Celebrating Hanukkah

Last night, some friends and I got together to celebrate Hanukkah. Yes, we know it isn't that time of year. Yes, we know it lasts eight days, not one night. And yes, we know we aren't Jewish. So why did we do it?

Well, we did a Passover Sader last year, and really loved learning from the tradition about the symbols from the Torah and how they point to Jesus. It was a fresh reminder to us of our faith and hope and salvation. We love how the Jewish holidays serve to help them remember God's faithfulness and his mighty acts throughout history. And we, as followers of Jesus, ought to take time to remember these things as well.

During the actual holiday time, we were all in different corners of the world, so we decided to do it once we were all together again, and planning to gather for eight days in a row became too complicated... hence the one night, several weeks too late. So, not really knowing anything at all about Hanukkah, and knowing that not every detail would be strictly orthodox, we decided to try it anyway and see what God would teach us in our attempt.  So Hannah and Brie did the research and preparations, and the rest of us showed up...

Brie made the kosher brisket and latkas that were the feast, with freshly cut fruit. We each had a paper Star of David, and on the back, Hannah wrote the Hebrew version of each of our names. Kevan read the history behind the celebration of Hanukkah during the meal. After dinner we said the blessings together, lit the candles of the menorah, and sang a song of praise. Later on, we played the dreydel game and had leftovers from the meal.

In this Hanukkah experience, I learned that it is a celebration of the miracles and wonders of God. The only purpose the candles are meant to serve is to remind us to give thanks to God for the great things he has done. It was beautiful to have the light catch my eye often throughout the evening, causing me to pause and say "thank You," over and over again.

It makes me want to look back through my life, and my family's history, to pinpoint and mark the calendar with momentous times like this. But even then, it is important for me to remember that God's faithfulness is as constant as the sun, his mercy is new every morning, his love endures forever. Every day is a chance to celebrate his goodness and power!

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time."

*Photos taken by Brie Elliott and Kelsey Crook!

The Best Explanation Ever

The other day, I got to visit a friend at her workplace. She serves at a place called "The Enrichment Center," in Winston-Salem, helping people with special needs get jobs and training... very cool! Anyway, I came in, and one of the first people I met was this cool guy with Downs, who came up to me and shook my hand and cheerfully - and sincerely - asked, "Did you step on a Ghostbusters Power Pack and that's why you are in a wheelchair?"

A Ghostbuster's Power (Proton) Pack

Yes, my friend. That is exactly what happened.

I've decided that from now on, if someone obnoxiously asks me "what is wrong with me," I should give them a big smile and say, "Guess." And then, knowing full well that whatever they say cannot possibly be as creative as this guy's explanation, my response should be, "Nope, I've heard better - use your imagination!"

Extra Time

My bags are packed and loaded in the car, but instead of driving into Fort Wayne right now, I am sitting comfortably in front of a fire in my parents' house, working on our 2,000 piece puzzle and writing to you. Snow is falling in that northern land, and there are predictions of more snow next week, which is exciting to me. But for now, in the mild South, I take a few minutes to reflect on the week.

Last weekend I was in Memphis with my mom and dad, visiting Andrew and Amanda, and the three little-but-growing-fast Chandler boys. I don't know what I enjoyed the most - making Play-doh worms and pillows and blankets with Noah (the extent of my clay-molding skills), playing with every musical toy in the world with Toby, or holding Coen as he slept and slept and... slept. Amanda gave me some new recipes to try out and got me hooked on "Pinterest," Andrew showed me his newest books, and at night after the boys were in bed we all watched "Cake Boss" together. Good times!

Got to spend some good quality time with some friends when I got back, and last night Kevan and I watched a movie, ate chips, and played games. And "games" with Kevan are totally random and creative... like picking out a book neither of us have read before, blindly picking a random sentence from it, and then illustrating our interpretation of what might be happening in the story... and like one person making a meaningless squiggle on a paper and the other person adding to it to give it meaning. The sound of creativity buzzed and crackled like electricity in the air.

Mom and Dad and I have been listening to these books on CD lately, while we drive or work on the puzzle. As a writer, I analyze the writing techniques of the authors - why did they give so much of the information up front? how do they make despicable characters so likeable? why did they cut off the conversation or the scene right there?  As a reader, I analyze the plot - I know the classic plot twists this author usually takes, because someone you like always dies, or the underdog will come out on top, so how's it gonna happen? I dig into small details that I'm sure must be significant, analyze the characters, try to predict the thread of the plot and how the climax will rise and be resolved. I do that in life, too, I've realized. And the Author patiently reprimands me: "Just RELAX... enjoy the story, get to know the characters, savor the suspense, cherish the beauty page by page." Another goal for the future: don't try to figure it out or find all the answers... just enjoy the story.