Brenda's Silent Night

by Brenda Nixon

faithful readers!


Doncha just love all the fun Christmas pageants and plays this time of year? When I was growing up I always participated in school and church programs. I guess being on stage is comfortable to me and that's one reason why I love my speaking profession.

One December, I was deathly ill. We weren't sure what bug had bitten me, but I was home from school and everything else for weeks. Meanwhile, our church teen group regular rehearsed for a Christmas play in which I was one of the lead characters. As each day drew us closer to opening night, my parents, the director, and all the other cast members fretted, "How's Brenda?" or "Will Brenda be able to carry her role?" or "What do we do, we didn't plan for an understudy!"

Gradually my health bounced back and I felt well enough to go to Dress Rehearsal. During the evening, I knew I couldn't carry my lines and act. My voice was weak and raspy. So the director decided to conserve my strength . . . by giving all my lines to another character but keeping me in the play! You guessed it; I came out on stage and acted out my character without speaking. It truly was a silent night in the house.

Tell us a fun memory you have of a Christmas play. Let's get some laughing going on here!

Christmas Programs - A Mom's Perspective - Trish Berg

There is something inspiring about a children's Christmas Program. When the little ones get dressed up in angel and shepherd costumes, and play the roles of Mary and Joseph, I am just awestruck at their joy.

Every year, our church puts on a Christmas Program where the kids dress up and act out the story of the birth of Jesus. My children have played the roles of angels with halo headbands, shepherds with bath robes and plastic staffs, and wise men bring gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh.

I have now been a mom for over 13 years, and watching my children participate in the Christmas program is simply a joy-filled experience.

My children have grown up as angels and shepherds, and I think they better understand the story of Jesus birth as they act out the story. It makes it real for them in a way no reading of the story can.

So, even if your church does not have a Christmas program, I encourage you to have a home-spun play. Pull out the story of the birth of Jesus, gather some bath robes and halos made from head bands, and have a family theatre night this December. Let your children choose their oles, and even rotate the roles performing the play several times throughout the holiday season.

And watch as God's story, the story that started it all, melts into their little souls.

Enjoy the journey-Trish Berg
Psalm 118:24

Pageants

Did you know that the word pageant comes from words that mean rolling wagon? Look into A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts to find out more about the origin of the word "pageant."

As with most books, we had to cut the length of this book to keep the cost to buyers under $20.00. One of the chapters we cut was the Pageantry chapter. This week our theme is Christmas programs or pageants, so I'm including a personal essay intended for that chapter. Enjoy, and I have a question for you at the end.

Pageantry

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. Matthew 2:2

Christmas programs and holiday gatherings celebrate Christ and community. The season offers many opportunities to meet with friends and celebrate the real star of this earth—The Christ.

FAMILY SNAPSHOT

Good News in American Sign Language
by Cathy Messecar

On stage, the play “Christmas Journey” came to life in American Sign Language for the deaf audience. Each deaf actor signed all their lines in ASL, and a company of unseen people interpreted for the hearing audience.

Two scripture phrases came to mind the December my husband and I watched the excellent production at Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church: “lifting holy hands in the sanctuary” and Isaiah’s prophecy that the deaf would “hear the words of the scroll.”

A Woodhaven member had invited us to their annual Christmas Drama. In our conversation, she told how this generation could be the one to more completely fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that the deaf will hear about the Messiah.

Over 100 sign languages exist in the world. American Sign Language is the fourth language of the United States, some colleges offer it for foreign language credit, and more than 23 million Americans are deaf. Gaulledet University’s President said, “Deaf people can do anything . . . except hear.”

As my husband and I watched the Woodhaven drama, we became enamored with the Deaf World where “sign language is spoken.” Dawn Sign Press says the deaf “listen with their eyes” and “facial expressions and body language say as much as the human voice.”

That night we “listened with our eyes,” too. On stage, a group of Christians planned a trip to the Holy Land. They packed, met at the airport, flew across an ocean and put their feet down in the land of milk and honey.

In Israel, a Messianic Jewish tour guide, in ASL, regaled the travelers with stories of the Christ. Near a large tour bus, the tour guide’s hands signed Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, the visit to her cousin Elizabeth, and Joseph’s concern when he found out about Mary’s pregnancy. During his signing, the ancient stories were acted out by more cast members on stage left.

During Act 2, fatigued tourist Fred took a siesta. He dreamed about Jesus’ birth, baptism, ministry, crucifixion, and triumphant resurrection. With precision and pageantry, the cast of 60 reenacted the later life of Jesus and 60 pairs of hands convinced us we were there, on the soil of Holy Land.

Orchestrated songs accompanied the play, and the hearing audience had the double pleasure of listening to the melodies and watching them in ASL. The signing of “Breath of Heaven” and “Come as You Are” were especially poetic.

I am thankful for the first time we saw the gospel in American Sign Language. A language foreign to me melted my heart and revealed The Christ in new dimensions.

In his ministry, Jesus opened and healed the ears of the deaf. Today, the Christian Deaf World continues his mending mission, his heart-healing mission. That December, we witnessed their passion when they shared the story about a stable, a star, a Savior, and a sacrifice.

Tell us about the special pageants you have attended?

Egg Nog At Its Best!

My most often requested extra treat for the holidays is my eggnog recipe. For a while I stopped making it because of all the salmonella scares about raw eggs but I learned that if you wash the egg shells well, there's little chance of contamination. If you're game, here's the recipe:

4 eggs separated (Since this recipe calls for raw eggs, be sure to wash the outside shells before cracking open)
1 can condensed milk
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 qt milk (for lower cal/lower fat, use 2% milk)
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. cinnamon

Beat egg yolks in large bowl with mixer. Add condensed milk and beat again until well blended. Add vanilla, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and milk. Mix well. In separate large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold into egg yolk mixture. Refrigerate. Makes ½ gallon.
Preparation hint: Save ½ gallon plastic milk jugs, rinse thoroughly and, using a funnel, pour the eggnog mixture into the milk jugs to store until ready to use.

If you don't want to chance the raw eggs, I suggest buying the prepared eggnog and cutting it with some 2% or skim milk to reduce calories and lighten the heavy flavor and consistency the prepared stuff has.

What goes best with eggnog? Cookies or salty pretzels?

Herring and Cream

A Pelkin and now Hangen tradition is eating Herring and Cream with crackers on New Year’s eve, or anytime during the holidays. My mom, Neddie, began this tradition in our house in Wisconsin, in the 1950s and we continue it here in California.
This snack requires:
One pint Herring (wine style), in a jar, from your market’s deli case.
Crackers. We like saltines and Ry Krisp crackers.
¾ cup whipping cream
1 medium cucumber
2 small bunches green onions
2 tablespoons, or less, sugar
1 tablespoon dill (fresh or dried dill can be used)
1 tablespoon wine vinegar

Drain and cut herring into bite size pieces, throw out all spices
Whip cream, then add vinegar and sugar
Stir in sliced cucumber, sliced green onions, and dill
Pour over herring and place in refrigerator. Keep it chilled until eating.
Enjoy it on crackers.
We love this because it is so tasty, not commonly found, and it is a snack that is a welcome change from all those desserts.

"Lighter" foods to have around

Leslie's scrumptious "lighter fare" to have around

At first glance, this blog post might seem a little counter-intuitive to our subject last week: Tips to Avoid Overeating. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Delicious food need not be calorie-laden or bad for you.

To that end, I give you a couple of ideas for scrumptious foods to have on hand that won’t break the bank or pop the button on your jeans.

Tortilla Wraps
Buy large tortilla wraps. (I like flavored ones, such as jalapeño or spinach.) Spread mayonnaise or mustard across the entire wrap.
Layer on the good stuff: thinly sliced deli meat and cheese, lettuce, cream cheese, cucumber or other chopped veggies.
Roll up tightly.
Slice about ¾” thick with a sharp knife. Arrange on a colorful plate and serve alone or with French onion dip.

Black Bean Dip (My Aunt Jackie’s Famous Oh-So-Low-Fat Recipe)
2 cans Progresso black beans
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
¼ c. Pace picante sauce
4-6 oz. Feta cheese

Puree in blender one can of beans with liquid. Drain the other can; add to beans with other ingredients, except Feta. Crumble Feta on top and serve chilled with tortilla chips or veggies.

The key through the holidays—and really any other time of year—is moderation. Enjoy what you like; just have smaller portions.

Got Company?

Hi faithful readers!
Although I'm usually focused on writing or speaking to parent audiences, I occasionally take time away to polish the facets of my other side. I loved getting involved in writing A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts with all it's terrific historical facts, tasty recipes, unusual stories, and tips for the holidays.

During November/December, most speakers and writers slow down a bit. That is when it's possible to relax the professional self and do the fun personal things like inviting company over or going to holiday open houses. Whether I have people in or go out, I like to share scrumptious extras.

Scrumptious doesn't always mean sweets. Matter-of-fact, I get tired of all the sweets at parties and I try to lower the processed sugars by offering fresh fruit kabobs, or I'll go with an antipasto tray.

Sharing over food has always been a way to fellowship. I don't want to stop my social calendar, but do want to make the food I serve to be healthy and satisfying.

What do you think? Do you like to make extras to keep on hand at your home or to take out? What tantalizing "extras" are around your house for the holidays?

by Brenda Nixon