On the Sixth (& Fifth) Day of Christmas- Source Naturals Vitamin D3; Pet Pal

 

I knew when I started this series about My Favorite Things that I most likely couldn't keep up a post a day pace throughout the 12 Days of Christmas. Alas, yesterday I missed completing Day 5...so here it is along with the highly anticipated (I'm certain!) Day 6.

 

Day 5: Source Naturals Vitamin D-3 Liquid, 4 Fluid Ounce

Thanks to Rawganic Vegan, I stumbled across this treasure and purchased it on Amazon. From my limited research, apparently, if you live north of Atlanta, Georgia, it is impossible to get enough Vitamin D from natural sunlight for the months of September through March. I can readily believe this. I also know that most of us aren't outside enough even during the warm months to get adequate supplies.

 

This liquid supplement can easily be used in a cup of water, juice or a smoothie. I've done all three and only noticed a minimal taste in water. It's not unpleasant or bitter, just different. I don't even know how to describe it.

 

For information about Vitamin D deficiency, I found this informative article at Natural News. I hope you read the article because odds are you, or one of the people you know, suffer from one of the Top 10 maladies from a Vitamin D deficiency. It's also almost impossible to get this much-needed vitamin from food alone. It is synthetically added to milk and other products, but that form is not well metabolized by your body. You would have to eat two portions of fatty fish (salmon or mackerel) per day to get enough. Thus, my option became purchasing this supplement instead.

 

 

Day 6: This cute little elephant Pet Pal that my husband gave me for Christmas. He purchased it at It's Only Fair in Newport. I love that he knows me so well. He could have bought just about anything he wanted...and he chose to get me a meaningful gift that has a huge impact on the life of the lady who made it.

 

*I hope you'll indulge me for a moment longer as I became a bit overwhelmed at something God just did in the moment as I type this. This was not how I was expecting my simple blog post to end.*

 

Christmas morning when I opened this animal I was delighted and blessed to be joined to a man that cares about the things that matter to me. I immediately treasured this gift.

 

There were also three cards attached and a brochure that explained more about the purchase. (Yet another reason why I will continue to shop at It's Only Fair.) But that morning I didn't have my reading glasses on and told myself I'd read them later when I could give the information my full attention.

 

Life has been hectic since then with three days of travelling to see families and then catching up here at home. As I sat down to write this post, I grabbed the cards with the intention of reading them before writing about the gift. Here's what the first card says: "Anyango Anjella- Anjella is 36 years old with 4 children and 1 child that she takes care of for a total of 5. She was abandoned by her husband over 5 years ago and has been struggling to feed her children. Since being in the BU (Beyond Uganda) program, she has been able to send her children to school and her dream is to move out of the one room they live in and purchase a home. Your purchase today has helped Anjella get closer to that goal."

 

The second card says this: "Meet Awori Abigail. She is 13 years old & in Grade 4. Your animal is Handmade by Women in Uganda And This Beautiful Stuffed Animal will Provide A Brand New School Uniform for Awori Abigail At Mt.Zion Orphanage in Bugiri, Uganda."

 

Do you see it? Do you know me and know that my name is also Anjella (Angela)? Do you see that this orphan who will now have a new school uniform because of this little animal is named Abigail? ...the same name as my oldest daughter?

 

So while my husband bought me a cute little animal to give his Angela and also bought Haitian hand painted magnets for his Abigail and other three children...he was in turn providing food, clothing and shelter for another Anjella and Abigail half a world away that he may never meet this side of the fulfilled Kingdom.

 

Have I mentioned to you how much I absolutely LOVE Fair Trade?!!!

 

On the Fourth Day of Christmas- Source Naturals Vitamin B-12

Placed approximately in the center of this photo, you'll see my bottle of Source Naturals MethylCobalamin Vitamin B-12, Cherry Flavored, 120 Tablets. This little bottle has made a huge difference in my energy levels and sleep habits. Most adults don't get an adequate supply of B-12 and yet it's an absolute necessity for better energy and deep sleep. 

According to information I found on Livestrong.com, healthy levels of B-12 turns off your natural melatonin and assist the sleep-awake cycle by boosting your response to light in the morning. Your transition from sleep to wakefulness will happen more quickly...and this is the benefit I've noticed the most. Taking one sublingual B-12 at night, before sleep and I awaken the following morning without that groggy, "hungover" feeling that can only be pushed off by caffeine. I no longer need a cup of java or tea first thing. 

I also found this article that states that B-12 is essential for melatonin production. I've almost completely eliminated taking synthetic melatonin. I only use it now on very rare occasions. My goal for this next year is that our whole family will transition to B-12 instead.

Some information I came across stated that as many as 40% of adults are B-12 deficient, yet most meat eaters have been told that only vegans experience this. Wrong. All of us are susceptible and our convenience food American culture only compounds the problem. If you want to have a more natural "circadian" rhythm, B-12 will greatly improve the possibility. The next thing I need to eliminate to sleep more naturally is no more watching movies or computer screens after dark. That part is going to be tough for me.

One thing I disagree with on the Livestrong page is that B-12 could cause sleep deprivation. My experience (and one that I've found to be common to others) was that taking this sublingual tab in the morning, made me drowsy after about two hours...excessively drowsy. Upon a suggestion I came across on the internet, I experimented with taking it at different times throughout the day and found for myself that the best time is right before bed. The more you get in tune with your body, the better you'll be able to distinguish what time is best for you.

Lastly, don't run right out and buy any 'ol B-12 supplement. Any version that is made from cyanocobalamin does contain trace amounts of cyanide...that are legal. I know I don't know you, but I'm just going to presume that most people don't want cyanide in their bodies. That's how I came across the Source Naturals option. If is made from methylcobalamin which is perfectly safe to take.

Next up- Source Naturals Vitamin D-3 drops

Day 1- Ancient Minerals Magnesium Spray

Day 2- Urban Farm Magazine

Day 3- Equal Exchange Organic Chai Tea

On the Third Day of Christmas- Equal Exchange Organic Chai Tea

My favorite thing to share today is Equal Exchange Organic Chai, 20-Count (Pack of 3). I am happy to share that I paid even less per box for this than the link above at It's Only Fair in Newport. 

However you choose to purchase it, if you're a tea drinker, look into buying this brand. Not only will you have a delicious tea to enjoy, but you can be confident that the farmers who grew the tea are being paid a fair wage. 

Next up, Source Naturals Vitamin B-12.

Previous "Favorite Things":

Day 1- Ancient Minerals Magnesium Spray

Day 2- Urban Farm Magazine

On the Second Day of Christmas- Urban Farm Magazine

This is one of my favorite finds this year. Urban Farm is packed full of gardening tips and inspiration for people like me who don't have a lot of space. There has been loads of information about composting, bee keeping, hydroponics, vermiculture and highlights of successful urban farms. In every issue there is more than one article that has inspired greener living and better food production compared to how I have done things previously. I like the magazine so much that I gave my dad a subscription for Christmas.

Next up: Equal Exchange Organic Chai Tea

On the First Day of Christmas- Ancient Minerals Magnesium Spray

I explained in this post why I am sharing my favorite things. But these are also just really great products that I know you will enjoy. The product featured prominently in the photo above is where I'll start.

Ancient Minerals Ultra Pure Magnesium Oil 8 oz. is a great natural resource I first learned about from the Rawganic Vegan lady. She had mentioned that a magnesium deficit can affect sleep and, my life-long issue, restless leg syndrome. I have since done a little more research and discovered that a magnesium deficiency affects most of us because of soil depletion. And a lack of magnesium can disrupt blood pressure, insulin production, cause muscle twitches, and on and on and on. Many consider magnesium to be the most necessary mineral for the body.

I only know my own experience...and here's what I have learned: within two nights of spraying it on the bottom of my feet, I began to sleep better. Magnesium stimulates natural melatonin production. So if you're concerned about giving your child a synthetic supplement of melatonin, this spray is a natural alternative.

My restless leg has also improved. I didn't recognize just how much until I forgot to use this spray two days this week. The first night I had trouble getting to sleep because of the restlessness. Not putting two and two together, the second night, my thigh muscle was twitching so badly that I could not get to sleep. My legs continued to be restless and I estimate it took an hour longer to get to sleep than usual.

Do your own research, but this article is a great place to start.

Next up...Urban Farm Magazine

My Favorite Things

For some strange reason, every Christmas, The Sound of Music's song, "My Favorite Things" seems to get a lot of play. I guess it has something to do with the one line about "brown paper packages tied up with string." Regardless of why, it set me to thinking about a few of my own favorite things. I also thought maybe I could do a bit of a "Twelve Days of Christmas" series with it. Although I'm uncertain as to whether I can keep a blog a day pace for twelve straight...I do have at least a few items I've been wanting to share with you. 

Pictured above are the five that I didn't even have to think twice about. So...we'll see if I can do this. First post will follow shortly.

Better Than Panera, Orange Cranberry Scones

The last time, about a year and a half ago now, that my daughter paid around $2.50 for a yummy orange scone at Panera, I confidently said, 'I bet I can make those at home for a lot less.' I knew it was not only possible, but very likely they would be healthier too. Since my first batch, I've quietly thought to myself that they are tastier also. Last week, when a friend told me, "They're better than Panera," and promptly asked for the recipe...I thought there may just be others out there who are tired of forking over too much hard-earned cash for a sometimes rock-hard scone.

 

A few years ago, I found this great recipe on Opera Singer in the Kitchen's website. Full credit goes to her for the original. I have modified it even further though so I'm not going to copy her version here.

 

Ingredient list:

• 1 1/2 cups spelt flour (You can use a combination of whole and white, more white than whole though. )
• 2 Tablespoons Sucanat
• 1 Tablespoon organic orange zest
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon (or less) sea salt
• 6 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 cup organic cranberries, chopped
• 1 flax or chia "egg" {1 tablespoon flax meal or chia seed + 2 Tablespoons water}
• Approximately 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice and/or coconut milk (Look for details about this at the end)

 

Preheat over to 425° F. Stir flour, Sucanat, orange zest, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt together in a large bowl.

 

Cut in coconut oil with a pastry cutter until it looks almost like a crumb topping.

 

Now is the best time to toss in your fruit of choice so it doesn't all stick together once the wet ingredients are added.

 

Stir in the egg and juice/milk combination (I'll explain this further at the end). Mix together with a fork or wooden spoon until the dough starts to form a ball.

 

*Here's the secret to making them like Panera! Do not roll them out like a cookie or pizza dough, which is very common. Instead divide into fourths and pat into a square-ish shape. They will be rather thick. I use parchment paper to make clean up easier and also, because depending upon your pan, if you don't, you'll have to lightly grease the cookie sheet. If you want a fairly healthy version of this scone, then right here, sprinkle them with either Rapadura or Sucanat sugar because they are chunkier and look pretty.

 

Bake 10-14 minutes depending upon desired level of  "doneness".  If you're opting for the most Panera-like scone you can get, while they are baking, mix together the following for a glaze:

 

• I Tablespoon coconut oil, melted
• about 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice
• about 1/3-1/2 powdered sugar

As soon as the scones come out of the over, drizzle a lot of glaze on top. You also have the option of letting them cool a little, making a thicker glaze and spreading it on top to resemble the Panera scones. The recipe for the glaze is mostly approximations, dependent upon how thick you want it.

 

And that's it...almost!

 

Here are my fool-proof  "must do's" if you are looking to have the "better than" label attached to your healthier scones.

• If you're using spelt, which is a wetter dough than all-purpose, bleached, yuck...you must at some point, mix it by hand. This is the only way to make sure your dough is not too wet, which leads to the second "must do".
• The juice/milk combination is strictly a matter of preference, more juice means more orange flavor. But, if using spelt, you will most likely not need the entire liquid unless you are hoping to do a completely whole wheat or whole spelt scone. Then, you also need to opt out of Sucanat in favor of honey, maple syrup or agave instead.
• Yes, I have made the dough far too wet in the past, and they still bake up very tasty and nice. Handling them, not having a whole scones-worth of dough stuck to your hands and shaping them well goes much better with a dough that is mixed just until it sticks together. Try adding about half of the necessary liquid and increasing it as needed.
• The original recipe makes eight scones. In order to get the Panera size, you'll only get half of this amount from my version. I easily double it though (as I did in the photos above) and still get eight. Just remember when you're eating them...1 of my scones = 2 of the originals!
• This recipe is very versatile and is the only one I use for scones. It is super easy to swap out flavor and fruit options to experiment with different tastes. I've made pumpkin (just watch the amount of liquid very carefully); lemon/poppy seed; gingerbread; blueberry/lemon; apple/cinnamon;is cranberry, the original dark chocolate/orange or like Panera, just orange. I used fresh cranberries for the recipe because they are widely available right now and are just so much better than the dried version. Dried is entirely usable though. Really, the possibilities are pretty much endless.
• Last thing, I can't stress enough the part about shaping them by hand. I read a few years ago, that as a low gluten flour and because it is wetter than regular wheat, spelt should not be handled much. Keep in mind that by stirring less, combining just until it holds together and shaping, instead of rolling them out...you will be rewarded with tender, flaky...very delicious scones.

Oh yeah...one more thing: Eat them while they're warm! They really taste best that way.

 

 

 

I Think She Gets a Bad Rap: Sarah, (Conclusion)

If you've waded this far through this series of posts about Sarah, you'll already know that I've had a change of opinion regarding this woman of faith. If you've not read the previous posts, then you have my permission to back out of this one. Should you choose to proceed, here are the links to the other posts:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

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I concluded the third one by asking, "what's the big deal and why should it matter to me so much?"

Honestly, I don't know why this struck a chord with me. Maybe I was just looking for a way to fill up several hours of my time during the Christmas rush. Possibly.

I really think there's something here though, and I can't exactly put my finger on the full meaning of it. I just know I was "wow-ed", for lack of a better term, by the thought that all of the preconceptions we have been taught about Sarah may not be accurate.

Oh, yes, the facts are still the same...but the nuances as to why she gave Hagar to Abram and why she laughed might have been lost all these many thousands of years later. Are we willing to admit that we really don't understand much about ancient Eastern cultures of that time? Can we recognize that they may not have even pitched their tents on the same acre of land...thus, not even sharing the same tent (common of that time)...and that Sarah's possible isolation would have grown even more as Ishmael grew up strong and sure, ready to inherit Sarah's world should Abraham pass away?

Yep...all of that is not only possible...but very likely. Here's the thing: Although the culture, interactions and customs are vastly different...the human condition is not. And the truly blessed fact is that God has not changed.

The God that did not remove the blessing because of Ishmael, nor when either Abraham or Sarah laughed...is the same God that keeps drawing us to Him inch by beautiful inch until we are not only willing...but capable of receiving the blessings He has for us. God Incarnate, Jesus, as we were told to call Him, came to do precisely that...draw people out of the empty, barren land of their souls...breath by breath...into the fertile life of knowing and accepting His love.

Do we mess up? Yes
Do we take matters into our own hands? Absolutely
Do the consequences sting for years to come? You betcha

But sometimes, we only have enough Light to move forward to the place where we "think" He's leading us. I'd sure hate to think that centuries or millennia later someone would look at my life and say, "Why in the heck did she do that when all she had to do was wait on God?" That's not exactly fair for the one with all the information to judge.

No. I've begun to see Sarah for the woman she was, not the woman I've been taught she should have been. She had limited knowledge, a limited uterus and a husband who on more than one occasion asked her to lie to protect his own skin. How can I piously assert that I would have somehow been able to wait better than she? I can't.

And this gives me hope. Hope that an extremely flawed, limited-brained, plowing-ahead-without-all-of-the-facts-up-front person such as myself still has a glimmer of hope to one day hear my Savior say that He found me faithful. Since He's the only One in possession of all the facts, isn't He the only One I should be attempting to impress anyway?

Spreading Some Christmas

Last night, we had the blessing to be a part of a beautiful thing. A gentleman from our church who regularly heads out to downtown Cincinnati to meet with homeless folks, put together an event right on the sidewalk of Third Street.

Best estimates are that there were close to 100 people who received food, clothing, toiletries, and more and about the same number of people helping out. The interesting thing is that I often couldn't tell who was being helped and whom was doing the helping. Apparently, I wasn't the only one...someone walked up and offered me a Bible. I wanted to say something smart, but thought differently and simply replied, "I attend FCC". He was a little embarrassed, but that's okay. It can keep him humble. Our women's director walked up to one of our guys who hadn't shaved that day and offered him some food. Rick was very kind and declined. The point? At least we were mingling. Ha!

Social faux pas aside, the weather was neither a deluge or too cold for a brief 24 hour period which was great and I know people on both sides of the serving table had a good time. Wayne and his helpers did a superb job of bringing it all together. There was actually so much help that there wasn't much for us to do. But we did what we could.

Isn't that sort of what Christmas should be?

None of us can do much...but we should do what we can. Every day.

Frozen: A Movie Review

 

Several days ago, my princesses and I went to see the latest in a very long line of Disney princess movies. Frozen, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Snow Queen. Given Disney's penchant for modifying fairy tales (i.e. The Little Mermaid does not become sea foam!), I am presuming that this tale may look nothing like the original story.

 

Liberal artistic license aside, the movie is cute...and just what you'd expect from Disney. There are sweet songs, pretty princesses, handsome men, a love story (sorry, if I'm spoiling anything for you...she wrote sarcastically!) and a few animated animals...or normally inanimate objects...that provide ample comic relief. My sarcasm is not meant to deride Disney or the movie. They have a formula that works and they obviously like to stick with it.

 

Broadway voices galore abound throughout the film and Idina Menzel has the only show-stopping song of the movie. Why Disney thought they needed Demi Lavoto to cover the song on the soundtrack is beyond me. I would guess it was contracted and recorded before Lavoto's fall from Disney-graces. Menzel is voice enough and turns in a fabulous acting and singing vocal performance as Elsa.

 

We all enjoyed the movie and Abbey observed that if it's Disney and it's a princess movie, she is just going to love it, no matter what. As I said, Disney has a "formula" that works...but my one teensy-weensy critical observation is this: They go to great pains in the first song to set the presumably "Icelandic" or Nordic feel to the movie. (Think Gregorian chant or Russian folk song with deep male vocals and you've got it) But then the rest of the music, to my ears, brought in nothing more of the culture or time period. In fact, some of the music was far too "pop" and at times seemed out of place for the story they were telling.

 

In movies like The Princess and the Frog, set in New Orleans, Disney aptly provided a score of Cajun and jazz music. If there is no "themed" music, Disney has tended to fall back on a score consisting of Broadway musical-type songs (like Menzel's previously mentioned "Let it Go"). All of this to say, I could have done without the pop music and would have preferred they stick with one theme for the duration of the film. Oddly enough, I mentioned this to a friend and she quickly pulled up a Facebook post from Jon Acuff which indicates he evidently didn't care for the Nordic style of music. Many people commented and concurred. I won't get into a discussion of the merit of why most people should broaden their musical taste here. I would simply come off sounding pompous and arrogant...which are traits I struggle with anyway. Suffice it to say, at least Disney gave us a sampling of what the authentic culture would sound like, yet they are well aware of the limit to which they can carry this with their typical audience.

 

This all comes back to what I will reiterate one more time and perfectly summarizes this entire review: Disney has a formula that works...and they are not afraid to stick with it.

I Think She Gets a Bad Rap: Sarai/Sarah, (Part 3)

At this point, if you haven't read parts 1 and 2, this post will make absolutely no sense to you. Thus, I encourage you to read them before proceeding here. (Link to Part 1 and Link to Part 2)
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I hope you took the time to read Genesis 16. If we keep in mind that in Ancient Eastern cultures, when a woman could not bear sons...or any children for that matter...she was considered cursed, judged unworthy or guilty of some hidden sin and for all practical purposes, could be disposed of in favor of a woman that would produce sons...is it any wonder that Sarai gave her servant, Hagar, to Abram to conceive a son for him?

I once saw a rather good movie portrayal of this story of Abraham and Sarah. In it, Hagar sat upon Sarai's knees as she birthed her child. I have heard of this in other places and found this commentary that describes the ancient practice. As it points out, we do not know this practice was carried out, but neither do we know that it wasn't. How it was done really is not the point...why is huge though.

Abram and Sarai had lived in Canaan for 10 years by now and no children also meant no one to inherit Abram's massive wealth. Sarai's biological clock was ticking...loudly. If you've ever known someone that struggles with infertility or perhaps you yourself have...you know of what I speak. It becomes all-consuming. Everything is filtered through the ongoing process of how to conceive. What trick, what remedy, what calendar, what doctor, what donor...will finally work.

Abram and Sarai were not only well beyond the normal years for conceiving a child, they did not have access to all the information and possibilities we have today. I think if I were there and she had asked my advice, I probably would have approved of her course of action. And that is not to say I do not have faith. God, up to this point, promised Abram, the child would come from his body. Unless there was information not recorded for us to be privy to, Sarai still had no such promise.

Yet, every Bible study, commentary, sermon and conversation I've ever come across essentially utters this common "If only".

If only Sarai hadn't taken matters into her own hands.

I hope you're beginning to sense that just within the last week, I've stopped viewing Sarai this way. I think she did the best she knew how to do with the information and circumstances she had at her disposal. We also are never told in any part of Scripture that Sarai had a change of heart and repented for her presumed unbelief. So why does God point to her as a pillar of faith in Hebrews 11? Is it possible that God did not view her actions as evidence of unbelief?

We find out in Genesis 16 that Sarai's regret over her actions and Hagar's haughtiness combine for a volatile cocktail that almost destroys Hagar. Yet God still has a plan for His purposes when we miss the mark of His perfect path for us. In Genesis 17, God institutes the ceremony of circumcision as an outward sign that Abram (now to be called Abraham) and his entire household are to be set apart. Did you just pick up on the beautiful nugget that only Abraham and Ishmael would have been among those we would now consider "the Chosen people of God"? Only those two had Abraham's blood flowing through them and Jews and Christians alike do not consider Ishmael as part of the promise. Yet from the beginning, God's covenant was inclusive for all who would follow Him...be they foreigner acquired into the family, servant or slave. Make no mistake, Abraham had a very eclectic mix of Middle Eastern ethnicities in his household...and every man was circumcised.

This same chapter is when Sarai becomes Sarah...'"princess". Also, for the first time, God states, "I will bless her and surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of many nations; kings of peoples will come from her." (verses 15-16) And there it is in verse 17, Abraham laughs and says to himself, 'How can a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman have a child?' He goes on to ask God to bless Ishmael. I don't know why. Obviously, over the 13 years since his birth, he had educated and cultivated his son to be his heir. It only seems natural since God never intervened and chastised Abram and Sarai for the Hagar incident. Up until this time, they could honestly assume Ishmael was the one.

In Chapter 18, we have the infamous interaction between God, Abraham and the two angels on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. But tucked in this passage is the just-as-famous laughter of Sarah. Keep in mind, we still have no recorded interaction that Abraham told Sarah what God had previously said. Wouldn't most husbands protect their wives from such building up of her hopes? I don't know if he had told her or not. We only know that when she heard it from the very lips of God...after the 13 year daily reminder, living and growing before her that her ovaries and uterus were defective and Hagar's were not...she laughed!

I think this laugh, in and of itself, is not the evidence of Sarah's lack of faith. No...I believe this laugh is proof that there was still an ember of hope. How many people do you know that after 23 years of infertility could still laugh at such a comment? (And actually, Sarah's had lasted for several more decades than this!) Most people I know, myself included, if it were me, would find the bitterness palpable, the rage constantly just under the surface and the angst ready to be rung from your soul at any moment. I'm afraid that to place myself in her sandals means I probably would have exploded and let the Creator of the universe "have it". Don't piously deny that you wouldn't have done the same. Remember, to this point, Sarah has never heard about any of the promises directly from God and we have no recorded proof that Abraham had ever told her.

Certainly...God calls her out on the laughter and asks Abraham, 'Why did she laugh?' And at this point Sarah, 'is afraid, lies and says she didn't laugh.' Trusting that the God who said He is the same, "yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) is just as loving, gracious and merciful then as He is now...without a hint of disappointment or condemnation in His Voice, but with a beautiful gleam in His eye says, 'Oh yes you will, young lady...this time next year, you'll have a son. If I can speak a whole world into existence, this is a piece of cake.'

Okay, that's how I imagine Him saying it, but the theme is the same: No chastising...just loving affirmation.

So three posts later, what's the big deal and why should it matter to me so much?

Come back for the conclusion soon.

The Nutcracker, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati, Ohio

I may be wrong, but the Nutcracker seems to be running later this year. As it turns out though, this is my first time to ever see it. Cincinnati Ballet does a wonderful job performing it. As we ushered last night, we were smiling almost constantly as moment by moment we saw little boys and girls all decked out in their Christmas finery for opening night.

That's one thing we've noticed about the ballet crowd...they like to dress up and the children are no exception. The Aronoff beautifully decorates for the event so there were a lot of photo opportunities throughout the lobby. The nutcrackers at the souvenir table only added to the ambiance.

This is a great first ballet for any child and I honestly did not see or hear any restless little ones. Each act is about and hour, ten minutes (give or take), plus with the addition of brightly colored sets, costumes, fun music and even some "magic", I think children of all ages would enjoy this performance. Also, the Sugar Plum Fairy is one of the most graceful ballerinas I've ever seen on the Cincinnati stage.

From what I hear, the performances are well attended each year. I don't know if tickets are still available, but if they are, this would be a great Christmas tradition to begin. And if you don't have any local children or grandchildren to take with you, grab a few from your neighbor's house...they'll all be thankful that you did.

I Think She Gets a Bad Rap: Sarai (Part 2)

I began the first part of this post by laying out some common knowledge amongst Christians regarding Abraham and Sarah. I am fully aware that this couple also play large roles in Judaism and Islam, but I am not familiar with the specific details of how each of these religions view their spiritual ancestors. Although I could make assumptions regarding both, I am choosing not to so as not to show my ignorance in these religions.

No, for my purposes, I am speaking to those of us raised in the Christian church or at least have been there long enough to have some common knowledge about the Patriarch of God's people and his spouse. If you haven't already read the first post on this topic, you should, otherwise the points I'm about to make will probably seem...well...pointless to you.

(For part 1, click here)

What I'd like to do in this post is bring forth a few observations that for some reason struck me for the very first time as I read the Genesis accounting of Abraham recently. These observations led me to ask a few questions and look at Sarah from an entirely different perspective...a much more favorable one than I confess I've had in the past. I will also share that my study came from the New American Standard Bible and unless something has been lost in translation, I believe them to be accurate.

• Genesis 11:30, we learn for the first time that Sarai, Abram's (aka Abraham) wife is barren
• Chapter 12, verses 1-3 indicate the first recorded time God spoke to Abram and promised he would be a great nation. The promise includes that those who bless Abram will be blessed and those who curse Abram will be cursed. "So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him..." (Genesis 12:4)
• In said promise, there is no mention of how God will accomplish this. Abram's moving from Haran and setting out for Canaan is interpreted by most as belief in God's promise, but we are not told this specifically.
• Chapter 12, verse 7, God appears to Abram and says, "To your descendants I will give this land." Emphasis mine, because this is the first recorded mention of the land belonging to Abram's descendants.
• Verses 10-20 record a lack of faith on the part of Abram. There is a famine in Canaan, Abram and his entourage head off to Egypt in order to survive. But apparently, a woman we would now consider elderly, Sarai is so beautiful, Abram fears the Pharaoh will take her as a wife and kill Abram. He instructs Sarai to speak a "half-truth" saying she is Abram's sister (they really were half-siblings). Pharaoh gives Abram a lot of loot, including servants (could this be when they acquired Hagar?) because of Sarai. We are not told that Pharaoh ever sleeps with Sarai, but it would not have been out of practice to do so. Regardless of how Sarai was treated, Pharaoh's household is struck with "plagues", and he knows it's all Abram's fault. Thus, he has them escorted away.
• The last bullet point proves that Abram's faith was a bit shaky because how could you believe the promise of God and yet fear for your life. Keep in mind, up to this point, we have never been told that Abram believed God. Genesis 12:7 says Abram built an altar because God appeared to him, not because he believed Him.
• Chapter 13 tells how Abram and his nephew, Lot, amicably part ways because their farming operations had become so vast that the land could not support both of them any longer. After Lot separated from Abram, God reveals even more of the promise to Abram: All the land he could see, as far as he could look, would belong to Abram's descendants who will be too numerous to count.
• When we skip forward to Chapter 15, this is the first time God spells out for Abram, your servant won't be your heir. No...it will be "one who will come forth from your own body..." (verse 4) I would like to point out, this still does not stress that Sarai will be the mother of this heir.
• At this point, God takes Abram outside and says just as he can't number the stars, neither will Abram's descendants be countable. Verse 6 of chapter 15 is the first place it specifies, "Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." Yes, the emphasis is mine. But I believe that little word, "then", is there because this is the very first time Abram actually believed God's promise...particularly the part about the heir coming from Abram himself.
• Even though we're told Abram believed, he still asks God, "how may I know that I will possess (the land)?" God then does something no other god has done...He "cuts covenant" with Abram...a man. The full sacrifice is described in Genesis 15:9-21, but essentially God passed between the sacrifice to show His commitment...His covenant...(contract) with Abram. This ritual in that day usually consisted of both parties passing between the sacrifice, but in this context, the entire covenant depended upon God, not Abram. Thus, only God passed through.

I hope you've already picked up on this huge point I'd like to make: No where is it written that Sarai knew about any of this. We are placing our Western assumptions upon their marriage that she knew everything her husband experienced. Also in no place recorded, has God as of yet declared that Sarai would be the bearer of this heir of Abram's.

Keeping this in mind, can we cut Sarai a little slack for what she does in Chapter 16?

Read this chapter in Genesis and come back soon for some thoughts on Sarai's desperate actions.

I Think She Gets a Bad Rap: Sarai (Part 1)

When I say the names Abram and Sarai or Abraham and Sarah, if you've been in a church for very long at all, a few nuggets of their story quickly jump to the surface of your recollections.

• Abram was later called Abraham; Sarai later named Sarah
• God promised Abraham would be the father of many nations
• Sarah tried to create a "shortcut" to this promise by giving Abraham her servant, Hagar, to produce an heir through her.
• This obviously created tension between the two women and the sons of Ishmael and the sons of Isaac still war to this day.
• Sarah had the first recorded LOL (laugh out loud) when God, in person, suggested to Abraham that within a year's time of His visit, Isaac (which means "he laughs") would be born.
• God sealed His covenant with Abraham through the outward sign of circumcision.

Now, I'm not here to debate whether the validity of any of things are true or not. Each of these bullet points are "true". Through my lifelong upbringing in the church though, I have been tainted to believe that both Abraham, and particularly Sarah, attempted to "take matters into their own hands" and we all pay for the consequences ever since. I've also been led to believe that Sarah's laugh was an indication that she didn't fully embrace the previous prophecies of her conceiving and carrying the heir herself.

In other words, I've been taught to believe that although God indicates Abraham and Sarah had profound faith (see Hebrews 11), we can take great comfort in the knowledge that they were not perfect and also doubted, at times, the promise God gave them of an heir. While I do not disagree that Abraham and Sarah were not perfect, a fresh reading of these passages this week has led me to believe that maybe we've passed too much judgment upon them because we have the hindsight that they were not blessed with having. Maybe we shouldn't think of Abraham as being led astray by his wife and should instead place ourselves in the culture and understand the desperation they may have felt.

In other words, maybe if we read this story of a husband and wife in the ancient Eastern context in which it occurred and also read it as if the whole thing is unfolding for the first time before our very eyes, we will be able to cut them some proverbial slack and see them for the huge pillars of faith they really are. Actually, maybe I'm the only one that has doubted Sarah's faith. I could just never reconcile how a woman who handed off her handmaid for sex with her husband and then later chased the woman away, could be seen as this exemplary model of faith.

Well, that is, I couldn't until I read the Genesis account again this week.

Attempting to put all of this into one post was proving to be a very long post. Come back for part 2, soon.

I Just Had to Smile

What is pictured above are packets of heirloom seeds I purchased through a great Black Friday deal from my favorite seed company. I knew I purchased too many for my small patio garden, but I thought maybe I could sell the extra plants and give a few away to families that are interested in learning the art of gardening.

Then yesterday, I had a friend make me an offer I couldn't refuse: use some of space at her place and do some gardening with her. This combines several of my passions all in one...gardening, learning, teaching and community. Since she'll actually have land to use, we may even get to explore some new composting techniques I'm learning about.

The only drawback now that God has given me this great hope for a bigger harvest, is the patience it will take for me to wait until February to start the seeds!

The Wormery

I've told you how this apartment/urban farming thing is becoming a passion...bordering on obsession. Nothing probably demonstrates that more than my wormery. It's been up and running for about a month now and I honestly can say it is the wisest gardening decision I've ever made.

The bins were empties I had from purging to live more simply and I found a great place to get worms shipped year round and guaranteed live. 

I also found a great how-to video on YouTube, which I can't locate now, but there are several available. I'm not providing complete instructions here because I have had to play with it and modify my model based on my situation. Plans abound online though and it's a very easy process.

Next, your family has to know what to save, so I found this great idea on Pinterest and used a cereal container that was just taking up space in my cabinet. Now it sits on my kitchen counter and collects items until I feed the worms. I tailored it to our family, but here are the items I listed:

• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Peels
• Egg shells
• Cores
• Leaves, dry
• Rotten fruit/veggies
• Juice pulp
• Paper towel and tubes
• Cardboard
• School papers
• Hair
• Dryer lint (if mostly natural fibers)
• Dust bunnies
• Tortilla chips
• Pencil shavings
• Kleenex (used is okay)
• Paper plates (w/o grease)
• Nut shells (except walnuts)
• Vacuum contents (remove solid items first, I.e. Legos)
• Hamster bedding
• Cricket carcasses and poo (we have a bearded dragon that eats crickets)
• Toilet paper tubes
• Crackers
• Cereal
• Unpopped popcorn
• Pretzels & chips
• Oatmeal
• Seeds
• Muffin cups
• Cotton balls
• NO: meat, dairy, oils, peanut butter, dishwater

And on the top, I wrote, "Don't know? Ask!"

As you can see from the list, having a wormery is a great way to recycle too. There are dozens of other items you can add, I simply ran out of space on the tub. Lists also abound on the internet.

Place the worms in the bin, give them a little soil to start, tuck some food near the bottom and cover the worms with cardboard, then place your lid on top. Some common problems are fruit flies, mold, odor and "wandering" worms. All of these are indications of an unhealthy wormery. Again, much wiser and more experienced voices can be found to address issues and feedings online. I have had to find the right balance for my situation.

All of this sounds much more complicated than it really is and with very little effort, I should have great soil for next Spring's patio garden. I spent $30 (including shipping) on one pound of worms that will eat half their weight daily and double in number every 60 days as long as I give them the space. At that rate, I hope to sell worms and eventually recoup my money. I can tell that they are already multiplying.

Regardless of whether I ever sell any or not, next Spring when I start my container gardening, I will save a lot of money on potting soil and fertilizer.

Update 1/18/14: I am now able to mix small amounts of beautiful soil in my new plantings and when combing through the soil today was thrilled to discover dozens and dozens of baby red wigglers!

When Christmas Is Deadly

Normally, I wait until I finish a book before I write a review of it...so this isn't a review, but a perfectly timed opportunity for me to bring to light something I just learned in a book. The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution taught me something about which I was unaware, having spent most of my last three years sequestered in my white-bred Western isolationist culture: There are Christians around the world that are systematically attacked at Christmas services each year.

Granted, I don't watch a lot of U.S. news because the corporate propaganda that calls itself "news" infuriates me, but why is no one in our churches calling attention to this? I'll have more about the book in a review when I've finished it, but for now, I simply wanted to ask believers around the world to pray for fellow believers around the world who will be persecuted in this season that should be filled with happiness, joy and wonder.

If you'd like the details, here's what author John L. Allen, Jr. has shared: "For the the record, 2012 marked the third consecutive year that Boko Haram launched a bloody wave of attacks on Christians during the Christmas season." (p. 59)

Boko Haram is a "jihadist militant organization founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2001" in Nigeria. Lest we think too poorly of the Muslim community of Nigeria, they too have suffered losses when suicide bombers have been denied through gated entry points to churches. One such occurrence on Christmas Day 2011, during a "coordinated series of assaults...which left at least fifty people dead and hundreds injured," took place in "Madalla, a satellite town on the outskirts of the national capital, Abuja, where a bomb went off outside St. Theresa's Catholic church that killed forty-four and left an additional eighty people injured, including both Muslim bystanders and Catholics exiting the Christmas mass, which had just ended when the blast occurred." (pp. 56-57)

People of other faiths have recognized these acts as targeted persecution of Christians. "The Simon Wiesenthal Center, among the world's leading Jewish human rights organizations, urged the United States and the European Union to do more to protect embattled Christians around the globe: "As Jews, we recognize all too well when those who want to beat down a group add humiliation and contempt to their murderous violence" it said in a December 28 statement. "Picking Christmas Day to murder women and children on the steps of their church was calculated to intimidate all other Nigerian Christians.'" (p. 57) Yet, I do not ever recall hearing any mention of this among any local congregations, nor in any U.S. media to which I have access.

I'm not trying to be all "gloom and doom" at Christmastime. I simply see a lot of "concerned Christians" getting very excited (as they do every year) about Nativity scenes in public areas, Christian Christmas carols not being played in stores and the coup de grace, cashiers being forced to wish "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Maybe this year, instead of becoming incensed the next time someone unintentionally offends us...we could, instead...whisper a prayer of protection and God's Presence for our brothers and sisters around the world who risk their very lives by being Christians on Christmas Day.

Sort of puts all of the shopping and other nonsense in perspective, doesn't it?