A New Year’s Challenge

Over the past couple of months, I have gradually been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It has been a slower read for me because every page is filled with wisdom and a reason for underlining and highlighting. In her book, Voskamp asks how do we find joy in the midst of our everyday lives? While I don’t align with all of her theological understandings, her invitation to embrace everyday blessings and to embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God’s gifts has been very worthwhile for me.

“Thanks is what multiplies the joy and makes any life large.”

This book has been very applicable for me in our transition to life in Nicaragua. A wonderful friend told me before we left that it would be important for me to “turn my yucks into wows.” When there are things about living in Nicaragua that I don’t quite like, it is important for me to reframe them and try to look at them from a different perspective. This has been a key for my transition so far.

“To name a thing is to manifest the value that God gave it.”

A fellow MCCer told me on one of my first days here that she found it helpful to intentionally notice and look for three things each day that I could be thankful for, to find beauty when it isn’t always beautiful. This has also been an extremely helpful practice for me.  I am trying to notice the “little” things and give a name to these blessings.

“I want to see beauty. In the ugly, in the sink, in the suffering, in the daily, in all the days before I die, the moments before I sleep.”

And so I thought, like Voskamp I am going to chronicle my everyday blessings in this next year. Three a day! Will you join me in doing this? We may just find that it changes our perspective on life.

“…to not just take the blessing, but to be the blessing.”

I hope that you enjoy the read, and the practice! “The secret of joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is.”

Feliz Navidad

   

Christmas-eve provided Cassie and I with a well needed break. We spent the day relaxing at a pool, in our new hammock and with our host family.

 

On Christmas morning we exchanged gifts with one another.

  

We also celebrated Christmas with the MCC team, getting together to sing some Christmas tunes and share in traditions from home.  We were also blessed to Skype with family and friends back home.

   

We hope that each of you also had a special day!

Preparing for Christmas

We have been preparing for Christmas with our fellow Nicaraguans since our arrival. Yes, on November 1st when we arrived in Nicaragua, the lights and decorations were ready to go! Every rotunda (traffic circle) was decked out in lights and all of the shopping centers had their trees and nativity scenes up. On December 6th and 7th we partook in the Feast of the Epiphany and La Griteria.

 

We have also been doing some baking. Pictured below is a traditional cookie called a rosquilla that we baked with our friend’s mom. It doesn’t look that appetizing, but the batch was eaten pretty quickly.  We had to add the picture of his niece, who is the cutest and spunkiest two year old.

   

We also made a few of our favorite Christmas baked goods from home. We had to make a few revisions, but they all turned out pretty well.

    

We had to be pretty creative with our gift giving here in Managua. I found some links on pinterest for homemade gifts, but we had few issues along the way. Nicaragua does not have mason jars, so we decided to use vinegar bottles. This required a couple nights of peeling labels and a week long of soaking out the vinegar smell. We also had difficulty finding twine, candy canes and several other important ingredients. There are some days when I would just love to have a Hobby Lobby or Michaels close by!  In the end we came up with these…if you are interested in the recipes, click below.  I guarantee that you will have a much easier time!

Mocha Cocoa

Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

                                                    

We also tried to make our first batch of homemade chocolate. As the fermenting process was underway, the beans became moldy.  Oh no!  We will have to figure out how to avoid this in the future.

 

I was very excited about this great find.  They are going to serve as our Christmas napkins this year.  I love the non-traditional colors and birds always make me happy!  And here is a picture of our office Christmas tree!

 

The culture of Nicaragua is rich with traditions around the Christmas season.  We are excited to learn more about these and celebrate alongside our brothers and sisters, even if that does mean lighting off fireworks every night for two months.

May we all remember the reason why we celebrate.

For unto us a child is born…the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6