BUT

One of the amazing things about November is that it’s a month full of tasty warm foods that welcome you into the house on those chilly days. A family favorite that we’ve grown up with and is probably one of the simplest desserts you could ever make (seriously — it comes from a cook book for children) is our Apple Crisp recipe. Try it. It’s easy and quick and oh-so-tasty. You’ll love it forever and for always just like we do. This traditional Sinclair dessert rather redeems the early to darken nights and chilly wind that starts to blow.

And now for the “How To” to make this scrumptious goodness:

Step One
spread 6 cups sliced and pared apples in 9″x13″ pan
(Not sure what all these fancy baking words mean? It’s okay — I don’t either. It’s just an uppity way of saying to peel and cut the apples.)

Step Two
sprinkle apples with the following:
3/8 cup (small half cup) water
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Step Three
with pastry blender, mix the following ingredients until crumbly:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/8 cup flour
1/2 cup butter

Step Four
spread crumb mixture over apples

Step Five
bake, uncovered for about 40 minutes (until sides are bubbly and crumb mixture is a bit golden)

Step Six
consume warm apple crisp all by it’s goodness self
or
consume with whip cream
or
consume with vanilla ice cream
or a personal favorite
consume for breakfast the next morning

Try it.

Our celebrations each year haven’t been identical. There have been lunch time celebrations when Dad is able to squeeze an hour free in the middle of the day to come home. (I remember tuna or egg salad sandwiches made fancy by removing the center of the top piece of bread with a heart-shaped cookie cutter on those years.) Sometimes schedules dictate a breakfast or dinner celebration. But whatever the meal that we designate for our Valentine’s Day celebration, there were some constants that we can always look forward to:

1. Heart-shaped pink, red & white homemade place cards that were reused each year to decorate the table
2. Simple $-store Valentine’s Day paper cups filled to the brim with an assortment of holiday candy.
3. Family members gathering around dressed prettily in pinks, reds & whites.
4. A card at each place setting that both Mom and Dad took the time to write a special note in.

Most years there are frosted sugar cookies that we decorate as simply as time necessitates. Sometimes there’s something special like pink lemonade or heart-shaped paper doilies on the serving plates. When we were little, we siblings often made Valentines for each other, and sometimes one or two of us will still find the time to write notes on cut and pasted red hearts.

But whatever the meal– breakfast, lunch or dinner– the food comes only after reading our cards from Mom and Dad and then spending a few minutes sharing our appreciation of and gratitude for one another. This sharing is the sort of tradition that can never be repeated too often, and so many of our holidays, family gatherings, and regular meals begin with expressing words of love and thankfulness. Valentine’s Day, of all days of the year, is the choicest of times for this kind of communication.

Maybe our love for such a pretty and chocolate-y celebration is in part because we’re girls (and what girl doesn’t like pink and chocolate?!), but I think our whole family, even the male contingent, has come to cherish this day as an opportunity to say, “I love you.” After all, for us this day has come to represent far more than just pretty colors and candy: it’s a perfect chance to intentionally share our love for and commitment to one another.

Mom is amazing at creating pleasant and special atmospheres. She has taught us girls so much about this, first in leading by example, then by incorporating our help, and then by delegating. I’ve still got a long way to go before I’m quite as proficient as Mom in this area, but I sure am thankful for all I’ve learned from her!

The biggest thing I’ve learned from Mom is that we ought to be willing to put in some effort. It doesn’t have to huge or burdensome– Mom has often showed me how far just five minutes spent setting a pretty table can go and I speak from personal experience when I say that it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate for your husband and little ones to take note!– but we also can’t expect a creative and special atmosphere to just happen on its own. A few lit tea lights, scattered leaves gathered from your lawn, a bowl full of fruit, or a small American flag stuck in a bud vase can instantly elevate your table from Every Day to Special, but even small things do require that you engage your creative abilities and energies.

Growing up, we didn’t have big birthday celebrations each year. I think Danica may have been a baby when Mom decided that those significant parties would be reserved for 5th, 13th, and 16th birthdays. But while our “off” years meant small guest lists (2 friends or 1 family), no games and no party favors, they were still rich with little traditions that Mom gave us through atmosphere so that we didn’t feel the least bit disappointed.

For example, there was always the excitement of seeing the prettily wrapped presents throughout the day. I remember running downstairs as a little girl to the dining room buffet where I knew they would be attractively arranged. I didn’t know as a seven-year-old that that it took more planning and work on Mom’s part to have them each tied with ribbon and ready hours and hours before the evening celebration, but I sure did know that I couldn’t wait for that morning to arrive so I could stand there in breathless anticipation, imagining with great delight what might be inside.

Or what about Christmas Eve after we returned from the Candlelight Service at church? We would all quickly change into pajamas– “Don’t forget socks, girls, because it’s cold!” she would call– and scamper down to the family room where we would sit on the floor close to the tree while listening to the Christmas Story. It isn’t just the reading itself that I remember or the sibling gift exchange that followed, but the way the many lights on the tree cast shadows around the room, the feeling of being snuggled close together, the sound of familiar Christmas recordings playing in the background.

And who can forget the many Independence Day parades when Mom insisted that our apparel be red, white and/or blue in honor of the holiday? When I was eleven or twelve years old I felt the distinct humiliation of being, I was sure, the only pre-teen out there dressed to match the occasion (besides Danica, of course), but the tradition far outlasted my awkward insecurities because now I find myself dressing my children, my husband, and myself according to Mom’s request. The day just wouldn’t feel right otherwise!

It wasn’t just actual holidays, though, that Mom made meaningful through atmosphere. Who knew that the actual process of decorating the house for Christmas could still cause all us girls to break out in song due to years of listening to Sandi Patti’s The Gift Goes On soaring through the house stereo while we hung the garland? Or that we would all fondly recall Saturday evening baths simply because they had been followed by an hour of The Lawrence Welk Show?

It’s recollections like these that encourage me to make those extra efforts– lay out the tablecloth for a simple family dinner, turn on the CD as we tackle our daily chores, light the candles while we watch Sunday evening football, and frost that 2-layer cake (what a struggle for me!) that has been anticipated all year– that shows my family over and over again how important celebrating is and, even more importantly, how important they are to me.

Apple Sauce –yields 4 cups

This apple sauce tends to appear at more than just traditional holiday meals, for sure, but serving it at a meal lit with candles and set with fall colors transforms any dinner into an autumnal celebration.

3 lbs of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (we like a mix that includes Cortlands!)
ground cinnamon to taste
2-4 T sugar
3/4 cups water

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the desired consistency (30-35 minutes). (Add water if it begins to stick to the bottom of the pan.)

*A note: keep in mind that the sugar and cinnamon become more pronounced as the applesauce cools.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These are the yummiest way to eat sweet potatoes — take my word for it! We serve them at Thanksgiving and Christmas (and sometimes sneak in an extra time or two before winter’s end!)

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 lb baby carrots
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1-2 T fresh rosemary, chopped (or use dry!)
a dash of ground thyme
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss all ingredients together on a rimmed cookie sheet. Roast for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Yum yum!

Now, granted, we don’t feel a natural inclination to celebrate everyday (and some are even less inclined than others!) But we need to reclaim the art of celebrating if we have not already done so. Take time to celebrate. Invest your energy and creativity. It is worth it.

Christians need to be well versed in two kinds of celebration: spontaneous and planned. We should be prepared to have a “hallelujah” party on the spot for a child, a brother or sister, and even ourselves! Perhaps someone has just received a great score on a test, gotten that long awaited job, successfully performed their first piano recital for the public, or made it on base every time at bat! Pull out the balloons, take a trip to Sergi’s (our family’s favorite pizza place), invite friends over and have some cake, whatever! Just lay hold of the opportunity to celebrate His goodness and to let them know how special they are to you. God lets us know how special we are to Him. We need to do the same for each other, so make their special moment big! Magnify Him in it!

Planned celebrations are just as important. Human nature is prone to forget His past faithfulness; establishing traditional celebrations provides an opportunity to reflect on His goodness.

Children love traditions. I have found over the years that if you do something two years in a row it becomes an established tradition in their young minds. After all, two years is a large percentage of their lives. Consequently I would hear the words, “But we’ve always done it this way!” even when I hadn’t thought of it as a tradition yet!

Traditions create opportunities to teach and instruct children in your testimony and faith, as well as personally stir up a fresh appreciation for what He has done.

Sometimes Christians get caught up on what to celebrate, feeling that only the truly “religious” events merit such attention. May I remind us all that He saved us to the uttermost. Our whole life is to be holy and consecrated. There is no part of what we experience from which He is separate. He created life itself, so celebrate life! He created our gifts, so celebrate our gifts! He taught us diligence, so celebrate someone’s diligence! Just celebrate His goodness in all its forms, which are plentiful in our lives.

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.

We should be the people that know the joyful sound. We should be rejoicing! So let’s celebrate our children. Let’s celebrate each other. Let’s celebrate Him!

Magnify Him in our lives and all He’s done. He is worthy!

I quickly responded to the email by writing: i want to write about birthday appreciation. it’s the best. and i’ll actually do it. i won’t forget & i won’t stop & then drop it. i promise.

So I’m here to not only show that I can complete projects now and then by posting here, but to tell you about one of my favorite things in the whole world: Birthday Appreciation.

It’s probably the simplest tradition you could ever come up. What does it require?

A birthday.
Two people at minimum — any number at max.
And words. This requires words. And it requires thought.

And this is how it works:

The family (whoever is present) gathers to celebrate a birthday. Somewhere along the line (before the meal, after the meal, before cake, after cake, before presents — whatever) we stop for a few minutes and everyone in the family — no matter your age — is asked to share something they appreciate about the birthday person. Little Jack-a-boo always mumbles something (usually what older brother Gabriel said) about how he appreciates that you play with him, read books, buy him candy while older siblings/parents share about different character qualities, different aspects of who you are, what you do, that bless them.

It has got to be the one thing that I hated so much when I was younger (I felt awkward receiving accolades and I felt awkward vocalizing love and appreciation towards others), but is one of my favorite things now. I love it because of the blessing it is… this speaking words of edification and words that will build up a loved one. And I love it because at a young age I was required to start speaking the awkward — purpose to encourage with my words. For some, like me, it doesn’t come naturally. But it’s a God thing.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” — Ephesians 4:29

Here’s the thing: a good pie starts with a good crust. Perhaps you have a crust recipe you absolutely love and are very happy to continue using. Or perhaps you get nervous at the thought of crust from scratch. If you fall in the latter category, shake off those fears! Making pie crust is really not as difficult as it seems, especially when you’ve got a fail-proof recipe like the one I’m about to share with you:

2-1/2c white flour
1/2tsp salt
1 stick (1/2c) cold butter
1/4c shortening
1/2c (scant) ice water

Mix flour and salt. Cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles course crumbs. Stir in ice water with a fork until dough forms a ball. Wrap in saran and chill for at least 30 minutes.

(Makes 1 double crust pie or 2 single crust pies.)

Now for the custard part:

1. roll out pie crusts and place in pie plates, crimping edges as desired.
2. fill empty crusts w/ peeled and sliced apples (we love a mix that involves at least a few cortlands)
3. combine 1-1/2c sugar, 6T flour, and 1tsp salt. Stir in 1c half & half.
4. Pour cream mixture over apples; sprinkle w/ ground cinnamon.
5. Cover loosely with foil. Bake @ 375* for 1 hour. Remove foil; bake 15 minutes or until apples are done.

This is the traditional Sinclair Christmas dessert, though some of us (*cough* Louissa *cough*) would eat it all year ’round because it’s just that good. Perhaps it will be just the thing to help you establish a dessert tradition of your own for a special family occasion!

Picture of family at the annual local Independence Day parade– a much-loved family tradition!

Well, that’s the topic of a new little series we’ll be hosting in this corner of the world. There will be ideas, recipes, pictures, you name it!

Growing up, we definitely loved our traditions. Now, here’s the deal: some families are more naturally into traditions than others. Some personalities love the idea of “we always do it this way!” Others, maybe not.

But here’s the thing: taking the time and effort to establish some significant traditions is a golden opportunity for you to impart to your family. The things my parents instated spoke to us about the importance of God, the worth of certain events, and our own value. Traditions aren’t just about warm fuzzies or good memories (although I don’t mind a sentimental memory now and then, for sure!). They’re another opportunity to shape your family — and that’s worth doing!

Sometimes the idea of traditions can feel very burdensome, and there certainly are some things to keep in mind:

First, traditions are meant to be a blessing. Yes, they take work and effort and all of that good stuff. Stockings don’t magically fill themselves; parents stay up till the wee hours in order to accomplish such “magic.” Leg-o-lamb doesn’t just appear on the table after the Easter service; a mother carefully planned and prepped and timed that event! BUT if you’re continually frustrated or burned out feeling like you have to keep up with some Universal Tradition, well, reevaluate!

Second, choose traditions that you think are realistic. Mom was always careful of what she did once, because that’s all it took for us to think we should do it every year (or every birthday, or whatever.) Well, for instance, birthdays: Mom and Dad established a pattern of “big” parties at our 5th, 10th, 13th, and 16th birthdays, as opposed to every year. They were thinking ahead, for sure. I mean, can you imagine nine huge birthday parties every year? Throw in a few holidays here and there, and you’ve got a burned out Mama!!

Third, choose traditions that have meaning. Get bang for your buck! Simple things, though, can communicate a world of importance. Lighting candles and reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve: does it get any easier, cheaper, or more special than that?

Lastly, remember that you’re not a slave to traditions. Life happens, seasons change, and sometimes even with your best effort, the fancy party food has to go. We’ve been known to have Christmas dinner the day after… or even the week after! Those are the moments when you get to remind everyone that traditions are just a way of remembering what truly matters!

Hopefully we’ll all be encouraged and inspired as this little series unfolds. If you tend to poo-poo traditions, I hope we’ll be able to share some of the value they’ve had in our families. If you’re not from a background of sound family traditions, maybe you’ll find the starting blocks to establish such things in your own family.

Most of all, I hope we’re all challenged to work hard to instill the important things in our children’s hearts, and in the fabric of our family. Whether they’re the daily traditions or yearly traditions, tangible reminders of what truly matters are worth our effort.

I smiled warmly and joyfully announced aloud to the window in front of me and to no one in particular, “Rum logs!”

“What?” came a startled response from Camilla who was sitting at the table.

“Oh,” I responded somewhat sheepishly, “I said, ‘Rum logs!’.” With renewed relish I continued to explain. “I’m thinking that soon it will be time for Christmas decor and that made me think of rum logs. I love them! That makes me glad it’s coming again soon!”

“Yup!” she agreed heartily.

We all agree: rum logs are a favorite part of Christmas here at our home. They are worth waiting for! Anticipation can be a great thing and traditions help create anticipation.

Here’s something for you to anticipate. We will soon be starting a series on “Traditions” right here at Mom and Us. Be sure to catch it all!