Thank you both for sharing your beautiful thoughts on the season! Like Katherine, I have a young ones - two and five - and so I resonate with her two pieces of advice: keep it simple (!!!) and include the children! I have to continually circle back and remind myself, but when I can keep those tenants in mind, the fruit is beautiful! We also made an orange garland, popcorn garland, and some simple, low budget Christmas projects. The kids find magic in just about anything Christmas related. As long as I can be present and share that joy with them, they are thrilled ✨
My son is home from college and we were just having a conversation about this. Kids find magic in simple things: the music, a strand of twinkle lights, a cup of hot chocolate, making paper snowflakes. We love the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, which, as a child felt quite dangerous, too... to be entrusted with a lit candle through an entire Christmas carol. And in a world of so much darkness, in the darkest time of year, I hope that what shines for them most is the message of God with Us. "Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."
You should try making the citrus garland! They look so pretty in the windows! It's our favorite! It's so important to use a very sharp knife, so you can slice them thinly (1/4"). I place them on a paper towel and the girls pat them with a paper towel to soak up some of the liquid. Then we bake them at 180-200F for several hours, flipping them every 30 minutes to an hour. I have heard a dehydrator works best, but this year I turned off the oven after they had been baking for a few hours and let them sit in the warm oven overnight. I felt like they came out so great. (Dehydrators are often at a temperature around 135 and most ovens aren't quite that cool.)
I used some of the end peels in my simmer pot! I just love this tradition. Indi strung the garland and she did such a nice job. They remind me of stained glass.
Thank you both for sharing your beautiful thoughts on the season! Like Katherine, I have a young ones - two and five - and so I resonate with her two pieces of advice: keep it simple (!!!) and include the children! I have to continually circle back and remind myself, but when I can keep those tenants in mind, the fruit is beautiful! We also made an orange garland, popcorn garland, and some simple, low budget Christmas projects. The kids find magic in just about anything Christmas related. As long as I can be present and share that joy with them, they are thrilled ✨
My son is home from college and we were just having a conversation about this. Kids find magic in simple things: the music, a strand of twinkle lights, a cup of hot chocolate, making paper snowflakes. We love the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, which, as a child felt quite dangerous, too... to be entrusted with a lit candle through an entire Christmas carol. And in a world of so much darkness, in the darkest time of year, I hope that what shines for them most is the message of God with Us. "Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."
Emmauel, God with us ✨🙏🏽 I hope that is what shines most brightly for my children too. Blessings to you and your family!
Love this! I want to try the citrus garland and simmering pot ideas. So wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
You should try making the citrus garland! They look so pretty in the windows! It's our favorite! It's so important to use a very sharp knife, so you can slice them thinly (1/4"). I place them on a paper towel and the girls pat them with a paper towel to soak up some of the liquid. Then we bake them at 180-200F for several hours, flipping them every 30 minutes to an hour. I have heard a dehydrator works best, but this year I turned off the oven after they had been baking for a few hours and let them sit in the warm oven overnight. I felt like they came out so great. (Dehydrators are often at a temperature around 135 and most ovens aren't quite that cool.)
I used some of the end peels in my simmer pot! I just love this tradition. Indi strung the garland and she did such a nice job. They remind me of stained glass.
Rachel, thank you so very much for this wonderful opportunity to share about Christmas and Advent in our home with you. This was a treat and an honor.
Thank you for your beautiful words and photos! I love that I get to learn from you!