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RSSBack Issue: December, 2007Winter FunPosted December 29th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays, parenting, poetry10 Comments »
My husband and I took our kids and a few of the cousins ice skating on Christmas Eve. We survived with only a few bumps and bruises, remarkable considering that between just the two of us, we managed seven children under the age of 10 on the ice. I must admit that my husband was not overjoyed when I suggested ice skating! I only bring this up because I want to encourage you to push past the common hindrance to enjoying winter sports: BBRRRR!!! He actually was so happy in the end that we went ice skating, mostly because the kids had beaming faces and have talked about it for days. As you can see from the pictures, this was an indoor ice rink, and really not that cold. Just bundle up and do it! A quick note on ice skating safety. One of the skate guards noticed my four year old daughter, pictured above with me, and commented on how she was gaining courage and wanting to go faster, even though this was her first time ice skating. A Canadian, he said, “You Americans have a lot to learn! In Canada, the little children have to wear helmets on the ice.” He recommended putting a regular bike helmet on the littler ones at least. Think about it, a hard fall on the ice is no more forgiving than a hard fall on concrete. There is a winter wonderland across much of the country and so much fun to be had! One of my sisters in Michigan just took her family on a skiing vacation to Boyne Mountain and, living in Oregon, I worked hard to resist the temptation to poke fun at Michigan’s mountains. They all had a fantastic time even without supersized mountains. Now, if you do happen to be in Oregon and want to ski, be sure to visit my friends at Berg’s Ski Shop for all your gear, and go experience some real altitude. And don’t forget about snowshoeing, sledding, and snowboarding. Or just building a snowman! My kids’ personal favorite is a good old fashioned snowball fight. I am definitely in the winter mood, and if I don’t get myself and the kids out despite the weather, we all get cabin fever. My rule of thumb is that if it’s above freezing, (32 degrees Fahrenheit), out we go. An investment in high quality gloves, hats, coats, and boots is well worth it, especially if it means the whole family can play outside in winter weather for at least an hour at a time. I know many of you are either stuck inside because it’s truly treacherous outside, or at the other extreme, you live in a location where it simply doesn’t get wintery. I found a great website, Apples4theteacher.com, with a slew of winter games and activities for kids that can be done indoors and still give your kids some winter fun. You’ll find winter crafts, stories, puzzles, coloring pages, and more. If your family has a favorite winter past-time, would you share it with me? I’ll leave you with a wintery poem by that classic Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson.
 Happy New Year!Posted December 28th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays, religion2 Comments » Since I missed wishing you all a Merry Christmas, here’s a Happy New Year wish! My family and I have returned from being out of town for five days, celebrating Christmas with family.
I wish for you a new year full of peace, love, joy and good health. I wish for you to meet some goals, climb new mountains, courageously cross some valleys, and enjoy quiet moments of solitude. I wish for you to strengthen your family ties, find new ways to support your loved ones, and most of all, to honor God in everything you do. Did you have a joyful Christmas? I hope so. I know Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. Perhaps you’re away from your family, perhaps estranged, perhaps separated by war or death or disease. No matter what the circumstances, the bottom line of Christmas is about the birth of a Savior, the amazing Christ, who at the end of it all, brings victory over every single situation. I trust that you’ll allow Him to bring you victory in the coming year. Wordless Wednesday: Gingerbread MenPosted December 19th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays10 Comments »
Works for Me Wednesday: Superfood on the GoPosted December 12th, 2007 by Jen in carnivals, health/cooking/food, the office9 Comments » Be sure to visit the Rocks in my Dryer Works for Me Wednesday master list. Here’s what works for me: Odwalla Superfood Micronutrient Fruit Juice Drink. It’s been my meal in a bottle many times over the past several weeks, as my business is at the height of the Christmas frenzy, and I’m working long hours to meet the demands of those half-crazed sports fanatics. And who has time to eat a decent meal in these conditions? Life will be back to normal in another week, but for now, Superfood is keeping me alive! Here’s the scoop on this energy giving, vitamin packed drink:
The best part is that it tastes GREAT! So, what works for you? Anything for a VotePosted December 7th, 2007 by Jen in family life, politics/world news6 Comments » I was listening to NPR the other day, and heard about “Caucus! The Musical,” a lighthearted musical comedy highlighting Iowa’s crucial role in the frenzied presidential nomination process. One of the songs was aired, “Anything for a Vote,” and here the creator of “Caucus!”, Robert John Ford, gives us a hilarious and irreverent view of a politician’s campaigning. Here’s a taste:
If you live in Iowa and get a chance to see one of their shows, it sounds like you’re in for a treat.”Caucus! The Musical” premieres at the State Historical Museum Theatre in Des Moines December 27, 2007 through January 13, 2008.
Last weekend, I found myself at the Portland Airport, and my niece’s flight was delayed several hours, so I ended up not being able to drive back over the mountain that night. As I sat waiting, I was thankful I had brought my laptop, and got some work done. AND, I shot off an email to Mrs. Darling, who I happened to know lived in the area. She is a great bloggy friend, and I hesitated only a moment before clicking “send,” thinking, she won’t mind. I gave her my cell phone number, and said, hey, I’m stuck in Portland for a while, would you mind a visitor?! Sure enough, just before my niece’s plane rolled in, my phone rang. Mrs. D. and I made arrangements, and she was not a bit nervous giving her address to a complete stranger! Only, we’re really not strangers, as we discovered. We’ve corresponded enough through blog and email that when we finally sat down for a long visit, if was as if with an old friend. I’m sure all of Mrs. Darling’s other blog friends are quite jealous! She always has long lists of visitors, and I can assure them all that Mrs. D. is truly just as she presents herself. For having a drop-in visitor, her house was immaculate, she quickly prepared some delicious hors d’oeuvres and coffee, and she set aside her other plans for her surprise guest. I was honored. Now, Mrs. D. should really get an award for her amazing hospitality. Thursday Thirteen: Holiday Sports Giveaway WinnersPosted December 6th, 2007 by Jen in giveaways9 Comments » I just met the ultimate sports fan, folks. None of the winners below can beat this guy. I’m posting this from my warehouse where I just received a shipment from FedEx. The FedEx guy says, “Wow, do you have any NASCAR stuff here?” Of course I do, I say, and show him a few racing products. When I came to a felt pennant for driver Kevin Harvick, #29, he exclaims, “He’s my favorite driver! I have his number tattooed on me!” You’ve got to be kidding, I say. “No, look, it’s right here,” he assures me, pulling up his pant leg and exposing his ankle, where indeed there was prominently tattooed “29.” Oh my, I say, what do you do when Kevin Harvick changes his number? It happens all the time. FedEx Man looks at me as though I’m just not that smart and says, “Heck, I’ve got a whole leg.” I sent him away with a free #29 pennant, telling him he is indeed the ultimate fan. Here are the thirteen winners. Please contact me, you wonderful winners, with your mailing address, so I can ship you your prize. You can email me at blessedinthewest at yahoo dot com. If you still need to do holiday shopping for your favorite sports fan, be sure to visit TeamMASCOT.com. 1. Boston Red Sox Wall Clock – Natalie 2. Detroit Red Wings Flag – Melissa 3. Detroit Lions Blanket – Ginny 4. North Carolina Tarheels Steel License Plate – Frannie 5. New York Yankees Banner – Sandy Carlson 6. Chicago Cubs Glow Pen – knupNET 7. Atlanta Hawks Pennant – Betty 8. Michigan State Lapel Pin – Laura 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Trash Can – Christi 10. Dallas Cowboys Stainless Steel Water Bottle – aBookworm 11. Texas Longhorns Stainless Steel Travel Mug – Toblerone 12. Oregon Ducks Chrome License Plate Frame – Dee 13. New Orleans Saints Auto Emblem – Tonya Many thanks for playing along! Merry Christmas! By the way, Betty and Laura, your prize isn’t your first choice item, I apologize. I had already given those items away, and was left with the Atlanta Hawks Pennant and the Michigan State Lapel Pin, as no one had specifically requested those items. So, you two lucky gals still received something and hopefully you have a special person in your life who will enjoy these products! Giveaway UpdatePosted December 5th, 2007 by Jen in carnivals, giveaways, sports3 Comments » Thanks to all of you who have left a comment on my Holiday Sports Giveaway – you have until midnight tonight, then tomorrow I’ll announce the winners! I really appreciate the blogs who have mentioned my Holiday Sports-Themed Giveaway. Thank you to to following wonderful bloggers: Laura William’s Musings – Daily Contest Roundups, Book & Product Reviews, Recipes, and More. Check out her blog and you’ll be a winner! Contests Anonymous – This contest addict spends hours each night surfing the net looking for contests that other moms will enjoy! Wow, all her findings will leave you reeling. My Blog Contest – Get tons of free stuff over here, always a new contest, always great prizes. 5 Minutes for Mom – Bringing moms the best in blogging, shopping, parenting, and entertainment. Thanks to Kailani for including me in her list of contests and giveaways. Be sure to check out the Mom Owned Stores while you’re at the 5 Minutes for Mom site…you especially don’t want to miss A Rocking Horse to Love, where you’ll find every imaginable sit-on creature and adorable decor for your child’s room, and also Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles, a fun blast to the past with unique gifts like the pedal cars and Crosley Radios, 1930s Coke Machines, and everything for the vintage lover! One more place to stop is the 5 Minutes for Mom Readers’ Blogs – featuring blogs submitted by readers, and a great place to meet a new blogging friend, and of course, get your own blog listed! Daily Thoughts Contest Roundup – More amazing giveaways! This blogger is an eBayer, scrapbooker, avid reader and stay-at-home mom to two wonderful daughters. Check out her offerings. The Contest Beat – A great place to submit your contests and see other giveaways as well. Take a look over here, you could win an iPod Nano or a 42 inch HDTV! If I missed anyone, let me know! ALSO, a few carnivals have passed me by…I’ve been so busy, as all of you have, I’m sure! The Carnival of Family Life – G’day from Down Under! Help is on the Way!Posted December 2nd, 2007 by Jen in family life, giveaways13 Comments » Live from the Portland Airport in rainy Oregon! I’m waiting for my niece to fly in from Michigan. The wifi here is touchy and I’m in and out, so this’ll be quick. I do have two hours to sit here, so good thing I brought some books. So, my big sister agreed to let her daughter come and be my “nanny” for three weeks! My niece D. is almost 16, and a real gem. She is also homeschooled, and her flexibility has allowed her to come right now. I was in a panic because it’s the holiday season, and as anyone in retail knows, this is your one chance. My business, TeamMASCOT, is doing well, and that’s good and bad. Normally, we have extra seasonal help, but circumstances are such that we don’t at the moment. I’m having to work many long hours, and…the children. I need to care for the kids, do their schooling, take care of the business, the house, the holiday activities. It’s too much. So, D. will be staying with us until Christmas, and we are so excited to have her! She is also excited, having only been to Oregon for my wedding when she was about five years old. While she’ll be very busy with taking care of all the children’s needs, she’ll be earning some Christmas money! D. has a lot of experience with helping her little brothers with school and with handling daily life with younger children. ONE more quick note – I’m getting a lot of new comments on my contest post, below, and since most of the commenters are new to Diary of 1, I have to moderate the comments. I apologize, but I get a terrible amount of spam without the moderation. I will get to all those when I’m back home, so don’t worry if you don’t see your entry show up. I have a long trip back over snowy Mt. Hood and it may be tomorrow before I get to it. AND, finally, tomorrow I will also thank (and link) the many bloggers who have highlighted my sports contest on their blogs, so don’t think I’ve forgotten about you! I’m very grateful. My Homecoming DreamPosted December 1st, 2007 by Jen in family life, religion11 Comments » In my dream, I was walking down the familiar dirt road with my sister. We’re not twins, but being just 13 months apart, we were often mistaken for such. Nearly always together as children, it was natural to have her beside me in my sleep. Even in my dream, I tensed, knowing that every other dream that began this way ended in terror. But she and I continued down the road, toward our childhood home. I understood the place would be different before the house came into sight. It’s that uncanny way that even in a dream, you bear some kind of consciousness. I knew we were returning after a long absence. We turned into the drive, two little sisters, poor waifs, unkempt. I expected the house to be different, but wasn’t prepared for what seemed to be a mirage, an oasis, a mansion in the desert. It was beautiful. Gone was the shack with the corrugated iron walls and dirt floor, gone were the tumbleweeds and cactus, gone was the shame. In their place was a strong fortress of a home and something definitely good. As we approached, I saw an old couple at the door, who warmly and lovingly welcomed us. “We’ve been expecting you, and your other sister has just arrived ahead of you.” I looked, and there was my older sister, already entering this enchanting place, at her husband’s side. I saw her as I remembered her from childhood, full of spirit and life. My attention was drawn to the door. So big, made of such fine wood, that I stopped to admire it. My other sisters must have gone on to their destinies, because suddenly I was by myself. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of my surroundings. I truly hadn’t expected this. Was the warmth coming from the fireplace? Or perhaps the floor? I fell to my knees, again noticing the grain of the wood in the floor planks. Such remarkable wood, the most extraordinary quality. Sobbing, I think I was overcome with redemption. Later, I was outside at the back of the house, enjoying the view of the lovely green grass. I had always wanted grass as a child. I dreamt this dream last night. All of the hundreds of other dreams I’ve had about my childhood were meant to torment me. But, God is merciful. There was no fear, only love and beauty. A little girl’s nightly prayer of “God, please don’t let me have nightmares” was finally answered. I don’t understand the timing or the reason, but I gratefully receive. You Know the Holidays are HerePosted by Jen in holidays12 Comments »
Eberhard’s is my local dairy and the only milk products I buy – unless the organic milk is on sale, at which point I upgrade. This is not a paid advertisement, I just really love Eberhard’s! Even the coffee stand where I get my occasional egg nog latte uses Eberhard’s Dairy milk. I avoid the ones that don’t. I drive by Eberhard’s cows every day (they seem quite contented) and I like to buy local – it pleases me very much to know that my food didn’t travel 2,000 miles to get here. And there’s just something about egg nog. Here’s a wonderful article by Kevin Weeks on the egg nog tradition in his family. Here’s a sampling:
Weeks also reveals the secret family recipe, which you’ll have to begin in the next few days to allow for the nearly month-long mellowing – the secret is the aging. My friends who refuse to drink egg nog usually are afraid of raw eggs. Weeks address the raw egg issue:
Mmm, does your family have an egg nog tradition? I didn’t grow up with one, but I hope to create one for my own family, and so far, it starts with Eberhard’s! The roots of the American egg nog tradition appear to come from England, as noted in this Christmas lore site:
Merry Christmas and Happy Egg Nog to all!! |
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And apparently, your own Diary of 1 will do anything for a vote, too! It seems I’ve been nominated for a 
Oh yes, I must have my Eberhard’s old fashion egg or it just isn’t Christmas! I had my first egg nog latte of the season last week, and we’d already gone through about two gallons of this creamy, spicy holiday drink before December 1 hit.