'Tis the Season to Sing--When All You Hear is Silence

Welcome back to 'Tis the Season--a 4-week series exploring the true meaning of Christmas. Today, I'm excited to be joining The Purposed Heart and Intentional By Grace in posting on singing. Be sure to go back and read 'Tis the Season to Serve--with Little Ones and 'Tis the Season to Celebrate--In Heaven if you missed those posts!

Image by juliaf 

Away in a Manger. Silent Night. Joy to the World. Go, Tell it on the Mountain. Carol of the Bells. Oh, Holy Night. Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel. 


It's hard to escape the sounds of the season. And why would you want to escape the beautiful music in this season of singing?


But today I want to speak to some of you who truly may want to just plug your ears if you hear another Christmas carol. And why would anyone want to do that?

Image by dnabil

Perhaps it's been a hard year. 


Maybe you've lost your job. Or a baby. Or a loved one.


Maybe you can't sell your house, and it's hard right now to make ends meet. Maybe you desire a child, and it's just not happening. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks. 

Image by albinomonk

Maybe this Christmas season you want to celebrate through singing...but all you hear is silence. 


I have been there. And I can never, ever say "I know how you feel." Because, truly, each and every situation is unique. I do not know how you feel. 


But I have been in seasons of loss, in financial hardship, in painful relationships. And all I heard was silence. And the last thing I wanted to do was sing. 


My favorite Christmas carol has always been "Oh, Holy Night." But there is an old hymn I discovered a few years ago that is a new favorite of mine--and perhaps it is because it speaks to those times when we truly don't feel like singing. 

Image by Simeon

The song is called "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." And as the story goes, the great American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, penned the words to this great hymn (originally a poem) after a tragic year of personal loss. His wife had died, the Civil War had broken out, and his son had been severely wounded in battle. 


As you will hear in the following version by Casting Crowns, the song points to bells proclaiming "peace on Earth." Peace--on that Christmas Day--felt nonexistent to Longfellow. At the sound of the bells, he next wrote:



And in despair I bowed my head
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

But then, in the midst of great tragedy and seemingly silence from God, Longfellow comes back to what he knew was true, despite his great mourning:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.'

I hope you enjoy the following rendition of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns:

What is your favorite Christmas song? Has there ever been a year that you wanted to sing--but all you heard was silence? 

Be sure to visit the other two posts in this series! You won't want to miss what these ladies have to say!


'Tis the Season to Sing Really Loud Even If You Can't Carry a Tune @Intentional By Grace


'Tis the Season to Sing @The Purposed Heart


And, as a bonus, here is another one of my "new" favorites: "Here with Us," sung by Joy Williams. 

I'm linking up with: Manger Mondays@ThisGal'sJourney, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies,  Time-Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, 
If you're an e-mail/RSS subscriber, have you received a copy of my Christmas gift to you yet? If not, please send me an e-mail to erinodom at pobox dot com, so I can get you a copy of Healthy Holidays: Slightly-Indulgent Sweet Treats!







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'Tis the Season to Serve--with Little Ones

I'm so excited to announce a 4-week series for each Monday until Christmas: 'Tis the Season! I'll be joining Leigh Ann @Intentional by Grace and Mindy @The Purposed Heart in discussing the true meaning of Christmas. 


Today, we're posting on serving. It's no secret that people seem to come out of the woodwork to serve during Christmas (while, really, there's plenty of work to do year round!). 

As a Christian, my Christmas celebrations center around remembering Christ's birth. Jesus came to serve, and He calls us to serve others, and it's a joy to fulfill this command. 


But I'll be honest: I have struggled with serving since I became a mom. 


Did she really just say that?


Yep, I did! While I spent my teen years and twenties going on mission trips, teaching various age groups of Sunday School, teaching immigrants English as a Second Language and translating for them during desperate times, I've found serving these ways with two littles ones in tow is not only difficult...but it's next to impossible.

Image by XenoLV426 

Besides all that, some older, wiser mothers gave me this piece of advice when I was pregnant with my first: Your children will be your little disciples. Don't rush to serve others to the neglect of them. 


Wow--and OUCH!


But the question remains: Are there ways to serve with little ones?


Yes! Check out these suggestions for serving with your little ones this Christmas:

Image by hortongrou

1. Make cards for nursing home or hospital patients. Once children hit age 2 (and sometimes younger), they can usually color on paper. And you can easily fold the paper into cards. Many sick and elderly people spend the holidays alone, and a simple card made by a little one can bring lots of cheer. If your children aren't ill, take them with you to deliver the cards! If they are, I suggest sending the cards in the mail, as you don't want to expose the most vulnerable to any sickness. 

Image by fulco 

2. Collect coupons for military families. Did you know military bases take expired coupons?! If you get the Sunday paper, it won't be hard at all to set aside your unwanted coupons. I'm not an extreme couponer, so I am happy to pass along any coupons to those who actually use them more often. Instead of chunking them in the recycling bin, have your preschoolers help you cut them out, stuff them in some envelopes with some homemade Christmas cards and send them to your favorite military family. This is sure to be a blessing! (Don't know any military families? My friend and military wife, Nikki, at Christian Mommy Blogger, may be able to point you in the right direction!)

Image by shomedia 

3. Make a meal together for a homebound individual. Little ones can start mixing and tossing in pre-measured ingredients when they are little more than a year old. While you're cooking, talk or even pray together for the person for whom you are preparing the meal. 

Image by hortongrou

4. Make a video and/or music recording for a faraway friend or relative. Does Grandma live 12 hours away (my girls' does!), or do you have a special missionary friend who lives in another country (we do!), why not have your kiddos sing for the camera and/or voice recorder. It will be sure to bring smiles and cheers--and maybe even a few tears. 

5. Bake some treats for your neighbors. This has to be my favorite--and one we will definitely be doing again this year. Last year, Little Girl and I baked banana bread for our neighbors, but this year I think we may make an assortment of treats, like pumpkin spice donut holes, healthy chocolate peanut butter fudge, coconut-cranberry peanut butter truffles and my triple chocolate peanut butter truffles from the Healthy Holidays eBook. We like to attach a Bible verse proclaiming Christ's birth. Last year, we delivered the bread on a rare white Christmas morning, and it was a blast getting to know our neighbors (most of whom invited us inside!). 


How do you serve with little ones?


Be sure to visit the other two posts in the series:


Seven Practical Ways to Serve Others this Christmas @The Purposed Heart


'Tis the Season to Serve Like Saint Nick @Intentional by Grace 


Come back next week for the second installment: 'Tis the Season to Celebrate!

Have you received your FREE Healthy Holidays eBook yet? If not, and you are an email/RSS subscriber, please e-mail me at erinodom at pobox dot com to request your copy!! 


Check out some more sweet treats in my awesome affiliate sponsors' books:


Treat Yourself by Modern Alternative Mama
Smart Sweets by Kitchen Stewardship


I'm linking up with: Manger Mondays@ThisGal'sJourney, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies,  Time-Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, 

A Natural Holiday: Homemade Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap

Welcome back to A Natural Holiday Carnival! Three weeks ago, we looked at decorating with nativities from around the world, two weeks ago we checked out a cheesy green bean casserole and a natural holiday meal plan and last week I posted a recipe for some yummy pumpkin spice (and allergen-free!) donut holes as a party food treat!

Today we are ending the series with homemade Christmas gifts! And I can't wait to share with you this great recipe for peppermint foaming hand soap!


But I must admit. I am not crafty. At all. Oh, I have tried. I once thought I would get into scrapbooking. My loving husband enthusiastically helped me out by purchasing scrapbook-making materials for me. 
I. never.made.my.first.page.


Then it was knitting, then jewelry making, then sewing. Nothing stuck. I'm just not built to be crafty. It's not how God made me. And I'm OK with that--now. 
(Hey--I LOVE blogging! That's one thing that's stuck! But, oh, blogging isn't crafty! Oh, well!)


I digress. You want the recipe for this homemade peppermint foaming hand soap! 


My point is: You can be the least crafty person ever and STILL be able to make this soap for your friends, family, neighbors--and hey, you can even keep some for yourself! 


And the best part? This soap isn't antibacterial! (What's wrong with antibacterial soaps? Well, check out this post.) It's all natural, and I feel safe using it on myself (and even as a baby wash on my girls!). 


Homemade Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap
Ingredients:

• 1/4 parts peppermint scented castille soap (or plain)
• 3/4 parts distilled water
• a few (2-3) drops peppermint essential oil (or tea tree for disinfecting)
• a foaming soap dispenser

Method:
Mix soap and water. Drop in and mix in oils. Pour into a foaming soap dispenser. That's IT!
I found this great tutorial for making a cute foaming hand soap dispenser out of a canning jar. With my hubby's help (I'm not crafty, remember?), we've made one for our bathrooms and kitchen, and we will be making several as Christmas gifts. 
We simply purchased the canning jars and plastic canning lids at Wal-Mart, and we also purchased some colorful (red or green for Christmas!) smooth stones to go in the bottom of the jars. 
We purchased the foaming dispenser tops, here. (But if you're super frugal and patient like my friend Stacy at Stacy Makes Cents, just ask your friends and family to save their old Bath and Body Works dispensers for you!). 

Be sure to check out the other great natural gift-giving ideas in today's hop!


Real Foods Christmas Gifts @ Creative Christian Mama
Homemade Christmas Gifts @ Modern Alternative Mama
Personalized Gifts-Placemats from Storybook Pages @ Stacy Makes Cents
Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas @ Day2Day Joys

Want some more homemade Christmas gift ideas? Check out MadeOn Hard Lotion's My Buttered Life Gift-Giving Edition, which gives diy recipes for: chocolate body mousse, flavored lip balms, chocolate peppermint lotion bars, scented & shaped lotion bars, and beeswax candles!


Or, get the book for FREE by purchasing the DIY kit!

Also, check out Kitchen Stewardship's Smart Sweets book for some yummy holiday treats!

Have you gotten my FREE eBook yet? I don't want you to miss out! If you are a RSS/e-mail subscriber, please e-mail me via the contact tab or leave me a comment here to request your copy!! You can subscribe in the box below if you haven't already. 

I'm linking up with: Make Your Own Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Made By You Monday, Made With Love Monday, Traditional Tuesday, Frugal Tuesday Tip, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Growing Home, Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Penny Pinching Party, Simple Lives Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, DIY Thrifty Thursday, Live Renewed, Frugal Friday, Living Well Blog Hop, Frugally Sustainable, The Nourishing Gourmet,  Made at Home Monday



*There are affiliate links in this post, which basically means if you purchase through my links, I will get a few dollars to use to buy some Christmas gifts for the girls. :) Thanks for supporting HH! 

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A Natural Holiday: Allergen-Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

Welcome back to A Natural Holiday Carnival! Two weeks ago, we looked at decorating with nativities from around the world, and last week we checked out a cheesy green bean casserole and a natural holiday meal plan. 

Today's theme is party food!

Image by littlekata

Pumpkin is, hands down, my favorite seasonal flavor. But up until recently, the only pumpkin I knew was pumpkin pie! Over the past year, I’ve enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen and creating and re-creating all kinds of pumpkin recipes! 

These pumpkin spice donut holes are perfect to take to a holiday party—but they’re best served right out of the oven! Be sure to check out the allergen-free version below as well!

 Combine dry ingredients. 

Combine wet ingredients. 

Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. 

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 

into mini muffin pan. 

 

Mix coating while donut holes

are baking.

Ingredients for donut holes:

• 1 ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter), melted 
• ½ cup honey
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup milk 

Ingredients for Coating:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter), melted
• 2/3 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
• 1 ½ Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Method:

Grease a mini muffin pan with coconut oil or butter. Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl and all wet ingredients in another. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoons or with a melon baller into the muffin pan. Bake on 350F for 12-15 minutes. (I had to bake this version for longer than the allergen-free version below.)

While the donut holes are baking, combine sucanat and pumpkin pie spice. Pour melted coconut oil in another dish. I leave mine on the stovetop, so the coconut oil doesn’t harden. Once you take the donut holes out of the oven, dip them in the oil, then roll them in the sucanat/spice mixture.

Makes 48 donut holes!

 

Allergen-Free Version (gluten, egg, dairy-free)

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose gluten free flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill, but you can use can make your own.)
• 1 ½ tsp. xanthan gum
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• ½ cup honey
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup allergen-free milk (rice, coconut or almond)

Follow the same method as above. It should take slightly less time to bake the allergen-free version.

*If not consumed within a day, these should be refrigerated. My inspiration for this recipe came from Crumbs and Chaos. 

Be sure to check out the other great recipes in today's hop!

Whole Wheat Vegetable Pizza @Stacy Makes Cents
Velvety Mashed Potatoes (w/ GF/DF options) @Christian Mommy Blogger
Real Food Party Dishes @Modern Alternative Mama
Turkey Pesto Pinwheels @Day2Day Joys
Marinated Goat Cheese @Creative Christian Mama

I am SO EXCITED to announce a GIFT to all my e-mail subscribers! Later this week, we will release Healthy Holidays: Slightly Indulgent Sweet Treats, an eBook with more than 16 recipes for healthier holiday cookies and candies!

Any e-mail subscriber to any of the following blogs will get this book for FREE!!

The Purposed Heart,

Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy,

Intentional By Grace, or

The Humbled Homemaker (aka--me!). 

I truly appreciate all my readers and subscribers, and I cannot wait to get this special gift into your hands! Stay tuned!!

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I'm linking up with: Made By You Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Mouth Watering Monday, Made With Love Monday, Mingle Monday, Traditional Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tasty Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Works for Me Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Foodie Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, Recipes I Can't Wait To Try, Pennywise Platter, Cooking Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, Live Renewed, Sweets This Week, Food Trip Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Friday Food, Fresh Food FridayFoodie Friday, Foodie Friday, Allergy-Friendly Lunch Box Ideas, Your Recipe, My Kitchen, Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival, Growing Home