January- Hunger Awareness

Every year in January, I like to set a few goals for the month, mainly centered around healthier eating/Daniel Fast related for my own personal self. This year was no exception, but I really wanted it to be a family project. Leon was reading a book called Ten Days Without  by Daniel Ryan Day and he was really challenged by the concept of doing without to raise awareness and make us more grateful people. So all this to say- we came up with Hunger Awareness for the month of January. It was pretty simple and nothing too drastic, but it has been a very good experience for all of us, and one the children won't soon forget.

The end of December I stocked up on some basic grocery items. Aside from milk and eggs, we would not be buying any groceries the month of January. So far I only bought bananas and lettuce.....so I mostly stuck to that plan.

We went 3 days without any sugar. That was really, really good for us and something we could do more often.

We also went 3 days without meat. That was a bit more challenging, but we still ate very well. The chicken pot pie got made without chicken, we enjoyed the rice and beans and eggs and grilled cheese, but the black bean burgers were kind of a stretch. They actually looked and tasted good, but the texture was kind of like mashed potatoes, and it just did funny things to your brain.

We are nearing the end of the month, and yes, I do need to go grocery shopping again. The pantry and fridge are emptier than usual, but we ate very well this month in spite of it. I thought outside of the box and we did without. We saved a lot of money on groceries and all you need to say is 'black bean burgers' and most grumbling ends.:)

I asked the children for their opinions on the month. This is what they came up with:

Brooklyn- "It's hard to go without sugar." (Can you tell she's got a major sweet tooth?)
Annika- "It showed us how some children feel when they don't have some kinds of foods."
Jamison- "It made us aware of how much {we} have. It was a good experience."
Logan- "It made me more grateful. It was all good except for the black bean burgers, and going without sweet tea."

We are still talking of an electronics fast sometime. I really wanted everyone to go to bed hungry at least once this month but that never happened.  The comment was made by one of the children, " But why do that to ourselves if we actually have enough to eat?" Hmm. Still pondering that one.

Remembering December

It was a good month. It was a full month. It was a month of lowering my standards. It was a month to focus on people, not decor or presents.

We baked our traditional cut out cookies one evening. The plans were to bake them in the afternoon but due to my afternoon going to someone who needed to talk, Leon ended up helping the girls and I one evening. It was okay. In fact, it was a very special memory made because we let the 'real' one go.

I got to spend a very special afternoon with a young girl from the city. We tied a fleece blanket for her Mom for Christmas, baked kiss cookies, and played Dutch Blitz.

I made caramels and turtles one day when I had a little extra time. Annika helped me wrap the caramels.

I decorated very simply.

We hosted my sister's family for a Christmas Eve soup supper, which turned into a late night with special nieces and nephews.

We spent a wonderful day at my Mom's on Christmas with my family.

We enjoyed 2 whole weeks of delightful Christmas vacation from school. We played games, read, slept late, played with cousins, and enjoyed the schedule-less life.

Leon and Logan went deer hunting and Leon got a button buck.

The children had their piano recital.

Church was canceled one Sunday and we had a delightful day at home.

The children played in the snow.

We had our traditional family Christmas supper. We ate grilled steak and onion rings and other good food on china and by candlelight. We gave the children gifts.

I found the nativity set one day with all the people turned in. I thought about the significance. I wondered what 2014 would be like if I turned toward Jesus. I wondered what it would be like if I only cared about what He thought.

2013 Review

January

I enjoyed a lunch out with these two special long time friends.

The children enjoyed the snow.

We went to a special banquet put on by three area churches for their youth and youth pastors.

February

More playing in the snow.

March

Annika baked cookies for the first time. She chose Snicker doodles.

We spent a week in South Carolina for Leon's brother Kevin's wedding.

April

We hatched baby chicks in an incubator in the school room.

May

We celebrated Mother's Day.

Annika got to be miniature bride at her Uncle Lowell's wedding.

We planted garden.

June

Leon and I went on a mission trip with our youth group to Phoenix, AZ and did a VBS at Aim Right Ministries. We also got to see the Grand Canyon one day.

July

We started tearing up our kitchen and putting in a new floor. 

We enjoyed a weekend reunion with the extended Bontrager family.

 We had a wonderful evening hiking and picnicking as a family.

 We spent a very cold weekend camping and Leon made the children bows.

August

We babysat for cousins one day.

We took a two day family vacation.

We started school.

September

We went camping with the youth.

 We went swimming for the last time.

October

I helped plan a Ladies Luncheon at church and did an interview with a dear 95 year old lady from church.

 I took the girls horseback riding at our friend Amber's house.

November

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Leon's family. 

 The children enjoyed a pinanta.

December

The girls spent hours playing with their dolls.

And now it's 2014- 

The girls and I had a lovely day at home while the men went to watch the game. 

The new year stretches before us- unknown and uncharted territory. But I am excited about what it may hold. God did so many amazing things for me in the past year and I know He will continue to amaze me in this new year. The best part of all is that I do not have to 'do' this year alone, God will be right beside me every step of the way.