Tag Archives: spiritual journeys

Advent Adventures: Unusual Foods and Christmas Magic

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Welcome back to to another post. We’re preparing for Christmas with our little advent focus… I’m actually combining a couple of lessons from our study because we missed a week travelling… did you even notice? I did. Nonetheless, the kid and I have made it back safely to Itsnottafarm and have resumed our rather boring existence. Winter hit. I’m bummed out about it. So let’s talk more about our vacation instead, okay?

I love to try new foods when on vacation. Obviously, when you are in a new place, there are things that you do that are “out of the ordinary”. That’s the point, right? Vacations are supposed to be when you see new things, try new foods, and throw a few extra ordinary things in there. And of course we did this on our little mini getaway, too. Two restaurants on our list whenever we go to the USA are Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel. We used to have Olive Garden here in Canada, but no longer… and it is a shame. All you can eat bread sticks? Yes, please.

Anyway, amid our navigational disasters, we did manage to make it to an Olive Garden. And it was worth the drive. Our waiter bamboozled us a little into getting extra dipping sauces… but hey, we were on vacation. Alfredo for the win! I suppose pasta places are not unusual as far as restaurants go, but anything different from “home” is worth it. Our second unusual stop was a place called “Shake Shack”. A new one to me, but the “elevated” fast food joint was on the kid’s list and right next to our hotel… so it was hit up as well. Apparently the burger was great. I can say that my shake was quite good. I got a peppermint bark shake which had big chunks of real peppermint bark. I suppose the Shake Shack will be added to the list for future trips.

Being in Boston, we also had to try the “specialty”: Lobster rolls. It served as our lunch one day whilst downtown. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon… and paid through the nose for essentially a sandwich, but we did it just to say we did. Anyone have any foodie lists for vacation? What’s your extra ordinary food when you don’t want to be ordinary? Perhaps a Christmas tradition that only comes out at this time of year?

So. Let’s make our transition to our lessons, shall we? Extra ordinary. Different from the norm. On the list but not the everyday. Can we say that the birth of Jesus certainly fit in this theme? First off… no sterile hospital bed for Mary. She had the luxury suite in the barn cave of a kind inn keeper. Mary and Joseph were on a trip, but nary a fancy meal for them. No endless bread sticks on the menu. Instead? Lowly shepherds in the middle of the night. Then later, a visit from a few wise men who followed an “unusual” star. One never seen before. Yup, babies are born in the middle East all the time… but this one? Freaky all around.

If you think about it, the entire description of that Holy night was unusual. Out of the ordinary. Different in almost every way from the normal… time, place, people, creatures… how did the world not know? Did the friends of the shepherds not question their sanity? Didn’t other people see a shining light and a multitude of angels on a hill in the blackness? What did Mary think of the whole thing? Really? “Treasured up all these things in her heart” is an understatement. Crazy crazy things happened to this peasant girl and her betrothed, slightly confused husband. They’d never been through these things before… and the verses in the Bible seem to gloss through the story… because it really is extra ordinary.

Ordinary Night in Bethlehem? Not in the Least! Photo by mark soetebier on Pexels.com

Perhaps that’s why we make Christmas time extra special. Perhaps that’s why we bring out all the goodies that we only splurge on at this time of year. It is cause for celebration. It is an excuse to see the phenomenal. Angels, wise men, unnamed stars, stinky sheep and their caregivers in a foreign village in a barn. Would not be on my birth plan. Nor on my vacation list. Yet, it was all as the ancient prophets had predicted. And all according to God’s plan.

Obviously there is a lot more we could unpack in these advent days. The story of King Herod and the death of innocent babies. Who were the shepherds? The wise men? What ever happened to Joseph? The gifts? Yet, I’m going to choose to sit here with my endless supply of bread sticks and just enjoy the unusual. It’s worth the seeking to experience an “ordinary event” in an “extra ordinary” way. I’m up to try it. Are you? Let’s make it a plan to see the magic of Christmas… both past and present this year. Cheers!

Exploring Boston: Anticipation and Miracles on the Road

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Greetings from Boston Massachusetts! The youngest son and I are on a spur- of- the- moment trip. Why Boston? Simply because it was a place on the map we could drive to in a day. So, here we are. It’s the most I have ever driven by myself. And getting here was a challenge. We decided to take a route through Vermont. Which was fine, except it was a very straight run through simple trees and the end of our trip was dark — therefore a long, boring, drive. No gas stations, no street lights, no tourist spots along the way… simply dark figures of trees and the road ahead. Barely even another car, because who decides to go through Vermont enroute to Boston in the middle of late fall ? Us crazy Canadians, I guess.

Needless to say, we drove the last few hours straight with a vengeance. We were on a mission to get there. To make matters worse, my phone battery was dangerously low and for fear of our GPS (and only navigation) source dying, the kid was taking screen shots of directions to get us there. Finally, our hotel was in sight… we were safe and had arrived! Then, we were starving and needed to find food (but that’s a different story).

One of the biggest lessons we can draw from our road trip thus far, has been the anticipation. As I said, we planned this little getaway with no real agenda other than the trip itself. Let’s just go! It’ll be fun! How does that thought link to our third lesson of this little advent study we’re in the middle of? Well, we are focusing on Mary and the miracle of her virgin birth and all that surrounds that subject. Obviously, from ancient texts, we can see that the world has been waiting… anticipating… for the final arrival of the Messiah, One who would save the world. We were on a mission to get to the end … and the world was waiting too!

Now, let’s talk about all that surrounded Mary’s story. A virgin birth. A visit from an angel. Lots of out of the ordinary stuff happening to poor Mary… exciting but crazy things! Our lesson points out some interesting facts about Luke’s account of the baby Jesus’ birth as recorded in the Bible:

  • Luke was an expert historian; he would have secured his sources and fact checked; this means he would not likely “make up” points just to be sensational in his writing; Mary’s virginity would be fact
  • Mary’s story also checks out with earlier accounts from prophets like Isaiah; the Bible is consistent
  • Many Greco-Roman legends of the time paint different pictures of their “immortal god births”, often citing gods having relations with mortals resulting in miraculous births… Luke’s account isn’t anything like this, and sticks to the facts
  • speaking of facts… most readers would ummm, understand the “facts” and not play stupid; in other words, because Mary was a virgin, Jesus’ birth is all that more miraculous. If she wasn’t, we could explain it away; We can also say that the ancient people of the time understood where babies came from… so His miraculous birth was just that: supernatural and special

Furthermore, I’m humbled to know that the mighty messengers who came to visit Mary way back then, were looking out for us on our journey as well. I am sure that angels were on the roads protecting us from snow and sleet and my lack of navigational skills. My phone wasn’t miraculously charged, but I have no doubt that God kept us safe on the roads, because lemme tell ya, traffic in Boston is awful! Narrow roads and one way streets with bridges and interstates with crazy on and off ramps. God led Mary and Joseph through miraculous parenthood adventures, and he led the kid and I on some crazy escapades as well!

Just think about all of Mary’s crazy adventures! Image from The Nativity Story

Perhaps I am drawing too much of a comparison between our road trip and Mary’s miracle. Still, it is valid to muse about the well familiar virgin birth story and all the anticipation of Christmas. Perhaps, should you travel this holiday, you’ll think of us and our long road through Vermont and be reminded that the same God who was with Mary, is with you, too, as He was with us on the roads in Boston. He still cares. He is still protecting us. He still has a plan for us. I hope this little post has brought you a little closer to knowing Him this season, and recognizing His presence, even on the dark roads of Vermont !

Spiritual Preparedness: The Role of John the Baptist

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Welcome back, beloveds, to our second week of this Advent study we’re doing this year! We’re going to look at “preparedness” this week… I suppose an Advent study is entirely about preparing, but this week is specifically about John the Baptist and his role in Jesus’ birth.

We’ve chatted about preparing numerous times here at mittonmusings.com, and I’m not ashamed to say it popped up again this week. We’ve had our first dumping of snow… and I am unprepared. School buses were cancelled again, and the pallets are still sitting on the driveway. I knew winter was coming, but somehow I was stuck in falling leaves and an extended fall season. I’m sure it is too early for a full few weeks of snow, so I am trying to ignore it. Nonetheless, I headed off to do morning chores including the dumping of ice and refreshing water with my trusty butter knife to hack away at the ice… but in Crocs and a sweater because I have no idea where my winter coat is.

We’ve had to go searching for shovels in the barn and the fretting for my bunnies has begun. It was literally only -4 degrees Celsius, but I worry they get cold. My new chick birds are unprepared for all this white stuff… and I am not sure they know they can go back in to the coop. So far, they seem all huddled in the corner (outside). I must show them the way — again!

My “bunny basket” now includes an “ice hacker” knife…

In addition to being physically prepared for things, I like to be prepared in other ways. The hubby and I were having a financial discussion the other day (as one does in marriage) and he asked me what I’d like to do with a little surplus cash flow we had. He did not like my answer. If (and when) we get goats in the spring, we need a new fence and a little shelter for them (so I don’t worry about them in the winter…) and so I need to save up for said fence. I’m also reading and talking to people who have goats… which all say they are fun — but escape… hence fence discussions. My mother thinks I’m crazy. The hubby thinks, well, never mind what he thinks. I’m mentally preparing for goats.

Preparation. It’s important. My winter tires were on early this year… which allowed me to get groceries in the middle of our first snow. We’re gonna need a fence for escape artist goats. Fresh water is important. Luke 1 gives us the preparation story of John the Baptist’s birth announcement. It outlines the other special delivery sent to Elizabeth and Zachariah. And although they were righteous and believers… real life had them doubting. Can you imagine meeting an angel from Heaven who tells you you’re gonna have a baby in the middle of the most important day of your career as priest in the temple? Poor Zachariah was already under pressure… no wonder he was dumbstruck. A little un-prepared, I’d say, for such an encounter.

Yet, this was a significant birth announcement. John had a very important role to play. He was set apart for special service from the very beginning. He was the forerunner to prepare for the coming Christ. He served a very unique role with major distinctions that set him apart. Like us, we should stand out as ones who are “pointers” to the second coming. Ones who prepare the way. Part of that, for me, is this little blog I do each week. It’s my way of highlighting my spiritual journey to (hopefully) walk along side of ya’ll in yours!

Photo by Vladimir Srajber on Pexels.com

And I don’t know if this “lesson” has had any coherent points. I’m feeling like it’s a little all over the place. So, let’s draw some conclusions. Advent reminds us to look forward, not only to Christmas time, but to the second coming of Christ, by looking backward to the Birth of Jesus. We have done that this week by looking at John the Baptist, his special birth announcement, and his role in “pointing the way” for Jesus and His ministry. We are instructed to do the same. Like getting new pets in spring, or winter’s arrival, we all must be prepared for what is to come. And that means, studying and sharing with others. That studying may mean sacrifice, repenting, preparation or a host of other things as we fulfill our role in God’s plan for us. Are you prepared? Are you preparing? Hopefully, this little advent focus has reminded you to get on that track once again. Me? I’m off to hack at some ice. Blessings!