Celebrations & Holidays Archives - Living Above the Noise

What’s This About Christmas and Tiny Tim?

Well, we’ve entered into this holiday season full swing! In our home, the decorations were slowly put up to savor each activity — the gifts gathered with each special person in mind — the Christmas movies enjoyed as we take time to relax after a long day.

One of our favorite stories this time of year is A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens said it best as he reminded us what’s important at Christmas.

My heart’s desire is that we take time to remember why we celebrate this day — why it’s our favorite season!

First, it’s not all about the lights or the decorations or our favorite Christmas melodies (although they add so much to this time of year).
It’s not all about the cookie recipes our families pass down for generations.
It’s not the gifts piled under the tree (we often have 20+ family members celebrating with us — so the gifts are piled!)
It’s not even winter’s glistening frost lit by the sun casting long shadows across the yard. It does make it feel, oh so, Christmas-y!

So what is it all about?

It’s ALL about the Son – God’s Son who cast His shadow across history and all of creation so many years ago in a manger!
It’s all about the Baby who made shepherds pause in wonder and angels sing praise and glory.
The Child who caused wise men to travel for years to seek this Messiah.
And as Tiny Tim said in our favorite Dicken’s story, that Baby-turned-Man “who made the blind to see and the lame to walk”!

‘And how did Tiny Tim behave?’, asked Mrs. Cratchit …….‘As good as gold.’ said Bob, ‘and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful sitting by himself so much and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me coming home that he hoped the people saw him in the church because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.’ A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Oh, this is my absolute favorite line in all of Charles Dicken’s novels! May we truly see the Truth of declaring the Gospel in his simple words.

Blessings to you as you prepare for this beautiful season of remembering God’s Son!

And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Luke 2:18-20

This Is Definitely What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown!

By livingabovethenoise

Linus’s age-old adage rings as true now as it did 50 years ago! We remember with much nostalgia when he recites Luke 2, then concludes with the refrain, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!”

Christmas is all about Jesus. It’s about celebrating God’s greatest gift to us — Jesus — our salvation through nothing else but faith in God’s Son.

Getting Sidetracked This Christmas?

It’s too easy to get sidetracked thinking it’s about decorations and gifts. Now, we love a decorated house this time of year! But it can get overwhelming. And you know about those hundred gifts on your list. “What?” you say. “I don’t have a hundred gifts on my list!” Umm, count again. Include teachers, bosses, neighbors, friends, greeting cards with pictures, stocking stuffers, cookies for the neighbors….yep, you’re getting close to a hundred! See what I mean about sidetracked?

Now don’t think I don’t understand. I’m right here with you….like forgetting about our Jesse tree and instead, getting started on my shopping trips. Reading the real Christmas story only because my daughters had a party for my ‘grandboys’! ‘Tis true…but get this — when I read to those wondering eyes, when I saw the intent on their faces, I remembered again.

This truly is the reason for the season. It is our job, our duty, to make sure we’re not quiet about what we believe and in Whom we believe!

Won’t you join me in relishing in the tinsel and holly and glitter, but not forgetting that simple, cold manger so many years ago? The sheer beauty of God’s gift of everlasting life, brought to us in the tiny frame of a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Keep Christ’s Love In Christmas

A bit of encouragement and some ideas to renew your sense of purpose this season:

– Our friend owns a thrift store in town, but it’s not just any thrift shop! This one uses the store’s proceeds to feed the hungry in our community. Check out your local ministries to discover how you can help the needy this year. People are cold, hungry, lonely, sick. What can we do to be Jesus’s hands of mercy to them?

– Tiny Tim is a name most people know. Learn how to share God’s love from his simple pronouncement to those around him.

– Here’s a great way to bless those in need this year! It’s so easy to pass by those in need along the road. What if we were prepared for those meetings by having a care bag of goodies to hand the homeless? We will never have an excuse to look the other way. (We have a homeless woman on the edge of town. We pass her most days and wonder how she does it with the cold weather approaching. Reading this post again has me excited to bring her a care package this week!)

– Some people ask the question, Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? It’s easy to see that it’s gotten out of hand with Santa, “Happy Holidays,” and compulsory gift-giving. Some proclaim Christmas is for pagans and just a copycat of idol worship. My post declares why it’s a good thing to celebrate. Choose for yourselves….but as for me and my house, we will celebrate the Lord!

– Visit a Fire or Police Station and bring goodies for these first responders! With a son-in-law who has this difficult job, we see first-hand how much we take our safety for granted. Give the gift of appreciation this year!

There are so many ways we can remember what Christmas is all about. Let’s share our ideas — with friends and family — and here. Leave a comment with ways your family celebrates or shares God’s love this time of year!

Happy Holy Day & Merry Christ-mas one and all!

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:16-20

Adapt – My Word For The New Year

By livingabovethenoise

I’m in a group of bloggers and we’re writing about our “Word for the Year.” I’ve been wondering what to write as I venture into this new year, so this got me thinking. Hang in there as I explain how a simple movie changed my perspective and gave me my word.

Lesson Learned From “Pete’s Christmas”

We watched a *”really good” movie at Christmas-time called, “Pete’s Christmas”. Yes, it was silly at times, but overall, the writer/producer got to the heart of human nature and our need to be cared about. The storyline deals with Pete, who “messes up” Christmas but then is given numerous chances to re-live the day until he gets it right. *caveat: “really good” means one thing to one person and another to the next, so excuse me if we differ! :o)

Pete tries and tries, from his own perspective, to “do Christmas right” only to mess up again. But slowly, as the story moves on, he learns to see through the eyes of his friends and family, thus learning to make Christmas perfect by loving them right where they need to be loved. Ah…such a great message….and one I keep pondering as the days pass by.

How to Live “Perfectly”

You want to know the real lesson I got from “Pete’s Christmas”? Every one of us gets to re-live a day, to make it “perfect” every day when we wake up. God gives us a new day, a new week, or month or year in which to live “perfectly” by loving those around us with the everlasting love the Father had for us. That Love that wrapped His arms around a tree and gave up His freedom to love us perfectly!

ADAPT – My Word For This Year.

Why did I choose this word? Because in ALL my searching for the perfect life, I’ve missed the main point of the Gospel. That the only “perfect” is found in Christ. I’ve struggled and worked, wondered and hoped, fought and cried when things haven’t gone my way. But God….only He could bring me to the place of adapting to His story for my life.

I must let go of my story, just the way I thought it would go, and adapt to His plan, His ways, His method of loving me. He loves me enough to NOT let me get everything I want, or have relationships be the way I want, or have my story look the way I thought was perfect! Now, that is true, tough, unending love. Love from the ONE who knows me more than I know myself. He knows just what I need to learn to lean on Him, to depend on Him, to die to myself so I can love others in the same way He loved me!

And so I adapt. I’m learning what this all-encompassing word means every day. Praise God for His good lessons. May we kneel together as we seek to find His will for our lives!

Love to each of you & Happy New Year!

1 Corinthians 2 – And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (vs. 1-5)

…but just as it is written,“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (vs. 9)

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that He will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (vs. 14-16)

Best Eggnog Ever! Recipe

By livingabovethenoise

Okay, so eggnog is one of those treats of which people have a variety of opinions. For some, eggnog might be a fond memory of childhood, or they find it too sweet, or they can’t stand the thought of drinking eggs (and many recipes use uncooked eggs – ick!). They either love it or they hate it. But saddest of all, most of us have only tasted store-bought eggnog and don’t know the sweet flow of flavor over the tastebuds from a perfectly concocted homemade blend!

Well, our family loves Christmas and all that goes with it. One of our pleasures during this season is eggnog, but we got tired of the super sweet and sludgy consistency of store-bought brands. Then a family friend, Dan Davis, gave us what we considered “the best eggnog” recipe. We were hooked! But our quest to find the quintessential recipe had us tweaking it here and there over the years. Our son, Cameron (the coffee guy) came up with this final, best-est tweak!

It takes about an hour to make, but oh, the indulgence of a flavor like no other! I do believe that once you try it, you’ll agree that it truly is “the best eggnog ever“!

Best Eggnog Ever – Recipe

Large Batch – Makes 2 1/4 gallons – but like our friend Dan said, “Do not cut the recipe in half. That would be against all known eggnog laws and etiquette – actual, inferred, and implied. Run out of eggnog too soon and any good lawyer will tell you that you could be sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Yes, he had quite a sense of humor! (You really can cut the recipe down as desired – wink!)

Ingredients

5 qts. milk (divided between steps 1, 5, and 6)
10 whole cloves
3 t. ground cinnamon

36 egg yolks (we save the whites for angel food cake!)
3 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups light rum (as preferred and optional, of course!)
1 – 2 oz. rum extract (to taste)
1 qt. light cream
2 T. vanilla extract
1 t. ground nutmeg

Directions

1. In large saucepan (8-10 qts. size), combine 2 quarts milk, cloves, and cinnamon. Then slowly (to prevent scalding) bring this milk mixture to just under a boil. Stir occasionally. This takes about 20 minutes.

2. In a large* bowl combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. (*You’ll be adding the heated milk mixture into this bowl in next step, so be sure the bowl is large enough.)

3. Pour the hot milk mixture slowly into the egg mixture, whisking briskly.

4. Pour this mixture back into saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 10-15 minutes, or until thick (the longer the better for more thickness). This forms a custard-like consistency and should coat the spoon. Do not allow mixture to boil. Remove from heat.

5. Add 2 quarts milk to help cool the mixture. Let cool for about an hour.

6. Final step! Stir in rum, rum extract, remaining milk, cream, 2 T. vanilla, and nutmeg. Strain with metal strainer to remove cloves; you can do this while pouring into milk jugs or glass jars. (We prefer storing in glass as it gives the nog a longer shelf life, in the refrigerator, of course.)

7. Refrigerate overnight, before serving for best taste. Because the eggs are cooked, we have had no problem with this lasting a week in glass jars in the fridge. >:o)

** We have tried it without whipping cream and it tasted fine, just a thinner consistency, and obviously less fat involved!

More comments from our friend, Dan:

**If we’re planning to drink the eggnog soon, I put it in the freezer because we like it icy, almost slushy. You will find it tastes better the second day, so if you can stand to wait until then; you will be much pleased. My thing is that I drink it right away and enjoy it immensely. Then I drink it in coffee the next morning and it’s even better and by that evening, if there is any left, it is at it’s best. All this to say you don’t have to wait until the next day to serve, just make enough so it lasts until the next day!

*Occasionally, and for no apparent reason the custard curdles or separates – feels funny but tastes fine. I just run it through the blender before adding to milk and all is right with the world once again.

*** We have no problem enjoying this tasty treat, but there are several ways this can be done.

It is a must to serve with nutmeg sprinkled on top.
Serve it up in huge glasses.
Mix it into even huge-er mugs of coffee! (try my son’s fresh roasted coffee! – wareaglecoffee.com)
Sneak a glass from the fridge without anyone knowing. This is my preferred method since you don’t have to share, and that tends to make it last longer (wink).

For interesting facts on the history of eggnog, check these sites out: Christmas Traditions Explained – The Eggnog and Eggnog – Wikipedia

Enjoy “making merry” with friends and family and our delicious nog this Christmas!

‘Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice….and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ‘Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God; and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household. Deuteronomy 26:7-11