CHRISTmas Traditions: keeping Christ at the center

Germany has long been on the forefront when it comes to Christmas traditions. From composing Silent Night ("Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht") for the guitar, to the Advent Wreath, these ancestors of mine seemed to be very good at celebrating. I know that my mother never passed up an opportunity and that lead to quite a colorful childhood. This post is written in an effort to share some of our personal Christmas Traditions with you.

Of course any discussion of Christmas begs the introduction of the preceding season of Advent. Without the waiting, the culminating event would be less sweet! In a previous post - I touched on the fact that Advent and Christmas are two separate, yet linked, Seasons in the Church Calendar. It is a season of penance, preparation, prayer and hope, sharing the liturgical color of purple with Lent. As we spend the days between the four Sundays of Advent it is with an air of anticipation for the Coming of Jesus, in the humble form of a human child. As such there are many outward practices that we can utilize to bring home the true purpose of the Season. As our priest pronounced during his homily on the first Sunday of Advent,

‘The world will tell you it’s Christmas.

It’s.

Not.

Christmas!

What to do then, with our children or ourselves, as the rest of the world puts the cart before the horse and forgets the sweetness of anticipation so uncommon in our instant world of today?

ADVENT Traditions

Advent Wreath craft

The Advent Wreath is one of the oldest means of tangibly illustrating the waiting aspect of this period before Christmas. Our family crafts an Advent Wreath with the children on the days leading up to the season. It may be made of greenery gathered in the Kentucky landscape or an arts and crafts project such as the one I shared in a previous post - ADVENTuresome Family Fun. As Thanksgiving comes to a close and the tinsel and lights begin to beckon, we use this circle of green as reminder that we are counting down to something B I G! Our Advent Wreath remains on the kitchen table and we light the appropriate number of candles, during meal time, as the days progress. We also add a new line to our customary blessing said before meals.

Bless us oh Lord, for these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

Come, Jesus, Come!

Another tradition we observe, which like so many began in Germany, involves an Advent Calendar. Having begun as chalk lines in the door way marking the days leading up to Christmas, it soon evolved into a paper or cardboard calendar with small images behind each numbered door. As this idea evolved, soon the pictures were replaced by small pieces of chocolate. This sweet tradition is a favorite with children as they open the tiny doors of their appropriately numbered calendar and delight in a tidbit of chocolate for each day. The opening of the doors has a visual connotation that is easy for our little ones to comprehend.

Advent Tree

Some families also create a Jesse Tree with biblical references for Advent. Our family has taken a different tack. We have an Advent Tree (three-year-old Simon calls it the 'Waiting Tree') that is placed on a pedestal table in the living room. It stands no more than two feet high and has fiber optic lighting. Several years ago, our daughter, Erika, purchased an Advent Calendar that holds tiny books for each day of Advent. Entitled 'The Story of Christmas', each book is numbered and shares one fact or scriptural reference to the coming of Christmas. Since these tiny books hang from golden threads, we hang each one  on the Advent Tree after it has been read. As Christmas draws nearer, the children gain a bit of knowledge leading up to the final, largest book which represents Christmas Eve and the birth of Jesus.

The Christmas tree in our house waits for a time closer to Christmas but we do have some winter type of display to fulfill the desire for a bit of special decorating. This is certainly not a drab time for us but a time of metered joy and anticipation. We call this decorative endeavor ‘pre-tree’ and it’s just that. The décor is in the style of winter, with boughs of greenery and pinecone candles holders. There is certainly an air of anticipation but it reserves the arrival of Christmas for the actual day.

St. Nicholas Ctr.

No German would omit the great bishop, St. Nicholas, when preparing the way for Christmas. This great saint was the predecessor of today’s Santa Claus (St. Nick). While his Feastday is celebrated on December 6^th, the traditional observance begins the evening before on the 5^th. The children place their shoes under their beds, hoping that St. Nicholas will fill them with gelt (chocolate coins), tangerines and other small treats. Those who have been naughty, however, fear that their shoes will hold a lump of coal the next morning! There are many ways that St. Nicholas can be incorporated into the tales of Santa Claus so as to instruct children in a more spiritual way. The story of how he gave away all of his worldly possessions, so that he could give to alms to the poor, can inspire children to be givers rather than focusing on receiving.

Real candles on the tree!

IT’s ALMOST CHRISTmas

Now we are nearing the culmination of all of that anticipation and preparation. Christmas is fast approaching and time is short. We tend to follow the decorating timetable that our parish church does. Our Christmas tree, itself, is reserved for the weekend before Christmas Eve. At that time we put up the tree – sometimes a live tree that is planted in our garden later and sometimes an artificial one. As the handful of remaining days dwindle we first place the tree, then the lights, and finally (right before Christmas Eve) we do the actual trimming of the tree. Again, my German heritage comes into play, so we add not only strings of tiny glowing white lights, we also add acorn-shaped brass candle holders and small white candles.

Joyful Promise

The décor is a combination of spiritual ornaments and ornaments depicting nature. We have various types of angels, glimmering snowflakes, and my treasured collection of Roman Millennium ornaments, portraying the Blessed Mother and her Holy Infant. Our Nativity scene also makes its appearance during these last days of Advent – minus the figure of the infant Jesus.

CHRISTmas EVE

It’s ‘Showtime’!

So now it’s Christmas!!! The fourth candle has been lit on the Advent Wreath and it’s time for the Christ Candle. The tree is glowing and twinkling with both tiny bulbs and flickering candle light. The manger scene is in its place of honor, high up on the mantle and the classical Christmas music is streaming from the sound system. The traditional food has been prepared – including German Potato Salad (handed down for generations), Stewed Beef over Swiss and Mushroom Rice, Spritzgebaeck cookies and Butter Cream Cake. It is now that my husband and I begin to see a trail of car lights from the kitchen window as we make our last minute preparations in a flurry of cooperative activity. And here they come! My siblings and their children, Rick’s father and brother, our children and spouses and their children, plus anyone else who just so happens to show up that year!

Our first order of business is a brief period of gathering and greeting. As everyone settles in, the ‘program’ or ‘liturgy’ as one priest friend calls it, begins.

• Readings: years ago our dearly departed mother put together a set of readings for this occasion. She wrote the names of those who would participate in the margins and we still use scanned copies of these pages to this day. They are spiritual, in nature, and invite us to focus on the Reason for the Season. As we find our places on sofas, chairs and the floor, we face each other and begin. Turns are taken until the final word has been shared. As children become older, they join in the reading and others step aside.
• Nativity: One of the children now places the infant Jesus into the manger as we acknowledge that He for Whom we have been waiting is here.
• Songs: we have several musicians in the family so there have been guitars and flutes in the mix. There are also some pretty decent vocalists, so there are booklets of songs passed around and we sing! The songs are traditional and spiritual in nature and the children join in with enthusiasm. Every year the final number is Silent Night and we always dedicate one verse, in German, to Marie-Luise Annerose Susanne Fingerhut, my sweet, feisty German mother, who instituted this entire celebration and founded this family. And what a bunch we are!

Spritzgebaeck

• Meal: now is the time for feasting! We begin by praying together and then dig in. There is plenty of food and the menu varies little from year to year. Some dishes are traditionally German and yet there have been American additions. These all meld into one delightful party for your tastebuds.
• Gifting: Time for the children to each open one gift. On Thanksgiving, we hold a drawing, and each child is assigned a recipient for their gift. The monetary value is not excessive and the thought behind the gift is sincere. As the children open their gifts they not only delight in their own, but also those gifts that they have given. The children now settle in to play in community with the offerings brought forth by those brightly wrapped treasures from under the tree.
• Silly Santa: years ago, we decided to minimize the gift giving for Christmas. In fact, Rick and I no longer exchange gifts at all. At first we  adults drew names – like the children do. Now, we have decided to each buy one small item (something we wouldn't mind taking back home - so no trickery!), wrap it and play a game of Silly Santa (aka ‘dirty’ Santa). The sparing and tactical schemes keep us all entertained for a while and then we just settle down to visit, graze at the food buffet, or simply observe the dynamics at play. With 10+ children, most under the age of 7, and many adults, there’s never a dull moment!
• ‘Midnight’ Mass: This Christmas Vigil Mass used to be held at Midnight but sadly, with an aging priest and mission status, our parish now celebrates at ten p.m. most years. Much of the family will bundle up and join us at our small, rural parish for the Holy Mass of Christmas Vigil. Husband, Rick, and I along with daughter, Erika, and her husband, Andrew, make up the choir under the direction of our devoted choir director/organist who we share with a parish 20 miles away. We still sing up in the choir loft at our parish and so, many family members join us in our private setting with a birds-eye view.

As the last Hosanna is sung and we wind our sleepy way back home, we share an inner glow.

This family KNOWS that it is Christmas.

We can FEEL it down in our hearts and souls.

This is a SPECIAL day when our Lord Jesus Christ came to us in a humble stable to bring to us not only salvation but His BODY and BLOOD to share! There is no empty let down feeling. No sad little tree set by the curb on the 26^th. Instead, the feeling is one of fulfillment. We have lived the seasons and have shared in both the waiting and in the humble, yet triumphant Coming!

But WAIT! 

There's more! As the season of Christmas continues, our tree and manger remain. Again, we follow the Church Calendar. Christmas has just begun! The Christmas Season will continue through the feast of Epiphany which celebrates the extension of salvation to the Gentiles by the visit of the Three Wise Men. In this feast, all peoples are made aware of His coming and invited to claim Him as their King! Epihany traditionally falls on the 12^th day after Christmas (January 6^th) but has been transferred to a Sunday (in the U.S.) and will be celebrated on Sunday, January 8, 2012. As the final feast in the series of Christmas celebrations,  The Baptism of Our Lord signals the end of the Christmas season.

In observing the entire Season rather than just one day, we find the full story:  1) Christmas - the birth of our Savior as a humble infant. On this day He becomes human! 2) Epiphany - His manifestation as our King through the visit of the Wise Men who proclaim Him to all peoples and  3) His baptism - Almighty God's exhortation of his perfect yet fully human Son, on the day Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist! What a rich treasury our Church provides! There are so many reasons to celebrate and so many wonderful traditions to be shared.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

CHRISTmas Traditions: keeping Jesus at the center 

is also being shared at 

Catholic Sistas

ADVENTuresome Family Fun

Advent – Latin ad venio, “to come” — is the liturgical season anticipating the Adventus Domini, the “coming of the Lord” – Christmas!

Shorter, colder days and brightly packaged goodies are beginning to make their appearance. In this society of ‘instant’, we have the world at our fingertips…this world, that is. Things of the Eternal, however, are worthy of a longer wait and they invite our undivided attention. The season of Advent is such a time – a time of waiting and a time of longing. Contrary to our secular world, the Kingdom of God keeps time in its own way. In the Church, Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year…

so Happy New Year!

As Catholic Christians we are called to remember that the Word became Flesh, dwelling among us and the season of Advent is the precursor of this event. Many do not realize that Advent is a season of penance and of hoping for our Savior to come. It is a time of preparation, of prayer, and of meditation. As we bake cookies, create crafts, decorate, and ponder gift-giving, we are reminded of the importance of the Reason for this Season.

One of the ways at our disposal to ‘track’ the Advent season is to display an Advent wreath in our homes. This material reminder helps to warm our spirits as we anticipate the greatest gift ever given to the human race – Jesus, son of the Father, became human and therefore our Brother! As we light one candle per week, we can learn about Jesus – Who He was, is, and will always be for us! While we count down the days we can seek to imitate Him in his Gift of giving and love for all mankind.

Advent consists of four Sundays, each marked by the lighting of one candle on an Advent wreath. The penitent color, purple, is the liturgical color of this season – the same liturgical color used during Lent. The optional exception to this is the third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday – when rose/pink may be used to signify the resurgence of hope that we are feeling as Christmas approaches. As in Lent, we are also reminded to remember the poor, our prayer life, and sacrifice.

Marian and pro-life themes also come to mind during the Advent Season in a very special way. As a mother, Mary spiritually joins us in awaiting a much anticipated birth – even during difficult circumstances. She becomes our model of holy waiting for the culmination of her ‘yes’ to God through His birth. Her example of grace and purity help us model our lives after hers. During the season of Advent the special Feast of the Immaculate Conception occurs on December 8th and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas is observed on December 12.

Here, then, is a project for you and your family to enjoy together as you count down the days, as we await the coming of Jesus!


MATERIALS:

• 1 – 10″ paper plate (you can also use the 8-1/2″ size) 
• 4 – empty toilet paper rolls 
• 1 – sheet purple construction paper 
• 1 – sheet pink construction paper 
• 3 – sheets holiday green construction paper 
• 2 – sheets lighter green paper (construction or copy paper will suffice) 
• 4 – glitter pipe cleaners 
• 4 – mini muffin papers 
• 4 – tea lights (if necessary, these can be replaced as needed) 

TOOLS:

• hot glue gun and glue 
• green poster paint 
• paint brush 
• ruler 
• pen or pencil 
• stapler 

OPTIONAL:

• purple markers 
• glitter glue 
• red and/or green beads 

DIRECTIONS:

• Trace children’s (and parents’ if desired) hands on both shades of green paper and cut out. You will wind up with approximately 20 – 25 paper hand tracings. These will become the boughs of your wreath.

• Cut 1 pink and 3 purple pieces of paper measuring 4-1/8″ x 5-3/4″. These will cover your ‘candles’. 

• Paint the back of your paper plate with green paint and allow to dry. 

• Cut a circle the size of a small to medium glass out of the center of the paper plate. This gives your wreath its shape.

• Decorate the hands (boughs) with glitter glue, if desired. 

• Decorate purple and pink candle covers with magic marker or glitter glue if desired.

• Staple green hands (boughs) onto the paper plate, in a circular pattern, making sure to cover the preceding staples until entire wreath is covered. 

• Glue purple and pink paper to empty toilet paper rolls.

• Using hot glue, attach mini muffin papers into ends of toilet paper roll candles.

• Using hot glue, attach ‘candles’ to wreath toward center of wreath. 

• While glue is still hot, encircle bottom of candle with glitter pipe cleaner.

• Do the same at the top of the candle to mask the joint of glue between the construction paper and muffin paper.

• Insert tea lights into muffin papers at top of candle.

• Using hot glue, attach green and red beads around ‘boughs’ of wreath for desired effect. 

                                    Happy Advent!

In the tradition of Advent, you can now light the appropriate number of candles for all of your family meals. The personal aspect of this craft tailors it to your family and helps the little ones remember that this is a time of longing for Christ – born as a babe on Christmas to become the Savior of the World! In the pride and ownership that they take in this project, you will be provided many opportunities for mealtime conversations, steering your family into the proper frame of mind for this penitent season that culminates in Christmas joy!

+ + +

I’d like to thank my little helpers for their assistance during this production: Lucas – 22 months, Rachel – 2, Sarah – 3, Simon – 3, Corbin – 5, Abby – 5, and Evan 7…Nana loves you!

ADVENTuresome Family Fun
is also featured on
Catholic Sistas,
5 Days of Christmas - Catholic Icing !,
and
Training Happy Hearts

Greetings Friends!

It's not that I've defected, it's that I'm writing for another blog as well now. We are a group of 40+ Catholic women who share our musings and lives with each other and our readers. Clarification, you certainly don't have to be Catholic to read or relate to our posts!

Catch me over at the Catholic Sistas and read my latest post!


When every day is Groundhog Day...

It’s Groundhog Day!

That’s how I feel upon arising from my slumber –  where I can fly by simply bouncing, visit with dearly departed loved ones and solve any crisis with the greatest of ease. But when my feet hit the floor I am brought back to reality and sometimes there doesn’t appear to be much to make me smile or to feel accomplished. But then, by rote, I begin the routine…

READ MORE

Don't PINK - help a victim!

October is a tough month for me! As a 6 year breast cancer survivor I am so saddened and frustrated by all of the well-intentioned people who are being used by organizations like Susan G Komen with all of their walk/run for the cure events.

FACT: Komen donates BIG $$ to Planned Parenthood, the nation's #1 abortion provider.

FACT: abortion increases your chance of breast cancer.

FACT: Planned Parenthood provides 0% of mammograms in this country.

FACT: Komen sues other cancer charities who try to use the word 'cure' and the color 'pink'.

Do this cancer survivor a favor - DON'T walk/run for the 'cure'...don't buy PINK. Donate to a real cancer patient and then you'll know your money is actually doing some good - instead of paying sky high salaries and funding abortion clinics!

Just think for a minute: pink blenders, pink yogurt, pink ribbons, pink shirts, pink pots, pink phones, pink EVERYTHING and what good does it do????? We are all AWARE of breast cancer. We all know that breasts fit into bras. We all know some people call them boobies - but really, just how helpful is that to ANYONE? It's really just designed to make people feel good and think that they are somehow involved in a SOLUTION.

Well, let me tell you - it's all smoke and mirrors. All of those big bucks don't affect the actual patients/victims. So if you want to feel good AND do good, go volunteer to drive a patient to chemo, clean their house, organize some meals for their family, watch their kids, pray for them, send them cards, or just give them a bit of cash for their medical expenses. You may not have a pink shirt to show for it but at least you will have really done something tangible.

Sermon over - God bless!
Birgit J

My daughter, breast cancer and pregnant - a survivor, not a victim:http://erikasmiraclejourney.blogspot.com/

A link you'll want to follow...

Greetings Friends!

If you have enjoyed my postings and ramblings but would like to read similar stories from a hand-picked bouquet of 40+ lovely ladies - available EVERY day, here's a tip: go check out Catholic Sistas - you won't be sorry!


I, myself, am a guest blogger there and posted a breast cancer survivor entry just yesterday about 'PINK betrayal', filled with breast cancer links and my own story of betrayal by the likes of Susan G Komen.

Last week I posted my own sensitive pro-life journey from my early years. This was the first time that I have publicly told this story. It's something that has only been whispered about until now. This piece is entitled When ''I'm Pro-life Except'' really happens.




Today's post was written by my daughter, Erika, who experienced breast cancer while pregnant. Her poignant story will remind people that you can have breast cancer while pregnant but both baby and mother can live!




Catholic Sistas certainly doesn't exclusively consist of posts about abortion and breast cancer - that's the theme for October because it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month AND Respect Life Month. The diversity in our writers makes a long list of topics readily available - all written from the perspective of Godly women who love their families, their faith, and all that encompasses daily living. We also offer the opportunity to have our posts delivered to your inbox - each day - so that you'll never have to miss another post. Won't you come check us out?


God Bless,

Birgit J

Taking Back the PINK - Breast Cancer and Pregnant

When we see that flurry of pink in the stores, and even on the football field, our overly commercialized brains have no trouble recognizing that it's October - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Beginning with Susan G Komen - an innocuous enough sounding cause - that pink ribbon has become a beacon of hope for the victims of this deadly disease - and those who love them.

But hold on! Is that really all there is to it?

You might be shocked to know that sometimes all things pink are not created equally. What would you say if I told you that there is a sordid bond between Susan G Komen and one of the causes of breast cancer?

Well, that's exactly what has been documented. You may or may not know that abortion has been proven to be a cause of breast cancer.  BTW, so is The Pill! So you might ask yourself - what does this have to do with Susan G Komen? We know that this is a breast cancer advocacy organization - created by the friend of a Breast Cancer victim. Right?

As Paul Harvey would say - "Here's the rest of the story"!

The wildly successful Susan G Komen organization has some very troubling associations. The most troubling is Planned Parenthood - the nation's #1 provider of abortion! 

Now hold on a minute! 

Why would an organization that advocates "racing for the cure" be in cahoots with an organization that performs the very procedure that causes breast cancer? Good question. While I don't know the answer to that, I can tell you that although claimed otherwise, Planned Parenthood does not have the equipment to do mammograms in even one of their facilities - nationwide! 

This brings me to Taking Back the Pink. There is a real need for the victims of breast cancer to have all of the support they can muster. As a seven year survivor myself, I can certainly attest to that. The disease is frightening and some of those fears remain even after years of 'survival' - you're always a 'victim' in some ways. With the cost of medical services rising almost daily there is also a huge need for funding for those who bravely battle breast cancer. Research has come a long way since the first three known generations of breast cancer victims in my family died - way too young - from this disease. Yet, again, money is needed - for research.  

So ask yourself - do you, in good conscience, 

wish to donate to an organization (SGK) that dances with the devil?

I'd hope that your answer would be an irrevocable 'NO'. Even the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops are taking a very public stand against donating to Komen. So what to do? You want to help, right? Well, I can point you in some morally acceptable directions.

Ethically Sound Breast Cancer Organizations:

• The Polycarp Research Institute (TPRI)
• Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
• National Breast Cancer Foundation

There is one more solidly moral way to lend a hand - support a breast cancer victim directly. This way you know that your generosity is not being betrayed. One such cause can be found here:

Erika's Miracle Journey - Breast Cancer and Pregnant

http://erikasmiraclejourney.blogspot.com/

Erika, a 28 year old wife and mother of a small son, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She was 20 weeks pregnant. While the local doctors told Erika that she would need to terminate her pregnancy there were other options out there. Contact was made with MD Anderson Cancer Center and Erika found out that they had been successfully treating pregnant cancer patients for 20+ years. And so her journey began - from Kentucky to Houston, TX.

You can read the details of her journey by following her blog above but here is a brief timeline of her inspirational story to date:

Erika M Vandiver - Medical Timeline

Laughter is great medicine as this
"Turkey Belly illustrates

• July 7, 2009    BRCA1 breast cancer at 20 weeks pregnant
• July 31, 2009  Chemo started
• Nov 26, 2009  Rachel born on Thanksgiving Day!
• Feb 19, 2010   Bilateral mastectomy
• Aug 31, 2010  Open oophorectomy 
• Oct 2, 2010     Emergency hysterectomy
• Dec 8, 2010 -  Started work again
• Feb 17, 2011   2nd stage reconstruction
• Oct 28, 2011   Reconstruction surgery to alleviate pain

Rachel, the Miracle Baby, wearing her 

matching cap made by Erika

This next (and hopefully final) surgery is the 'last ditch effort' to alleviate the excruciating pain that Erika is dealing with on a daily basis. This pain has been with her for almost two years - she describes it as being worse than recovery from chemo, childbirth and surgery. Her family needs much in the way of prayer as well as financial assistance. 

Since Erika is the sole financial provider of her family right now, the upcoming 8+ weeks that she will miss work will be devastating. Not to mention the ongoing medical costs as well as travel from Kentucky to Texas. 

After much brainstorming the idea of a Facebook page dedicated to Erika's Miracle was developed. Here we ask for support for this Poster Woman of Breast Cancer Awareness and Respect Life Month. Small donations, if multiplied by many can total up to some amazing sums. With an effort as simple as sharing this story (and her link) you can make a huge difference - whether or not you choose to donate yourself. Above all, though, we ask for your prayers for this brave young family as they give powerful witness to what it truly means to 'walk the talk'...pro-life at its finest!

God bless!

A Mother's Love - there's nothing like it!

+   +   +

NOTE: Unbelievable! If you need more proof that Komen is just in it for the money, just read this. Susan G Komen has been suing other Cancer Charities (including childhood cancers) for simply using the words 'for a cure' in their fundraising efforts - even if it's not for breast cancer. Komen needs to learn the definition of 'charity' and stop bullying other worthwhile causes...they are even addressing using pink...come on! PINK is a color and they can't own it!

.

SGK spends up to 1 MILLION dollars 

per year 

in legal fees to sue other charities!
.

So far, Komen has identified and filed legal trademark opposition against more thank a hundred of the Mom and Pop charities, including Kites for a Cure, Par for the Cure, Surfing for a Cure and Cupcakes for a Cure - and many of the organization are too small and underfunded to hold their ground.  SHAMEFUL!

+   +   +

Resources and Links:

• Erika's Miracle Journey - blog

• Erika's Miracle Journey Continues - Facebook

• Breast Cancer and Pregnant: Save Them Both - Facebook

• Respect Life While Supporting Breast Cancer - from ''Catholic Sistas'': An online journal of a group of over 40 women dedicated to sharing the Faith in an uplifting, inspiring and infectious manner.  

• Medical Groups Recognizing Links Between BC and Abortion

I will be adding more links as I run across them...

Good morning, Sunshine!

It's been our pleasure to have 3 year old Sarah spend the week with us while our son competes in the Augusta Iron Man 70.3. Since I enjoy creating fun things for my kids to eat, I decided that we would make 'sunshine toast' on her first morning here. It was a big hit and has therefore been requested each morning since. Here are the very simple specs:


Ingredients (per 1 serving):

Butter
1 egg
1 slice bread
Shredded cheese

Tools:

Skillet (I prefer cast iron)
Biscuit cutter (cookie cutter or cup)
Spatula
Fork



Procedure:

1.) Place about a pat of butter in skillet and melt.

2.) Cut out a hole in the center of the bread with biscuit cutter or small cup (get creative and use other shapes if you wish).

3.) Place bread into skillet and absorb some of the butter and then flip over.

4.) Place egg into hole and break up yolk with fork.

5.) Allow to cook until  bottom of bread looks toasted and then, using metal spatula, turn over.

6.) Sprinkle with a small amount of shredded cheese and allow to cook until center feels firm.

7.) After removing your 'sunshine toast' add a bit more butter to the skillet and place centers of bread into melted butter.

8.) Allow to toast and then remove.





Now you are ready to wow your pre-school crowd with your culinary skills! This will encourage even picky eaters to finish their breakfast (especially if they sprinkle their own cheese) and is easy to do. This one got me 'Top Chef' ranking ;-)

On Having a Large Family...


“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalms 127:3

Early in our 37 year marriage, my husband and I felt called to have a large family. We had our first son right before I graduated from college and his sister 3.5 years later. Then we hit a lull…I always joked that our next son was on back-order for quite some time. He came to us a full 8 years after his sister. Then our happy life hit a snag. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and then 18 months later with breast cancer. Since she was at least the third generation in her maternal family, it was surmised that she carried a gene for this ominous disease. My diagnosis at 48, and subsequent genetic testing, would give proof to that, years later. This occurrence directly affected my fertility when, at 32 years old, genetic counselors urgently advised me to have a life-preserving oophorectomy . My plans for that large family were permanently altered.

That call for more children, however, was quite urgent. When our youngest son was around sixteen, my husband and I felt the call to adopt. Through my pro-life work we met a young woman who was pregnant and she chose us to be parents to her child. We had home studies done. I went to OB visits and some of her ultrasounds. The mother and I had lunch and spoke on the phone often. A lawyer was in place, as was every small detail, down to the music she would play in the delivery room – with me present! His name was to be Joseph Luke Jones!

In watching the video of one of her ultrasounds one day, I discovered that there was audio as well as video. As I turned up the volume I could vaguely hear what was being discussed. The color drained from my face as I heard her discussing names for her unborn son. It would be Jackson, she told the nurse, a family name. For a time I rode the waves of denial and trepidation. At eight months pregnant, she asked the lawyer to call and give me the news. Her mind was made up. She would keep the baby. Lines of communication were cut off and it was over.

This sad chapter didn’t end there, however. When Jackson was a mere 3 months old, he was taken from her custody for neglect. Hope sprang up in my heart like a Spring flower! Here was our chance to make this precious baby our own after all! We contacted child services and were told that he was now in the ‘system’ and our studies for private adoption did not qualify us for a state adoption. On a wing and a prayer we quickly signed up for the appropriate classes and were qualified! What happened next was every bit as devastating as the change of heart of the birthmother. Jackson/Luke was not available. He was in a foster home and due to privacy issues we were told nothing more. The sad end of this chapter? We found out quite by chance that Jackson wound up staying with the very instructor who had taught our classes. She had had him all along!

Time marched on and so did we. We reached the conclusion that we had just the family that God wanted us to have – no more, no less. Our days were busy with homeschooling our youngest and marrying off our oldest. Soon our daughter graduated from college and began her life as an adult. We decided that maybe an empty nest wasn’t too bad after all! Our business was run in a home office and we worked side by side, building a customer list and national reputation. Life was good!

A year passed and we were blessed with our first granddaughter. She was the light of our lives and fulfilled that urgent need for babies. Two years later our daughter married and quickly blessed us with a grandson as well. Five weeks later there was another granddaughter! Our family was becoming larger and we felt so blessed. Since we were next door neighbors, arrangements were made for the grandson to stay with me when our daughter returned to work. This temporary arrangement quickly became permanent and continues today (along with his little sister). In time the total count of grandchildren has come to seven – all under the age of seven! Of those seven, five (in various combinations) stay at ‘Nana’s Day School’ on week days. Our house is once again filled with laughter and the sound of busy little feet on the tile floor, tap tap tapping away.

Simon, Sarah, Corbin, Abby, Evan, Rachel, and Lukas

As I look around our house today, I realize that when we pray to God for a specific purpose He does listen and answer those prayers. Many weekends find our house filled to capacity with children, grandchildren, siblings and spouses, nieces, and nephews. This is the place to be – a house filled with laughter and love and children. Our prayers were answered – just not necessarily in the way that we would have anticipated. My husband and I do have that large family for which we prayed. It came to us while we were busily living our lives. It came in the form of children and grandchildren! We are blessed beyond measure!

What do you do on Sunday?

Going to Mass is a given but then after that....what? For this family it comes down to the pursuit of leisure activities and keeping company with those we love. This rainy Sunday found me home alone so after Mass I fought the urge to steam clean the tile (day of rest and all) and decided to bake. As a bonus, Erika and Simon showed up at just the right time to help me critique my new recipe...a Nutella Ring, made with the Artisan bread recipe I've posted about in the past. So here we go...a pictorial recreation of my delicious project for this day:





Lightly dust top of a 1 1b. ball of your Artisan bread dough with flour (see past blog entry for recipe). Stretch sides and pull under to form a ball. Place on a flour dusted sheet of parchment paper and roll into a 9'' x 14'' rectangle.

Add 1/2 cup of Nutella hazelnut spread to the dough and spread within 1/2'' of the edges. If the Nutella seems too stiff, heat it for a few seconds in the microwave to thin its consistency.






Carefully roll up the filled dough, starting at the long end and then pinch the edges together. Stretch the roll to about 18'' in length and then bring around into a circle, again pinching the edges together.

Lightly cover and allow to rise for 1 hour.

Whisk one egg and lightly brush onto the dough. Sprinkle liberally with coarse sugar. Snip 1/4'' deep every 2'' with kitchen scissors. Place in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or  until golden brown.










Remove your Nutella Ring from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Let set for 30 minutes and serve warm or let cool completely. Slice and serve...yum!





Now on to other pursuits...how about photography in the rain?