From yesterday’s Vespers Office:
…that I may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and in the breaking of bread.
The experience of Communion is usually how I come to know Christ in the “breaking of bread”, but upon further reflection I think that I can come to know Christ at home, as I “break bread” with friends and family. For example, I’ve learned so much about the love of God from hearing my grandfather say grace at Thanksgiving dinner. His careful petition for the Lord’s blessings on his family is moving in it’s simplicity.
What are experiences you have had over a meal that have helped you come to know Christ? What are ways we can create those experiences for those who eat at our table?
Inspiration
I love holidays. I love time with family and food and presents. I also love decorations. My house feels dressed up, and I get to be creative. I bought the Indian corn, gourd, and pumpkin at the grocery store for $5.00, and the mini straw bales from a craft store for $10.00. I’m happy with how it turned out 
Do you decorate for holidays? Do you just hang a wreath on the door or do you have an inflatable Santa and 9 reindeer on your roof? How do you decide and why?
Creativity, Traditions
I’ve been thinking this morning about Maryanne‘s Amish quotes, especially the one I’m “sitting with” today…
A task takes as long as it takes.
I have a concussion, and it is hard for me to focus or do much of anything. My house is messy and I have a splitting headache. I decided, in the Amish proverb spirit, to do just one task, and take as many breaks as necessary. I chose laundry. Laundry is good because for long stretches, the machine does all the heavy lifting
As I slowly checked pockets and tried to remember which settings to have the buttons on, I was totally focused on that. It almost felt like a Silent Saturday; I could hear Joey snoring, the fan in the living room, the cats scratching in the litter box. Even my headache abated and I felt at peace.
I’m grateful for that experience today.
Cleaning, gratitude
A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.–definition of “Love” from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition
Sometimes people say that I love you is an overused expression. I think the quality of ineffability is why we look for other ways to “say” that we love someone. Maryanne mentioned in a recent post that giving gifts is one of her main love languages (what are the others Maryanne?). A coworker is into big romantic gestures, like rose petals scattered throughout the house and candles lit on every surface.
I express love by taking care of someone, and I “hear” love that way too.
I came home today to this…
and this…
An empty sink and folded laundry? Nothing says “I love you” to me more than that
How do you express love to the people in your home and life? How do you “hear” that love from them?
Magic moments, Nurturing
I thought we could all use a little encouragement. This is from the Vespers Office a few days ago…
I now place the work of the day into Your hands, trusting that You will redeem my mistakes, and transform my accomplishments into works of praise.
Catching the vision, Inspiration, Refilling the Well- You time, Traditions
I have always had an altar in my home, even as a little girl. Something about marking off a space as sacred appealed to a basic need in me. I was reading at this website tonight, and was struck by this quote from the FAQ page:
Many people are surprised when they realize that they may already have one or more altar-like spaces at home or work, in the garden or elsewhere. Think, for instance, of the fireplace mantle where one places family photos or awards or seasonal items such as fall harvest, holiday boughs and candles or spring flowers. Or consider the small cluster of family pictures and small mementos on the desks in many workplaces. Some authors have suggested that these could be called unconscious, incipient or unintentional altars.
What are your altars, intentional or unconscious? How do they help make your home a temple?
Inspiration, Traditions
One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. –Psalm 27:5-6
Olea’s honest and beautiful post about taking care of herself in the midst of new mommyhood reminded me of the scripture that says “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, if you wanna follow along at home)
I have been mulling over the idea of temples for the past few days, ever since I prayed the opening quotation in Vespers on Wednesday. My Mormon friends have a very clear idea of what a temple is, but even they are taught that our homes can and should be a temple too.
As we seek to make a home, what are some ways we can make it a place where God’s Spirit can be? And why is that important?
Catching the vision, Inspiration
Beef Wellington
I attempted to make the beef wellington from the above video Sunday night. Joey watches Dexter (which is super scary, as an FYI…), and we invited over his good friends JJ and Georgina to watch it and eat a yummy meal.
It was an epic fail. I just couldn’t get anything to work out…I bought the wrong meat, the mushrooms wouldn’t puree, I didn’t give myself enough time, etc. To top it all off, trying to comfort me, Joey reminded me that “No one cares about the food, Brandy.” This had the opposite effect of what was intended, as now I was grumpy that no one cared even though I was going to all this trouble.
Long story short, we ordered pizza and it was fine. Fun, even.
Last night I tried to rescue the ingredients I had spent so much money and time on. I seasoned and sauted some red potatoes and made a green salad with mustard dressing. I pan friend the beef steaks.
Joey ate two servings. Meal=salvaged
Any stories of salvaging a meal?
Cooking
Later after I married and had a child, I learned to find equal meaning in the repeated rituals of domestic life. Setting the table. Lighting the candles. Building the fire. Cooking. All those souffles, all that creme caramel, all those daubes and albondigas and gumbos. Clean sheets, stacks of clean towels, hurricane lamps for storms, enough water and food to see us through whatever geological event came our way. These fragments I have shared against my ruins were the words that came to mind then. These fragments mattered to me. I believed in them.
What rituals of domestic life do you find meaning in?
Books, Catching the vision, Cleaning, Cooking, Inspiration
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you…
I lift up my soul to my God by praying the offices. Four times a day I pause and praise and petition. How do you lift up your soul?
Inspiration, Traditions