Meanwhile as Chris applies to job after job (over 60! so far, the last of which he found out had over 1900 applicants, and he was doing good just to have been in the top 5% who got an interview!), we are living in limbo, this faith-engaging transitional season with no known end yet in sight, and though we are thankful for our temporary month-to-month rental, I am so ready to be settled again, to feel at home.

According to Mirriam-Webster, the word limbo is derived from the Medieval Latin word limbus, which means border:

2 a : a place or state of restraint or confinement b : a place or state of neglect or oblivion <proposals kept in limbo> c : an intermediate or transitional place or state d : a state of uncertainty

And though it may sure feel like a sort of purgatory, as any bona fide Believer who's spent much time walking with our Lord will tell you, times like these are simply a part of growing, a time meant for teaching us to trust Him, a time to receive strength in our weakness... We are His Church, His Beloved Bride whom He loves, His children whom He disciplines, and teaches. In this knowledge, I do rejoice and take heart, knowing that this time has great potential!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

~ James 1.2-5

In many regards, it feels like our lives are somewhat on hold, as we're still living off of dwindling equity money, praying for an income as we're waiting on Adonai to multiply our efforts, and bless Chris with a job, wandering in a wilderness of sorts, wondering where Adonai Yir'eh (The LORD who sees; Gen. 22:14; Adonai sees and knows all of our needs intimately -rendered in the KJV & transliterated as Jehovah Jireh) will lead us. However, we are finding unexpected blessings along this way as well...

For instance, we've been enjoying all of the extra *home-time* we've had together this year, since we've been uprooted, and transplanted, hesitant to become too involved locally, knowing we may be moving, yet again, at any time. Without such busy days, and all of the extra-curricular activities that we've had going on throughout our weeks in years past, the kids and I have found so much more time for creating, reading more books aloud together again and just for playing together as a family, etc. Chris and I have been drawn into studying the Word together more, and we've been so much more consistent with our family Bible times again too. This whole school year has seemed like a sabbatical of sorts for all of us, a special, hidden, safe time... a time to re-group and re-calibrate, check our bearings and prepare for the journey that lies ahead (homeschooling highschool?! next year, for one), whatever that may be.

In the midst of all of this change and uncertainty, I think that we have found extra comfort in just being *home* (together) more, and the extra down-time that it's afforded us to homeschool- here, at home... not having to rush here or there, and not having encroaching schedules and deadlines from lots of extra-curricular/outside activities limiting nor interrupting what we'd otherwise like to be pursuing has been nice for a change. Of course, those times we've had so much going on have been wonderful too, and it will sure be nice to get involved in a lot more again, all in due time, as there's a lot of activities that I/we have been a part of that we miss and would like to get involved in once we get settled again. However, I was somewhat surprised last month when my kids declined my offer for us to get involved in a local homeschool co-op here this semester, saying that they'd rather not, "because we're liking just being home more and having more time to do stuff here". Interesting, I thought, as the weight of some (apparently needless) self-imposed guilt over all that we'd left behind lifted.

Yes, I have just simply been so blessed as I'm rediscovering that indispensable resource that we as busy mothers and homeschoolers so often find ourselves short on... time. This continuity of uninterrupted time at home has been invaluable, allowing us to re-discover and pursue some interests, to fine-tune our homeschooling rhythms and to just find that thinking spot again. I've gotten more organized (which granted, is easier to do with less stuff!), and have been pleasantly surprised to hear our two oldest children exclaim to me numerous times that this has been our "best homeschool year yet"! Wow, really?!

The Lord has been answering a prayer that's resonated within my soul for years... Regarding time and money, I am choosing to listen to the Master, who gives faith, by which I am trusting my Messiah. He is teaching me an invaluable lesson.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

~ Psalm 90.12

Our greatest homeschool resource is not money- to buy all of the books on our wish-list, or season passes to all of the museums we can visit, it's not music lessons, nor the latest, greatest co-op or curriculum... it's simply TIME. We all have it. Time to spend together, to apply ourselves to learning, reading, laughing, creating, listening, sharing, time for choosing when we should be putting the world aside to spend these preciously short days together with our children, as well as time for knowing when we should be jumping into our extended community with both feet!

I've been reminded that our kids really do value time spent with us, their parents, more than anything else right now... even as a tween and a teen. Imagine that?! I've also been reminded that our LORD is ever-faithful, and He knows what is ultimately best for us, and is always working on our behalf (if we're truly seeking to make Him LORD of our lives, our time and all of our other resources). I'm learning that no matter what life brings our way, we always. have. time... so long as we're breathing. While I sometimes find myself grieving over wasted time, I'm relieved and thankful for time anew this morning, today... hopefully tomorrow. Time together with those I love, such a boundless gift.

I'm finding myself praying for wisdom regarding my/our use of this invaluable resource on a daily basis... that I would choose wisely how we spend our time, because it is so fleeting. One thing I've seen over the years, is that the Lord's BEST for someone, for a family, can sure be circumvented by a whole lot of otherwise GOOD things. And naturally what is time best spent for each and every family will be different. There's no cookie-cutter formula/answer on this one. Nope, it's something we must each carry to God in prayer, individually. I'd venture to say that this task of time management is also one of the most important lessons we'll teach our children... One of those lessons they'll learn by way of habit, and are more likely to catch from watching and being with us, rather than from anything we say. Sometimes, that's a scary thought, huh?

One HUGE area in my own life where the Lord has been dealing with me regarding my own personal time-management issues ('cause I've got issues! lol), which is also fatally tied in with my own personal biggest hurdle/regret as a parent, has been my idolatry selfishness over-indulgence with time spent on the computer. There. I said it. What started out so innocently years ago, soon morphed into an addiction for this often overwhelmed, self-indulgent, non-disciplined, obsessive-compulsive stay-at-home mama chicky. It was subtle, and confusing too, since so much that was redeeming, necessary and good was tangled up in what was not.

My own addiction was particularly bad during a time of depression that I went through a few years ago (though I didn't recognize it as such at the time)... however, I can now see that part of it was good too, since I was writing and sorting through things in a way that I wouldn't have, had I not been blogging... So you see, I've personally found that there are no easy answers here, but rather a need to be prayerfully guarding how I spend my time, each. and every. day.

Balance is key, and your family is probably a pretty reliable gauge. Pay attention to them and what they think or say about how you're spending your time, both individually and together as a family. Pray about what is healthy and most profitable, rather than simply permittable... That's a hard one, it's where I've been here recently.

For me, this computer issue is a love/hate thing. Honestly, realizing how much it's robbed me of precious time with my family already, time that I gave away, not appreciating its real value and fleeting nature for what it was/is has made me consider nixing it altogether, killing the blog, dumping facebook, etc. Instead, I've opted to just be more vigilant, resisting the urge to feel obligated to anything else before my family. I'm more careful now, more disciplined and really just more over it. I've come to love computer sabbaticals, and am consciously guarding my commitments made very carefully, both online and "in real life".

And it is with this in mind that I thought to share the following with you, which really struck a chord with me, from Spunky, over at SpunkyHomeschool:

Mom's on the Computer (or not) ...a song I recently rewrote (with apologies to Harry Chapin) as an intro to my upcoming workshop, iHelp for the eHome - learning to stay focused and use electronics and the Internet responsibly in an era that makes it all too easy to twitter our time away.

Mom's on the Computer (to the tune of Cat's in the Cradle.)

My computer arrived just the other day,
It came on the porch in the usual way
So many blogs to read and games to play
My child learned to walk, while I twittered away
And he was talkin’ for I knew it, as my friends list grew
He’d say I’m gonna be like you mom
You know I’m gonna be like you

And mom’s lost on the computer, lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
we're gonna have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said "thanks for the wii, mom, come on let’s play"
"Can you teach me how it works?" I said “Not today”
"I got a blog to write" he said “that’s okay”
And he walked away while the computer never dimmed
He said, “I’m gonna be like them, yeah”
You know I’m gonna be like them

And mom’s lost on the computer lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
We're gonna have a good time then

Well my son came home just the other day
iPod in his ears, while he texted away
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"I'd really like to Mom, but talkins' not my thing"
"Check my status, for what's happening"

And mom’s lost on the computer lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then

Well my blog's retired and my Facebook out-of-date
My son texted, “Hey mom, I just can't relate"
I said, "I'd like to see you if you have some time."
He said, "I'd love to mom but skype if you don't mind."
"You see my website's down and my workload just grew."
"but it's sure nice texting with you, mom"
It's been sure nice texting with you."

And as I typed “c u later” it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

Embracing the adventure,

This article was featured at The Homeschool Post on Feb. 17, 2010.

{365:20} These two lovely sourdough loaves are my second batch, made from the wild sourdough starter that I *caught* using this recipe from Rebecca at Cooking without almost everything (thank-you!). I had just enough rye to mill and use with the starter recipe, and have now switched to feeding my mother starter fresh-milled hard red wheat. I think that I've found the perfect basic recipe for making our everyday sourdough bread/sandwich loaves.

I've been using Wardeh's Basic Sourdough recipe (thank you Wardeh!). If you're wondering why I'm even bothering learning how to make sourdough bread, then click here to read what Wardeh at GNOWFGLINS has to say regarding The Differences Between Quick Yeasted Bread and Wild Yeasted Sourdough Bread.

{365:21} Sourdough loaves... again. Not the most exciting picture, I know, sorry. But you have to realize what these loaves here represent! Yes, not only are they super-nutritious, but the whole family agrees that they are delicious, and are requesting MORE! Successs, Yesssssss! I'm actually getting familiar with the process now, and I think I'm finding a rhythm with keeping them cycling so that we always have a loaf out to eat, a couple in the freezer and more *souring* to go in the oven... very fulfilling! Also, for the past month, I've kept us supplied with freshly baked home-made, whole grain breads! This is HUGE! It's been a goal of mine for a long time (years!), to actually reach the point where I'm baking all of the bread that we consume from scratch.

It's more economical, and healthier too! Whoo-hoo!

And speaking of economics...

{365:22} My man (isn't he handsome?) had another job interview today, in Birmingham, AL! He feels like it went well... Two more weeks until we'll hear anything though. ACK! TWO more weeks of utter suspense!? Meanwhile, we're thanking Adonai for His provision and trusting Him to provide our daily bread, by prospering the work of my man's hands, even as He guides us into the future!

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

~ Galatians 6.9

This 365 Project really is helping me update my blog here more regularly, isn't it? I have quite a few more posts on my list of things I'd like to share with ya'll, but hey... at least I'm posting something!

Today the sun was shining brightly, beckoning us out of our warm little abode... and so we bundled up and headed out into what was left over from the 6" of snow we'd gotten on Friday.

My little snow princess loves to eat snow...

She kept taking off her little knit gloves too. How I love those pudgy little fingers.

After exploring our winter wonderland today, we went back inside, took a nice warm bath, ate some home-made chicken noodle soup, read a book and then we made snow-cream! It's been a beautiful day.

I remember my Mom making this when I was little. It fascinated me...

Snow Ice Cream

4 cups snow
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla...
Mix everything but the snow together, pour over snow and stir to get it mixed and smooth! Enjoy!

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

~ Psalm 90.12

{365:15} Crumb of one of my first two sourdough loaves, which were a bit too *sour*... I think that I must have had too much of the mother starter in this batch... Hopefully it'll do better next time around (tomorrow).

{365:16} Doodles by her hand... my beautiful daughter's hands, distracted and lovely, before beginning her history tales for the day. Homeschooling, cozy and relaxed, just how we like it!

If a child is to keep alive his inborn
sense of wonder, he needs the
companionship of at least one adult
who can share it, rediscovering with
him the joy, excitement
and mystery of the world we live in.

~ Rachel Carson

{365:17} Our oldest, our son... I can hardly believe that he'll be turning 14 next month?! *sighs* How I love his strong-hearted, gentle-spirited self. The years have just slipped away so quickly. I am more deliberate with our time than I used to be... Learning, hoping, praying to number my/our days, that I/we may gain a heart of wisdom... Memories shared.

Every m o m e n t captured, sacred.

Holding the past close enough to remember, yet relinquishing it long enough to see them grow, to know them now... It's a mysterious, measured balance, isn't it? Today is full of treasures. Time's a gift, yet it so often seems to me that it takes back faster than I can receive... Makes this mama's heart ache with the knowing, with love, hopes, regrets and expectations. Small bits of wisdom seem to crystallize in life's wintry seasons... I'm noticing.

Realizations of all that matters, swirling through me, elusive and gently as these falling snowflakes. Days, with all of their dreams and discoveries, disappearing even as I reach out to catch them, to touch them. Quietly piling, and then melting away, forgotten... Oh, life is precious, feeble and yet, eternal.

Whispering kisses... Moments lasting long enough to marvel at their exquisite perfection... like snow crystals.

Like snowflakes, only seen if you look closely, and hold gently.

Such a Creator.

{365:18} Yesterday we got 6" of snow within two hours, and then sleet. Today it's a melting, mushy mess...

Pretty though, and cold.

It is a wholesome and necessary
thing for us to turn again to the
earth and in the contemplation
of her beauties to know
the sense of wonder and humility.

~ Rachel Carson

Chris left today, with N and T, dropping them off to spend this wintry weekend with friends up in the TriCities, where we used to live, while he continues on up into PA(?!), where he has an interview on Monday for a job with a good company. Samson, baby S and I are here at home, waiting in the snowy quiet... keeping warm and wondering what will come of all this anticipation. What will be the final word to end this suspense, this roller-coaster ride of the last year? It has been a very hard year for us, challenging and stretching in so many ways, yet good and bountiful too.

Teaching TRUST, forgiveness and perseverance.

Last week, the kids told me that it's been our best homeschooling year yet... and we've just been staying home mostly. Imagine that? Life has slowed down, and we've all needed it to. Regrouping. Reading, writing, creating, talking, hoping, dreaming, praying, playing, laughing, and even crying (and not just the baby).

Just being: t o g e t h e r... Rediscovering.

No appointments, nor co-ops or classes, not much out and about, besides shopping, check-ups and the occasional getting together with some local friends here and there, for fun and fellowship, playing and celebrating together on Shabbat, birthdays and the holidays. I offered to join the local homeschool co-op here, get to know some more locals, just adventure out. N and T both said they'd rather not, which surprised me, a little. They've been happy and content with where we are, accepting. I've sensed it. For that, I am endlessly thankful, and relieved. They're feeling the limbo too, just waiting to land. I'm so proud and blessed to see how beautifully they're handling all of these changes.

Our lives have remained in this transitional phase, since we sold our house back last summer. I'm ready to get settled somewhere, soon I hope... to pack up our few things we've brought to this monthly rental, retrieve the rest from storage, and head out... to wherever it may be that Abba leads us, even if it's way up further north(east) than we ever thought we'd be.

He knows. I trust Him. Waiting... and wandering wondering.

Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.

~ Bill Moyer

Not that these pics are marvelous by any stretch of the imagination... Quite the contrary. Seeing the marvelous within the mundane has been a challenge today. *sighs* ...and so tonight, I'm relishing the quiet of children tucked into beds, eating dark chocolate, and sitting in my thinking spot, hoping to find solace as I grasp for the magnificent, comprised of the treasures found somewhere within these most mundane moments. Buried beneath this heaviness of heart brought on by feeling overwhelmed, mediocre and creatively frustrated lately, realizations of the unseen are beginning to stir, again. (Knowing something marvelous is underway... every day ...even when it doesn't *feel* like it.)

mundane moments: a haiku

Children, making bread

Daily chores mingling Faith

Inspiring dreamed prayers.

{365:12} It was late, I needed a pic for my 365 project, and here I sat... so here I snapped.

{365:13} Catching a wild sourdough starter, with freshly milled rye flour and our well water... as you can see, it's all bubbly, growing and fermenting nicely. I started my first batch of sourdough bread with it today.

{365:14} Loved the pattern, textures and natural rusty patina.

{Thank you for visiting. I do welcome and value any input, comments and/or constructive criticism that you might have.}

{365:10} Savannah Abigail, my "Rehoboth" (I hope to post more about that later, which is a matter of my getting around to copying from my personal journal to my blog here.) and her "Father's joy", our miracle baby.

{365:11} Isaiah 58.13, The Complete Jewish Bible

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

~ Exodus 20.8-11

{Thank you for visiting. I do welcome and value any input, comments and/or constructive criticism that you might have.}

{365:9} This old cabin, a weathered relic from pioneers of the 1800's, sits on the property where we're living right now. If you click on it, you can see more pics of it. It fascinates me. As you can see, someone has gone to great length to try and preserve what is left of it... There's another old settlement further up in the woods behind us, with less left to remind one of the lives that passed here before us... only the foundation remains of that one. I need to get a picture of it too. Tomorrow.

And um, yes, I noticed those doggy ears bottom left... but only after I'd pasted this photo into my post here! That would be our sweet German Shepherd boy, Samson, who always enjoys romping around this place on our way down to the mailbox. I figure they (the ears) add a nice, suggestively analogous element to the picture... maybe asking if we are listening to the past? Or, can you hear the story this old building tells? *lol* Okay, okay, sorry! Maybe it's a stretch, and I'm a cornball, but I just couldn't help it! Point being, they work for me.

Somehow though, despite good intentions, with all of the busyness of life lately, journaling my days keeps being neglected. No more though... hopefully this blog here will now be a better reflection of the brew*crew adventure... as it's unfolding, because lemme tell ya, the adventures are abounding! I'll explain more soon... promise. Meanwhile, without further adieu... on to the pics of everyday stuff going on around our home in the last few days.

{365:5} Books we're reading. Hadassah is a read-aloud (Purim's right around the corner), T10's working on American Tall Tales, part of her AO readings, and N13 started The Swiss Family Robinson before I could even get it on his schedule. I'm enjoying his spontaneous, enthusiastically animated narrations from it!

{365:6} A common sight in N13's room:  RISK playing figures in the midst of an epic battle, right in the valley of literature, found in the country of N13's desk... from an active world of imagination.

{365:7} Sisters creating "food" and "cooking" with Playdough... a favorite pass-time of S2's.

{365:8} A mug of my favorite Chai tea... for mornings when I'm quitting coffee, again, like now.

{Thank you for visiting. I do welcome and value any input, comments and/or constructive criticism that you might have.}

For this year long project I will be posting an image a day, to get me out shooting, using my camera and learning new things with it daily. Anyone interested in photography can join, no need to be a Mommytographer. We have teens to adults, male and female, as well as people from all over the world. Come join the fun!

To start, I'll be using the same camera I've had for the last four years, my Canon Powershot S2 IS, which is no SLR, but will have to do for now, and has served me well too, I might add... I am hoping to upgrade to an SLR some time soon though, maybe THIS year?! I figure it would probably be best to wait until my hunny gets a steady job first, before spending a bunch of money on a new toy camera for me us me!

I'm looking forward to photojournaling each day this year, though I've gotten off on a late start... I've taken shots of 4 days so far, 361 more to go.

365:1 {N13 with baby sis, S2, laying on his lap, watching a movie together.}

365:2 {S going from tears to smiles, in an instant. I'd taken over a dozen shots of her here, and they were all so cute that I just couldn't choose ONE for this day, so i had N13 help me out... I do believe that this will be one area that this project will be especially good for me in>> to narrow down my pics, to get better at taking/keeping only a couple of really good pics, rather than a whole bunch of mediocre ones. Maybe?}

365:3 {thank you note from N13 to his Grandma}

365:4 {T10 giving baby sis, S2, a "fly". I love that the bag there in the background says "Believe", which I only noticed afterwards, once I had the pic in iPhoto. You see, S2 often talks about wanting to fly, and bemoans that "I can't fly..." to which her thoughtful Sis came up with this "fly" game... Believe little girl, you CAN fly!

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. John 10:22-23

Today my kiddos have been happily stringing lights all through our home, excitedly preparing for Hanukkah, which begins on a Sabbath this year, this Friday at sundown. Yes, we do love to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, and this will be our tenth year sharing this eight day celebration together as a family, as well as with friends! You may click here to see posts from some of our Hanukkahs past.

Our kids count it as their "favorite" holiday, as do I, appreciating the way it comes so softly every year, gently lighting the cold dark of winter with its myriad truths. It really does have so much intrinsic meaning for us as followers of Yeshua (Jesus). It's been such a spectacular yearly reminder of our heritage, full of spiritual object lessons and soul-stirring accounts of true heroism, self-sacrifice and dedication to personal purity, love for Adonai, and the cost of zeal for His Torah (the Word of God), the high-price that God's people have paid for freedom to worship in ages past, to protect their own rich heritage as heirs of Abraham, as well as our own by preserving from annihilation the very lineage that our Jewish Messiah would be born through almost two hundred years later!

There's also the character building lessons regarding when righteous indignation and rebellion against ruling authorities is necessary, and the powerful reminder to not underestimate the worth of our own lives in making a difference, how one person standing up for what is right and true can inspire others and to not give up (the battle was fought for years!), even in the face of the most horrible of persecutions, that we can make a difference if we stand for truth, and with God's help, even an entire race and nation can be saved by the courage of a few to begin to speak up and take action- definitely an evangelistic message (click here to read the story!)! There's also lots of new recipes for yummy food to eat, and games to play, all also with symbolic significance!

The same courageous spirit of the Maccabees who remained faithful to God during intense persecution was passed on to Jesus' disciples who would all face severe trails because of their faithfulness to Christ. And like the miracle of God's presence expressed through the eternal flame of God burning for the Maccabees, Jesus became the incarnate, physical expression of God's presence, the Light of the World, who came to dwell among us and give us the eternal light of God's life.

~ Feast of Dedication, about.com: Christianity

I cannot hardly even begin to enumerate the many details and worthy aspects of investigation of such a richly multi-faceted holiday in this one post. Therefore, I will share but a few points, along with quite a few links to recommended resources, just to sort of commemorate this decade of our being on this journey of learning together as a family, in hopes that your own walk will be encouraged, and to offer some direction if you are maybe even interested in learning more about Hanukkah and celebrating it yourself!

One of my favorite aspects of Chanukah is that it was likely the time of our Savior's very conception.

Was Jesus Conceived on Hanukkah?

Many believe that our Messiah, the “light of the world,” was conceived on the festival of lights—Hanukkah. The Bible does not specifically say the date of Jesus’ birth. It was not during the winter months because the sheep were in the pasture (Luke 2:8). A study of the time of the conception of John the Baptist reveals he was conceived about Sivan 30, the eleventh week (Luke 1:8-13, 24). Adding forty weeks, for a normal pregnancy reveals that John the Baptist was born on or about Passover (Nisan 14). Six months after John’s conception, Mary conceived Jesus (Luke 1:26-33); therefore Jesus would have been conceived six months after Sivan 30 in the month of Kislev—Hanukkah. Was the “light of the world,” conceived on the festival of lights? Starting at Hanukah, which begins on Kislev 25 and continues for eight days, and counting through the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy, one arrives at the approximate time of the birth of Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles.

The Messiah in Hanukkah, Biblicalholidays.com

Setting the Scene

Each year we set the scene by reading the Hanukkah story, remembering the epic battle for freedom that those vastly outnumbered Jews took up arms to fight, guerilla-warfare style, against trained Syrian-Greek soldiers, and the miraculous story of their victory, a testament to Yah's faithfulness to His people and promises made to their (our) forefathers. As we read about the purifying and rededication of the desecrated altar within the Holy Temple of YHWH long ago, after the battle was won, we are reminded of our own personal, spiritual needs, the many ensuing battles against cultural assimilation that Believers face today. It is a time both solemn and celebratory,  set aside for the conscientious rededication of our own hearts and lives to our Lord and Messiah every day.

Due to our recent move, most of our holiday books that we've been collecting over the years are still in storage, three hours away, and so this year, we are relying on internet resources and our local library. Chris came home yesterday with this gem, Understanding Jewish Holidays and Customs: Historical and Contemporary, from which I quote,

...to know just what Chanukah means to every Jew and indeed to every free person, no matter what his race, religion, or creed, it is important to set the scene for this stirring episode of history. And to do that, you have to turn the time machine back well over two thousand years.

This concept of religious and spiritual freedom (which we have in our Messiah), as well as the importance of our mindful rededication of our heart/life to Adonai, is beautifully put to words and music in my favorite Chanukah song by Marty Goetz, found on his Festivals of Light album.

Chanukah
Music and Lyrics by Marty Goetz
©1997 Singin’ in the Reign Music/ASCAP

Make my life Your temple
L-rd at this season start
To pull down every idol I have raised up in my heart

Chorus:
On this Chanukah
On this Feast of Dedication
I dedicate myself to You

Take my defiled altar
Come and cleanse and come repair
So every time I falter I can run to meet you there

Chorus

Bridge:
And with every candle on the menorah
That illuminates the night
Comes a prayer You’d kindle
In me Y’shua
A desire for Your fire, for Your light

Make of my mortal body
A house worthy of Your name
Rid me of what’s ungodly and every hidden thing of shame

Chorus to Bridge

Take my supply of oil
Not enough to burn long I fear
But, oh how I pray I may one day say “A great miracle happened here!”
Chorus

Hanukkah also provides a very accessible means by which to teach about relevant end times concepts that we as Believers are facing even today.

End Times

The story of Hanukkah can be compared with end-time happenings described in the books of Revelation and Daniel. Antiochus is a type of the antichrist. Just as happened under the rule of Antiochus, Daniel prophesied in Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The same powers promoted by Antiochus are in the world today. Worldwide immorality, and idolatry are the norm. We must come out and be separate. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. The deceiver stands waiting to devour in this present culture (2 Cor. 6:16-17).

The Messiah in Hanukkah, Biblicalholidays.com

Years ago, before I'd collected many Hanukkah resources, we began by simply reading the story of Hanukkah, which I printed out from here at torahtots.com. We also traditionally read the story of Chanah and here seven sons, which you can also find at torahtots.com (click here). Here's a short excerpt regarding Hanukkah from the aforementioned site;

Chanukah is a wonderful holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. It's a holiday that says: "Never lose hope."

Chanukah commemorates the victory, thru the miracles of Hashem, of a small band of Maccabees over the pagan Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Eretz Yisroel (Israel).

Chanukah has two meanings. First, and foremost, it means “dedication” because it was on Chanukah that the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was purified and rededicated to the service of Hashem, in 165 BCE, after many years of pagan defilement. For more about Chanukah and "dedications" click here.

The other meaning gives us an easy way to remember the Hebrew date of the holiday: “Chanu” means “they rested”, and “Kah” (composed of the Hebrew letters for 25 - “Chof and Hay”) means “on the twenty fifth” (day of Kislev).

Chanukah is also called "The Festival of Lights" referring to the flames kindled on each night. It is also called "The Festival of Light" as Chanukah is the victory of the forces of "light" - which include faith and loyalty to Hashem and the Jewish tradition and the will to fight for these beliefs - over the forces of "darkness," represented by the hedonistic lifestyle of the ancient Syrian-Greeks.

We've also referred to the Hanukkah Readings for Eight Nights from one of my favorite resources, this Biblical Holidays book. Robin has made these eight devotional readings on light  available here on her site (click here).

Hanukkah Favorites @ our Home!

Hanukkah Fun!

Besides decorating with lots of lights and candles, kindling lights of the hanukkiahs (special 9-branched Hanukkah menorrahs), learning and singing the Hanukkah blessings, exchanging gifts each night and enjoying story-reading/telling and quiet devotions over the years, we have also done lots of crafts (many found in various library books), artwork, gingerbread and sugar cookie baking and decorating, sufganiyot and potato latke-frying, dreidel-playing and just had tons of fun celebrating and making blessed memories, as we've been learning together more of our immense heritage as Believers in Yeshua, as we remember the importance of our Hebrew roots!

Let everyone who is zealous for the Torah and who stands by the covenant follow after me!

~ 1 Maccabees 2.27-28

Hanukkah Online Resources:

• The Festival of Chanukah @ hebrew4christians.com Wonderful helps, including the rules for playing the dreidel game (which we use m&m's for), along with a listing of Chanukah Torah readings, and candle lighting procedures.
• Hanukkah Color Pages
• Hanukkah Worksheets
• Hanukkah recipes
• Light In The Darkness, Hanukkah and the Disciples of Yeshua
• Light in the Darkness:  Hanukkah and the Disciples of Yeshua *FREE* eBook gift!
• Why Hanukkah? 2009 from Following the Ancient Paths (Be sure and check out Lisa's links at the end of the post.)
• Why are Christians Celebrating Chanukah? from Robin Sampson of HeartofWisdom.com
• Concern Over Hebrew Ways? also rom Robin Sampson of HeartofWisdom.com
• Robin also recently wrote a great article on her blog here; 12 Things I Like and Don't Like About Christmas
• Chanukah 2009 @ aish.com Lots to read and explore there, including a handy-dandy Chanukah family guide!
• A great site for kids: Chanukah @ TorahTots.com
• Chanukah Kids Zone @ chabad.org
• Hanukkah: The Light is Messiah This entire book is available here to read for *FREE* from haydid.org
• Hanukkah, the Season of Miracles
• Finally, from my own archives; among my favorite Hanukkah memories, Our Own Hanukkah Miracle and Hanukkah~ a Festival of Light; our testimony and traditions