Well, tomorrow is the big day. The day that we have spent the last year preparing for. While most of you are enjoying friends and family, my husband and I will be ringing in the New Year somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.
Dave and I have had the last 24 hours together--just us, no kids--as the grandparents have whisked them away for a few days to enjoy the last of their Christmas vacation in Arizona. We have spent a significant amount of this 24 hours discussing the past year of our lives. I will just tell you, it has been a crazy year! We started listing all of the stuff--good and bad--that has happened this year and are, quite frankly, amazed that we have survived it all!
God has taken us on a long and crazy journey these past 365 days, and it is all culminating together tomorrow as we board a jumbo jet bound for Nairobi! I have spent several weeks now trying to decide what to talk about in this opening blog to our upcoming trip. Since it is the eve of New Year's Eve, I think it would be fitting to talk about New Year's resolutions.
In preparation for this trip, Dave and I have received a TON of advice from people. Most of it has been really helpful--make sure you drink lots of water, make sure you get up and walk around the plane a lot, make sure to take something to help with jet lag, hold on to your passport, switch your phone service to international, pack toilet paper (Huh? What? Okay, I can honestly say, I have never, EV-ER traveled anywhere that I have had to pack my own TP! This may possibly not end well for me.)
Anyway, in the sea of good advice, I did receive 2, very simple, very pertinent pieces of great advice. Since I'm all about sharing, I have decided that I would like to share these awesome words of advice with you, too.
So, here it is, my 2013 New Year's Resolutions:
(drum roll, please)
1. Breathe
2. Don't forget to look around
For those of you that know me very well, you know that I can be intense. I mean really intense! When I am focussed on something, nothing will stand in my way. And I will always get it accomplished--often to the detriment of anything and anyone around me.
As I spent time thinking about what changes I would like to implement to my life in 2013 (yep, I know, I'm weird. I do this every year--just so you know), I realized that I don't spend nearly enough time breathing or looking around. I mean really breathing or looking around.
As my kids would say, "Of course you have to breathe. If you didn't you would die." Well, sure. But my resolution isn't to just partake in the act of respiration--you know, breathing in and breathing out. My resolution is to really breathe! I am resolving to take the time time to just stop. Clear my head of all the voices (don't judge me, you know you have voices in your head, too!), and just take a minute to enjoy the air. I mean REALLY. BREATH.
I have to confess, the looking around part, is going to be a little harder for me. It is not in my nature to stop and smell the roses. This one is going to take a bit of concerted effort on my part. However, I cannot think of a more appropriate, or exciting time to implement this. Kenya! I mean really, how many times does someone get to visit such a cool place during their lifetime? It's not like I have picked an outing to Wal Mart as the maiden voyage for this new resolution (although, that does have a bit of a draw, at times, too). Yes, I have a BIG job ahead of me (1,700 pair of glasses is no walk in the park), but I am going to take some time every day to look around, enjoy the beauty, experience the people, and relish in God's provision and blessings.
So, to quote the wise and profound words of Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it".
I hope you experience an abundance of oxygen, overwhelming clarity of sight, and an amazing and happy New Year!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Molasses Sugar Cookie Recipe
This recipe has moved to its new home on my recipe blog.
You can find it here.
You can find it here.
For more of my fun recipes, you can visit Vanessa's Country Cookin'.
Day 8 of an Anderson Christmas--Cookies!!!!
13 years ago I received the best gift I have ever gotten from anyone! Ever! It may seem weird to some of you, but my sister-in-law gave me, what I think may be, the best cookie recipe in the world! Seriously! Molasses sugar cookies--YUM-O! This magnificent recipe came beautifully packaged atop a nice tin of the scrumptiously baked product. I have never tasted anything quite so delightful in all my life.
As an aside: It is not an unusual thing for me to keep some of these suckers on hand (frozen) so that I can take a couple out at any given time when I have a "sweets" craving. I put a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two of them, and sandwich these little delights together. I have included a picture, just to get your taste buds going! You're welcome, by the way!
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Now, for those of you that know me very well, you know that I make a lot of cookies. In fact, I make 15 dozen cookies each and every week for one of my church's less formal worship services. Each week I have some random, yet customized crazy little hand-held treat. However, these molasses sugar cookies are, in my opinion, the best one of them all.
The receipt of this gift was the genesis for my final, and (by far) favorite Christmas tradition--making and delivering homemade cookies for my amazing neighbors.
If you have been reading my blog, or if you have been to my house, you know that we live out in the boonies. Not to say that we don't have neighbors (we do), we just don't live right next door to our neighbors. That being said, we have had to make a concerted effort to get to know the folks that share our little corner of the middle of nowhere, and what a journey it has been!
We have the most awesome community you can imagine. We are only about 11 minutes from Target, but it feels like an entirely different planet when you are out here. It is a good 30 minutes, round trip, to the grocery store if you have forgotten something. We are at the mercy of the county when it snows, as there is only one road in and that same road out. We have no natural gas lines or municipal water sources to draw from. Internet service is sketchy, and cable television is non-existent (thank goodness for satellite)! So, most of you city folk are probably wondering how we could ever possibly survive out here. Well, I will tell you--we do it as a community.
When we lived in town (in a pretty decent-sized neighborhood, I might add) we knew the names of exactly one family that lived by us. We shared a strip of grass between our houses and would frequently chit-chat while out doing yard work. That's it. One neighbor. Period. And end of a very short and sad story.
So, when we moved out to the sticks, we resolved (out of a true desire as well as out of sheer necessity) to get to know our neighbors. I mean really get to know our neighbors.
Shortly after we moved in, I was on this baking kick and had made a ton of cookies. I really didn't want them in my house--because I would just consume them all. So, I thought it would be fun to share them with those around us. Thus began a tradition of hand delivering some Christmas joy to our neighbors.
It has been so much fun! Now that my kids are able to act as my "little elves", they absolutely have a blast! They have been able to get to know all the great people that we live by (as well as all the dogs who come running in hopes of receiving a treat too)! Our neighbors have begun to grow comfortable with the Anderson children, and we have cultivated new friendships with folks we would have otherwise never met, in the process.
During this time, we have been blessed by our neighbors (there was the time when we called one of them to come kill a 5 foot, meaner-than-heck rattle snake that was seeking asylum in our home). We have also been able to be a blessing to them. We have, on many occasions, been able to "share" water when the pump to their well has gone out (see, these are the things that city dwellers don't have to deal with). We have had the opportunity to bottle feed calves, as well as take care of a vast array of dogs, cats and even a couple of fish. We have sledded, snowboarded and made snowmen when our entire neighborhood was snowed in for 3 days straight! We have borrowed and shared a multitude of various kitchen items (butter, sugar, sour cream, etc), and in the process have become this strange and eclectic little "family", of sorts.
This years' package from Chateau de Anderson was a mixed pack--consisting of Snickerdoodles, Grasshopper, Cappuccino Chocolate Chip, and of course the signature Molasses Sugar Cookie. My kids were all giggles (even though it was FREEZING) on delivery day. We were able to share with those around us, and were able to add one more layer of community to our already awesome little utopia.
As an aside: It is not an unusual thing for me to keep some of these suckers on hand (frozen) so that I can take a couple out at any given time when I have a "sweets" craving. I put a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two of them, and sandwich these little delights together. I have included a picture, just to get your taste buds going! You're welcome, by the way!
.jpg)
Now, for those of you that know me very well, you know that I make a lot of cookies. In fact, I make 15 dozen cookies each and every week for one of my church's less formal worship services. Each week I have some random, yet customized crazy little hand-held treat. However, these molasses sugar cookies are, in my opinion, the best one of them all.
The receipt of this gift was the genesis for my final, and (by far) favorite Christmas tradition--making and delivering homemade cookies for my amazing neighbors.
If you have been reading my blog, or if you have been to my house, you know that we live out in the boonies. Not to say that we don't have neighbors (we do), we just don't live right next door to our neighbors. That being said, we have had to make a concerted effort to get to know the folks that share our little corner of the middle of nowhere, and what a journey it has been!
We have the most awesome community you can imagine. We are only about 11 minutes from Target, but it feels like an entirely different planet when you are out here. It is a good 30 minutes, round trip, to the grocery store if you have forgotten something. We are at the mercy of the county when it snows, as there is only one road in and that same road out. We have no natural gas lines or municipal water sources to draw from. Internet service is sketchy, and cable television is non-existent (thank goodness for satellite)! So, most of you city folk are probably wondering how we could ever possibly survive out here. Well, I will tell you--we do it as a community.
When we lived in town (in a pretty decent-sized neighborhood, I might add) we knew the names of exactly one family that lived by us. We shared a strip of grass between our houses and would frequently chit-chat while out doing yard work. That's it. One neighbor. Period. And end of a very short and sad story.
So, when we moved out to the sticks, we resolved (out of a true desire as well as out of sheer necessity) to get to know our neighbors. I mean really get to know our neighbors.
Shortly after we moved in, I was on this baking kick and had made a ton of cookies. I really didn't want them in my house--because I would just consume them all. So, I thought it would be fun to share them with those around us. Thus began a tradition of hand delivering some Christmas joy to our neighbors.
It has been so much fun! Now that my kids are able to act as my "little elves", they absolutely have a blast! They have been able to get to know all the great people that we live by (as well as all the dogs who come running in hopes of receiving a treat too)! Our neighbors have begun to grow comfortable with the Anderson children, and we have cultivated new friendships with folks we would have otherwise never met, in the process.
During this time, we have been blessed by our neighbors (there was the time when we called one of them to come kill a 5 foot, meaner-than-heck rattle snake that was seeking asylum in our home). We have also been able to be a blessing to them. We have, on many occasions, been able to "share" water when the pump to their well has gone out (see, these are the things that city dwellers don't have to deal with). We have had the opportunity to bottle feed calves, as well as take care of a vast array of dogs, cats and even a couple of fish. We have sledded, snowboarded and made snowmen when our entire neighborhood was snowed in for 3 days straight! We have borrowed and shared a multitude of various kitchen items (butter, sugar, sour cream, etc), and in the process have become this strange and eclectic little "family", of sorts.
This years' package from Chateau de Anderson was a mixed pack--consisting of Snickerdoodles, Grasshopper, Cappuccino Chocolate Chip, and of course the signature Molasses Sugar Cookie. My kids were all giggles (even though it was FREEZING) on delivery day. We were able to share with those around us, and were able to add one more layer of community to our already awesome little utopia.
So, in writing this final entry of my Christmas blog, I have a few, but simple take-home points. First, I bet you have some amazing neighbors. I would encourage you to take the first step and reach out to them. You might be surprised to find a little diamond-in-the-rough living right next door.
Second, encourage your kids to engage those around them. I know, we live in a scary world with scary people. I'm not saying to put your kids in harm's way. But, our world seems to have lost a lot of what makes us uniquely human--the need to belong to a community. The actions of a few disturbed people (who, quite frankly, may have not been so disturbed if even one person had been kind) have let fear drive a wedge between otherwise normal and friendly folks in our world. I think it is up to each and every one of us to drive that element of fear right back out.
Finally, never underestimate the power of one simple gift. My sister-in-law has no idea how many lives she has touched because of this one very meaningful (and, I might add, inexpensive--for all you tight-wads out there) gift. It was well-planned and well-executed. It will serve as a gateway to immeasurable friendships for the Anderson family for years to come.
So, I hope I have encouraged you and your family to begin the process of cultivating community and friendships--wherever your little piece of the world is.
Have a very, Merry Christmas and community-filled New Year!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Day 7 of an Anderson Christmas--Twas the Day Before Christmas
Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the house
The creatures were fighting, causing insanity in my spouse.
School was on break, and the natives were restless
from watching TV, and making big messes
My husband was home to observe all the folly
And I had returned with tortillas and tamales.
The pork loin was roasting on low for the day
While the children were arguing over what game to play.
The chili was thawing on the counter for dinner
When my daughter announced that she was the winner.
My husband was frantically trying to search
For last minute items needed at church.
When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter
My children jumped up to see what was the matter.
The dogs had dug out of their yard yet again
Sending my already crazed husband in a tailspin.
Seems a varmint of sorts had caught their attention
Their shock collars useless as a means of prevention
The kids were both screaming, bad scenarios in their head
Convinced man's best friends would be found later dead.
After what seemed like hours they came home in a funk
No worse for the wear, and no hint of skunk.
Safely returned, to their yard with a gate
My husband announced "We're going to be late!"
We grabbed all our coats, and scrambled to the car
Not wanting the dogs, our Christmas Eve to mar.
My husband calmed nerves on the 12 mile drive
Where in a Christmas miracle, we arrived right on time.
We found a great seat as the choir started to sing
While my husband took care of "just one more thing".
The lights were turned low as the mood became calm
While the words of King David were read out of Psalm.
We Three Kings, and a somber Silent Night
Were beautifully sang with conviction and might.
A passionate retelling of Christ's birth with sheep
Caused even the crustiest cynic to weep.
The service was ended with a Joy to the World
So loud, that in Canyon the words could be heard.
The candles extinguished, we bid our farewells
And exited the building like a herd of gazelles.
Arriving back at the house, the mood somber and holy
We were met with the smell of tamales and posole.
Plates were prepared with precision and ease
Dinner was done and was sure to please.
The banter was light-hearted and centered on God
I'm sure to most people it would be considered odd.
Our quaint little family, sitting down at a meal
Discussing Christmas traditions 'til we all had our fill.
Table cleared, kitchen cleaned, we gathered by the warm fire
For the end of the day, my husband desired to inspire
Reading from Luke, both children were silent
There was a calm in our house--at least for the moment.
After a prayer and some replay of all of our days
It was time for the finale'--our Christmas Eve P.J.'s!!!
We each had a turn to find out our clothed fate
And were pleased to discover, they were all pretty great!
Snuggled deep in the couch, the fire my husband stoking
Both kids were in giggles, we were all playfully joking.
Reminded that the day is not about ones self
We excitedly settled in for our viewing of Elf.
The scene makes me teary, every time in my mind
So thankful that God had blessed all mankind.
With the gift of His son and so, so much more.
I drift off to sleep without even a snore.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Day 6 of and Anderson Christmas--The Birthday Cake for Jesus
I love cake. I really like birthdays, too--mostly because I get to eat cake. I love to make cakes, buy delicious cakes (from Cakes N More or Miss Piggy's specifically), and consume cakes.
It has always perplexed me, that in the US, we celebrate the biggest birthday of the year with. . . pie? Does that seem strange to anyone else? Anyway, given my aforementioned predilection for cake, I decided when my kids were really little, that since we had a cake for everyone else's birthday all year 'round, didn't Jesus deserve a cake on his big day too?
So, several years ago we started making simple, poorly decorated birthday cakes every Christmas morning. I usually let my kids help me decorate them and then we would whip out a loud and off-key version of "Happy Birthday".
Fast forward to 2012. This year, as April was fast approaching, (both my kids' birthdays are in April) my son announced that he wanted cookies for his birthday. Gasp! What? You can't have cookies for your birthday! It's a birthday! Let them eat cake!
Then, my daughter, (much to my horror) announced, proudly, that she wanted my homemade cinnamon rolls for her birthday! Are you kidding me!?! No! Letme them eat cake!
After much deliberation, I realized I was not, indeed, Marie Antionette (or any kind of widely recognized Princess, for that matter) and decided to acquiesce to my children's demands. It was, after all, their birthdays we were talking about (even though I still contend that the mom should get something for the pain and discomfort of each of those historical days, but that is an entirely different topic altogether.)
So, 2012 yielded Angry Bird cookies for my son (yes I made them, and they turned out so awesome I had to put a picture to show them off), as well as my amazing (yep, I'm humble like that) homemade cinnamon rolls for my daughter's big day.
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To compound the travesty of the year, when my birthday rolled around, we were actually out of town. I was too stuffed from the amazingly greasy burger and fries to even consider a piece of cake on my big day. Although, Dave's awesome aunt Susie, knowing how I love yellow cake with chocolate icing, did see fit to make this hilarious "all-things-Disney" cake for me the day after my big day.
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November rolled around and Dave decided he wanted my very delicious (if I do say so myself) Egg Nog Cupcakes for his birthday. So, his was at least some sort of cake product, but still not an actual cake. They were really delicious, though.
Now we are in December, and while I still like the "idea" of a birthday cake for Jesus, I have to wonder if we should do it at all? Birthdays have morphed into something so non-traditional that I am unsure of how to proceed this year. My family just doesn't seem to think that birthday cakes are really all that big of a deal.
So, anticlimactic as it seems, the 6th Anderson Family Christmas tradition may not be long for this world. I do still think a birthday celebration of sorts should be had but I am perplexed as to what this might look like. I still have a few days to decide on this one, but it may, sadly, be a tradition of the past.
I do hope you decide to celebrate the biggest birthday of the year in style--whatever that looks like in your family. Have a Merry and fun-filled Christmas. And, I hope you (and I) are still able to convince them to eat cake!
It has always perplexed me, that in the US, we celebrate the biggest birthday of the year with. . . pie? Does that seem strange to anyone else? Anyway, given my aforementioned predilection for cake, I decided when my kids were really little, that since we had a cake for everyone else's birthday all year 'round, didn't Jesus deserve a cake on his big day too?
So, several years ago we started making simple, poorly decorated birthday cakes every Christmas morning. I usually let my kids help me decorate them and then we would whip out a loud and off-key version of "Happy Birthday".
Fast forward to 2012. This year, as April was fast approaching, (both my kids' birthdays are in April) my son announced that he wanted cookies for his birthday. Gasp! What? You can't have cookies for your birthday! It's a birthday! Let them eat cake!
Then, my daughter, (much to my horror) announced, proudly, that she wanted my homemade cinnamon rolls for her birthday! Are you kidding me!?! No! Let
After much deliberation, I realized I was not, indeed, Marie Antionette (or any kind of widely recognized Princess, for that matter) and decided to acquiesce to my children's demands. It was, after all, their birthdays we were talking about (even though I still contend that the mom should get something for the pain and discomfort of each of those historical days, but that is an entirely different topic altogether.)
So, 2012 yielded Angry Bird cookies for my son (yes I made them, and they turned out so awesome I had to put a picture to show them off), as well as my amazing (yep, I'm humble like that) homemade cinnamon rolls for my daughter's big day.
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November rolled around and Dave decided he wanted my very delicious (if I do say so myself) Egg Nog Cupcakes for his birthday. So, his was at least some sort of cake product, but still not an actual cake. They were really delicious, though.
Now we are in December, and while I still like the "idea" of a birthday cake for Jesus, I have to wonder if we should do it at all? Birthdays have morphed into something so non-traditional that I am unsure of how to proceed this year. My family just doesn't seem to think that birthday cakes are really all that big of a deal.
So, anticlimactic as it seems, the 6th Anderson Family Christmas tradition may not be long for this world. I do still think a birthday celebration of sorts should be had but I am perplexed as to what this might look like. I still have a few days to decide on this one, but it may, sadly, be a tradition of the past.
I do hope you decide to celebrate the biggest birthday of the year in style--whatever that looks like in your family. Have a Merry and fun-filled Christmas. And, I hope you (and I) are still able to convince them to eat cake!
Day 5 of an Anderson Christmas--Christmas Cards
I love Christmas cards. I always have. I know that must surprise most of you, given my historical disdain for the "commercialism" of this holiday. However, I do really like Christmas cards. When I was significantly younger and living off on my own in college and/or Optometry school I would spend a considerable amount of time at the Hallmark store looking for that "just-right" card. You know the one? It's got that funny front and then when you open it up "BAM" an even funnier punch line? Yep, those are the ones that I used to scour the aisles looking for. Then I would spend countless hours (usually when I was supposed to be studying for finals) handwriting notes to my dearest and closest friends. Many of you may have received one of those several decades ago, and you're welcome, by the way!
I guess it was just my little way of keeping in touch with all the people that had touched me over the years. It gave me just a few minutes, once a year, to reflect on the friendships that I had managed to acquire along the different phases of my life. It was a great exercise for me to acknowledge how deeply I cared, and how thankful I was, for the impact each and every one of those people had had on my life.
Fast-forward to the era of AK (after kids). Now during my 40+ years on this earth, I have amassed a large number of dear friends that mean the world to me. I have also amassed the seemingly never-ending needs of two small little children that require their mother to be present--both mentally and physically. So, the time of handwriting notes quickly diminished, giving way to the juggernaut that is the mass-produced photographic Christmas card.
I have heard a lot of people mock these photo cards as impersonal, or even cheesy. I respectfully disagree with both of those opinions. I really enjoy seeing photos of all of my friends and their kids. It is awesome to see that most of them turned out relatively normal after all. Not to mention the warm and fuzzy feeling I get inside when I realize that they are knee-deep in, as we say in Texas, "payin' for their raisin'".
Several years ago, I was perplexed as to what to do with all the Christmas cards I received every year. I loved looking at the pictures, reading the occasional "annual update" that accompanied them, and reflecting on the relationship represented. So, I decided I needed to display them somehow. I figured out that I could hang wide, wired Christmas ribbon from the threshold frame that separated my living room from the kitchen. It is a really wide opening with ample room to hang such a display. Then, as cards would arrive during the month of December, I would simply hang them on the ribbon.
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For the entire month of December every year since, I have been able to walk through this opening, glancing across the sea of aging faces and be reminded of all of the amazing people that have crossed my path over the years. With the combination of mine and Dave's friends it has become quite a display. I have never met many of Dave's friends, yet every year the arrival of their Christmas card prompts him to tell me some funny story about college. Dave has never met a lot of my friends, but he could probably tell you their names, if shown their faces, along with one humorous (and likely, questionably illegal) thing that they had done in their youth.
So, I hope you enjoy the Christmas cards that you receive every year. I hope you realize that someone (and probably lots of someones) cared enough about you to go to the expense and effort to drop you a simple card to wish you a "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holiday", "Happy Hanukkah", or "happy whatever" this time of year.
I hope you have a wonderful memory-lane-filled December of Christmas cards.
And Merry Christmas from the Anderson Clan!
I guess it was just my little way of keeping in touch with all the people that had touched me over the years. It gave me just a few minutes, once a year, to reflect on the friendships that I had managed to acquire along the different phases of my life. It was a great exercise for me to acknowledge how deeply I cared, and how thankful I was, for the impact each and every one of those people had had on my life.
Fast-forward to the era of AK (after kids). Now during my 40+ years on this earth, I have amassed a large number of dear friends that mean the world to me. I have also amassed the seemingly never-ending needs of two small little children that require their mother to be present--both mentally and physically. So, the time of handwriting notes quickly diminished, giving way to the juggernaut that is the mass-produced photographic Christmas card.
I have heard a lot of people mock these photo cards as impersonal, or even cheesy. I respectfully disagree with both of those opinions. I really enjoy seeing photos of all of my friends and their kids. It is awesome to see that most of them turned out relatively normal after all. Not to mention the warm and fuzzy feeling I get inside when I realize that they are knee-deep in, as we say in Texas, "payin' for their raisin'".
Several years ago, I was perplexed as to what to do with all the Christmas cards I received every year. I loved looking at the pictures, reading the occasional "annual update" that accompanied them, and reflecting on the relationship represented. So, I decided I needed to display them somehow. I figured out that I could hang wide, wired Christmas ribbon from the threshold frame that separated my living room from the kitchen. It is a really wide opening with ample room to hang such a display. Then, as cards would arrive during the month of December, I would simply hang them on the ribbon.
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For the entire month of December every year since, I have been able to walk through this opening, glancing across the sea of aging faces and be reminded of all of the amazing people that have crossed my path over the years. With the combination of mine and Dave's friends it has become quite a display. I have never met many of Dave's friends, yet every year the arrival of their Christmas card prompts him to tell me some funny story about college. Dave has never met a lot of my friends, but he could probably tell you their names, if shown their faces, along with one humorous (and likely, questionably illegal) thing that they had done in their youth.
So, I hope you enjoy the Christmas cards that you receive every year. I hope you realize that someone (and probably lots of someones) cared enough about you to go to the expense and effort to drop you a simple card to wish you a "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holiday", "Happy Hanukkah", or "happy whatever" this time of year.
I hope you have a wonderful memory-lane-filled December of Christmas cards.
And Merry Christmas from the Anderson Clan!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Day 4 of An Anderson Christmas--The Advent Calendar
I love my in-laws. Seriously! I, on a pretty regular basis, hear the craziest horror stories from friends about in-law issues. I simply don't understand. I literally won the in-law lottery with mine. They are two of the most amazing people I have ever met. Really! (And I'm not just saying that because I know they read my blog).
Okay, it does take me a few days to get everything in my kitchen back to where it needs to be after they come for a visit. However, as we have previously established, I am a HUGE kitchen Nazi! I also have the occasional conversation with them about why it may not be the best dietary decision to let my kids eat at Applebees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all on the same day. But, kitchen-reorganizing, and restaurant selections notwithstanding, my in-laws are really awesome!
With that in mind, we haven't always seen eye-to-eye about most things Christmas (or anything Christmas, for that matter). However, in their previously-established awesome way, they have managed to chink away at my crusty exterior with regard to Christmas and some of the traditions surrounding this crazy holiday.
Shortly after our first child was born, my in-laws gave us the coolest Advent Calendar. It is made of wood with a metal center and little magnetic "nativity characters" that fit one-per-holding-cell around the exterior.
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I have to admit, the Advent season was not a very big deal for me when I was a kid. In fact, I actually had to have Dave explain some of the tradition surrounding the Advent in the years after we were married. So, this was an entirely new tradition that I had married into. It certainly took some getting used to, and I had to be regularly reminded about it early on.
We also have these really cool friends that, every year, send us a paper Advent Calendar with little cardboard tabs that open to reveal short Advent phrases or factoids. This has been a nice addition, as now the kids can alternate calendars and days to avoid the ever-present competition within our family.
If you are not familiar with the meaning or significance of The Advent, there are a number of great sites you can reference. Just Google it, and you will be amazed! However, if you're kind of lazy, like me, the gist of it is this: The word "advent" comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "arrival" or "coming," particularly of something having great importance. Basically, it is the time leading up to the "arrival" or "coming" of the Christ-child--Jesus.
Every day for the 24 days leading up to Christmas, the Anderson family is able to take the time to open each of the little wooden doors or cardboard flaps (whichever applies) and have the Christmas story retold in a fun and interactive way. We are able to take just a few minutes daily to reflect upon the significance of Christ being born as a human as well as slowly build the crescendo of expectation and excitement as December 25th grows closer. Of course, sometimes the farm animals and/or shepherds show off some of their, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves and end up on the roof of the stable, but we're just kind of fun and creative like that.
So, as the birthday of Christ draws closer, I hope you take just a few minutes to remember exactly what it is that December 25th really signifies. Retell the Christmas story to your kids (or grand kids--cuz you can see how that has worked out in our family). Take the time to reflect on the humble human-beginning of our Savior.
And I hope you have a VERY Merry and Advent-full Christmas!
Okay, it does take me a few days to get everything in my kitchen back to where it needs to be after they come for a visit. However, as we have previously established, I am a HUGE kitchen Nazi! I also have the occasional conversation with them about why it may not be the best dietary decision to let my kids eat at Applebees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all on the same day. But, kitchen-reorganizing, and restaurant selections notwithstanding, my in-laws are really awesome!
With that in mind, we haven't always seen eye-to-eye about most things Christmas (or anything Christmas, for that matter). However, in their previously-established awesome way, they have managed to chink away at my crusty exterior with regard to Christmas and some of the traditions surrounding this crazy holiday.
Shortly after our first child was born, my in-laws gave us the coolest Advent Calendar. It is made of wood with a metal center and little magnetic "nativity characters" that fit one-per-holding-cell around the exterior.
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I have to admit, the Advent season was not a very big deal for me when I was a kid. In fact, I actually had to have Dave explain some of the tradition surrounding the Advent in the years after we were married. So, this was an entirely new tradition that I had married into. It certainly took some getting used to, and I had to be regularly reminded about it early on.
We also have these really cool friends that, every year, send us a paper Advent Calendar with little cardboard tabs that open to reveal short Advent phrases or factoids. This has been a nice addition, as now the kids can alternate calendars and days to avoid the ever-present competition within our family.
If you are not familiar with the meaning or significance of The Advent, there are a number of great sites you can reference. Just Google it, and you will be amazed! However, if you're kind of lazy, like me, the gist of it is this: The word "advent" comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "arrival" or "coming," particularly of something having great importance. Basically, it is the time leading up to the "arrival" or "coming" of the Christ-child--Jesus.
Every day for the 24 days leading up to Christmas, the Anderson family is able to take the time to open each of the little wooden doors or cardboard flaps (whichever applies) and have the Christmas story retold in a fun and interactive way. We are able to take just a few minutes daily to reflect upon the significance of Christ being born as a human as well as slowly build the crescendo of expectation and excitement as December 25th grows closer. Of course, sometimes the farm animals and/or shepherds show off some of their, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves and end up on the roof of the stable, but we're just kind of fun and creative like that.
So, as the birthday of Christ draws closer, I hope you take just a few minutes to remember exactly what it is that December 25th really signifies. Retell the Christmas story to your kids (or grand kids--cuz you can see how that has worked out in our family). Take the time to reflect on the humble human-beginning of our Savior.
And I hope you have a VERY Merry and Advent-full Christmas!
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