A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

holidays

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas 2018
Photo by Simon Zachrisson on Unsplash

From my house to yours, I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas.   Enjoy this season.  Enjoy the time with family and friends.

Take a break from your regular routine and remember what truly is most important.

Remembering the saviour, Son of God, born to a woman.

Fully divine, fully human.  Leaving glory to come to earth so that we might be made right with God.  OH.. what a reason to celebrate!

You may have noticed I’m not on the blog as much.   It’s a good time to be away and play board games with my lad or make cookies to munch on.   Let’s enjoy the season eh?   (we’ll lose the weight later)

Luke 2:11-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

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Originally I wanted to find a Christmas song from Austria/Hungary.  Or Bulgaria… and then I sussed out Great Britain.   I had no success in my first two searches, and Great Britain only provided me with more modern songs which I didn’t really want.  I got to thinking about other European countries affected by the war and thought… The Netherlands!  My mom, being of Dutch origin was a natural for me to call, she suggested I do Stille Nacht.

I’ve already done Germany, Italy, Poland and Russia. 

Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

Here it is in Dutch

And now in English. 

 

Lyrics in English

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Lyrics in Dutch. 

I’m including these because as I was looking for information I learned there are two versions in Dutch.  This one and the Roman Catholic version.

Stille nacht, Heilige nacht,
David’s zoon lang verwacht.
Die miljoenen eens zaligen zal,
Wordt geboren in Bethlehems stal.
Hij, der schepselen heer,
Hij, der schepselen heer.

Hulp’loos kind, Heilig kind,
Dat zo trouw zondaars mint.
Ook voor mij hebt G’U rijkdom ontzegd,
Werd G’in stro en in doeken gelegd.
Leer m’U danken daarvoor,
Leer m’U danken daarvoor.

Stille nacht, Heilige nacht,
Heil en vree wordt gebracht.
Aan een wereld, verloren in schuld,
God’s belofte wordt heerlijk vervuld.
Amen, Gode zij d’eer,
Amen, Gode zij d’eer.

Four Ways to Remember the Reason for the Season

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4 Ways to Remember the Reason for the Season

Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la la la la la la.

It is the season to be jolly, it’s great time of the year, this time of hope that we are in.  There is so much to see, do and be involved in.  But think.. What’s the real reason?  It’s the hope of the Saviour… not coming as a baby, as important as that is, but as the Saviour of the world. We so need to remember and to contemplate what that really means,.  🙂

It’s hard not to get caught up in the busyness of the seasons.  In this post I will talk about some of my joys of the season, as well as some ways to remember the reason for the season. 

My Joys:

In the baking of cookies.  Papernauten anyone?

In the putting up of a Christmas village.. I do have to admit this year, I’ve reduced my Christmas village.  We are trying to light our load abit and I’ve needed to cut my village.  A hard decision but it all needs to fit into ONE bin.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember, to focus on the fact that Christ came to earth FOR US.  And not just for a generic us but for a specific ME.

Four ways to Remember the Reason For the Season

So the question arises.   Just how does one remember what truly is the reason for the season?

These are things that help me
1. Doing a daily advent activity.   Often we have used a Lego Advent Calendar.  🙂    What can I say… it’s fun to put together Lego as one thinks about the events of Christmas.  But lately we just have those dollar store chocolate Advent Calendars and read scripture daily.  Different passages that speak to the true meaning of Christmas, and the story of Jesus’ birth. 

2. Spending time alone.   YES.. alone… in fact sometimes I will squirrel myself away like a little spider, getting away from the noise and bustle of the world and just stay within my own cozy home.  Reading a book, going out for a walk when no one is around, getting lost in the world of colouring and a Christmas movie.   Just stuff for me alone.  🙂

3. Christmas music and books!  In the past I read lots of books (like Alabaster’s song).  Now I play Christmas music as I bake cookies, pumpkin spice muffins, and meals) and even while I’m sweeping the floor or doing laundry.  Bring music that I like into the house.  🙂

4. Spend time with the Lord in church services, readings from the bible and Christmas poetry that reminds me of the season.      There are some you might want to check out here and here.

We all have ways that help us to remember what is important about the Christmas season.  

So tell me then, what’s important to you?   How do you focus on that importance?  How do you remember the reason for Christmas?

Remembrance Day

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Remembrance Day 2018

Remembrance Day has taken on new meaning this year.

Taking the time this year to study the wars with my son has brought into sharp focus the pain and suffering that men (and even women) suffered for the freedom that we enjoy.   Popular or not popular wars, these people deserve our respect and acknowledgement for the choices they made so we can live lives of freedom.   Freedom to make good and bad decisions.  Lives free from oppression from another country and all that goes along with that. 

Let’s take that one minute of silence and remember those who have gone on before. 

and when that is over, listen….

Canada Day Resources

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Fireworks for Canada, post with resources to help you celebrate

Canada Day is right around the corner, coming up this Sunday.  It’ll be a nice day to celebrate I hope (it’s supposed to be hot).  A time for parades, cool drinks, hot dogs around a fire with family and friends, and then gathering with the community to watch fireworks.  It’s always a grand night. 

How does one celebrate Canada?  

Well, first off you need to dress the part.
Moose, geese, maple leaves, flags and more.
The colours red and white are found galore.
As one and all show their heart.

(want to make your own?)

Then

Find a parade, a band or two.
Floats, and horses, a bikes a plenty
Honking, shouting, beeps and roars
Follow the flag to the community centre.

(Nation’s capital, Canada Place, or join our family.)

Followed By:

See cars, and bouncy castles, 
Popcorn and cupcakes,
Music and dance
Face-painting, and crafts.

Canada Day Bracelet, Noisemaker, Coasters, headband, and handprint flags.

cupcakes decorated for Canada Day
Now watch

Sparklers, and coloured lights
Games of chase, dogs bark
Balls, bikes, Smoke starts to rise
Then boom and spark, Flash and sizzle.
POP!

Fireworks in a Jar, Fork Fireworks, Shaving Cream Fireworks, and wet Chalk fireworks. 

fireworks for Canada Day

Other Canada day posts are from Canada Day Celebrations and Celebrate Canada’s Birthday.  Now head on over to the crew (open on Thursday) and see what others have to say about this holiday (and others that happen around the same time). 

National Holiday Resource Round Up 2018 {Homeschool Link UP}

Recipe: AppelFlappen

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Made a new recipe for New Year’s Day, a dutch recipe that we’ve not tried before.  AppelFlappen.  Turned out well.

You can find the original recipe here.

Ingredients:

6 baking apples (Spy, Red Delicious and Granny Smith work well)
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1⁄2 cup milk

Instructions:

Peel and core apples, cut into slices to form rings about 1/2 inch thick.  We made a couple of rings and then decided it was easier to just do small chunks. 
Beat egg into milk and add to dry ingredients. result should be the consistency of pancake batter.  We needed more milk than the recipe called for. 
Dip apple rings into batter and deep fry at 350* until golden brown on both sides. do not overcrowd, fry 3 or 4 slices at a time allowing plenty of space to flip the slices over.
Drain on paper towels and let cool for 30 minutes.
Place on a tray and sprinkle with icing sugar. (also good plain).

 

For other holiday cooking see the following

New and old, the boys,and togetherness.