Jerusalem Jackson Greer's Blog, page 26

Advent Week 2 - Love

10-11 “Yes, God’s Message: ‘You’re going to look at this place, these empty and desolate towns of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, and say, “A wasteland. Unlivable. Not even a dog could live here.” But the time is coming when you’re going to hear laughter and celebration, marriage festivities, people exclaiming, “Thank God-of-the-Angel-Armies. He’s so good! His love never quits,” as they bring thank offerings into God’s Temple. I’ll restore everything that was lost in this land. I’ll make everything as good as new.’ I, God, say so.
Jeremiah 33:10-11 (The Message)

tidings of comfort

Last week was one of those weeks that I will probably always remember.
In part because we are on a grand family vacation. I saw the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and Julia Child's kitchen all in one day.I will also remember it in part because it is Thanksgiving week and that means the beginning of another Advent, another Christmastide and I always remember those.Last week will also be known as "that time I got hives from traveling with three kids in a stuffed car for 3 days," that "vacation where Ikea was our cheapest meal," and "when I fell in love with Thomas Jefferson for good." 
But it will also be a week to remember because of what I learned about the true meaning of comfort.
During our trip we were blessed enough to stay with friends on the way to and from Virginia, and then at a timeshare, generously donated to us by a good friend, who offered it to us so that our boys (big history nerds that they are) could experience Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg first hand.  We knew going in that we would most likely be contacted by the Timeshare operators to endure a sales pitch, and sure enough, as soon as we checked in the calls began.

Finally, on very cold and wet Wednesday morning,  Sweet Man and I ate a free breakfast of powdered eggs, dry biscuits and questionable sausage, and then listened the most amazing sales pitch to buy into the  Timeshare. From the moment we walked into the building - admittedly lured by the promise of deeply discounted tickets to our main destinations - we were forthright and honest. We had no interest in buying into the program, but we were happy to listen to the pitch in exchange for the deeply discounted tickets.

Over the course of our breakfast, we were visited by three pre-sales persons, who each asked repeatedly what sort of vacationing we did.The first time they asked, we just stared at them blankly. The second time, we managed something like "um, camping?" By the time they sent the third per soul to us, I was ready."We camp!" I said confidently.  "We like State Parks!"

It was following this last statement that the game changed.

After cleaning up our sad paper plate breakfast, and sending the kids to a holding cell playroom, we were escorted around the corner  to see a salesman that I will heretofore refer to only as The Closer.

The Closer was brilliant. He was charming, but not slimy. He was genuine, and smart, and I guarantee you he was their best. I could tell this by the way his cubicle was separate from all the others, and by the "doors" fashioned out diving screens.  No other cubicle came close to this level of exclusivity.

From the beginning it was obvious that The Closer enjoys a tough sells like us and  my "State Park" statement was like waving a red flag in front of a prize bull. He was ready. And he pulled out all the stops. He sold us vacations like a preacher sells heaven, talking and nudging and prying until he found a way in. Till he found that little bit of hesitation in our answers.  And by the end of our hour an half in his presence, he had us believing in the benefits of his product. We could see the why this was a good, solid plan. We were confident in all the advantages it would afford us, and all the opportunities it would provide for our family.

But still, we checked the "decline" boxes on both of his very nice offers.
You see, each and every time he talked about having a plan for our lives, about providing opportunities to our kids, to opening their eyes to all the world has to offer, about raising them to be successful, I had to fight the urge to get right up on his desk, look him nose to nose and shout"You don't understand. I don't want to go to the Bahamas. I don't want to go to Vegas. Sure I would like to go to Paris, but that's not what I daydream about spending my money on. I like State Parks. They suit us. What I daydream about is buying a big farmhouse that I can fill to overflowing with kids who need a home. I want to build a table twice as long as the one I have and fill it with anyone I meet who is hungry. I want land wide enough for my children to wander and get lost, learning the rhythm of creation until it becomes as much a part of them as their heartbeat.  And until the time comes that I can afford all of that, I want to be grateful and content where I am, filling my table up as it is, not waiting for how it will be.  And as far as our kids go, well the truth is I don't want kids who are spoiled by the best, I want kids who consider themselves the least. Our idea of success for our kids is that they live to give, that they work hard, that they love well, and that they are grateful for this wild and beautiful and boring and average and exceptional life they get to lead. Not going to Disney every year." 
But I didn't say any of that, as tempted as I was. Instead I sat and listened and  threw The Closer a bone by telling him I wanted to go Scotland (true story) but I didn't bother to mention that if I did go I would prefer to sleep on my friend Alison's floor so that we could stay up late into the night talking about books and ideas and kids and faith. 
Going on nice vacations isn't inherently bad, or wrong. It can actually be a whole lot of fun.  Spending money thoughtfully and wisely on a timeshare if ones budge allows also isn't wrong in and of itself. And there isn't anything immoral about enjoying nice things. Trust me, no one loves it when housekeeping turns down the sheets more than me, and don't even get me started on fancy restaurants. Food that has a funny hat just makes me happy.
But these things are not monetary priorities to us.  Instead they are little bonus treats that come every so often. They are the sorts of little treats that we work hard to save for and then take great joy in splurging on, reveling in the specialness of the experience, never sure when and if they may come again. 
Last weeks trip was the hardest vacation we have ever gone on so far. Not that we didn't have fun. Because we did.But I don't know if it is the distance, the long car rides, the fact that there was 5 of us instead of 4, or if it is just how the stars aligned,  but for the first three days of our trip I desperately wanted to turn the ship around and head back home.The lack of gratefulness, patience, kindness, and generosity of spirit was  rampant. I felt as if I  spent the majority of my time reminding all the short people in the car to say thank you, to not kick anyone else, to share their pretzels, to take turns sitting in the very back, to not make that face when I told them "no." Again.And frankly it wore me out.
By Wednesday I was by far the most wore out.
It was at this junction that the The Closer tried to sell me on my children's happiness.
And it was here that he made his greatest mistake.  He presumed that their happiness is my greatest goal.But the truth is this -  I am not so much concerned with their happiness as I am with their character.And based on the way things had been going on the trip up until that day, more expensive vacations was NOT the answer.Over the course of the trip there were many times when it seemed to me that their wants were bottomless, and their gratefulness shallow, but because they are children I did not - do not - fault them for this bad thinking. But because they are children, specially our children, I feel it is our job to teach them otherwise. And to do that, we ourselves must live what we believe, what we teach.
We want to slow down and spread out as Sweet Man said. We want to dig in to our community, we want our kids to grow hearts in gratefulness, not entitlement. We want them to embrace their lives, filled with both beauty and mess, and be rooted in the amazing gift of grace right in the midst of it all. We want them to jump in with both feet to places where people are hurting and lonely and dying and to work to use whatever is their great joy to meet the worlds deep need. We want these to be the things they learn from us.We want these to be things they remember and take into adulthood.And so we must live this ourselves.
The Closer tried to sell us comfort that day. He did his very best to convince us that investing in comfort was the right choice for our family.
That our children and our marriage would be better because of it. And, he was right. Only, it's not our comfort that we will be investing in.Perhaps I have become a bit of a bleeding heart for Jesus, but I am no longer okay with defining comfort by what I take. 
Instead I want to define comfort by what I give. 

And what better time to give then at Christmas?  
And what better gift to give than that of comfort and joy?
Christ birth came in the messiest, strangest place - a stable. And it was announced to the only people up in the middle of the night -those average working fellas, the shepherds. The greatest gift of comfort and joy came, in the middle of the night, birthed of blood and water, causing  pain and fear and a whole lot of inconvenience. And I cannot help but wonder - If I am called to live a life fashioned after Christ, then why should my gifts cost me anything less than his?

This Christmas I want to giveComfort to the lonely, sick, the homeless, motherless.Comfort to my friends when they are hurting, to my family when they are in need.Comfort to my boss by doing my job without complaint or need for constant correctionComfort to my readers by being an honest, transparent writer.Comfort to my children by raising them the best I can - by being honest, gentle and firm, consistent and loving.Comfort to my husband by being a good partner, a good peer, friend, lover, co-parent, advocate.Comfort to my church family by doing my part to help keep things running, by being part of community.Comfort to my neighbors by being a good steward of my property. By opening my doors, by sharing my bounty.

Few of these things are easy to give, fewer are convenient. Some of them are annoying, and hard, and strange and  many of them will mean that I will have to keep on stretching and growing and bending in ways that are uncomfortable. And most of these gifts are a lot more time consuming than I would like, and are generally most needed when I have the least amount of time.
Unlike so many Christmas gifts, I cannot order Comfort online,  have it wrapped and shipped with a few easy clicks. I cannot make monthly payments and accumulate enough points to ensure that it is in full supply when needed.
Instead, giving comfort to others more often than not, means sacrificing my own. Which I suspect, makes this the very best, and most meaningful kind of gift to give. The kind of gift that can change the world, or at the very least our hearts.

And this is what I want my children to learn. This is the experience I want to give them. This is the kind of life I want them to have.
The kind of life where tidings pf Comfort and Joy are the first gifts they give.
No matter the cost.


peace, peace
J

home again, home again

We are home again and I am trying to pace myself on the re-entry pocesses. If you think of it, say a little prayer for me.There is a lot to do, but I am trying to not be consumed by them.To instead find little pockets of peace and light in the midst.I miss you all much. Be back soon (with some great little surprises in store!)J

it's a crafty miracle and road trip update

Stop the presses.I have an announcement.I have learned to granny square.

It only took months (off and on) of Jeanetta's patient tutelage, and these online instructions for me to finally get the hook of it.
We are on the road this week for a little family vacation. These granny squares and pom pom making have helped occupy the many hours in the car.But as relaxing as they are to make, apparently they are not as zen as I thought because I seem to have developed my first case of full body hives.HIVES. Who gets hive on vacation?Me. That's who.This is one of those moments when I really doubt my qualifications to be a mother. It has only taken one half- cross-country road trip with three kids to almost do me in.Seriously? But I am not giving in that easily.Tomorrow we are doing a little whirlwind tour of D.C. and then we will settle into Williamsburg for the rest of the week -(you can keep up with our adventures on Instagram.)Despite my bodies protest to the contrary, I really am excited about it all - especially D.C.

In other news, check out these amazing GIVEAWAYS on the following blogs (each include a copy of A Homemade Year! )
Meg at WHATEVER
Stacey at Cottage Industry
and don't forget to enter to win a copy of St. Francis and Brother Duck here on my blog :)

Hope your week is full of blessings!J

Making a Family Advent Wreath

(photo by Judea Jackson Creative)
 And I know we are not even quite to Thanksgiving yet, but for those of us who celebrate Advent, one has to begin to think of these things early. This year Advent comes quickly on the heels of Thanksgiving, before there is even time to finish all the leftovers, the Sunday after in fact.
Before I will have had the chance to get down my Christmas decorations!  But never fear, even if you haven't had the chance to unpack your twenty bins of decor (wait, you don't have 20 bins? you are a smarter cookie then me!) you can still start Advent a week from Sunday with minimal stress. 

One of my very favorite projects from A Homemade Year is the Advent wreath. When I lived in Juneau, Alaska, I was introduced for the first time to the Advent wreath. Typically the Advent wreath, a tradition that helps Christians observe the four Sundays of Advent as they journey toward Christmas, is made from evergreens. But as with most things in Southeast Alaska, the Advent wreath that our new church family introduced to us was not typical of the sort of wreath you might find in the “lower forty-eight.” Our wreath, made from a thick slice of log, was as unique, beautiful, and unexpected as Alaska itself. Drawing inspiration from those log bases, I have made our family our own woodland Advent wreath.
            Now, this may cause some people to raise their liturgical tradition eyebrows, but I do not use the traditional purple and pink candles for our wreath. Instead, we use candles in colors that I love (I blame my contrary, evangelical genetics for this). Not to be too casual about this very important tradition, each separate color of candle still represents one aspect of our Advent observance, helping provide guidance as we move through the month. Of course if you are a fan of the original colors (three purple or light blue, one rose, one white) you can easily substitute those instead. (In AHY I  note both my color choice and the traditional color choices for each week. )



For our wreath Sweet Man actually sliced a log for me, but look what I found recently! Pre-cut slices, the PERFECT size! I have found these both at Hobby Lobby and Michael's - how great is that??



To get your log base ready for candles, simply Drill one 1-inch hole directly in the middle, going almost the entire way through the log slice.
Drill four more holes the same way, in the positions of north, south, east, and west (see wreath picture for example).
Once this is done, add your four colorful candles to the four outlying holes and one white candle in the middle. So now you don't have to get out your chainsaw or pester your husband to get this done, just hop on down to the craft shop with your 50% coupon and pick one up. You could make your advent wreath in less time than it takes your turkey to cook!
Over the past few months I have had the most fun leading Advent Events for several church groups across the state. We have painted rocks with the word HOPE, made felt heart shaped pillows, glittered paper-mache stars, stamped feathers and tied bows to big ole jingle bells in order to make each of the objects that accompany our Advent Wreath.
The objects shown in the pictures from the book are of the objects we use in our family, but for the Advent Events I found the following items at my local craft stores:
Paper Mache Stars (that could be painted or glittered)River Rocks ( (to be painted with the word Hope)Red Felt (cut, stitched -using embroidery floss- and stuffed into heart pillows)White Feathers (stamped with the word Peace)  OR Wooden Bird Shape (painted or glittered)Large Jungle Bell (can be glittered or embellished with ribbon)


((photo by Judea Jackson Creative))
Each week when our family gathers to light the candle, we place one item to represent that week’s theme on the wreath base, next to it's corresponding candle. This is a great way to get kids of all ages involved, because even little bitty hands can hold a large jingle bell or heart pillow.These days my boys are old enough to help light the candles and read the bible verses for each week, but we still love using the objects as extra reminders of what Advent is all about. They are like small breadcrumbs, little clues that point towards all the gifts that come through the birth of Christ on Christmas. 


To order a copy of A Homemade Year, which begins with words and celebrations for Advent and Christmastide,  you can visit Amazon, Paraclete Press, Barnes and Noble, Mardel or most other major bookstores.  
(To find out how to have me come visit your church or group click here.) 

St. Francis Giveaway!

A few months we received a copy of the greatest little graphic novel,  St. Francis and Brother Duck, from Paraclete Press. I wasn't sure what my boys would think of it, if they would find it too obvious or too young, but they immediately snatched it up and have worn it out from cover to cover ever since.Which I love.
I cannot express how happy I am when we stumble onto ways for the boys to discover more about their faith roots on their own. When they find a connection to God's story along their own path, and not just the one we lay out for them at home and church, my heart does a little happy dance. This little book has been just that sort of discovery, and I am so thrilled to be able to give a copy away to one lucky reader!




a Rafflecopter giveaway




Don't forget to check out the other St. Francis activities for kids from yesterday!


love!
J

St. Francis for Thanksgiving

I have a particular soft spot in my heart for St. Francis and his lessons.When it came time to work on the final manuscript for  A Homemade Year,  we had to cut a few chapters, including the St. Francis chapter. I meant to post this  the week of St. Francis Feast Day (October 4) but with everything going on with my grandparents it just didn't happen.   But I thought that perhaps the Thanksgiving season might be just as appropriate a time as any reflect on the wisdom of this man of Assisi, and explore his teachings further. Below is an excerpt from this never-published chapter, including part of the narrative and two of the projects from the children's party - both of which could all easily be incorporated into your Thanksgiving celebration..


St. Francis of Assisi is the saint that speaks to me when I think of my birds and children. Reading his words “where there is hatred, sow love” aloud, I realize that he did not say show love, but instead he said sow love.
Which grabs my attention immediately.
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, when you sow something, you plant it for the express purpose of growing more of the very thing you have planted. - to sow is to set something in motion for the express purpose of growth. 
This means then that to sow love is to purposely set into motion love in order to see it grow further. 
This means that I cannot just show love, I must sow love purposely.
I must tend to it. Nurture it, feed it, water it.
I must work to destroy the weeds of bitterness, apathy, and busyness, that threaten to strangle the life out of it - again and again.
I must set love, faith, hope, joy in motion for the purpose of growth– my growth, my family’s growth, my communities growth.
St. Francis continues his conversation with me, “it is no use walking anywhere to preach unless you’re walking is preaching...Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” he says , and I am cut to my core with these words.  Am I walking my preaching, walking my teaching, my writing? As a mother, wife, friend?Am I walking Christ’s love and mercy and grace, daily and hourly? For someone who loves words as much as I do, walking the gospel is much harder than just telling it.Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the needs around me. I am easily irritated and short tempered with those closest to me. I get impatient with the progress of my Life Plan. I get impatient with myself for being so impatient. I feel small in my ungratefulness. I think of St. Francis words, True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice, and silently say a prayer that I will remember to stop and consider the sparrows. That I will stop and see the leaves twirling as they fall from branch to ground. That I will not throw myself off the melodramatic cliff of What I Can Only See Now. That I will remember to give thanks for all the progress that has occurred, all the little seeds that have sprouted, all the dreams reached, all the bounty provided.And if I manage to get that far, I will also hopefully remember to pick up another handful of seeds or bulbs, and my all too-shiny spade, plop down in the dirt, and begin to sow again.



Down on the Farm Children’s PartyThe life of St. Francis is a wonderful one to study when seeking lessons of meekness and servitude. St. Francis saw God’s glory, creativity and worth in all of creation. To honor St. Francis and his attitude of humility, I thought a farm theme seemed appropriate because on a farm everyone must pitch in and help. And caring for all living creatures, no matter their size (as we have learned in our house) is an important and holy undertaking To hold a St. Francis- inspired Farm Party, simply gather a few willing hands, serve some Assisi- inspired treats and help children create crafts that serve and instruct as well as honor the beauty and creativity that God has created in our natural world and in each of us.

Setting the scene:

Create a Down on the Farm atmosphere gather items that have that fresh-off-the-hay-wagon feel. For our party we used a vintage quilt made from calico and feed-sack materials as our table cloth, jelly jars for glasses, a wood stump served as a cupcake stand and small farmers market baskets held our farm animal cookies. Because The Feast of St. Francis occurs in the month of October, you can also use traditional fall items to help decorate: pumpkins, gourds and mums are all easy to find and inexpensive additions to a fall party.

Farm Animal DIY (Decorate It Yourself) Cookies
Cookie decorating has become a staple of almost every kid-centric party I throw. To me this is an everyone wins activity. There is less work for me because I don’t have to decorate each cookie, the kids love to get involved and be creative ( I have never had a kid, no matter how old or how cool refuse to decorate a cookie) and as a bonus they get to eat their creations when they are done. Less work, more fun, what could be better?


To make these cookies I used a simple sugar cookie recipe and these cookie cutters.I put toppings smalls ramekins (easy to use for small hands) and gave every child a small personal serving of cream cheese icing and a plastic knife for spreading.Then I let them go to town.

      
We also made little prayer flip books featuring farm animal cut-outs and St. Francis most famous prayer.  Download and print this Flip-Book How-To and Patterns here: St. Francis Flip Book (there are also scripture references and family reflection questions included) and make these flip books before or on Thanksgiving for kids to color and enjoy.


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Think your kids would love learning about St. Francis? Stay tuned - tomorrow I will have a great St. Francis Giveaway!

blessings friends-J

doing my part to inspire big brand stores

What is the world coming too? (*wink*)
I can't take credit for this wreath quite the way I can for the Ikea light fixture.All I can take credit for here is buying the vintage yarn wreath, tearing off the ugly ribbon that was on it, and pairing it with a wreath I made from book pages years ago (copied from the Pottery Barn catalog pre-Pinterest thank you very much,) hanging it over my mantle for Christmas 2011, and blogging about it.
That is all I can take credit for.
I still have the wreath, and you better believe I will find a fun way to display it this year. I think last year it was above our bed, but I have no pictures to prove it.I wish I could remember where I bought it. Most likely an estate sale or a flea market during the shop days. I have been another pom-pom making jaunt again, so maybe I will tie some colorful ones to it in a cluster for variety. I have to think that there are dozens of these handmade wreaths hidden in attics and basements all over the country.  I feel like I even saw instructions for one in a Women's Day or Family Circle issue of my mothers? 
Speaking of my mother, it was she who made the granny-square stockings for us over ten years ago, so if you see those at Urban Outfitters or Land of Nod, you will know who to thank.
 Cheers!J
PS- Thanks for all the well wishes.  I am feeling much better but the sudden onset of humidity and temps in the 80's are about to drive me nutty. Please pray for my family as they have to live with me during these sticky days.
PPS- The Orthodox Christian church has already begun their Advent Countdown (40 days instead of 25) which I believe gives us all permission to go ahead and enjoy Christmas music. Now I know that it is technically Advent and NOT Christmas (which actually begins on Dec 25 and goes till Jan 6,) but seeing as how Bing Crosby and Amy Grant have not really recorded Advent specific tunes, I think just this once we could enjoy all manner of Christmas music - at least Monday - Friday. We can keep Saturday and Sunday's pure and stick to the correct order of things, no birth till Christmas Eve etc - sound good? Lovely!
PPPS- I am such a nerd.

stuff yo

hi friends.
well, today I am home a little sickly.I caught some sort of weird virus/cold thing out of nowhere and have been in bed for two days. But I am drinking my liquids and getting lots of rest so that is good. At least today I can sit up straight, take nourishment and blog. Always signs of life around here.
Here are some fun things I wanted to share before I go back to sleep:

1)There is A Homemade Year giveaway happening over on Hannah's blog - go enter!

2) I am showing my Southern Roots by hosting a Bourban and Boots Christmas Wishlist board over on Pinterest. There I will be curating a list of all things Southern from B&B that I would love to give (and maybe get) for Christmas over the next few weeks.  

3) Before I got sick I got glasses. I tried to go with the crafty-librarian look since they are mostly for reading/computer work/crafting. K calls them my "nerd glasses."  
So there you go. Just a little bit of what is happening around these parts.Think I will drink some more juice and go back to sleep.Have a lovely weekend friends!
J

this time of year

I love this time of year.I love all the leaves falling everywhere (this is because I don't rake them, I know.)I love all the thankful and grateful post.I love watching all the Thanksgiving episodes of Gilmore Girls and West Wing.(I want Amy Sherman-Palladino and Aaron Sorkin to have a TV baby together. And I want to be their set designer. Or coffee fetcher.)And that in just a few weeks I will be watching all the Christmas episodes.I love that I can now wear boots and sweaters and scarves.I love that thanks to my friend Andrea I now know how to plant bulbs for the spring.I love the pumpkin candles and a fire in our fireplace and all the pots of chili, and soup, and chicken and dumplings on the stove.I love that the time has come to legitimately start getting excited about pie. And decorations. And holiday parties. And cookie exchanges. And gift making. 
Do you love this time of year as well or is it just me?
xoxoJ



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Guess what makes a great gift? A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting and Coming Together You can purchase copies at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Mardeland now on Kindle!