I have to post this recipe. I HAVE TO!

We have two traditions for Thanksgiving so far. We fry our turkey, and I must make these rolls.  The rest is up for grabs.  If you can't get your hands on fresh ground, the whole wheat in the stores will work okay, too.  Happy Thanksgiving!

2-Day Yeast Rolls
-makes 4 dozen-

2 tsp instant yeast
1 cup warm
1 cup hot water
1.5 sticks butter (3/4 cup), softened
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup honey
3 eggs, lightly beaten
6.5 - 7 cups fresh ground hard red flour
1 T gluten or white flour (optional)
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), melted

Day 1:
Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a bowl.  Let proof for 5 minutes.  Combine the hot water, 1.5 sticks butter, and salt in a large bowl and let stand until the butter melts; stir.  Stir the honey and eggs into the butter mixture.  Add the yeast mixture and mix well.

Add the flour in batches to the yeast mixture and mix well.  Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat the surface.  Chill, covered with plastic wrap overnight, or for at least 8 hours.  It will not double in bulk.

Day 2:
Divide the dough into 2 portions and roll each portion 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface.  Cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter.  Brush the rounds with the 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick) and fold over, pinch the edges to seal.

Arrange the rolls touching on a greased 12x17 inch baking sheet with sides.  LIghtly brush the tops with the remaining melted butter.  Let rise, covered with a light tea towel, in a warm place for 2 hours.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

the Santa issue

Last year Acacia thought Santa was Noah... from the Ark; and we just went with it.  However, last week someone asked her what she wanted Santa to bring her this year, so we can't exactly avoid it anymore.  I'm trying to figure out how to address this wisely. 

We have decided in our house that we want to celebrate Christmas by celebrating Jesus' birth.  We want to play down the presents and play up the celebration.  We'll do the advent calendar, an advent wreath at the table, a Christmas tree, she'll be getting a nativity set to play with, I'd like to do a birthday cake for Jesus, and I'm sure we'll think of other things along the way.  We will explain that people give gifts to show how much they love others, and we will encourage the kids to give gifts to people they love.

I've been trying to find a good kid's book that helps explain the whole Santa issue well.  There are some fantastic true Christmas story books out there, and some great classics about Santa... but not much to bridge the gap. 

Suggestions are welcome.  Here's the only three I've found so far...

Santa Celebrates Jesus' Birthday.  I can't see inside this one.  Sounds good from the reviews on Amazon, though.  Maybe I will see if I can get the CCBR to review it.

St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend.  I can't find an excerpt from this book either.  Perhaps another to email to CCBR.  I REALLY like that this actually explains who Santa was.  My only heisitation is whether it is very catholic.  Some of the books out there about St. Nick really go into his sainthood and miracles.  Not what I'm looking for.

The Night Jesus Met Santa Claus.  This is a story of Santa getting saved.  It's a little corny and there are some parts I don't like, but it is creative. 

make a simple advent calendar this year!

By simple I mean ridiculously easy, very cheap, and at least mostly natural materials.  Oh, and I have one hour to do it while my three year old helps.  Can I get an Amen?

You'll need:
1.  Small muslin bags.  You can order them online here.  Tip- order more than 25 because your toddler will want to help and you'll probably mess up at least one.
2.  1 inch number stencils and spouncers.  Unless you have awesome handwriting like Kaite, in which case you can just use a paint brush.
3.  Acrylic paint.  Before going out for the perfect Christmas Red, check your stash.  I used brown and silver because I love the way they look together and I had them on hand.  Warning- this does not wash out of clothes but it does wash off the face and hands.
4.  Some kind of string or twine or ribbon.  I always keep a roll of twine handy so that's what I used.
5.  Small suction cup hooks to hang the whole strand on a glass surface.  If you don't have enough glass, try those command removable sticky hooks.  No need to put a hole in the wall just for a Christmas decoration.

The process:
Just lay out your bags and get to stenciling.  I use cleaned out baby food plastic containers for the paint but you can use anything.

Once they are dry, string one side of the drawstring through and hang on any flat surface.

Done!  Now some candy canes and some scripture verses or any trinkets you want go inside and you have a gift-a-day advent calendar. 

Now go get your baby because naptime is over and your preschooler has paint on her hands and face and needs to use the potty.

Acacia made flowers from coffee filters white I painted.  After the paint is dry, poke a hole in the middle and stick a pipe cleaner in.  Instant centerpiece:

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Here are some resources for more information on advent calendars, background and ideas.

jackson's first steps and other less exciting updates

JACKSON:
This boy is strong as an ox.  Brandon joked that instead of a walker, we should see if they make Defensive Line Sleds for kids.  It's a pretty good idea.

This video was taken about a week ago.  These are Jackson's very first steps.  Now that he's a pro, he's trying to walk everywhere.  Today, he pushed Acacia around in the laundry basket.  He walks while holding just my thumbs.  It's crazy.  But fun.

MOMMY:
This new walking excitement comes at a very good time.  I began to notice a lingering pain in my pelvis after carrying Jackson in the Ergo for long periods of time... which I did very often because he slept so well that way.  Turns out I basically sprained part of my pelvis while carrying/delivering him, so I need to be cautious how much I bear his full 20 lbs on my hips.  Needless to say, we are spending more time at home these days.  Although I am not at all a homebody, doctor's orders have been very refreshing.  Getting into a little routine with the kids and slowing down some is good for all of us.  Now I just need to find a good pilates workout video to strengthen my abs and other core muscles.  Suggestions welcomed!

ACACIA:
 Is loving learning her letters and sounds.  She's always pointing out letters on things and saying things like, "MMMommy starts with an M.  J-J-J-June starts with a J."   Here she is reading to Mono, who is wearing a swimsuit.

She has developed a strange habit, though.  Well, she has many strange habits, but one particularly curious.  She phrases everything in a question that begins with "what". 
- For example: Instead of "Can I have some milk?"  She'll say, "What can I have?"  And make me guess. 
- Or if she has a particular thing she wants to do (go outside), she'll ask, "What can I do?"  If I respond with something other than what she had in mind, "You can look at a book." She'll whine and say, "Nooooo."  I have to keep guessing until I figure it out.

This goes on all day.  If I try to get out of it, and throw the question back at her, she just repeats it again.  She doesn't realize it's a very exhausting game... in fact, I don't know if she realizes what she's doing at all.  Strange, huh?  I guess she'll grow out of it.  She's had other language curiosities.  When she was just learning to talk she called herself "Tita" and always spoke about herself in the 3rd person. 

worship

It's easy as a Christian to slip into default mode... that is, to pursue only whatever part of following Jesus that comes somewhat easily to you.  For some it may be studying or acts of service.  For me, it's application scripture and exhortation.  I like a verse that I can take and do something with.  Check it off my list, you know... and then feel good about.
 
"Cast your cares on the Lord."  Okay!
"Be patient; bear with one another in love."  Got it.
"Do not let the sun go down on your anger." I'll stay up, no problem.

I realize trying to do all of those things in my own strength is not just ridiculous and impossible; but it relies on my strength and personal goodness.  Which, let's face it, falls a little short.  Or a lot.

Once upon a time, my life's motto was Philippians 3:10, which oddly enough is one of the books full of exhortation! Verse 9 sets the stage by calling people like me out with, "not having any self-achieved righteousness that can be called my own..." Hello, Shannon?!?!

The Amplified version for Philippians 3:10 is this:
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him.  That I may progressively become more intimately acquainted with Him; perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly....

This is where I've been for about a week now.  Totally stuck on this verse.  And in worship.  Because to KNOW Him is to LOVE Him and that results in WORSHIP.  It all just goes together.   So, here are some of my current favorite songs that have helped me refocus on Jesus.  Who He is, what He's already done for me, and some raw unfiltered awe, too.

How He Loves by JohnMark McMillan
Revelation Song by Gateway Worship
You're Beautiful by Phil Wickham

Diggin' my new handwriting font?

I found this great site the other day: kevinandamanda.com

She can take your handwriting and make it into a font, for FREE!  Hasn't anyone told her that nothing is free these days?

My handwriting is too sloppy to use, so I just found someone else's that I like!  I downloaded a few for random use, but she gives a tutorial if you want to change the standard fonts that come on your blog template.  As for the header, we don't have Photoshop anymore so I made it in Keynote.  I guess it worked pretty well; but it's not perfect.

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All this was a very welcome diversion to dealing with Acacia's 104 degree (underarm!) fever today!!!  She's having a reaction to the vaccinations she got on Tuesday, poor thing.  Downside- she's sick.  Upside- she's very snuggly and cuddly and she took an excellent nap today, which almost never happens anymore.

THIS is the day the Lord has made?

I will rejoice?  And be glad in it?

I should be folding this pile of laundry and then going to bed.  Are those the same clothes in that pile that I've washed, folded, and put away a gajillion times?

I've been a bit grumpy lately.  The crying, the whining, the poopy diapers, the micro-naps, the laundry, the I-can't-get-to-anything-because-Jackson-keeps-sticking-his-hands-in-the-toilet, and the cleaning... oh the cleaning. 

I haven't been blogging much partly because of my grumpiness and partly because I got Acacia this new movie, The Letter Factory, by Leap Frog and I've been letting her watch it on what was once my computer.  It's worth it, though.  Great movie; I highly recommend it. She can tell you what every letter is and what sound it makes. 

I did manage to squeeze in some DESPERATE time with God the other evening and you know what... sometimes He's just waiting to give us the boost we need.  I'm trying to work my way through the Psalms and I just *happened* to come across this awesome verse when I needed to hear it the most:

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens. 

Psalm 68:19

I guess I just needed a little perspective, a gentle reminder of His love, an encouraging word, and maybe even a "check yourself, honey".  This IS the day that the Lord has made... I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!