Multitude Monday
Wow, it’s been over a month since I’ve done a Multitude Monday post. Last week I was out for the count the first half of the week with some sort of horrible virus. So glad that’s over. Despite that yuckiness, there’s much to be thankful for over the past week:
526. The boys sang “Jingle Bells” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain” in their first co-op presentation. Regardless of being scared, all went smoothly.
527. Christmas presents for all have arrived, now onto wrapping (one of my favorite Christmas activities).
528. The fact that Sophia doesn’t bother the Christmas tree!
529. A chest freezer where I can store homemade chicken stock.
530. Gingerbread house making with the boys.
531. Cookie making with my mom.
532. Walks in the fresh, cold air.
533. Sophia’s joyfulness.
534. Josh being able to take time off of work to take care of me when I was sick last week. That I got the virus last week and not this week of Christmas.
535. That no one else in the family got the virus, despite the fact I had it for about 4 days.
536. Watching the boys play dinosaurs so well together.
537. The most fabulous audio book for kids: Winnie the Pooh. Stellar version with multiple voices by actors like Stephen Fry and Judi Dench. Can’t say enough about this unabridged production!
538. Fun night out at Josh’s work party.
539. Going to our first live nativity! Owen asking perceptive questions while we watched it.
540. The twinkle of Christmas tree lights.
541. Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue cake. So yummy and fancy.
542. A new family tradition: A Jesse Tree Family Devotional. The fact that the boys look forward to it each night.
543. Being reminded yesterday in church of “something old and rugged”: the cross and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Stories for Children {Updated Repost}
We have a special stash of Christmas books we pull out each year. I’m constantly looking for new ones to add to our collection. After just reading Krista’s post on Christmas books for children, I was reminded of my own similar post last year. I’ve revisited this list and added a few new titles to it. Here’s a few of the titles we’re currently enjoying. What are yours?
Peter Spier’s Christmas
One of my favorite children’s book illustrators, this is truly a picture book. No words. But lots of detailed illustrations which narrate in their own way one family’s Christmas season.
The Foxwood Surprise by Cynthia & Brian Paterson
The illustrations are the best part of this book. Three little animals look for ways to earn money to buy gifts and have a little adventure along the way.
The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes
Picked this up at a library book sale since it’s illustrated by Tasha Tudor. A sweet book about a little cat that finds a new home at Christmas. Gingerbread recipe and icing in the back.
Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado
A young carpenter in Bethlehem gives a gift to the newly born Christ-child.
Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
A simple little poem about Christ’s birth. Whimsical and romantic, it’s still a book we enjoy.
The Day Before Christmas by Eve Bunting
A sweet book about a little girl who goes to the Nutcracker for the first time with her grandfather.
Who Was Born this Special Day? by Eve Bunting
A simple story for young children about Jesus’ birth.
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
I love this story about a little girl searching for a home and a doll who wants a child to be her own. Just read it to the boys for the first time this year and they loved it. Illustrated by another of my favorite illustrators, Barbara Cooney.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
A tear jerker about a little girl named Ruthie who is waiting for her father to come home from war and must donate the “perfect Christmas tree” to her town’s Christmas play.
The Little Spider by Sigmund Brouwer
A story about Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus’ flight to Egypt, told through the story of the animals who accompany them. Came with an audio version of the story too. The boys are always intrigued by the pictures and the spider.
Stable in Bethlehem by Joy N. Hulme
A simple counting book with beautiful illustrations.
The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
A Christmas classic about a lonely fir tree who finds itself at the center of a little boy’s Christmas celebration.
These are a few of our favorite Christmas books for children. Share yours!
Chocolate-Almond Biscotti
On Saturday I made my annual batch of biscotti. A recipe I got from my friend, Jessica, it’s become a family favorite that I not only make for myself but often give away. It’s a perfect gift to tuck into a mug with a gift certificate to a favorite coffee shop or something.
I’m enjoying my biscotti today, with a cup of tea.
Why don’t you enjoy some too?
Chocolate-Almond Biscotti
1/2 Cup butter
3/4 Cup sugar
1 tbsp. orange zest
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup almonds lightly toasted (or hazelnuts)
8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips, melted (This year, I used bittersweet)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, orange zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter mix and blend. Stir in nuts. Dough will be soft.
On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Lightly flour each piece and shape into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 8-9 inches long. Place logs about 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press each log down to make about 3/4 inches thick and 3 inches wide. Bake until puffed and lightly browned on top, about 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Then slide gently onto a work surface and using a sharp knife, cut each log crosswise into 3/4 inch slices. Cookies can touch. Lay on them on their side and bake for 10 minutes more. Remove and turn cookies over and make until lightly browned, about 10 minutes more. Let them cool completely.
Spread with melted chocolate so biscotti is half covered. (I cover one whole side. I want chocolate in every bite!) Let chocolate harden, about 2-3 hours. Makes 3 1/2 dozen.
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Fullness of Joy
“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
(Psalm 16:11 ESV)
Joy is found in Jesus. In His presence.
It’s as simple and as hard as that. If I’m experiencing joylessness, I’m not fully entering into relationship with Jesus, despite the fact that I may have a “personal relationship” with Him. It’s a daily thing. Not a once in a lifetime thing.
It may be I’m trying to find joy in other places. It’s often in times of loss when I discover where my joy really truly is anchored. The truth is, anything in this world can be stripped from us: health, loved ones, our possessions. Only Jesus lasts. In The One Year Book of Hope Nancy Guthrie writes, “Jesus is the only permanent joy in this world and the next. If your joy is not found in Jesus, then you joy can be taken from you.”
Guthrie calls this type of joy “solid joy.” She continues on to say, “The reason our joy is secure and will last forever is because Jesus has been raised from the dead and will never be cut off from us again. By defeating death and holding the keys to death in his hands, Jesus will never die, and we don’t have to die either. The resurrection of Jesus means that not only will he live forever as the source of our joy, but we also will live forever if he is the source of our joy.”
In the stores and on the radio this season we will hear the song, “Joy to the world.” But do we really know what it means? Joy for you and me? To live in the true joy of Christmas?
The rest of song answers where that joy is found: “The Lord is come!”
And so He has. May that knowledge and His personal presence bring me–and you–fullness of joy.
Thanksgiving Weekend
I hope all my readers had a lovely Thanksgiving. We spent the day at my mom’s house and it was great to see lots of aunts and uncles! Over the past year my one uncle was treated for cancer and my aunt had a bad fall resulting in hip surgery just a few weeks ago. And the day after Thanksgiving another uncle was admitted to hospital with an infection. Since he is diabetic, it may result in the loss of his foot. We don’t know yet.
Every year that we are able to gather together is becoming more special.
Josh made this very pretty Sweet Potato Gratin. I made the breadcrumbs. 
It was a nice change from the sweet potato casserole that is so standard.
I also enjoyed capturing some details around my mom’s house. The boys’ enjoyed their first experience with Tom and Jerry.
We travelled down to Staunton, Virginia, to continue the festivities with the celebration of my mother-in-law’s birthday. One of the highlights was Josh’s 13-year-old cousin shot her first deer! The boys enjoyed seeing the deer–despite the fact it was dead. Actually, Duncan made everyone laugh as he gazed at the dead deer and said: “You can’t shoot that deer, it’s so nice!”
The deed was already done, however.
We enjoyed some amazing venison tenderloin the next day, thanks to Josh’s uncle, Burt. One thing I love about Josh’s side of the family is that the men cook. And I mean cook. At Christmas, it’s usually the men in the kitchen, frying up oysters and steaming shrimp. Besides the venison, Burt also deep-fried a turkey and made an amazing squash and carrot casserole. The casserole sounds ho-hum, but it was so creamy and flavorful!
We spent Saturday morning at the Frontier Culture Museum. I actually remember going there when I was around twelve years old with my mom, siblings, grandmother, and aunts. They’d added a lot more and it was a perfect place to let the boys burn off energy while learning about history.
We went to lunch in cute downtown Staunton at The Beverley Restaurant. It had very good diner-esque type food. They were wonderful with the kids, thinking of things I needed before I asked. And you can’t beat a place where all they call you “Sweety” and “Hon” with a southern accent.
I’m already planning our next trip back. I still have to visit Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace and the American Shakespeare Center!
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Gratitude Fills
“If we will pull our minds and our spirits away from our problems from time to time and redirect them to our blessings, we will find much to celebrate. We’ll recognize that the world is full of beauty, that most people are worthy of our respect and trust, and that the affairs of suffering humans are replete with acts of love, kindness, nobility, and sacrifice. And we’ll remember that overseeing it all is a God who knows us well, who loves us anyway, and who is very, very good.
All people have within their grasp much to be thankful for.
Gratitude fills. Grumbling drains. The choice is ours.“
-Richard A. Swenson, M.D., Margin
Happy Thanksgiving!
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I Love Saturdays . . .
And bright blue eyes.
Sweet smiles.
Toddler explorations into the great big world.
I love November light.
Flowers that linger.
Fresh fall air.
Joining Kelly Sauer for [I Love] Saturdays . . .
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Fighting Colds | Multitude Monday
We’ve been fighting colds around here this week but there’s still lots to be thankful for. Two weeks worth, actually.
501. Finishing an intriguing audio book: The Violets of March.
502. Being able to help a friend out by babysitting. I was thankful to return the favor when she’s babysat so many times for me!
503. Corn maze fun!
504. Insightful conversation and discussion of the book of James in our small group through church.
505. Catching up with Lib and Isabel.
506. A shopping trip with my mom and Sophia. New clothes for Sophia bought by my mom. Hitting a huge sale at Gymboree.
507. Helping my mom get what she needed at Ikea.
508. Josh accomplishing more work on our basement: the project of the winter!
509. A sermon reminder to store up treasure in heaven, not just earth. Also, reminded that wealth can make us blind to the needs of others. This thought was reinforced by this post at A Holy Experience and this quote: “That is the insidious danger of wealth . . . makes you blind. Blind to the hungry Christ and the thirsty Christ and the suffering Christ in humanity. Affluence can anesthetize you to God and belongings can blind you to Christ and isn’t this why it’s hard for the rich to enter heaven – blind and visionless to Christ?“
510. My sister being willing to babysit so we could have an enjoyable meal at a restaurant in honor of Josh’s grandmother’s 80th birthday. Sadly, though, I got food poisoning from the meal. 
511. Sophia’s love of books and wanting to crawl into my lap, book in hand for me to read.
512. My final photography sessions of the year: a mini session and a senior session.
513. Sandbox playtime.
514. Dentists and good insurance to keep our teeth clean.
515. Yerba Mate “lattes” to sooth my sore throat.
516. Meatballs in the freezer for another meal.
517. Feeding ducks with the kids and a trip to the park.
518. Naps to fight colds.
519. A hilarious “new to me” show I’ve been enjoying on Hulu called Doc. Martin. It’s nice to have something “on call” for when I want to knit.
520. Grace for patience through Sophia’s screaming and crying several evenings in a row this week (I think due to her oncoming cold).
521. Freshly made granola.
522. Clean floors and sheets on the bed.
523. Homemade Tomato soup with grilled cheese on a Friday night after a long week.
524. Kids playing in leaf piles.
525. That Jesus resisted temptation perfectly when I don’t. Not only is He an example for me to resist temptation, but also did so perfectly in my place. He lived His live for me, doing what I couldn’t and can’t do. So thankful to be freshly reminded of this through my study using this book.
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This Moment
Joining Soule Mama for a {This Moment} post: A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
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Trick or Treat
Hope everyone enjoyed their treats . . .
We sure did!
