Let's Try It....

For January's family dinner the theme was Emergency Preparedness. We all agreed that whatever we made would use emergency preparedness tools, or have ingredients from our storage in it. The guys used their dutch ovens to make dinner, which was amazing, and the women successfully used storage items to make wonderful contributions. For example, Jenna used her wheat grinder to make wonderful bread. For me, one of the lessons learned was that food can take on a metallic taste if stored in #10 cans for 15 years. I'm sure in a true emergency that would be no big deal, but I need to rotate better. I threw out some stuff I should have used sooner. I also made a great cake, but used frosting in a plastic container that tasted like plastic. I scraped it off and made homemade from powdered sugar I had in storage. But that was the point!! We used it, we learned, and we had a great time. I got our candles and lanterns, and bit by bit over the course of dinner I turned off all the lights, until we were eating by candlelight. It was great fun, and the kids thought it was very adventurous. Chris decided we weren't heating water on the campstoves for clean up, though, not with dutch ovens and dinner for 20 people to clean up. (I didn't argue!) In an emergency, like camping, it seems like you just work on food for a majority of your day, either preparing it or cleaning it up. Everyone took home a little green lantern as a reminder that we want to stay focused on our goal to be prepared.

When the kids were little and depended on me for their welfare I remember the weight of that responsibility. It was sobering to know if they were hungry or cold they would look to me with those innocent faces and trust me to make it better. I want us all to work hard to be prepared to the best of our abilities. Heavenly Father will bless our efforts as we concentrate on that goal. When we get nervous and scared about the condition of the time, turn that energy into a positive action. We've been promised if we are prepared we shall not fear. Love ya!

...Warm Woolen Mittens....

I delight in those first moments when the silence is blasted away by the first "ding-dong" of the doorbell. That's Lucas and Jacey, or possibly Ethan. Depending on who arrives first, I'm going to hear these things within the first few seconds; "Where's Grandpa?" (Jacey again), "Where's Jacey?" (That's Ethan) "When are we going to eat?" (David) "Can I watch Brotha Bear?" (Lucas) "Can I get out the Legos?" (Asa) Then I usually say something like, "I'm not tellin' till I get a hug". I get my obligatory squeeze and they're off...

..."Brown Paper Packages Wrapped Up With String..."

I am amazed at how fast time goes, and how long it's been since I downloaded pictures. I will catch up little by little, but I just have to pick one or two favorites from the wonderful holiday season so recently past. It may seem like forever ago, but Christmas was actually just less than a month ago. Given that, you'll forgive me for going back even a bit more?
Thanksgiving didn't disappoint. It was full of wonderful smells, tastes, laughter, and always, always, there is love at home.
Christmas was really fun, too. Emily made our pinata again, which was a dandy! (I have picture uploading challenges, so forgive the separation of events into different posts.)
Oh, of course; she took my toy, and I was playing with that, he broke what I made, and she is hiding Legos, and I can't believe you did that, and that hurt my feelings-- but the really amazing part is how any mother can correct any child, any mother will cheer on any child, and that child can go to that mother for help, and any mother will do when you need a drink, or a hand up, or a story read. Any mother will share a bite, and any mother will kiss your boo-boo. Any mother will listen to your plight and try to make things better. It's remarkable, and yup, it's getting noiser, more crowded, ---- and more fun all the time.

What IF?

"What would happen if it snowed and snowed and we had to stay here together?"
"Oh, honey, that would never happen."
"But what if it did?"
"We really don't get that kind of snow around here"
"But what if it did?"
"Well, we'd probably get sent home early if it looked like it was going to snow that hard."
"But what if we WANTED to stay here?"

Chrismas Mistake

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations-extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend in the evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several parents quietly scampering to their places. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor,. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas", I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. When my son's class rose to sing "Christmas Love", I was slightly taken aback with its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and brightly colored snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing, "'C' is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then "'H' is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas is Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet girl in the front row was holding the letter "M" upside down. She was totally unaware that her letter "M" appeared as a "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood; the reason why we were there, why we celebrate the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"CHRISTWAS LOVE"

And, I believe, He still is.

Hooray!

Conversation overheard by two second graders:

"Do you want a birthday cupcake?"
"I can only have it if it's gluten free."
"Well then, you can! It doesn't cost anything!!"