10 on 10: March 2012

Have you ever heard of 10 on 10? Many bloggers have been doing this and it has become quite the “thing” to do. I first read about 10 on 10 at another blog and have been intrigued by the idea for many months. Alas, January and February flew by without me being any the wiser that I had missed my opportunity. Then I decided not to wait for that perfect weekday 10. Instead I would grab this months 10th on the Saturday it landed on and post Monday. It worked out much better than I thought because weekdays can be so hurried and busy that I forget to carry my camera around all day (not an easy thing to remember to do.)

BTW, 10 photos and no comments is really hard to do, so I give you 10 collages. Yes, I know it’s cheating. My blog, my rules.

Without further ado, my first ever 10 on 10…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 24th ~ Christmas Eve

On the twenty-fourth day of December my true love gave to me,

A church worship service on Christmas Eve.

My husband ministers three churches. On an average Sunday he is pooped by 2:oo pm, which is when he’s done preaching 3 sermons for the day and I have stuffed him full with a traditional Sunday meal. I only attend one church. It could be any one of the three, but still, only one on any given Sunday. I tend to stick with a certain church mostly because out of the three it was the one I choose to put my membership when we first moved to the island, and also because of the Children’s Ministry I am involved in there. A second church I attend often is the one across the street from our parsonage. It’s a beautiful church, and I tend to attend regularly during the summer because of the Children’s Sunday School program and VBS. It’s also the church I randomly go to when me and the boys are running too late to make it to the other one. The last church is my favorite. I call it the Little House on The Prairie Church. It is so picturesque and quaint. But services there are at 8:15 in the morning, and a morning person I am not. So consequently, I rarely attend that church.

On Christmas Eve, all three churches hold services, and all three services I and my boys attend. It’s a bit of a rat race. Once starts at 6, then the next at 7, and then back to the big one across the street from our house at 8. All three churches have a unique service of their own, and all three pack out with every person within the villages, whether they are members or regular attendees or not. The only bad thing about Christmas Eve is that by the time we get to the 8:00 pm service I don’t always have a spot in my own driveway. But we won’t get on that soapbox. Needless to say, as a minister’s wife, there are lots of things my family and I have to deal with, and overall keep our feelings to ourselves.

Christmas Eve dinner, once a cherished tradition, is no longer the event it once was. In days past I would create a wonderful meal in which I would lovingly serve on our fine china at the dinning room table, complete with a homemade pie of some type. The boys would pose for pictures as they hung up their stockings and put out milk and cookies for Santa. Later in the evening we would snuggle down for a family movie or a game night.

Now we eat pizza or some other non-monumental meal that I might have thrown together had I given it much time and thought. Like a casserole or something. There have been years that pictures of stockings and plates of cookies and carrots have been forgotten, much to my dismay. And though I enjoy the fellowship and church #1, the Children’s Christmas program at church #2, and the message and communion at church #3, I also sometimes resent the amount of time that is given to the church and our church families, and how little of that time is left for building and carrying on traditions in my own home.  And then I am humbled and reminded that Christmas is not about me and it never was.

This year Christmas is on a Sunday. Could Jesus’ birthday have come on a more perfect day? What better way to celebrate the reason for the season than in church, which is why you’re going to church in the first place. Well, actually, the flesh in me says yes, there could have been a better day…like Monday. How about Monday? Or Saturday? Take your pick. But Sunday? Come on, it’s Christmas morning and now I have to share that, too!? Well, actually, yes, yes I do.

But as always on Sunday mornings, I will attend only one church, and seeing as it will be a crazy morning, I will most likely attend the closer church which starts the latest in the morning. And I will still make my Christmas breakfast and hope I can get it ready in time for Hubby to eat with us before he is out the door to church #1. No one said his job was easy either, and so I certainly don’t blame him for the life the Lord has called us to.

To me these are a little bigger than the “small stuff” but to sweat them anyway would not accomplish much. That doesn’t mean I never get angry or frustrated, scream into my pillow and throw a temper tantrum once in a while, but in the end you have to keep things in perspective. I suspect that I clung to the traditions of my own childhood for certain reasons, but my hope is that my own children will find the same solace in these newer ones. It’s not about the turkey dinner, the pictures, or the plate of cookies. It’s about us being a family and worshipping together. It’s about the four of us spending time together and truly enjoying each other’s company. Maybe my boys will grow up and look back fondly on our Christmas Eve pizzas. I hope so.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

~ John 3:16  NIV

December 23rd ~ Are We There Yet?

On the twentythird day of December my true love gave to me,

a headache and a bit of fatigue.

Is anyone else tired yet? These past three weeks have just flown by, and now we’re on the eve of The Eve. Already. And I woke up this morning with a slight headache, which is better than a big headache (those are the worst to start your day with!), but I am sure it will go away with some tea and quiet time.

Looking back on these past three weeks, it’s no wonder I feel as though the air force is running practice drills in my head this morning. Every day has had something going on, no matter how big or small. Tonight is my last party of the season, and one I’m looking forward to regardless, because it’s with all my favorite girls and our hubbys. Each of us must bring a wrapped ornament and an appetizer that starts with the first letter of our name. My ornament is sure to be a hit with all my high-heeled wearing girlfriends- it’s a glittery stiletto- I think Elke and Tia are the only ones who don’t wear them, nor me, but it’s still super cute. And the dish will be Caprese. Yes, I’m cheating a bit because I made this last week (but this will be a new batch!) for the party I had on Saturday. But I don’t have anymore of that awesome crab dip, so Caprese it will be. And this time I found some fresh basil to skewer between the cheese and tomatoes. No Tortellini this time. They didn’t skewer well.

I feel like I’ve neglected my blogging duties by not having more recipes and action in the kitchen. It’s not common that we eat out as often as we have this week, and so the last time I cooked was Sunday when I made a traditional pot roast dinner with my roasted potatoes, green beans, and carrot bake. We had guests for dinner, the sherif and his son, and for dessert I set out a tray of cake balls, macaroons, and my gingersnap-lemon tarts. Baking is another thing I haven’t indulged in much this year. After I make my traditional cookies I’m pretty much done. Between those and leftover goodies from the party, we have more than we can possibly eat, and it doesn’t stop there. So far we’ve been given some peanut brittle, homemade biscotti, and a huge chocolate cake. There could still be more coming, you never know.

Monday night was the Senior Dinner at the church, which is covered dish style. Every year the church sponsors the seniors at our secondary school by hosting about 5 or 6 dinners during the school year. They also send birthday cards to each student, bring them cookies and treats at the school periodically, and give out little gifts and raffle items. With the average graduating class around 45 each year, this is very easily done. At the beginning of the year we also choose a student and pray for them all year.

Tuesday night was caroling and pizza. Wednesday Hubby and I took the boys “up the beach” to do the last bit of Christmas shopping, to see a movie (Sherlock Holmes 2= Awesome!) and to dinner at Outback. That was a real treat! But Number Two was upset we didn’t go to mexican, which what we ended up doing last night after his rehearsal at the church for his role as a Wiseman in the Christmas Eve play tomorrow night. And tonight is pizza night for the boys while Hubby and I go to a party so………yeah, lots of great healthy food going into our bodies these days, right?

In response to this busy season and the madness some of us feel at times, I came up with my own version of the 12 Days of Christmas song based on everything that has gone on this month so far (yes, 3 turkeys- really!). I truly have only had a handful of days this month where we could relax and watch a family movie together and not worry about having to be somewhere.

12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Christmas parade down main street.

One the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me…two winter concerts and a Christmas parade down main street.

On the third day of Christmas….3 roasted turkeys….

On the Fourth day of Christmas…4 shopping day trips…

On the fifth day of Christmas…5 batches of cookies…

On the sixth day of Christmas…6 community engagements…

On the seventh day of Christmas…7 party invites…

On the eighth day of Christmas…8 runs to the post office…

On the ninth day of Christmas…9 bowls of popcorn…

On the tenth day of Christmas…10 Christmas movies…

On the eleventh day of Christmas…11 loads of laundry…

On the twelfth day of Christmas…12 gifts to wrap…

So there you have it, the busy yet wonderful season in December that we all must submit to. It’s not so bad. In fact, it’s pretty magical, and once Christmas Day has come and gone I will have a week to hang out with the boys before their winter break is over. As usual, I try not to sweat the small stuff (and yes, it’s all small, in retrospect) and ALWAYS remember the true meaning of the season.

December 19th ~ Game Night

On the nineteenth day of December my true love gave to me,

a rousing game of Monopoly.

 As much of America is enjoying the beginning of Christmas Week, and their winter break from school, my own boys braved the cold 30 degree weather this morning and boarded their school buses. Hurricane Irene did not do us any favors, including tacking on 9 make-up school days this year. Two of them came out of Christmas vacation.

But all is well, and in the end those two days don’t matter because the excitement of Christmas Week is here! Only 6 more days-OMG-I-can’t-believe-it’s-almost-here! (This being said as the boys updated our little chalkboard.) We’ve had this thing for so long I can’t even remember when or where I got it, but we use it every year and the boys faithfully change the number each day.

In addition to parties, winter concerts, caroling, and parades, there are those nights you take it easy and just enjoy the down time with your family. Movie nights are nice but sometimes you really want to connect with your loved-ones and this is where turning off the TV and having Game Night comes in. We have shelves of games, but there are some favorites that allow for all four of us to play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take time to enjoy your family. Gather around the table, make some hot cocoa, put out a bowl of popcorn or a plate of cookies, and savor the season -and these moments- in good health, good spirits, and good fun.

 

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

~ Psalms 33:3  NIV

December 14th ~ Let The Music Play

On the fourteenth day of December my true love gave to me,

a lovely little melody.

I love these pictures I found with the dates and everything on them, but they certainly aren’t coinciding with my posts very well! haha- oh well.

So yesterday’s picture was kinda close…. it said to do your chores while listening to Christmas Music. So in the tradition of Christmas music we attended Brandon’s school band Winter Concert on Monday night, and Jadon’s school’s Christmas Program on Tuesday night. Wow!

For the band concert, I first have to say that it was amazing. Every year the music instructor starts the program off with the beginning groups, the sixth graders. You can really tell they have been trying for the past 3 months to learn their instruments. All of their songs were more like scales, and it reminded me of Brandon being up there for the first time 3 years ago.

Next comes the middle schoolers, 7th & 8th graders. Even though 6th grade is middle school, these older ones have more experience, and you can hear it in their playing. Already a big difference. My favorite song they did was called Tap Out. I can’t explain it but it was cool. Lots of drum tapping, and the kids who were on percussion really had the beat. Jadon, a budding drummer, looked especially entranced as well.

By the time the high schoolers came out I knew we were in for a treat. This group is amazing. Some of these kids also play in the Strings (band) and the Jazz Band, consequently playing 2 or 3 instruments each. I saw 2 young girls I knew who played 3 instruments each. One played the french horn, trombone, and violin. The other played the saxophone, the cello, and the flute. That’s a lot of practicing! I was impressed. And the group did not disappoint.

He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

So last night was the Christmas Program at Jadon’s school. The auditorium at the Elementary school was packed out as literally every student came to sing their two songs each (per grade). So this included moms, dad, siblings, grand-parents, etc. This is not a normal thing around here. Keep in mind that there are less than 300 students between K and 5th grade, but still, our little school could barely contain the crowd.

This littel diva next to him is a real firecracker- totally adorable!

It seems that during the holiday season I’ve got more engagements in a week than I normally have in a month. It’s exhausting. But I go with the flow because these are special moments. No, not just because they only come once a year, but because some of them only come once in a lifetime. Brandon will only be 14 once, and Jadon will only be 10 once. This is Jadon’s last year of elementary school. Next year he will be a big 6th grader!

Take time to enjoy these things. Yes, it’s a little inconvenient when school night events interfere with homework and dinner time, but that’s what makes Christmas Break so great (and it’s coming up soon!). Enjoy the season in good health, good spirits, and good fun, and savor every moment you share this holiday with your friends and family. Don’t sweat the small stuff and remember the real reason for the season.

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

~ 1 John 4:12  NIV

December 9th ~ Awesome Eats!

On the ninth day of December my true love gave to me,

some gingerbread that was super tasty!

 You’re working, cooking, spending time with family, fulfilling holiday obligations….you’ve got a lot on your plate. And speaking of plates, dinner plates are some of my favorites! Tastes and smells are huge triggers for memories of places and times, near and far. For me different smells (the number one culprit in evoking nostalgia in most people) like certain shampoos or perfumes, remind me of specific times of my life. For most people it’s food, and I have a few of those, too.

One of my favorite dishes to serve anytime of the year, but especially around Christmas is my near-famous Swiss Chicken.  I say that only because every time I’ve made it, for anyone ever, it’s been a big hit. No one doesn’t like this recipes, and it’s one that I’ve shared over the years time and time again. Well, I made it last night, and somehow it just felt and tasted like Christmas in my house. Now, I don’t know how this happened. I first tried this dish in July of 1989 (yowza!) when my mom made it. How it became my go-to holiday (and potluck) dish I’ll never know. The link above will take you to a previous link called Potluck In A Pinch, where I shared the recipe.

Swiss Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts                                                                                6-8 slices swiss cheese (not processed)                                                                                   One can Cream of Chicken Soup                                                                                         1/2 soup can of water                                                                                                                   1 stick butter, melted                                                                                                                   2 boxes chicken flavored stuffing mix (like Stove Top)

*Lightly grease baking dish and cover bottom with chicken. Layer slices of cheese over the chicken.

 

 

Mix together the remaining ingredients and cover the chicken and cheese so that no chicken shows. Cover with foil and bake at 350* for 30-45 mins. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes until topping is browned and the kitchen smells heavenly Let sit a few minutes, then serve.

**Measurements may not be exact to the previous post of this recipe. The ingredients are the same (cream of mushroom can be used in lieu of cream of chicken)- but as I have mentioned before, I cook a lot by memory and I just throw things together. This is exactly how I made it last night.

 

Leftovers are always yummy, and sometimes even better than the first night! The best way to reheat this is in the oven or toaster oven- slowly. But if you can’t wait then I understand It’ll reheat fine in the microwave but it won’t have that crunchy top. This recipe is also a sinch to halve or double.

For dessert we had Gingerbread- yum! Few things truly say Christmas to me like gingerbread. I admit it’s not my own recipe. I didn’t even make it from scratch. But sometimes there are great mixes out there and this is one of them. If you’ve never tried Trader Joe’s gingerbread mix, it’s an absolute must.

I asked the boys if they wanted Cool Whip or peppermint ice cream with their gingerbread, and they said “Both!” (duh, mom) And….oh yeah….it was good.

Sometimes the only way to really enjoy the season in good health, good spirits, and good fun, is by engaging in these simple acts of enjoyment. Is that  redundant? I don’t know how else to say it. Basically, stop planning the moment and just go have one. And don’t forget to remember the real reason for the season.

 “I am sending Him- who is my very heart- back to you.”

~ Philemon 1:12   NIV