Holidays, 2011

We have had a whirlwind end of month in the Grant home. 

After Moo's birthday, we almost immediately jumped into the Hanukkah season--which means latkes, candles, and stories that remind us of two important things. First, we are reminded of and celebrate the Light of the World, who came that we may share with Him in the world to come and shine our lights for Him before a dark and hurting generation in the meantime. Second, we remember those children of God who stood against the forces of assimilation and godlessness during the time of the Maccabean revolt in Jerusalem, and we challenge ourselves to rededicate our lives in service of the Father.  "Hanukkah" means 'dedication' in Hebrew...it is the theme of our winter months.  

I am really liking being the mother of a couple young ladies who love to cook!  Moo makes latkes with a smile. :)

Reading the devotion at candle lighting at home.

We are going through "The Light in the Darkness", a book we got through FFOZ that instructs about the relevance of Hanukkah for disciples of Yeshua/Jesus.

And then, yes, there are pictures of the gifts:

Earrings from Mom and Dad

A necklace that says המשיח ישוע  ."Messiah Jesus" in Hebrew.

Two cuddling moose (meese?) from Belle to Moo.

Awww...a crazy big eyed owl hat from Moo to Belle. Perfect. 

We traveled up to see my family from the 23rd to the 29th.  We were able to stay with my sister, Kristen and her family.  It was fun, and we were able to exchange gifts in the morning before going over to my Mom and Dad's house for dinner.  This year, for good or for bad, everyone got a knitted something-or-other from me.  :P

Roanie

First you see them...

...and then there was one.

Drewbie's hat. 

Receiving pictures of their cousins. 

Auntie Sissy gave the girls some of her beloved opal jewelry from her childhood.

Once we figure the cricut out, the girls will be in business!

Roan eyeballs the stegosaurus I knitted for him.  Isn't that what every little boy needs? A knitted stegosaurus? Yup.  I thought so too. ;)

Jaiden checks out the screaming, flying chicken that we picked up for him and his brother. Hee hee hee.

This reminds me of the closing scene of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" for some reason.  Except with a screaming, flying chicken...and no body snatching and pods.

Trying to get the cousins all looking at me and smiling at the same time was a challenge:

Then, the time came for us to go over to my folks for dinner.  This year, we shook things up a little and started the first annual novelty sock exchange:

That Mimi sure is talented.  This wall quilt she made for the girls displays the four sides of the dreidel, together the letters stand for the following words:  "A great miracle happened there".

My sister's beloved Chihuahua, Pork Chop.  She is so fancy.

 The girls made each of the cousins a personalized owl:

Singing S'vivon for the family.

 

Moo and Belle then gave Daddy their present--they had secretly learned the song by the Seguins, "Kadosh".  Belle played guitar while Moo sang.  They made their Daddy cry.  Sweet.  Hear the song here

Lily sings a song she learned at school.

Roanie sings and picks.  He'll be great at banjo one day.  Get it?

 On the 26th, we celebrated my Dad's 70th and Moo's 13th together as a family.

My Dad liked the, um, knitted item that I made for him.  That's all I'm saying about that.

The next evening, we closed out the last night of Hanukkah with my sister's family. Jaiden liked picking out which candles we would use in the hanukkiah each night.  When we put them in place, we would remind each other that the head candle that lights the other candles each night is called the "servant candle", the shumash (not sure if that's spelled right).  We talked briefly about how this reminds us of Jesus, and as Light of the World, He tells us to be lights in the world.  On the last night, I said, "Okay, Jaiden...what is this tall candle called?".  Without skipping a beat, he said, "The God candle!".   He's a quick study. :)

Did you know that if you hollow out a cutie orange and fill it with olive oil, it will burn?  It takes a little finesse, but it can be done.  It is very pretty...especially in the above picture among the cards for our game of 21. ;)