Stillwater Estate

Dec. 23, 2008

Hannukah at our house

1st day of Hanukkah:

After our family meal we cleared the table. Zoe, my 11 yod, took it upon herself to organize all the chocolate candy, the hahukkiah with it's candles, the nuts and raisins and the dreidel.

We all sit around the table waiting to light the candles. Usually we give this honor to our oldest son on the first night....but, if you read my other blog, he is in Marine Boot Camp. So, we gave the honor to our youngest daughter. She was thrilled!

Now we are sitting around the table with only the 2 candles burning and our wood stove crackling in the background. Then my husband decided to do a word picture. Out blow the candles and now we are in almost total darkness.

He wanted to give my children the understanding of how much just one light can make a difference in the darkness. My children see this picture every year as we do Hanukkah but they love it each time. It was amazing how much just that one candle, the Shamash, or the helper candle lit up the darkness. This helper candle is a representation of Yeshua, or Jesus. He is the Light of the World. We are reflections of Him.

The 2nd candle is lit by the helper candle and now has it's own light given from Yeshua. It really is a great word picture.

Now, we commence on the dreidle game. We play it by putting candy, raisins,and nuts into the center and then rolling the dreidle.....which for the 1st time in 10 years we couldn't find.....so Zoe made one out of dice. She put tape all over the die and wrote the Hebrew letters on each side.

When the dreidle falls to a certain letter you get a certain amount of the goody pot or you put in a certain amount. We don't advocate gambling so therefore when all is said and done we divy up all the goods and everyone feasts on the bounty together.

We then all sat by the fire, my girls on the floor with paper and colors, the boys on the couch next to dad and me on the floor with the girls. My girls spent the entire time drawing Hanukkiahs and Hanukkah decorations to give to me. My husband read from the Apocrypha about the Macabees and their story of redemption for the people of Israel. We love to hear this story every year as it helps remind us of God's faithfulness to His people.

Just as we finished the 1st part of the story our candles had burned down and we were all very sleepy and ready for bed.

Good night 1st night.

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Comments

Dec. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by PlainJane

Wonderful hearing of your first night. We have been just letting the candles burn until dinner is over as the pretty "little" candles I chose don't fit our menorah very well and I'm afraid as they lean over, that one (or all) will fall out and burn the kitchen down. lol Mental Note to myself: buy bigger candles next year. lol Last night Amber (Bookworm) was so concentrating on blowing out "her" candle that she accidently blew them all out, much to Anna's (Ladybug) disappointment.

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Dec. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by croctoria

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mrs. Eplett happy birthday to you!

^_^

Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Love,
Miss Toria

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Dec. 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Haflingerhorses

Sandy,
I am soooo glad that you have joined HSB and that you found me (through your daughter looking at our horses.) When I read the comment that you left me this morning, I thought, wow. I can't believe this - I am so thankful for this new friend blogger.

I think that it is so cool that you, too, have given up traditional Christmas, but instead, have for 14 years been celebrating the Biblical Feasts, instead. I am soooo impressed. I hope that you write a lot about what you do for these feasts - I am going to start printing out your posts (on your feasts and such) and giving them to my daughter. She is just forming her way and has expressed to me that she wants to celebrate also only the Biblical Feasts.

You were a great encouragement to me this morning, so thank you!
Antoinette

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Dec. 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Haflingerhorses

Yes, I do have that book, too! I love that book, Biblical Holidays. I have read all of Robin's books, and everyone is a treasure. Do you do her HOW curriculum?

I have done some of the Biblical Holidays and each have made a special memory for us. My problem, is that I never know when the holidays are coming up, and sometimes I don't realize their here until they've come and gone. And sometimes I realize their here with too little time to get ready. The entire area of organization is a weak one for me, but amazingly, ever since I started to honor the Sabbath, I have been very much strengthened in this area. But although I've come a long way, I have a long way to go. :)

I do think that our observances of some of the Holidays planted a seed within Becky's heart. She had borrowed my book, The Biblical Holidays, and kept it for the longest time.

I think she has my weak point, too, though, and has not had the planning to implement them. She, too, never knows when their coming and has lack of planning.

Another blogger I thought you would enjoy is Ruth Fleming/ Praying As I Go

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PrayingIGo/

Ruth has six children, lives in the Tennessee Mountains, honors the Sabbath (beautifully) and also observes all the feasts. I love when she writes about them because she has a big barn in which they host their Biblical Feasts. I would love to do that someday. I think you would find her to be a kindred spirt, also.

Thank you for your friendship - I look forward to gleaning much from your posts!
Antoinette

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Jan. 1, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by ThreeLittleLadies

What do you mean about Sabbath being an outflow of my heart? I'm not sure what you mean by that practically. I am trying to honor my husband, but honestly, he just thinks I went off the deep end and any reminder of that makes him want to preach to me, yell at me at times, prove me wrong... I've never had such a difficult time serving the Lord peacefully or getting along with my husband!

Carol

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Jan. 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Haflingerhorses

Hi, it's me again. Ever since you wrote last, I keep thinking about something, it keeps popping up in my head, so I just thought I'd write you. You said that you are a part of a Messianic Fellowship. I had friends once that were part of a Messianic Fellowship, and they were of Jewish origin but Christian. Is that what your Messianic Fellowship is made up of?
Antoinette

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About Me

These are the ramblings and musings of a very blessed woman, wife and mother of 5. Come join us on our porch. Bring a mug of herbal coffee, some comfy slippers and a big wrap around blanket. I hope we can get to know one another as we share stories of this incredible journey we are on.