Pack of cards. Army men. A pack of cars.

The lists are humble ones.

And they leave me thankful that we've never been able to shower our children with extravagant gifts--no iPods or computers when they're 8 or 10. No car when they're 16.

That's not a judgment on those who can do that for their children. God works different ways in different  families. Rather, it's simply an acknowledgement that we might have different children had we been able to give them those things. The hedges God has put around us have forced us to be very intentional about other things. And the fruit I see in our children is beautiful.

Their stockings might be lightweights, but I believe their souls are full, heavy with the knowledge of God and His goodness. Some of us are blessed to have fat stockings and fat souls. Thanks be to God for that blessing! But, if God should only give our family one, you know what I would choose every time.

If there's a sadness about you because you long to give more things than your bank account will allow, remember the expectations might very well just be your own. Rest in His provision, praise Him for the glorious truth of the gospel, the amazing gift of Jesus, the grace of contented hearts, and trust in the good work He continues to do in your family. These gifts are priceless.

With love,
Trisha


***Perhaps your family doesn't exchange gifts. But, please, this is not the place for a discussion on whether Christians should celebrate Christmas or exchange gifts. We celebrate, and we give, and we thank God we can.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

With love,
Trisha

Cranberry Maple Sauce

This was a big hit last year. And it's a good thing I wrote next to the recipe, "Christmas 2011-big hit," or I might not have remembered it. I wish I had a picture for you, but since I don't, just imagine something that looks like homemade cranberry sauce. :)

Cranberry Maple Sauce

Makes about 2-1/2 cups

This sauce can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. The maple flavor will be subtle, so if you want to give it a boost, use the maple extract.

One 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
3/4 c. pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. maple extract (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the cranberries have popped and the juices have thickened to a light syrup consistency, about 10 minutes. Cool completely. Serve chilled or at room temperature. If making ahead, simply cover and refrigerate.
~from Christmas 101 by Rick Rodgers

With love,
Trisha

On Saying Merry Christmas

We must come to realize the importance of "insignificant" faithfulness.

~Doug Wilson

What's the big deal about saying merry Christmas? Yes, I'm the shopper who heartily and cheerfully replies, "Merry Christmas," when wished a happy holiday. There are many who think this is something insignificant, but it's never rested well with me to surrender the celebration of the Incarnation to the world by calling it something generic that removes Christ from the center of it all. (Because we know their "happy holiday" doesn't mean "happy holy day." It means, "Happy generic celebration of something, as long as it isn't Jesus.)

But even this isn't agreed upon by Christians, and it's common to be told that we need not assume the culture is at war with Christmas. I find it interesting that we'll dismiss those who insist on merry Christmas as overreacting and missing the point while assuming that advertisers and stores have no evil motives and are simply playing a marketing game when when they remove Him from the celebration and the conversation.

It's all so innocent, we say.

But it's not.

Doug Wilson observes:

The message of Christmas is politically incendiary, when you think about it, and it is not for nothing that secularists are trying to get us to forget Jesus with their C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (Before Common Era), and seasonal conifers instead of Christmas trees. Nice try, but we aren’t buying any.

He later describes saying merry Christmas as an act of insurrection.

And the Anti-Christian Liberties Union (ACLU) knows that getting Christmas trees off public property is well worth fighting for. This is why we as Christians have to learn that saying "merry Christmas" is an act of insurrection. How do we define our lives? More than this, how do we define our lives as a people? Far from retreating into a minimalist celebration, or no celebration at all, we as Christians must take far greater advantage of the opportunity we have in all of this. Now the Lord Jesus is on His throne. And His government will continue to increase. But He works through instruments, and one of His central instruments for establishing His kingdom on earth is the faith of His people. Why is it that Christians shopping at WalMart are being reminded over the loudspeakers that "He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found." Why are they telling us this? It's our religion. Why don't we believe it? But if you believe it, then say merry Christmas to somebody.

Merry Christmas!

With love,
Trisha


***If you don't agree that Christians should even celebrate Christmas, this isn't the place to debate. 

Visions of a Different Christmas Dancing in My Head

I'd love to show you our Advent calendar for this year or a stack of Christmas books or a list of Christmas crafts to do, to tell you I have all of my Christmas shopping done and every decoration put up.

I'd love to tell you about the new recipes I'm going to try and the amazing feast I have planned for Christmas Day, or how I've organized our Advent readings and purchased new Christmas music.

But what I'd love to do just isn't happening.

It's December 1st, and we're recovering from sickness while trying to keep our school schedule going. I'm looking at piles that need to be purged, clutter that needs to be bagged up and carted away, an inflexible budget, and a sadness that's become my second skin.

This is a hard place to be when you love to celebrate as much as I do, when you're a lover of traditions and making this glorious time of year special in the most memorable of ways. Of course, the pressure doesn't just come from within. Every where I turn are wonderful suggestions for celebrating Christmas. And my heart is skillful at making these suggestions idols, of believing that if I'm not creating an endless string of special moments, my children won't grasp the beauty and awe of this season, won't grasp the wonder of His coming to save His people.

So, I'm fighting. Fighting to find contentment in what I can do, but even more so, in who He is and who I am in Him. Fighting to rejoice in what others CAN do. Fighting to love my Savior more than I love my plans and my traditions. Fighting to remember that small things done are better than big things planned.

These are notes to myself and any other Mom who finds herself too sick or too broke or too sad or simply overwhelmed to be able to do all she had hoped to this Christmas.

1) What they'll remember: Our joy in doing what we can and resting in His providence instead of murmuring or nursing guilt will leave a more powerful impression on our children than the fanciest Advent activities or the most expensive gifts.

2) Real Simple: Though keeping it simple is a mantra all over the internet, we often make keeping it simple quite complicated and expensive and glamorous. You don't have to bake a gourmet cookie recipe with 35 different ingredients. Make your favorite sugar cookie and decorate away. You don't have to create a snow village from paper cutouts that take 12 hours of preparation. Print out some coloring pages and color with your children.

3) Assault yourself with Truth. Post Scripture everywhere and words of encouragement to keep you focused.

4) Priorities. Make the reading and studying of His Word and time in prayer your priority and a priority for your family. What a great gift it is to live out the truth that these are eternal investments of our time, means of grace that keep us grounded and growing.

5) We're not Scrooges. Rejoice with others in their season of fatness. Don't let the hedges that surround you sour your view of the abundance in others' lives. Be happy for your friend who has all of her gifts purchased and who made the gingerbread house from scratch. Our limitations don't make that cute Pinterest project evil or gift-giving sinful, and we shouldn't malign traditions and celebrations to make ourselves feel better about what we can't do.

6) A Season Within the Season. Remember that what we can do comes in seasons. If next year finds you healthy, super-organized, able to lavish most abundantly gifts on your children, bake fancy desserts, and go special places, then thanks be to God! Delight in it! It is a wonderful gift! And remember to ask Him to keep you as much in your season of prosperity as you've begged Him to do in your season of leanness.

With love,
Trisha


**Better small things done than big things planned.
~Peter Marshall

Savior

"The word Jesus means simply 'Savior.' It is the same word as 'Joshua' in the Old Testament. Very striking and instructive is the selection of this name. The Son of God came down from heaven to be not only the Savior, but the King, the Lawgiver, the Prophet, the Priest, the Judge of fallen man. Had He chosen any one of these titles, He would only have chosen that which was His own. But He passed by them all. He selects a name which speaks of mercy, grace, help, and deliverance for a lost world. It is as a deliverer and Redeemer that He desires principally to be known"
~J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke


(My friend, Becky, is hosting a series focusing on the Excellencies of His Name. You can read the posts here.)

River of Lights 2010

A less-seasoned parent might wonder why we bother to enjoy the River of Lights.  Hats and scarves and mittens many times over....oh, so cold weather....babies bundled tightly while Mommy and Daddy hope they make it through the tour....long lines to get in....prayers that the many-layered cutie pies won't ask the dreaded question, "Where's the bathroom?"

But after all the frustration and cries and preparation, we always have a good time.  And, it's just another tradition that wraps up the year.

Can you find the world's cutest pink marshmallow? 

(Hint...her name rhymes with pear.:)

One of the favorite attractions.....the Slide!

Now that's a potato for Queen Mom.  Lots of butter, please.

He was cozy warm and didn't cry a bit!

Christmas Day~Part 2

 Look...Jedediah already knows a good book when he sees it!  Am I going to have to fight him for this one?

 Book in front of the face....part of that whole mystery surrounding "Scribe"

See, just a few books.  Just a few.

Christmas Day~Part 1

Because we took lots of photos, here's part 1.  You'll notice books were popular gifts...well, we just got a few of them.  Really, just a few.