Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Recipe

I got the following recipe many years ago from a woman who loves Jesus very much and is also a wonderful homemaker. The kids and I make one or two batches of this bread every year before Thanksgiving to pass out to neighbors and friends. I usually buy the disposable bread pans. I have the kids adhere the saying and some fall stickers to the outside of brown paper lunch bags, then we slip the loaf pans into the bags for giving away.

THANKSGIVING BREAD RECIPE

• 6 C. sifted flour
• 6 tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 ½ tsp. nutmeg
• 2 C. candied cherries, cut in half
• 3 C. cooked pumpkin (if canned, add 3 T. Water)
• 3 C. sugar
• 1½ C. milk
• 6 eggs
• ¾ c. butter, softened
• 2 C. coarsely chopped nuts
• 1 C. golden raisins

In large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, milk and eggs and beat well. Set aside.

In another large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir well to blend. Stir mixture into pumpkin mixture until just moistened. Gently stir softened butter into mixture. Fold in candied cherries, chopped nuts and golden raisins.

Pour batter into 12 3”x6” greased and floured bread pans. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (May use 4-6 4”x8” pans and bake 55 minutes to 1 hr.)

THANKSGIVING BREAD

The ingredients in this bread represent the blessings in our lives. The candied cherries are all the good things in life for which we are readily thankful. The golden raisins are the hard-to-see everyday blessings that we take for granted and forget to be thankful for. The nuts are life’s trials that are tough to get through, but reveal their good in the end.

Thanksgiving Traditions

Our family has tried to implement traditions that make us pause and appreciate Thanksgiving rather than rush through it in anticipation of the countdown to Christmas. We don't seem to pause for long, as everything seems to get rushed in our family, but we do try.

We got the Thanksliving Treasures box at the Bible bookstore a few years ago. The box includes a devotional booklet, postcards of pilgrim art and small objects (such as an itty bitty Bible) to teach kids about the Christian heritage of our nation. We usually pack all of the devotions into a couple of nights because we never seem to be organized enough to do one devotion every night the week before Thanksgiving. I really like the kit because it's so visual and I think the kids are able to understand things better when they can actually see them.

The last few years, we've had a Mayflower Dinner one night during the week of Thanksgiving. We got this idea a few years ago from one of my favorite homeschool companies. We all crowd into the coldest, darkest area of the house and eat dried beef and hard tack while we listen to an ocean sounds CD. We pretend we're on the Mayflower as we read from the book Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret B. Pumphrey . Then we head to the kitchen and eat chowder by candlelight. The kids love it and reinacting (albeit on a very comfortable level) the harsh conditions the pilgrims faced helps the kids grasp the concepts better. The pilgrims gave up all worldly comforts so they could raise their children to God's glory. Every year at this time I ask myself if I'd be willing to do the same (I do love my worldly comforts). If you want more details about the Mayflower Dinner, click here.

Tonight we'll celebrate this year's Mayflower Dinner. We'll be eating turkey soup instead of chowder,though, as I cooked a turkey on Sunday and made broth from the carcass yesterday. We're also planning on watching a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on t.v. tonight. We'll snuggle up together in the family room and watch the Peanuts gang eat popcorn and toast, just like they do every year. Ahh . . . tradition.

Ready for Work

Last weekend all the kids were outside raking leaves. Joel wanted to join them, so I said, "You need to have a hat and shoes and clothes on first." I got busy doing something else and a few minutes later Joel appeared wearing a big straw hat from the dress up box and his brother's summer slip-on shoes. He must have thought his feet p-jers just needed a few extra accessories to make them "cold weather worthy."

Old Fashioned

My two younger siblings use text messaging as their main form of communication. I don't get it. What's wrong with the tried and true phone call, a face-to-face conversation or even the more technologically savvy e-mail? I don't consider myself to be old fashioned because I don't text (or even know how to text) people.

It's never bothered me that a few years ago my own husband grew a Blackberry appendage. I just chalked it up to one of those "computer engineer things" and I didn't consider myself to be old fashioned because I didn't grow the appendage, too. However, last week when I was scheduling another appointment for Jude at the pediatrician's office, the receptionist asked me if I wanted a reminder card. "Yes, I do," I said. "That's how I remember to write the date on my calendar at home."

"Well," she said, "I always ask because a lot of the moms are using Blackberries these days."

Truth be told, I've been quite content in my old fashioned-ness, although it's become more glaringly obvious, even in my own home that I am, in fact, old fashioned. Yes, that's right, Joel (thanks to my Uncle Keith) is now an iPhone expert. He knows how to look at the pictures by sweeping his finger across the screen and he LOVES to hold the phone up to his ear and listen to music. Is it bad that a twenty one-month-old boy knows more about iPhones than his thirty seven-year-old mother? No, Joel has just inherited the "engineer gene" from his father. At least that's what I'll keep telling myself.

Diaper Blues

Samaritan's Purse

We fulfilled our annual tradition of packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child yesterday. I seriously considered not doing it this year. Taking six kids to the dollar store seemed like more effort than I could muster, but we made the effort and I'm really glad we did.

As we drove to the dollar store, I told the kids that they would each be allowed to pick out one thing for themselves AFTER we had gotten what we needed for the shoe boxes, including the shoe boxes themselves. We've been buying the plastic shoe boxes the past couple of years. I attended a meeting a few years back in which a woman who had delivered shoe boxes for Samaritan's purse in South America said that the kids would hold onto the cardboard boxes until they were in tatters. She suggested using the plastic boxes, so we've been doing that ever since.

All things considered, things went pretty well at the store and we came home, ate our lunch and packed the boxes. I'd been trying to explain to the kids about how many children around the world don't even have one toy of their own. This is a foreign concept to them and I could tell they just didn't get it. Then I went to the Samaritan's purse website to print out the labels for the boxes. I found this video and the kids and I watched it. Seeing children receiving their boxes had a greater impact on my kids than all the words they had heard all morning.

We delivered the boxes to the drop-off sight after quiet time. On the way there we prayed for the children that would receive our boxes. Even though the project took us all day to accomplish, it was worth it. Trying to keep the attitude of "it's better to give than to receive" over the next month will be the challenge.

Anyway, boxes can be put together fairly inexpensively. I usually buy hats and mittens on clearance after Christmas for the following year. I also buy markers and crayons when they are really cheap at the back to school sales. As the woman who is the area coordinator for the project here said, "They may be little items or toys that wouldn't be exciting to kids in the U.S., but for these kids they can be life changing." This year, boxes will be accepted until November 24.

Excuse My French

Tonight as Grace ended her number on the piano, Paul said, "Entree! Entree!"

"It's 'ENCORE!'" was her exasperated reply.

Fireproof

Matt's parents watched the kids yesterday so that Matt and I could go see the movie Fireproof. We strongly recommend this movie to everyone, whether you're single or married (no matter how long you've been married, whether your marriage is difficult or good). The movie was well done (not too corny), the message was excellent and we both left with a better understanding of what real love is.

Freedom

I've been reading the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations in the mornings. The nation of Israel was enjoying herself to the point where she forgot who her God was. The people were worshipping false gods and were being unfaithful to the God who created and sustained her. God said, "But My people have changed their glory for what does not profit." (Jer. 2:11b)

I couldn't help but notice the similarities between our own nation and the nation of Israel. We've all desired to fill ourselves to the brim with toys and entertainments. Now the party is coming to an end. As one financial analyst put it, "America's long national shopping spree is over." With the economy being such that it is, we're now looking to the government (instead of God) to bail us out. I fear that mentality will become even more prevalent in the coming months and years.

Each morning as I read more of Jeremiah and Lamentations, my heart grieves for our nation and how we have forsaken the God who so graciously brought this nation into being.

The other night, our family attended an Army band concert. As the color guard presented the American flag, the audience sang our national anthem. As we sang I thanked God for the fact that we were able to assemble there freely. I thanked Him that I was still able to attend Bible study without fear of reprisal and that I can still open my Bible in my home and teach my children His statutes. The concert ended with the song, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. We do still live in the greatest nation on earth, but our true freedom and hope is in Jesus Christ, not our government.

"But according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5b-7)

Deals

Every one who knows me well knows that one of my biggest thrills in life is finding a good deal. I love yard sales, thrift stores, clearance racks and Craig's list. Next to actually finding a good deal, telling someone else about it is almost as thrilling. So here goes, my two most recent deals:

1. Dishes. After fifteen years of use, my dishes are looking worse for the wear with chips and markings from silverware. I've always loved my all white dishes and I still do. I think they set a nice table. They can be dressed up or down, color choices for table linens are unlimited and they show off the food well. I told Matt that I wanted new plates and bowls in my pattern for Christmas, but then--I found them-- a (nearly) full set of Mikasa French Countryside dishes. The woman who was selling them had gotten new dishes and was selling her old set, including the butter dish, salt and peppers, platter, vegetable bowls, gravy boat and cocoa mugs. I got all of them for a fraction of what it would have cost to replace just the plates and bowls in my own set. And since they're all white, I can mix them with what I already have. I'm tickled.

2. Dollhouse. In September I saw a dollhouse at a local store that I really wanted to get for Lydia for Christmas. Matt saw the price and said, "No way." I started looking at the thrift stores (too well loved) and on Craig's list (still more than I wanted to spend). The other night I went to the local store to get some things I needed. I saw the dollhouse again. It was sitting on a cart by the registers. I asked if it was the last one. The gal at the register said it was. Since it was the display model, it had all the furniture screwed down. I asked the manager if he would sell it to me for half price as once all the furniture was removed, there would be a bunch of holes in the floors. He agreed! This store never discounts anything. I thought I'd scored the big one. However, the next day, the inventory manager called me and told me I needed to bring the dollhouse back to the store because she was not allowed to sell it. It had to go back to the vendor, she said. She told me she had one more new dollhouse partially assembled in the back and I could have it. I said, "But I got the one I have for half off and I don't want to pay full price for a new one." She said, "Wow, you got a good deal, but I need the one you have back. I'll talk to a manager and we'll just exchange the display dollhouse for the new dollhouse straight across." I took the dollhouse back to the store and got the other one. It was fully assembled (saving Matt the hassle) and the furniture was not screwed to the floors! Woo hoo! The big girls helped me unload it when I got home. We're all convinced that Lydia will LOVE it (shhh--don't spoil the surprise!).

Table Blessing

In the past year, Matt and I have been learning more and more about the biblical command of hospitality. As believers, we are to open our homes to others. The home is a wonderful place to minister and evangelize. It's been the desire of our hearts to practice hospitality more, even though we sometimes feel we can't possibly squeeze one more thing into our busy schedules.

As a manifestation of extending hospitality, it became obvious to both Matt and myself that we needed a bigger dining room table. Our dining room table has served us well the past fifteen years. We've had countless dinners around it and it's been a good table for us. However, now that our family is growing, we no longer have room for more than one or two extra people at our table.

When we moved into this house, Matt and I began to pray for a table. We came up with a list of qualifications that our new table must have. First and foremost, Matt decided it must have the capability of stretching to ten feet in length. I wanted a double pedestal style table so that we wouldn't have to worry about people legs getting tangled up in table legs. We also decided that the chairs should not be upholstered, as this would be a more practical choice with children.

Well, after months of scouring Craig's list, looking at what local stores had to offer and even considering having a table custom made, we finally found it! It was on Craig's list, a table with the qualifications described above and it came with eight (instead of six) chairs! We hemmed and hawed and prayed for about it for three weeks before we finally decided to buy it. Matt was afraid I would grow tired of the lighter oak wood and that I'd regret the purchase. However,when we finally went to see it in person, we were convinced it was the table for us and we brought it home.

We enjoyed our first meal around the table with our friends Brian and Julie on October 31, Reformation Day. Since then, we've celebrated our niece Raphaella's birthday and had my family down for a pre-concert dinner. My mother-in-law even gave me me my Christmas present early--a 140 inch long table cloth--so that I will be able to use it during the holidays.

A year ago, it seemed like such a greedy thing to me to pray for a bigger table. However, when our family attended a homeschool conference this past spring, the keynote speaker expressed how he and his family had prayed for a bigger table for their family. He told us that the Lord answered their prayer. My heart leaped when I heard him relate this to us. When the Lord plants a desire in our hearts, it's always a good desire. At that time, we didn't even have a dining room big enough to accommodate a ten foot long table, but my God isn't limited by such small things.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:16-18

Raising Boys

Raising boys is much different from raising girls. In some areas, they can be exact opposites. For instance, I've had to train all of my girls not to run through more clothes than necessary, as it generates too much laundry. I have the opposite problem with the boys. Case in point: Tonight Matt asked Paul when he last changed his underwear. "Last week," was Paul's reply. (After Matt and I questioned Paul a bit more, we discovered he'd "only been wearing his 'Dash' underwear since Sunday." :) In my defense, I've spent the week nursing six sick kids and now a sick husband and shouldering most of the housekeeping duties by myself. I'm usually more vigilant in the underwear department. In the meantime, I'm sure Paul has thoroughly enjoyed his reprieve from constant underwear harassment.)

Sibling Love

Today Joel and Lydia were both loving on Jude. "How sweet," I thought to myself. Then Lydia tried to kiss Jude's head at the same time Joel was trying to kiss his head. As Joel's lips made contact, Lydia leaned in to deliver her smooch and just before she hit her target Joel reached up and popped her a good one right on the nose. Sibling love and sibling rivalry exhibited within a two second time frame. We're getting more efficient around here.

Return of the Bugs

Our house has been slammed hard with a second wave of the sickies. So far, we've caught every bug I've heard is "going around" this Fall. This past weekend Paul, Grace and myself all had the stomach bug. Then Grace and Paul came down with a throw down version of a cold--it's nasty. Monday night, Matt and I basically lined up most of the kids before bed and gave them Advil or Tylenol as they were running temperatures. Thankfully, Jude has not had any fever, but he has been a tiny bit congested and his ear infection has recurred. Matt and I are still standing, but with our constant sleep deprivation, our resistance is definitely down.

In the meantime, Lydia has regained her ability to speak and she's making up for lost time. She talks so much that, honestly, a lot of the time my brain just doesn't even process what's she's saying. She has said some funny things the last few days, though.

Today Lydia and I went to BSF together. When we got home, I noticed she had a hole in the knee of her overalls. I asked her how it happened. She said, "Mommy, my knee is just getting bigger."

Lately when I tell Lydia to do something (and she's in a compliant mood) she'll pull a Peppermint Patty (from "Peanuts" fame) on me. For instance, Lydia wanted to help me make dinner. I told her to pour the can of green beans into the pot. She responded with, "Yes, sir." Or, "Lydia, if you want to go to the store with me, you'll have to get your shoes on." "Yes, sir!"

Lydia had a picture of George Washington that she wanted me to i.d. for her.
"Who is this, mommy?" she asked.
"That's George Washington, the first president of our nation."
"Is he dead?"
"Yes, he is."
"Did he die on the cross for our sins like Jesus?"

Well, obviously that needed a bit of clarification. Yes, Lydia has her voice back and it's fitting that I end this post with her own words. "Mommy, I can talk really loud again!"

Reformation Day

Last night we celebrated Reformation Day. Our friends Brian and Julie and their three kids came over. We ate dinner together, then proceeded to a fun-filled evening of games designed to teach the kids about the Reformation. This year we learned about John Calvin and how the Lord worked through him to spread the light of the Gospel. Even though we concentrated on Calvin this year, we just couldn't leave out our two favorite games. It just wouldn't be a Reformation party without the pinning of the Ninety Five Thesis to the church door and the throwing of coins into the chest to pay for indulgences. Martin Luther would have been proud.

Rites of Fall

We made our twelfth annual trek to the pumpkin patch on Thursday. One great grandma, one grandma, two aunts and fourteen of the fifteen cousins were in attendance. The outing included a hayride, hay bale maze, cookies and juice and a clear-cut trail through the corn patch. The Lord provided us with a beautiful, crisp, sunny autumn day--what more could we have asked for?