Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Have Hope

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As a new year approaches, I linger over memories of the past two years. Good and bad and ugly.

Isolation, fear, rage.

Pandemic.

I am torn between the toxic positivity of some writers and the loathsome depression and anxiety, the futility of others.

It’s been hard for some of us. Hard to stay and feel safe. Hard to make decisions. Hard to weigh risks. Hard to hope.

I don’t have any trite resolutions to offer this new year.

I have some changes I need and want to make in myself, in my family, in my home. I want systemic changes in our society, government, schools.

Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering 'it will be happier'...
~The Foresters by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I long for God’s kingdom come, here and now. Bring it. May we welcome Him with open arms. May we do the work.

Tikkun olam

The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.

Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

What is hope?

Hope is reconciliation.

Hope is freedom and liberty.

Hope is equality and equity.

Hope is justice.

Hope is having faith in something unseen. It might never come to fruition.

Yet, still I hope.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
~Emily Dickinson

Hope is gratitude.

Hope is loving even the most unlovable.

Hope is sometimes being the stoic one.

Hope is being the strong one.

Hope is showing vulnerability.

Hope is crying with the sorrowful and smiling with the joyful.

Hope is laying down my pride.

Hope is a hug or a handshake.

Hope is holding hands in silence.

Hope is sometimes not desiring touch.

Hope is a wish on a dandelion fluff.

Hope is another birthday candle.

Hope is having no debts.

Hope is an Amazon wishlist.

Hope can be silence.

Hope can be whispering fuck but then carrying on.

Hope is selfcare.

Hope is forgiving yourself.

Hope is setting goals.

Hope is dreaming of a better way.

Hope is teaching.

Hope is starting another book.

Hope is a child’s smile.

Hope is contagious laughter.

Hope is courtesy.

Hope can be sacrifice…or indulgence.

Hope is trying something new.

Hope is adopting a puppy or kitten.

Hope is courage.

Hope is asking for help.

Hope is offering the help that is wanted or needed. Despite what I think they should do.

Hope is nodding along in compassion for feelings I haven’t experienced.

Hope is a doctor’s visit. Good or bad news.

We must learn to sit in hope even when we don’t know how. Accept not knowing.

Hope offers choices.

How do I continue to hope in crisis?

How do we hope when it seems hopeless?

How can we say we still hope when we cry out in the silent darkness?

Hope can exist alongside rage, fear, desolation.

Hope keeps us awake at night. Sometimes it’s even called anxiety.

Hope gets us up in the morning.

Hope helps us to put dinner on the table each and every night.

Hope says be careful.

Hope is that text, “Did you get there all right?”

Hope is the kiss goodnight even if you’re mad at each other.

Hope is forgiveness.

Hope is remembering.

Hope is the action-anger to make it better.

Hope is radical excessive reckless love.

Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.

Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

May you never give up on hope.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

What does hope look like to you?

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Resources:

Linking up: Grammy’s Grid, Pinch of Joy, Eclectic Red Barn, House on Silverado, Random Musings, April Harris, Anita Ojeda, Mostly Blogging, Stroll Thru Life, Jenerally Informed, Shelbee on the Edge, LouLou Girls, InstaEncouragements, Thistle Key Lane, OMHG, Ducks in a Row, Anchored Abode, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Note Me Happy, Penny’s Passion, Debbie Kitterman, Artful Mom, Suburbia, Imparting Grace, Ridge Haven Homestead, Slices of Life, Try it Like it, Simply Beautiful, Modern Monticello, Cottage Market, Hubbard Home, Being a Wordsmith, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Lauren Sparks, Pieced Pastimes, CWJ, Pam’s Party, Create with Joy,

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January Themes

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When my kids were very small, we had monthly themes on our bulletin board, for our homeschool lessons, and to order our daily lives.

As the kids get older, the themes aren’t quite so vivid. I enjoy the liturgical calendar, the natural cycles of the world, and celebrating the flow and small events in our lives.

We loved these themed Calendar Connections.

We’ve packed away the holiday decorations except for the pretty candle holders and front door wreath.

I’m still sweeping up Christmas tree needles, and I’m sure I will still find some in June.

I feel like a refresh. I’m cleaning and organizing, minimizing and streamlining.

It’s been cold but sunny and that makes me happy.

We totally binge watched The Witcher and Lost in Space the last couple weeks. I ate too much, laid around too much, and neglected most of the regular cleaning. I was a slug.

January offers fun calendar themes to begin again or refresh while continuing what’s working well.

We love reading about Catholic saints and Celtic saints and sometimes do spiritual activities. And we also talk about how white saviors and missionaries weren’t the best for indigenous peoples.

Here’s a neat list of what’s on sale.

Fun January calendar theme days!

New Year

Discuss new beginnings, resolutions, goals, self improvement, growth mindset.

The Asian New Year is on a lunar calendar. Sometimes, it’s in January and sometimes it’s in February.

Epiphany

Surely, you haven’t packed away the Nativity set yet?

Celebrate Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Three Kings, The Magi, The Wise Men – with stories, cake, and fun.

Celebrating Epiphany

Saints

I love learning about the Saints’ lives.

Winter

Snow

Martin Luther King, Jr.

History: Racial Injustice Calendar and The Zinn Education Project.

Fun Stuff: National Days

Something for each day of the month – from fun foods to celebrating squirrels to justice issues to historical landmarks.

Celebrate National Bubble Bath Day on the 8th!

We like to read poetry for Burns Night on the 25th.

What are your favorite themes in January?

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A Decade Later

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So much has happened in ten years.

We lived in Hawaii for three years. We explored Oahu, Maui, and The Big Island.

My husband adopted my daughter.

I was pregnant with my son.

We were and still are shifting to gentler, more respectful parenting, constantly reevaluating methods and learning.

I’ve homeschooled our four kids for over fifteen years now. I’ve come full circle in my educational and religious beliefs after exploring so many options, many of which were very harmful to me and my family.

We’re a military family. We moved from Hawaii to Utah to Germany to Ohio.

Looking back over the last decade, I realize there are few photos of me since I’m usually the one behind the camera.

I rarely take selfies. We rarely get family photos. My kids don’t have a record of me in pictures.

This picture was taken in fall 2016.

Here’s a photo of me in the same outfit in May 2019.

It’s a bit of a glow up. I feel more confident and healthy.

It’s been an adventure for sure.

I’m trying to do better to ask my family to snap photos of me, preferably when I don’t have my mouth full.

I’ve changed quite a bit in the last decade, especially the last couple years. I think I’ve improved. I’m never content with a status quo. I’m constantly growing.

If we are not regularly deeply embarrassed by who we are, the journey to self-knowledge hasn’t begun.

Alain de Botton

Self Improvement

Health

I lost 20+ pounds the last couple years.

I’m not concerned with weight as a number. I’m not concerned with aging gracefully. I just want to be healthy.

The first picture is the heaviest I ever was, not pregnant. I weighed in at about 175. I didn’t feel good. My knees hurt. I felt tired all the time. I was too sedentary. I didn’t eat well. I didn’t exercise enough or correctly. I was depressed. I needed to jumpstart my metabolism.

I have no medical complications or issues. Thank God.

I take supplements that work for me. Glutathione and progesterone before bed. B vitamins and evening primrose in the mornings.

I massage castor oil into my hands, scalp, and thighs probably weekly.

I drink lots of water.

I only have 2-3 cups of caffeine each day. I have found I do better with tea than coffee.

I pray and meditate every day.

I try to go outside every day.

I don’t have social media on my smartphone or iPad.

I will say that I seldom have joint pain now and I feel happier and more energetic.

Food

I try to eat real foods.

I happen to really like almost all foods. I have no allergies or sensitivities.

Food has no morality.

Fiber and good fat is really important. I add collagen, chia, and flax to my smoothies.

I splurge and sometimes get takeout from Raising Cane’s. I actually seldom eat out. I drink a beer or glass of wine with dinners on weekends.

I don’t like this idea of “cheat days” or “being good” by eating more veggies or the idea that veganism will save the world.

I know sugar isn’t good for me and causes health problems, so I do try to limit my refined sugar intake.

I really like bread.

I eat mostly what I want, what I like, when I’m hungry. Sometimes, that means coffee at brunchtime and a sensible dinner. I suppose it’s intermittent fasting, but I just eat when I want to, not when society tells me to.

I teach my kids that balance and moderation is key.

Exercise

I do HIIT workouts about three times a week.

I had physical therapy for my knee last year and I continue to practice what I learned with my exercise ball, balance trainer, kettle weight, and hip band.

Here’s how I maintain my health. It’s not all about exercise and eating!

Everyone is different. I’m not competing with anyone but myself.

I try to walk outside 1-3 miles every evening after dinner. If I don’t get my walk in, I don’t feel well and I don’t sleep well. This is my down time to destress and listen to the birds and wind. It calms me. I get to think and work through problems or issues or conversations.

Rest

Rest is so, so, so important.

I try to not be too busy. I like being peaceful and not rushed.

Life happens.

Even good stress can affect us physically and mentally.

When I’m stressed, I get bloated. I don’t sleep well. I feel anxious. It’s a vicious cycle.

Moving every 3 or so years is stressful. Cats get sick. Finances get wonky. Car accidents or repairs that can’t be avoided. I take extra care during stressful life events.

I try not to overschedule the kids so we don’t have to hurry and we can almost always have dinner together.

We have leisurely mornings over breakfast. We do reading. I do work while they complete their lessons. We watch shows or run errands. Evenings are for sports, dinner, walking, more reading, prayers.

Learning

I am constantly reading. I love to read books about parenting, education, religion, psychology, politics, history, historical and speculative fiction.

I have stacks of books on my shelves and tables and oodles of Kindle editions. I get books from the library if I can.

I like to read articles about my many topics of interest. These often lead to more books from their bibliography and source notes and quotations.

Learning is very important to me. I want to keep up with everything. I want to fill in the gaps in my lackluster Georgia public school education.

My aunt and several elderly female cousins had Alzheimer’s and I worry about my parents and my husband and myself.

I am learning about anti-racism and how to counter prejudice and stereotypes. What can we do to improve our society and eliminate the wealth and class gaps?

I dream of a better future for all of us.

I’m constantly reevaluating my priorities as my family and I grow and change.

I don’t have a Word for the year. I don’t really do resolutions. I constantly try to improve and become who I am supposed to be. I want to exude love and kindness and teach my family what that should look like.

What are your priorities?

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Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

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Many cultures celebrate a new year around the autumn equinox. I’ve always felt this is a time of new beginnings.

I love the crisp fall leaves and poignant scents of cinnamon and apples, reminding us of sweetness and decay.

We also enjoy the traditions of Lammas Day.

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration that begins on the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time when Jews celebrate the good things they have experienced in the previous year, and also when they reflect on hopes and dreams for the coming year.

But Rosh Hashanah is not only festive; it is also a solemn time, a prelude to Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment.

Rosh Hashanah inaugurates the Days of Awe, ten days during which Jews reflect on their conduct, make amends for past wrongs, and set themselves to do better in the coming year.

We’re not Jewish. We’re not Messianic. We don’t keep Kosher.

I love to celebrate the feasts since we began years ago during our Year 1 history lessons. It’s important to know church history. I teach my kids religion and learn with them.

Reading the Torah

The portion of the Torah read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah is Genesis 22:1-19, the story of the Akedah, or “The Binding of Isaac.” This is certainly a problematic Bible passage. I like this article “I’ve Had it with the Akeda” and I research on it every year.

In congregations that observe a second day of Rosh HaShanah, the Torah portion is Genesis 1:1-2:3, the story of creation.

The Haftarah, the selection from the prophetic books that accompanies Torah readings on Shabbat and holidays, is from I Samuel, and tells the story of Hannah.

I have my very own siddur.

Casting Away

Tashlich (“to cast away”) is a ceremony generally conducted on the first day of Rosh Hashanah when we symbolically cast our sins into a moving body of water – such as a river, stream, or ocean. This often includes the recitation of verses from Micah and Psalms.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

    and passing over transgression

    for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

    because he delights in steadfast love.

He will again have compassion on us;

    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins

    into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:18-19

Bread has been used to represent our sins, but some choose to cast stones, wood chips, or bird seed instead, to be more environmentally healthy.

Symbols of Rosh Hashanah

The foods eaten are symbolic and their names are poetic puns, representing the prayers.

Shofar

A ram’s horn is blown to announce the new year.

Dates

The prayer before eating a date (tamar in Hebrew) includes the phrase “yitamu hataim”— may the wicked cease.

Apples and Honey

Dipping apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah is tradition to wish for a sweet New Year.

Pumpkin or Squash

Before eating pumpkin or squash (k’ra’a in Hebrew), Sephardic Jews say “yikaru l’fanekha z’khuyoteinu“– may our good deeds call out our merit before you.

Peas or Beans

Mentioned in the Talmud as ruviah, a word that sounds like the Hebrew “to increase,” indicates a desire for increased blessings in the new year.

Leeks or Onions

Associated with the Exodus from Egypt.

Beets

From the Aramaic name silka, similar to the Hebrew salak (go away) is used to express the hope that our enemies disappear.

Fish

Fish heads symbolize our wish to be heads, not tails; leaders, not followers. Originally a sheep’s head (a little hard to get these days) served as a reminder of the ram that saved Isaac’s life.

Crown Challah

Round challah represents the circle of the year and of life.

Pomegranates

The abundance of seeds represents prosperity. Also promises you will do many good deeds in the upcoming year.

Sephardic Jews celebrate a Rosh Hashanah Seder with much symbolism.

Our dinner is like a mini Thanksgiving feast.

Menu Ideas

Start the meal with Fingerlickin’ Challah, amazingly soft on the inside with a nice crunch on the outside and a make-ahead Roasted Carrot Soup with Coriander.

Soymilk is the secret to a parve Creamy Carrot Soup that will bring a rich, healthful, and colorful splash to the holiday table.

Anyone from the American south knows black-eyed peas, but did you know Jewish tradition says that eating them on Rosh Hashanah can increase your good luck in the New Year? Sausage, Black-Eyed Pea and Swiss Chard Soup is a hearty way to ensure good fortune and eat your greens at the same time.

Then dazzle your guests with a gorgeous Salmon Over Pomegranate and Golden Kiwi Arugula Salad as the appetizer. 

For the main course, pair the quintessential Hearty Pot Roast with a Cumin Spiced Brisket With Leeks and Dried Apricots, a decidedly non-traditional take on a holiday favorite.

Apples and Honey Mustard Chicken, from the popular Peas, Love & Carrots cookbook, captures the essence of Rosh Hashanah on a platter. The honey-mustard sauce is a beautiful companion for the chicken, which is baked with apples and finished with a crunchy Panko topping.

Pomegranate Braised Beef, another highlight from Peas, Love & Carrots, puts a sweet-tart spin on a holiday classic. Deglazed with hard apple cider, the meat cooks in a flavorful sauce starring pomegranate syrup to ensure a sweet new year.

Make an exotic salmon recipe with Danielle Renov’s show-stopping Tahini and Tamarind Glazed Salmon with Kadaif Topping, from Peas, Love & Carrots finished with fresh pomegranate seeds. A nest of ultra-thin kadaif noodles (think baklava) tops it all off for a crispy, golden crunch.

Citrus Teriyaki Salmon is a great entrée for non-meat eaters and a wonderful alternative to the classic gefilte fish appetizer. Best of all, it couldn’t be easier to make

Side dishes should be exciting, too. Serve time-honored Tzimmes with Honey alongside Jeweled Butternut Squash featuring pistachios, pomegranate seeds, and chopped dates. Pomegranate also plays a starring role in the fresh and fruity Blood Orange Pomegranate Salad.

Pastrami Leek Galette? Yes, you read that right. Leeks are another traditional symbolic food for Rosh Hashanah. Sautéing pastrami with mushrooms and leeks cooks the veggies down to their caramelized essence. The savory, thyme-scented filling bakes right inside the dough for an elegant presentation.

This Ashkenazic Roasted Tzimmes keeps it traditional, simple, and light. In this updated version, a bit of ginger adds a subtle, warm kick while fresh mint offers an herbaceous finish.

A holiday meal can’t be complete without dessert. But don’t settle for dry, crumbly honey cake when you can make a light and fluffy and delicious Honey Bundt Cake. Or go in a more unexpected direction while still nodding to the tradition to eat dates, and serve Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce. Or lighten things up with Baked Pears with Honey and Cinnamon.

Thanks to a few shortcuts, nobody has to know how easy it is to make these unique and oh-so-decadent desserts. Caramel Apple Halva Babka bakes up on frozen challah dough, while Apple Bourekas with Silan-Sesame Drizzle calls for frozen puff pastry squares and apple pie filling.

We like honey cake!

Pair dessert with Wissotzky Teas’ new and exotic chai offerings: Ginger and Turmeric Spiced Chai, Pumpkin Spiced Chai, Salted Caramel, or Spiced Nana Mint Chai. Mint tea drinkers can savor Wissotzky’s new line of Simply Nana Teas, which unleash a subtle layer of earthiness and invigorating minty flavor in natural green, black, and herbal flavors.

Some years, we have turkey or chicken instead of beef.

We always have challah, a lovely fruity salad, fish, and leeks or onions.

Family Resources

  • Go apple picking.
  • Have a honey tasting.
  • Make new year cards for friends and family.
  • Bake challah together.
  • Go on a nature walk.
  • Throw your care, prayers, worries, resolutions into water.
  • Blow the shofar or party horns.

More Resources:

Books:

L’Shanah Tovah! (For a good year!)

We also have celebrated Hanukkah and Passover.

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Achievable Goals

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Everybody is making resolutions and choosing their one word for the new year.

I’m inside, trying to stay warm with temps in the single digits. Sure, the last couple years have been pretty hard-hitting.

Overall, I felt like I was pretty successful in the personal growth department.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with resolutions that seem great now, but aren’t very achievable, then getting discouraged as it all fizzles out.

It’s important to make small goals that are actually attainable.

Instead of doing less of something, let’s discuss what we can do more.

Achievable Goals

  1. Get more sleep.

    Go to bed earlier. Turn off the electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Don’t lie in bed and use your devices (at least turn the blu light off). It helps with overall better health. I’ve been going to bed along with the kids and I feel better lately.

  2. Be adventurous.

    Go on a trip. Be more spontaneous. Try a new dish at the restaurant. Meet someone new. Call up someone you haven’t talked to in ages. Adventure means something different for everyone.

  3. Manage money wisely.

    Pay off debt, but don’t go broke doing that. Start adding a little into savings or put change in a jar. Make coffee and lunches at home instead of grabbing on the go. Start investing and planning for retirement or kids’ educations. Do you know how to budget?

  4. Minimize your closet.

    Donate what you haven’t worn in a year. Don’t keep what you don’t love. Find your style and color scheme. Update with some new classic accessories or timeless pieces. Minimizing reduces anxiety.

  5. Positive talk

    Reframe negative situations. Look for the positive details in your experiences and conversations and focus on those positive details. Also, focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.

  6. Use sunscreen.

    Protect your skin. Use a good natural sunscreen and cover up or go into shade during the prime sun times of the day.

  7. Purge

    Who needs more printables? Decluttering is good for the soul. Minimize your stuff. If you need containers to organize your stuff, you have too much stuff.

  8. Eating healthier

    Eat balanced and in moderation, mostly plants.
    Diets are so restrictive. Use smaller plates. Stock up on new seasonal veggies. Try new recipes every week. Drink green tea. Drink more water.

  9. Fitness

    You don’t have to waste time and money on a gym membership. Baby steps. There’s always room for improvement. Lift some small weights. Do some sit-ups. Do some pilates on the floor. Walk around the block. There are oodles of free YouTube videos to help get started with at home fitness routines.

  10. Read.

    There are so many books and so little time.
    Need some ideas?

  11. Respect

    Seriously, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
    This goes for parenting too. Respect your kids. Have empathy. Don’t give ultimatums. Don’t use force. Don’t raise your voice or your hands.

  12. Get angry.

    There’s so much wrong in the world.
    So many -isms. All these government issues. So many hurting people. Poverty. Hatred. War.
    What are you doing to help?

What are your achievable goals?

 

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No Resolutions

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I’m really not into making New Year’s resolutions.

I felt in the past that I just set myself up for failure.

I don’t feel I need to make any drastic changes for improvement. Of course, there is always room for improvement, but I don’t need an overhaul or anything.

I don’t need any challenges for my health, weight, reading, happiness, or faith.

I don’t need a one word to live by. I’m a Christian and I don’t need any Eastern mysticism or New Age mantra.

I don’t need a gimmick to post online, to show anyone that I’m anything.

I don’t need a fancy expensive planner with stickers and colored pens. I don’t need a Bible coloring book. I would never use those.

I don’t need affirmation from strangers that I’m on the right track.

I just carry on.

I frequently set small goals that are attainable – all throughout the year.

What I do year-round:

I already read at least one book each week, in addition to multiple read alouds with my children. We don’t read fluff or self-deprecating pseudo-Christian self-help garbage. We read classic literature, the Bible, well-written non-fiction on a variety of subjects, and occasionally popular contemporary fiction.

We enjoy music and art, visiting museums often. We create and learn, listen and observe.

I read the Bible, write scripture, and pray every day. My children do a Bible study together every morning. We as a family have devotions every evening before bed.

I exercise almost daily for 30 minutes or more.

We all eat mostly natural whole foods. We all cook together and it’s fun to try new recipes. We’re incorporating more plant-based recipes into our repertoire.

We take vitamins, use a happy lamp, and try to go outside daily to stave off depression and winter blues.

We’re well on our way to being debt-free! Our only debt is a car payment and one low-interest loan.

What I’m not doing:

I realize I can’t change the world. While there are probably many great charitable organizations, we choose not to support any at this time. I realize this is an unpopular view and makes me seem callous, but I can’t justify spending time and money where I see so little change or good. I won’t share hearts on Facebook or dump ice water on myself. I’m not going to throw out all my clothes that might not be sustainable and only wear whatever the trend is this week to support whomever. Too many people have the “look at me!” addiction for all they do for whatever cause.

I focus on respecting my children. “Even if we fight against racial injustice, even if we fight for world peace, even if we fight for a sustainable world, if we are using our power over the children in our lives, we are perpetuating injustice and oppression. We are setting children up to accept a world that is based on the more powerful controlling the less powerful.” Teresa Graham Brett

Worrying what others think. I just don’t have any time for this. Moderators may delete my comments and posts from online groups. I may get hateful comments on my blog posts. I may be ridiculed by family or at church or in our local homeschool community for my personal views and parenting style. I’m secure in myself and I don’t need the approval of others. People may be rude or thoughtless, but I am responsible for my reactions.

I limit my screentime and social media use because of how negative it makes me feel. I don’t need any comparisons to feel less-than. I won’t shame or embarrass my children or cats or husband online or in public. I ask their permission before posting anything about them online. I watched Broken Mirror on Netflix recently. Technology is a tool. Social media should not be a way of life. It’s artificial and I prefer reality.


What are you doing this year?

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Bible Studies for the New Year

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I love the Advent and Lent Bible studies we read through each and every year. I feel so close to God and my family as we snuggle on the sofa and read these stories and Scripture.

What do we do for Bible studies the rest of the year?

I’m at a loss.

I Googled and searched for studies recommended for the rest of the church year.

I guess there’s a reason the liturgy is called “Ordinary Time.”

It can be pretty disappointing and boring after Christmas and Easter Bible studies.

But God is never ordinary. He is extraordinary!

I plan to use this ordinary time to focus on Bible stories, Scripture memorization, and worldview studies.

Here are some of our family’s favorite Bible studies and resources.

Some great Bible reading plans:

Some great Scriptures series, devotionals, and worldview curricula:

We don’t do Bible journaling or draw all over our Bibles. We read them and learn Scripture. We’re not into coloring book Bibles. The Word of God is sacred. It’s not entertainment. I have a scripture and prayer journal.

And we don’t feel the need to post every little thing we do online to receive praise from other people. Our faith is private.

What do you study during this time between Advent and Lent?

Here’s a funny:

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Setting and Keeping Goals

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With the new year, come all these resolutions that seem almost impossible to keep for more than a week or month or so.

It’s overwhelming and frustrating.

Like we need another reminder of failure, right?

We all have room for improvement.

Whether it’s more exercise, eating healthier, to stop saying bad words, eating at home more, stopping smoking, losing weight, reading our Bibles regularly, or budgeting better, whatever {your goal is here}.

Don’t go crazy and set like thirty goals. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Start with one, or five, or ten. Go slowly and complete one goal at a time.

No matter what your goals might be, here is an action plan to keep those resolutions through to completion.

1. Set a realistic, specific, measurable goal.

Instead of just saying “eating healthier,” state your goal very specifically.

“I will:

  • limit my sugar intake
  • get up earlier to make and eat a protein-rich breakfast
  • eat an extra serving or fruits and vegetables each day”

This is absolutely achievable. It is specific. It can be measured.

2. Write your goal down.

For real. You need to think it, read it, say it, learn it. Internalize that goal. Make it your own.

Write your goal down:

  • in your planner or calendar
  • on your dream board
  • in your prayer journal
  • on the bathroom mirror.

Write your goal down and place it somewhere you will see it regularly and often to remind you.

3. Tell a friend.

We all need accountability.

Ask someone to help you stay on track lovingly. Ask her to pray for you and help you during those times when you want to quit. Text her when you’ve reached a milestone or have her set up a reminder to check up on you weekly.

4. Set reasonable milestones.

Remember, goals should be measurable. But be realistic with your abilities to change. It’s difficult to stay motivated and harder to get out of a rut of bad habits.

Don’t expect to lose 50 pounds in a month. That’s not healthy or actionable.

Just like all the experts say not to weigh yourself every day so you don’t get discouraged.

Set reasonable stepping stones. Take each day at a time. Set weekly or monthly check-ins.

5. Celebrate and don’t beat yourself up.

We all have bad days. We forget. We get distracted. We lose hope. We get busy.

We eat that double chip mocha fudge almond ice cream sundae with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, sprinkles, chopped nuts, and a raspberry on top. And we love it. Until the tummyache later.

Tomorrow is another day. Start over the next morning. Clean slate. Forgive yourself and move on.

But when you hit a milestone? Celebrate like crazy! Praise God! Call your friends and family to rejoice with you.

Send me a message and I will squeal like a teenage fangirl.

We set personal goals. I set goals for our family and homeschool to achieve each year.

What are your goals this year?

 


Linking up: Happy and Blessed Home, The Jenny Evolution

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How We Celebrate the New Year

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Our family’s tradition for New Years Eve is simple and frugal. We rarely stay up to ring in the New Year since we have four kids and are exhausted parents. Keeping the kids and ourselves up makes for a rough New Year’s Day.

We try to make New Year’s Eve special for the kids.

We like to stay in together as a family and discuss the years past – with all of the blessings, and the new year to come – all the exciting things God has planned for us.

It’s a fun day to do crafts together and reminisce and plan.

How We Celebrate New Years Eve

Food

We have fun making “snackies” – as the kids call tapas or appetizers that we lay out on TV trays for all to share.

Some of our go-to NYE party foods:

  • pigs in blankets
  • BBQ mini meatballs
  • cheese and salami platter (charcuterie)
  • various nuts
  • mini pizzas or tortilla pizzas
  • spinach artichoke dip (hot or cold)
  • veggie and fruit trays
  • sweet and spicy or mochiko chicken nuggets
  • chicken wings
  • sushi or smoked salmon
  • a variety of crackers and chips

Having a variety means everyone is happy with picking and choosing and sometimes finding a new favorite!

Mocktails

We make a yummy frothy punch out of pineapple juice, ginger ale, and sherbet. The kids sometimes like to have fizzy grape juice.

We also make our own sweet and sour mix and add that to lemon lime soda or ginger ale with fruit for a fun sangria.

Pretty glasses are a must-have to make this special.

Memories

We discuss our favorite memories from the last year. I have these fun memories cards that help prompt the kids as we remember.

We discuss our goals for the next year as a family and homeschool. The kids love this and it offers me insight into what’s important to them.

I love seeing my kids grow up and update their values each year.

Movie

We always watch a Muppet movie. I never realized it had become a tradition until my eldest daughter reminded me we had to make sure we had the new Muppets Most Wanted movie for NYE.

We don’t venture outside at night because the fireworks are scary, loud, and dangerous. They’re illegal in Germany except for a few days a year and everyone thinks they’re a pro and it can get a little rowdy. It’s safer indoors.

How do you ring in the New Year?

New Year’s Day food is important too!

Peas or lentils represent coin money.

Pork is rich in fat and represents prosperity and also progress.

Leafy greens also represent money.

I grew up eating pork roast and black eyed peas. I make pork, peas, cornbread, and greens for my family for prosperity, coins, gold, and dollars.

In Germany and German-American homes, the tradition is pork and sauerkraut. Cabbage strands represent money.

Noodles represent longevity, prosperity, and luck.

Rice represents abundance.

Whole scaly fish represent abundance. Some people used to and maybe still do stow away a few scales in their purse or wallet to ensure good fortune.

Pomegranate seeds are associated with life and fertility.

Eating 12 grapes at midnight is a fun and sometimes hilarious superstition from Spain and Latin America. It should bring luck for all 12 months of the new year.

Oranges and honey represent a sweet golden new year in Asia.

Round cakes like Bundt represent the circle of life. In Greece, orange cake Vasilopita is popular. Kransekage or wreath cake is popular in Scandinavia.

Glücksschwein or marzipan pigs are popular in Germany and Austria.

Happy New Year!

Check out my New Year Pinterest board:
Follow Jennifer Lambert’s board New Year on Pinterest.


Celebrating Chinese New Year

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Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally end after 15 days, starting on Chinese New Year’s Eve and continuing till the Lantern Festival. 

This new year usually coincides with the spring equinox.

We usually try to celebrate the first evening with crafts and yummy food – either takeout or homemade.

Each Chinese year is associated with an animal sign according to the Chinese zodiac cycle, which features 12 animal signs in the order Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

Chinese New Year traditions include: putting up decorations, offering sacrifices to ancestors, eating reunion dinner with family on New Year’s Eve, giving red money envelopes and other gifts, firecrackers and fireworks, and watching lion and dragon dances.

Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on the New Year’s Eve family reunion dinner. Fish is a must as it sounds like “surplus” in Chinese and symbolizes abundance. Dumplings shaped like Chinese silver ingots are shared as a sign of the family unit and prosperity. People eat Niángāo (glutinous rice cake) to symbolize a higher income or position as it sounds like “year high.” 

Don’t lose the luck!

  • Don’t sweep up on New Year’s Day, otherwise you’ll ‘sweep all your luck away’.
  • Don’t eat porridge for breakfast, otherwise you’ll ‘become poor in the upcoming year’.
  • Don’t wash your clothes and hair (on New Year’s Day), otherwise you’ll ‘wash fortune away’.

So thrilled about how these Dragon Puppets turned out for Chinese New Year!

Dragon Puppets:

  • Paper bag
  • Construction paper for head
  • Construction paper for eyes and nostrils
  • Streamers for the tail
  • Glitter and Sequins (optional)

What to do:

  1. Fold sheet of construction paper in half and glue to top of paper bag (where it folds up) to make the head of the puppet
  2. Attach streamers under the back of construction paper head for the tail
  3. Cut out eyes and nostrils in desired shapes – semi-circles for eyes and teardrops for nostrils
  4. Draw lines for mouth and nose with dark marker
  5. Glue eyes and nostrils
  6. Draw on eyeballs in dragon shape
  7. Draw on eyebrows and facial expression (optional)
  8. Glue on glitter and/or sequins to make pretty patterns (optional)
Drawing Dragon Faces for Puppets

(I think it would be fun to attach an accordion tongue with a strip of red construction paper so it pops out of the fold…)

Kate preferred to make hers look like a lizard.

Dragon Girl

Tori asked me to draw cool eyebrows on her dragon.

Dragon Puppets

Alex used TONS of glue stick. Then he asked me draw his dragon face and I really like how it turned out and his compliments made my day. Then he pretended to fly around with it.

We’re preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year with lots of red and gold, horse pictures and crafts, yummy food…and I searched my files and found pictures of the Chinese New Year celebration we attended when we lived in Hawaii.

And I get a clean house out of it after I told the kids that tradition. Score!

We cleaned out the library of all the Chinese New Year storybooks. Liz really likes having Big Sister Storytime. Karen Katz is a favorite author. Love her illustrations!

Chinese New Year Storytime with Sister

Resources:

  • Mask crafts from Better than Mummy
  • Learn more of the Chinese language with Mango Homeschool
  • Read more books about Chinese New Year…
  • As my kids get older, we watch movies in Chinese and about Chinese culture and history
  • Eat Chinese Food: We’ll explore flavors, colors, shapes, and the aesthetic beauty of Cantonese cooking. My kids love Chinese food and we like to try new recipes and techniques. Our Asian turkey wraps are always a hit! I need to break out my bamboo steamer and try to make some steamed dumplings…Also easy recipes are lo mein and fried rice. Slow cooker Asian ribs are a crowd please.
Chinese Feast

I will try my hardest not to watch Mulan. Seriously.

Gong hei fat choy 恭喜发财

Xīnnián kuàilè 新年快乐

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