simplicity for the holidays...

I can't bring myself to play Chistmas music yet.  There may only be 40-something shopping days left until Christmas but oh so many things to come before that I just can't get into the spirit of things just yet.  That being said, I do have some projects in the works for gift-giving and in spare moments have thought about what traditions we might like to begin this year (our first in our own home with kids).  Ah, yes.  Our new home.  Perhaps the biggest change taking place in just about two weeks.  We're wrapping up our time here at Matthew House Ottawa and will be moving into our first home.  Scary. Expensive - but we are so looking forward to it.  We have really enjoyed our time here and will miss it - but our family needs are changing now that I've begun homeschooling and we're expecting our third baby in March 2012 :) Yay. 

And so, with so many big things on the very near horizon and so many decisions to make (paint colours, furniture, and art, oh my), I'll be striving for a simple family holiday.  Cinnamon buns. Apple Cider.  A few presents. Excellent coffee with a chocolate at the bottom of the mug. A turkey  - or maybe a ham.  We haven't had pork in so long.  There are other traditions I'd like to start with our family, but this year it is family time we need.  Rest and time together.  I fully intend on breaking out the Christmas music as we paint the walls and unpack the boxes.  I think I'll be ready to enjoy it then - and the holiday to come.  

What are your holiday plans or traditions you are beginning or continuing this year?

working through a day of remembrance...

On this day, the eleventh of November, when everyone remembers and gives thanks to those who have died for our freedom, I am conflicted.  Because they also killed for our freedom.  It is not that I am not grateful for the sacrifices of life and health and family and friends.  I am grateful.  But there is a difference between laying down your life for others and taking the life of another.  I just don't know how to feel.  I see Jesus dying on a cross, I hear Jesus teaching to love our enemies.  I see Jesus commanding us to take care of the needy, to bind up the brokenhearted, to love our neighbours as ourselves - regardless of the dictators of the day.  Being a pacifist is not being a passive-ist.  It means to bring peace, to lay down the sword.  Being a pacifist means valuing the life of the person who wants to do you harm as much as you value your own.  Remembrance Day is a solomn occasion where the world remembers our victory and cost to achieve it. It reminds me of a time when the Church stopped listening to Jesus.  For if the Christian nations of the West and the Christian nation of Germany had been following Jesus' teaching - there would have been no armies.  To remember is to work for peace.

This year, we are celebrating Martinmas,  The feast day of St. Martin of Tours. He started out as a Roman soldier until one day, as legend has it, he saw a beggar at the city gates, freezing with cold.  He cut his red woolen cloak in two and gave half to the beggar.  That night dreamed he saw Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he had given away.  Jesus asking him if he recognized it, which he did and realized he must convert and devote his life to Christ. 

When he was around 20 years old, he had a military victory and was to go before Emperor Julian to receive his reward.  He was moved to refuse the bounty, saying "Up to now, I have served you as a soldier; allow me henceforth to serve Christ.  Give the bounty to these others who are going out to battle.  I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight."  Emperor Julian accused him of cowardice and had him imprisoned until a truce was called.

This year we will make lanterns and bake spice cake and read his story as a small way to reflect the values we hold most dear to us - compassion, selflessness, peace.  To remember to give them causes worthy of giving their lives for- but not worthy of taking those of others.  It is a journey for us as we work through this peace-teaching of Jesus.  

Tell me about Dragons...

From the mind of my four-year-old:

A dragon can fight tigers.  He can spit fire and eat people.  They can run around and fly and flap their wings and scare other animals and step on other people.  They live in Africa - called Dragonland. Their favourite things are to fly down and run around and change into different colours (like blue and red) or change into different animals or kids, and take a nap.  And write a list for their mamadragons.  They like to collect sea shells and treasures.  They are bad - they can only scare people - but not me.  I like dragons but I only like happy dragons.  Most of the animals I like are scary animals.  I feed bad dragons when they say "I NEED SOME FOOD!"