Advent 2012

We are in the season of Advent, the start of the Church's liturgical year.  It's a time of preparation for Christmas, a time to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the wonder and joy of God's gift of Jesus.

We'll be reflecting on the liturgical season with an Advent wreath this year.  While not a church tradition, my family also has an Advent calendar (made by my talented mum) that we use to 'count down to Christmas' each December.  Each pocket at the base of the banner contains a felt ornament that is velcro-ed to the tree in the centre each day.  We'll also be reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible each night as part of our countdown.

Maybe because C has been sick with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease a few weeks ago (read: contagious and we were all sick of being at home in quarantine) I have made a list of 24 activities I'll attempt to do with the boys too.  I might be too ambitious!  Here's my list:

December 2012

1. decorate our tree
2. light first candle on our Advent wreath 
3. play Christmas music CDs
4. send Christmas cards (in the hope they'll arrive in time across the world!)
5. colour a printable nativity set 
6. make our Christmas cake
7. read about Saint Nicholas
8. hang a treat for the birds
9. light the second candle on our Advent wreath
10. make gingerbread cookies
11. build a 'gingerbread' house out of graham crackers
12. make paper snowflakes to decorate (since it is unlikely we'll see the real stuff)
13. make some Chex mix (a standard snack food around the US during this season)
14. 'spring' clean our house
15. watch a Christmas movie (maybe this one?)
16. light the third candle on our Advent wreath
17. drive to see some Christmas lights in a nearby neighbourhood
18. make peanut butter squares (that taste like like Reese's PB cups - yum!)
19. make gift tags
20. wrap presents
21. make marshmallows for hot chocolate
22. make a donation to the Salvation Army (the bell-ringers are outside our nearest store)
23. light the fourth candle on our Advent wreath
24. attend the Christmas Eve service at church (they don't really do it Christmas Day here)and skype with family in NZ (where Christmas will have already arrived)
25. light the central 'Christ' candle on our Advent wreath and revel in our celebration of God's grace-filled gift of Jesus!

A Change in Perspective Is All It Takes

You should be eternally thankful that you didn't spend Thanksgiving with us this year!  

Source: http://www.penvol.org/announcements/2012/11/18/thanksgiving-dinner-at-little-house-cafe/

Originally we had been invited to a friend's for a family meal, but we backed out the day before because the kids had been unknowingly exposed to some sick friends and we didn't want to pass on any bugs.  Just as well we did... because all of us but C came down with the stomach flu that night!  We spent Thanksgiving on our knees in a different sense, took turns minding the boys (one happy and all go, the other miserable and snuggly) in front of a showcase of dvds while the other slept, and then we all had a simple Thanksgiving meal of chicken noodle soup - all we could handle.

Source: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2010/03/18/taste-test-canned-chicken-noodle-soup/

Despite this tale of woe I spent a lot of time counting my blessings (read some below) and was truly thankful.  You see, about 12 hours earlier my friend had journeyed into Burma on a relief trip.  Despite the progress made recently in the political sphere of this troubled country there are still many injustices.  My friend is working with Partners to bring medical assistance for malnutrition, dehydration and public health issues to a people group who have fallen through the cracks. Please pray for her, the team, and the people they encounter.

She writes,

"As you may have heard if you listen to the news, the situation for the Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine State in Western Burma has become increasingly unstable. Recently 1000's of people have been forced to flee from their villages which have been burned by Rakhine and Burma Govt. They have long been denied citizenship in Burma despite being there for generations. Many have had to seek medical help but have been left untreated in the State hospitals because they are Rohingya. Here is a link to Wikipedia with more info about the Rohingya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohingya_people"

Source: Partners Relief and Development http://partnersworld.tumblr.com/

..."We seriously need funds to be able to provide the basics for these people - if you can give, know that your little joins with ours to fill the bucket of human kindness (and of the hospitality that is at the heart of God) offered to these people who are in a devastating position denied citizenship in their own country. See our website for details: http://www.partnersworld.org/donateAlso - if you have medical/nursing training in any way please see our Facebook page which is recruiting people who can offer time to go (self-funded): https://www.facebook.com/PartnersReliefAndDevelopment?fref=ts and/or email here to get more info: info@partnersnorge.no

...This is the story our worker in Rakhine State shared with us yesterday.
Sunday, November 18
Fatimah Khatu died today. Nobody cared. Fatimah was a beautiful little girl of only seven. Her mother carried her to our end of the camp. She arrived where we were, just as Fatimah took her last breath.
Fatimah’s mother stood by Fatimah’s lifeless body and told us that her other daughter was in the same condition. She could not carry both girls. The sister was still in the tent fighting for life on her own. One of our doctors and I went immediately to their tent where the sister was lying in the dirt.
Our medical team is doing amazing work. But what they are doing is not even a drop in the ocean. The crowd of those needing care is growing every day and pressing in upon us. We need help. More teams need to come. More governments of the world need to speak loudly against what is happening here. More donations are necessary to provide any relief.
More prayers for peace are needed. More need for Jesus to multiple our few "loaves of bread and fish".
I have been here for 11 days now and during this time I have seen only one other jeep from any relief organization. Some aid has been delivered but it is not enough. No other help, no other governmental or non-governmental organizations, no other indication that the world cares. Genocide is the only word I know that describes what we are seeing. Unnecessary deaths in a world unaware.
Fatimah died in the dirt. The dirt of a land not her own. Fatimah was not even a number. She was not a citizen of any country. She had no identification. She had no food. She died from dehydration with no medicine or medical care.
Fatimah’s mother sat in the tent crying softly beside Fatimah’s body.
Someone had cared...her mother, who now sat alone, without help or hope.
This is why we have come. It's who we are. We can't do it alone."

I'm thankful for:

• my family and friends
• a safe place to live
• running water and flushable toilets
• easy access to medical care and medicine
• a cupboard with food and the means to make meals without having to go out
• that we were only dealing with a 24-hour-bug, not months or years of illness
• that the extra trip to the library during the week meant lots of dvds on hand
• that we could parent 'tag-team'-style
• that Partners is taking action in Burma  
• and much more, of course!  

Happy First Birthday!

This week (Better late than never!) We recently celebrated C's first birthday.  It's hard to believe it's been that long!  His personality is blossoming and he is making new discoveries and taking new adventures each day.  We love you, Doodah!

Here's the rubber ducky cake I made.

The afternoon tea included "duck food" (Chex and crackers snack mix); "pond weed dip" (guacamole, or should that have been 'quack-a-mole'?); duck-shaped egg salad sandwiches; goldfish crackers; pineapple and grapes (essential to a duck's diet); marshmallow "bubbles"; "Nutella snails" (tortillas spread with Nutella nad cut in pin-wheels); lemon shortbread "duck feet"; gingerbread ducks; and fluffy jelly/Jello "bubble bath" cups.  Yes, I had fun!  And no we didn't eat dinner!

 C sure enjoyed having Happy Birthday sung to him.

Daddy helped blow out his candle.

  He smooshed cake as if he did it professionally.

 The kids all had fun, especially with the balloons, fire truck and blowing bubbles.

 And here are the party favours (sans wrapping) - all with handmade cupcake toppers (never again!) and mini rubber ducks just for the kids.

Here's the birthday boy on his actual birthday, with the obligatory pancake (our tradition) and opening presents.


Then we had a combined birthday celebration at playgroup for all four boys having birthdays within ten days!

This time I was in charge of the cake: Sesame Street.