Sisters In Christ - Lovely "Things!"

I've been awarded! Thanks so much, Hannah. I'm enjoying our growing friendship.

I'd like to pass this on to Akeret HaBayit. We've recently started emailing, and through the few emails and chats, I've really liked getting to know her! We've got a lot in common, I think. :)

Bible Verse Idea

Sometimes you're having a tough time, feel like you're in the "dooms of despair" and really don't know what to do about it. Of course turning to the Bible always helps, but reading the first few verses of Genesis probably won't make you want to rise and shine again (get it, shine? God made light? Tee hee. :) Sarah Mally has come to the rescue. In the "Bible Study" section of the personal Bright Lights notebook (you can check out the Bright Lights group she started here), Sarah shares a testimony from a Bright Lights girl.

"One time in Bright Lights, Sarah shared with us that when she was 11 years old, she started to read her Bible everyday. She gave us a study idea that has been very helpful for me. She suggested that we get a stack of 3x5 cards, and write verses on the cards which we found in our daily Bible reading. Then, she said to label each card with a topic, such as "Patience," "Baptism," "Greed," etc. This would be our own topical index system. I was about 11, and I thought this sounded like such a good idea. I went home and set my alarm clock for 7:00. The next morning I got up and read my Bible. I found a verse and wrote it on a 3x5 card. Then I put the card in a box and set it on my dresser. Now when I need a verse on a specific subject, I go to my box and find a card on that topic. This system has benefited and encouraged me a lot."

I like this system too! Whenever I need a quick lift up, I can go to my little verse box and find a verse on the subject I'm struggling with. If it's not there, I make it a mental note to be on the "special" lookout for specific verses addressing the subject.

Also, this is good for praying scripture back to the Lord. When you're happy and you know it, grab a card filed under "Joy" or "Thankfulness", try to quickly memorize it and continuously pray it to Him throughout the day.

Joyfully (Psalm 9:2),

Little Girlies Are Oh So Fun!

Challah Time!

Challah is the braided bread used in the Friday evening ceremony that is done to sanctify the Shabbat, and I am currently the "Official Challah Bread Maker" of the family. Here is the recipe our family has used since we started celebrating the Sabbath on the seventh day (as commanded in the Bible) and held the little Sabbath ceremony in our home.

1 T active dry yeast
1 3/4 cups lukewarm water
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 oil
4 eggs
9 cups flour
2 T salt
poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional)
1 additional egg for the glaze

1. In large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the sugar and oil and mix well with a whisk or wooden spoon. Beat in four of the eggs and gradually stir in 8 cups of flour and salt. When you have a dough that holds together well, it's ready for kneading. Kneed about 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface. You can work in up to another 1 - 1 1/2 cups of flour as needed.

2. Place the dough in a large, oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place for about an hour, until it's about doubled it's size.

3. Remove it from the bowl and punch it down. Be rough! The dough loves it!

4. Return to bowl and let it rise again for 30 minutes more.

5. Take it out of the bowl and make six equal balls of dough. Make each ball into a rope about 14 inches long. Pinch three together on one end and braid. Do it again for the second loaf. (Want to make a six-stranded braid? Go here for a great tutorial.)

6. Let the challah loaves rise another hour, uncovered. Fifteen minutes before putting the loaves in the oven, beat the remaining egg and brush it gently over them. Five minutes later, brush them again. Sprinkle with the seeds.

7. Preheat the oven to 375 and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove and cool on a rack.

Enjoy!

To Freeze: Stop at #5. After braiding your bread, but before letting it rise again, double wrap it in plastic wrap and place on a cookie sheet in the freezer. When you are ready to use it, take it out 5 hours before you want to glaze and bake.

***************************************

***********************

Want to learn more about the Sabbath ceremony? Check out my uncle's blog for an in-depth study in parts one, two and three of the simple steps to go through.

Shabbat Shalom!

Today I am a Big Sister

Early this afternoon I decided to make Snicker doodles for afternoon snack. I found the recipe, tripled it and started to mix the batter. Half way into the dough making Active Boy comes in:
"Seren, it's time to go over to Tom's so he can show me how to care for his pond while he's on vacation. Let's go."
"Okay, hold on. Just let me get this dough in the fridge, then we can go."
So we go, learn how to take care of the neighbor's pond, see where to put his mail for the ten days and hear all about how his fish almost died the night before. Mission completed, I returned to my cookies.
Right after that 'Lil Active Boy comes in, apparently up from his nap. "I'm awake. What are those? Are you making cookies? Can I help you?"
At the same time, Creative Genius comes asking the same questions.
Now, I'm really trying to get at least one pan done before the whole family awakes, so I reply with, "No, I'm just going to do these by myself today. Thanks though."
Then I hesitate, thinking of what a bad sister I sound like, and how baking cookies are supposed to be bonding and memorable... and I'd really like them to think of me as nice sister, so I say with a little sigh, "Wait, no, you can help me. Here, see these balls of dough? Roll them in the cinnamon-sugar and put them on the pan like this. No, no, don't lick your hands. You can do that when we're done. Good job. Yep, that's the way!"

Today I was a big sister. But I would have been a big sister whether or not I went with Active Boy to his job consultation, or let the little boys help with cookies, or helped with phonics, or read a chapter book out loud to someone, or helped with baths... or complained about putting the littles to bed. You see, being the big sister is a big job. We have responsibilities whether we like it or not. We can do them happily, or with an attitude. We can show our siblings we love them, or give the impression that Rilla of Inglside or an email or *gasp!* getting that day's to-do list done is more important than their lives, feelings... or even them themselves.

Did you know that how you treat your siblings is how you will eventually treat your children? A little scary to think about, I know. To be honest, I'd like to go into marriage and mothering with as little issues and bad habits as possible. That means I've got some work to do. Reversing bad habits and dealing with issues isn't easy and quick! Learning to be patient, loving and really, truly interested in my siblings (and my future children) is something I've decided to put a lot of work on during my single years. And it IS HARD! They're not always kind and loving (sometimes they can even get downright bratty) or sweet and helpful, and sometimes I've just got things to do. But that's when I, and you, have to challenge ourselves to keep being that nice, "Shall we bake cookies, darling?" type of sister.

But it won't always be so hard as the beginning.

In Galatians 6:9 it says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Pursuing these good habits, if we don't let up, will be rewarding! After a while your siblings will see that pushing Sissy's buttons won't make her lights flash or sirens scream, so they'll stop the little game (You know they're only trying to get your attention - they crave it.) Instead, they'll discover their sister doesn't react to those types of things. She only gives attention to kind, thoughtful and polite things, and psst! did you know she she's even good for book reading, school help, listening to adventures and hey! even participating in them??!! Let's put it plainly: kids are smart. They pick up on things quite fast. If you act loving towards them, and overjoyed to be with them, they'll do the same and give you lovely results. Savannah Grace proves my point beautifully,

"We have discovered that if you treat boys (even little ones) like men, and tell them that you look to them for protection, then suddenly they will act like men and will want to be your knight in shining armor." [Read the rest of her post here.]

Let your siblings know you love them and want to make them happy. They'll start to do the same.

Today I am a big sister. Yesterday I was a big sister. Tomorrow I will be a big sister. I'd like to make it count.

Maybe I'll bake Gingersnaps next.

Extreme Devotion

I just read this on My Savior's Perfect Will and thought it was an awesome story! Please take the time to read it. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure!

RUSSIA: HYPOCRITES

They were singing choruses when the two soldiers entered with rifles. The service came to a halt as the Russian soldiers stared at the believers with wild eyes.
"What are you doing here?" They shouted. "Worshiping your imaginary God?" The church members cowered in their pews, wondering if there were more soldiers outside.
"All of those who are faithful to God, move to the right side of the church," said one of the soldiers, his face a mask of hatred. "You will be shot for your faith. You who wish to go home and keep your life, stand on the left side. You must decide to live or die. Those who are faithful to this 'God' will die. Those who deny Him can live freely."
Ten minutes earlier everyone had sung praises equally. Now it was a question of life or death. Some stood to the left, looking sadly or waving apologetically to those on the right. Some stood on the right, their eyes closed in last-minute prayers.
"You on the left are free to go," one of the soldiers said moments later. Those people filed out, taking one last look at those who would soon be dead.
When those on the right remained, the soldiers put down their weapons. "We, too, are Christians," they said, "but we wish to worship without hypocrites."

Story taken from Extreme Devotion, Voice of the Martyrs

Home Sweet Home

Well, we arrived safely, although tiredly, home on Sunday at about four in the afternoon. We had been up since three o'clock in the morning (midnight at our house) driving, waiting, flying, waiting, flying and driving... I can assure you that I'm ready to have a nice non-driving and flying time here at home!

Something that I really enjoyed at the end of our trip was meeting a distant cousin whom I've never met - the last World War One Vet, Frank W. Buckles at the Buckles reunion. For the last three or four months he has been famous in our house... really! Even my six year old brother likes to be at the computer when we see he's the ABC news "person of the week", featured on the Yahoo homepage or mentioned on some other "big" place. I was able to talk to him for a little while, which was really neat, and get a few pictures with him.

I definetly enjoyed our trip! It was most certainly an amazing experience.