Speak life.

March 17, 2015

I had an interesting experience on Sunday. My eight year old was drawing and oblivious to everything around him during our church meeting. I noticed the girl in front of him turn around and watch for a full minute. Two young boys in the row behind us peeked over the chairs to view the progress. The boys' parents were directly behind my son and could see the drawing without trying. And of course, my own children were interested in what he was making. When the meeting ended, I asked if I could see his picture. He immediately looked embarrassed and refused my request. He knows that I don't have a taste for a lot of what he draws (zombies, war scenes, and sometimes potty humor), and that's okay. However, I couldn't forget how many people I had seen observe the picture in that short space of time. And I wanted to impress that upon him.

Later that day, I pulled my boys together and related this story. I emphasized that my purpose was not to embarrass the artist. He was not in trouble for keeping his picture to himself. But I pointed out that his picture was not really his own in the end. At least eight different people had seen it. Eight people had been affected, however meagerly. 

Our creativity is a great gift, and with it comes power. Whether or not we realize it, we effect change with every choice we make, and choices are really just exercises in creation--of art, of dinner plans, of the treatment of those around us. Be wise in the things you create in this world. They will change the world in big and small ways.

A day later, I chanced upon this music video by TobyMac. While it deals specifically with speech, I think we have the chance to speak life (ie. impart light) in every interaction and in every thing that we create. I hope my children will move forward with that truth in their hearts.

I hope that I am the one that shows them the way.

p.s. The quote above is going up on our fridge. Feel free to save the image and print one for yourself. It's a small file, but works great for the 5x5 size you can print at Costco.

What shall we give?

                                           What shall we give to the babe in the manger,

What shall we offer the child in the stall?

Incense and spices and gold we've got plenty-

Are these the gifts for the king of us all?

                                               What shall we give to the boy in the temple,

What shall we offer the man by the sea?

Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising;

Are these for him who will carry the tree?

                                            What shall we give to the lamb who was offered,

Rising the third day and shedding his love?

Tears for his mercy we'll weep at the manger,

Bathing the infant come down from above.*

"What Shall We Give" has become my favorite Christmas song this year. The harmonies, the instrumentals--above all, the lyrics--speak right to my heart. (There is a free download of the song at the end of this video.)

The song fits perfectly with my favorite Family Home Evening of the season. It's one that I repeat every December and it never fails to get me in the right spirit.

The message is simple: we all have something to give, and we can all give something we have. The world may tell us it's not good enough. The voices in our head might do the same. But what are we waiting for if not to give of the talents and passions God gave us? To bless one another on this mortal journey, to make things a little bit easier--a little bit brighter--for our brother?

Jesus Christ suffered and died for us--an excruciating sacrifice made out of love. But did he not daily perform small acts of service? Smiling at a stranger, helping a neighbor carry a load, laughing with a child? I see my Savior doing all of these things. I hear Him calling me to do the same.

I cannot be the Savior. I cannot perform an ultimate sacrifice. But I can smile at a stranger and love a child. I can listen to a friend and I can help a neighbor with their load.

This, then, is my gift. I hope it can be all of ours.

What Shall We Give

-lesson/devotional-

Song: The Friendly Beasts--a medieval French carol about the animals of the nativity and their gifts to the newborn Christ.  (video/ sheet music with lyrics)

Scripture: Mosiah 2:17 "…..when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God"

Story: The Clown of God--a French legend of a juggler's offering to the Christ child. Keep a tissue handy. (If you don't have access to the book, here's a video that follows the text closely.)

Challenge: Book of Gifts--I made these simple paper books for my family to record their daily gifts to Jesus. On Christmas Eve we're going to throw the books on our fire and send the gifts to heaven. I don't really believe that our deeds rise with the smoke, but I love a good symbol. Christmas is rife with symbols and I don't mind adding another. Really, though, there are a million traditions much like this--adding straw to a manger, filling a stocking for Jesus, etc.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

*lyrics courtesy of A Care In The World

The Mousse-tache

The first time I tried a Chocolate Dome at Kneader's I fell in love. As in, I made my husband take me there every date night for months because it was the only treat I felt like eating. I was pretty sad to leave them behind when I went off gluten and dairy this year.


However, the internet is a beautiful thing. Seek and ye shall find. Kosher mousse that is. Here's my riff on the Five Minute Mousse, or The Mousse-tache, as I like to call it ('staches happen). Gluten free, dairy free, quick prep, and simple ingredients. And it tastes amazing. This is how I like to FOOD.

A few notes:
-I know, avocados?? Trust. Cocoa is a power.
-If you're short on avocados (or trust), banana works at a 1 to 1 replacement. However, it will now be banana-chocolate flavored. Banana is a power too.
-The uncooked cocoa prevents this from being completely silky smooth. But--five minutes.
-This is the consistency of pudding (assuming you use full fat coconut milk), but chilling in the fridge will make it awesomely solid (assuming you use full fat coconut milk).


The Mousse-tache

1 can coconut milk (full fat)
2 avocados
2 Tbs cocoa
1/2 c. honey or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
(opt) fruit

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend. Serve. Garnish with fruit if desired.

Yoga Challenge

A few weeks ago, my favorite yogi issued an Instagram challenge and I had to jump in. I loosely followed the photo themes assigned, but mostly I had fun coming up with my own ideas that related to each pose. 

What an incredible 10 days!! I loved flexing my creative (and physical, haha) muscles. It was energizing to work on a project that was JUST ME! My awesome hubs and first born fully invested themselves too--Jake happily threw down time, money, and driving hours to help me get great shots. And Bryant was often my second set of arms (quite literally in the last pic!).

I am super excited to continue this series, just for fun.  :)  Namaste people!!!

Bird on a Curb

Tree Pose

Hero Pose

Boat Pose

Plank Pose

Child's Pose

Bow Pose

Warrior Pose

Dancer Pose

Goddess Pose

15 Years

Two years ago, I discovered that Jake and I were married on a Catalan holiday. This year, I learned that it is also Shakespeare's birthday.

In honor of the bard and (more importantly) my best love:

Sonnet CXVI

by William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me prov'd,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Truth.

Thank you for 15 years of building a life with me, my Love. I am wiser and better and happier for knowing and loving you.

Faces Rip Art

My 8 year old is a joker. The other day he ripped out some magazine pages and held a huge mouth in front of his own. Light bulb! We made an event out of it.

People. I cannot stop laughing at these!

Idea Formulation Generator

Found this book of postcards at Barnes and Noble recently. It made for a fun Maker Break one evening while picnicking in the yard. I love summer evenings!

Our favorite ideas, in case you were wondering:

Origami Rock Water

'Everything Is Awesome' Dirt Clothes

Shockapow Plant Undies

Liquid Seed Toothpaste

Uhduh Dirt Diapers

At first, some of my kids were complaining about their results. "That doesn't make sense!" 

It became an amusing challenge to flesh out how random words could be actual items.

Keri Smith (the author) has done some amazing books and apps that challenge how you interact with the world. I love what I've seen so far and can't wait to try out more with my boys.

Okay, now you play!