Quest Notes : Images of Christmas (Updated as a Link-up!)

Welcome! 

Today I'm linking up to "What I'm Into" which is hosted by Leigh Kramer at Hopefuleigh.  Now and then I put up a "Quest Notes" post, which is essentially the same thing as "What I'm Into", so this morning I thought, why not join in the fun? 

My husband and I have cut down our own tree every year since we were married in 2001. 

A very special job.

Our hero.

When you wait until Dec. 23, most tree farms will give you free stuff. We walked out with the giant wreath on the right and a wreath making kit -- as well as complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, of course.

The Christmas tree at the top belongs to my 3 yr. old. And he's reaching for more cinnamon candy!

Here's what we ended up reading for our Advent Literary Countdown. The larger books contain classic Christmas chapters.  The only one we never got around to opening was Little Women! Alas! One of the best! Oh well, maybe next year. The titles highlighted in green are the titles which kept our attention from beginning to end, warmed our hearts and enriched our minds -- they are the books we will reread next Advent.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams

Christmas Around the World, Lesley Sims -- This just skimmed the surface. We all wanted to know more. 

Samantha's Surprise: A Christmas Story, by Maxine Rose Schur -- My boys were bored with this one.

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (abridged and illustrated) I adore Dickens, but my kids couldn't hang with this. We read one chapter.

The First Christmas, by Lynne Bradbury -- Too cartoonish.

A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck (Chapter 4, "Away in a Manger")

Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder (Chapter 4, "Christmas")

Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Chapter 25, "Puffed Sleeves")

Silent Night: The Song and Its Story, by Margaret Hodges

The Nativity Story (a companion book to the film from New Line Cinema)

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend, by Julie Stiegemeyer

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr, Seuss

"The Night Before Christmas", by Clement Moore, illustrated by Tomie De Paola (We also shared copies of the same poem illustrated by Tom Browning and Mary Englebreit which I picked up from the library. Next year I think we'll try the Tasha Tudor version.)

"The Little Match Girl", by Hans Christian Andersen (The copy I have is from 1967. Next year I will try to obtain the version I linked to -- illustrated by Rachel Isadora.)

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, by Robert Barry

A New Coat for Anna, by Harriet Zeifert

Once Upon a Company, by Wendy Anderson Halperin

"The Gift of the Magi", by O. Henry, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Stranger in the Woods, by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick

A Cowboy Christmas, by Audrey Wood -- Think sappy TV drama. 

Jesus' Christmas Party, by Nicholas Allan

A few years ago when we lived in a tiny 2 bedroom farmhouse, I hauled our scroll saw into the dining room to make these cutouts. Now I use them for our Advent reflections.

I won this at a "white elephant" party!  I could not have been more thrilled/surprised/grateful! It was hand woven in Kenya! It  now serves as storage for our wooden Advent cutouts.

My mother-in-law has always kept us well stocked with snuggly Christmas PJs. Right after Thanksgiving I put them in a central location. My toddlers especially love to put on their PJs mid-day and cuddle down with a sippy cup of milk.

My treasures: This is the first year that my oldest two kids (ages 9 &10) completely surprised me with gifts they picked out and purchased with their own money. How delightful!

I finished The Return of the Native today. The Classical Quest Synchro-Read on Facebook has really helped me to stay on track with my reading goals during this busy season. A big thank you to everyone who chimed in with encouraging words and insights!

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season! I'd love to hear about your festivities.

Blessings to all!

Quest Notes

A warm cup of cyber tea, just for you.

✒ This week I've made a shift to drinking more green tea and less coffee. I love to sip on a hot drink all day long, but too much coffee makes me edgy!

Delicious with a little honey and cream. Also I've discovered peppermint tea is soothing for my children if they have an upset tummies.

✒ Made turkey stew, multi-grain baguettes, salad, and "Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies" to take to a friend last night. I was reminded of this helpful post, "How to Take Dinner to a Friend":

A delivered meal is a token of your friendship–a visual, tangible, edible one!  Never mind that it frees your friend to divert her attention away from the daily demands of life and on to the more pressing concerns of the moment.

After giving birth to five babies, I've certainly been on the receiving end of meals more than a few times! It's really nice to have some practical go-to meal plans when a need arises.

✒ Our "Advent Literary Countdown" is underway! My children are excited. (I've even heard them brag about this new tradition to some of their friends.) I've been amazed at how delighted they are to open a pretty package, even though they know it most likely contains a book which has resided on our shelf for years!

✒ Book # 1 -- The Nativity. This is a book of images from the movie of the same name. (I couldn't find the link to the book, so I linked to the movie.) It is filled with Biblical passages related to the birth of Jesus. I helped design costumes for our church nativity play several years ago with a friend. The costumes from the movie were our inspiration. We combed through this book many times as we worked out details. I coaxed my kids to open this book first because I thought it would be nice to read a few short passages from it each night of Advent. So far we've read verses of prophecy from Isaiah and Jeremiah.

✒ Book # 2 -- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I read the first chapter to my kids and they begged for more! Even my husband chuckled here and there. Unfortunately, we got started a bit too late last night for a second chapter. Maybe tonight we will be able to read more. My 5 yr. old son slept with this book last night.

"The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world."

✒ Anna Karenina Inquiry news: There is no news! My goal is to finish the list of questions by the end of 2012. I've done a quick glance over the questions and typed in my initial gut responses, but that is as far as I've managed to get. I don't plan to read any of my friends' wrap-up posts or to watch the new film until I answer those questions! The third and final "Blush" post should be up Wednesday (or maybe Thursday -- I seem to be running a day behind this week).

✒ My Christmas shopping is done! (Hip,hip,hooray!) I took advantage of a few Cyber Monday deals. Also, my husband and I were able to go out together twice! One day my aunt and uncle watched our children, and another evening our church offered free baby-sitting for three hours. It's not easy for us to square away time to shop together, but this year it happened and it was very nice! I'm grateful!

✒ I followed the "Four Gift Rule" this year for each of my children:

1 THING THEY WANT

1 THING THEY NEED

1 THING THEY WEAR

1 THING THEY READ

This plan really helped simplify things! I thought long and hard about what each of those four gifts should be. I feel very good about what we're giving each of  them. (We also added a family gift, stocking stuffers, and a few other small things.)

On top of our mantle, the prophet Isaiah lifts his hands.

✒ I'm enjoying "The Return of the Native Synchro-Read" on Facebook very much!

Here's part of the conversation yesterday:

Sandy: Good morning! I had planned to check in yesterday, but didn't finish chapter 4 till I was in bed. Having this accountability really helps -- I would not have finished the reading if it weren't for this synchro-reading plan. I think I need to have synchro-chores, too, heehee. : ) Have a great day! 

Me: I'm with you there Sandy! I had a hard time falling asleep last night b/c I was so excited about getting up to read with you all! I found myself chuckling about jumping out of bed before dawn to read a 135yr old book as if it's hot off the press! Love it!

Normally, I try to start reading at 5am EST, but I have to go with the flow of my family, so occasionally the start time will be different. Many of us dwell in different time zones anyway so  just join in when you can and stop by to leave a comment on the Classical Quest Facebook page at some point during each day to let us know you're still with us!

✒ Working on memorizing John 17 -- a prayer of Jesus. It has been years since I've attempted to memorize a whole chapter! I realize this is not a passage you would normally match with the Advent season, but it's a passage I feel strongly drawn to. So far, I've learned the first three verses:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

² As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

✒ I've hand copied these verses twice and placed them over my kitchen sink and on the wall in my laundry area. I've found memorizing verses while doing routine chores is much less challenging!

✒ A word about the new badge in the sidebar: I went to a Christmas concert with my daughter this past week and there I learned about "Show Hope". I was able to speak to a few children (young teens, actually) who were adopted into loving homes through the aid of this organization. I must say, I'm intrigued. A few months ago, my oldest son asked me why it is so expensive to adopt a child.

"Every child should have a family, Mom!"

These words came to mind when the speaker at the concert exhorted us, "Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to do something for orphans." I'm eager to learn more about this ministry and ponder what I can do.


Oh friends! I still have so many thoughts to share with you! But this post is already too long! One more thing -- here's a little video that made me smile this week:

Sometimes security cameras catch people doing good!

How's your holiday plans coming along? I'd love to know what you're up to!

Blessings:)

Adriana