Family

At the Manger for Christmas

December 25, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

I remember a lot of different things from Christmas past. When I was a child, we always waited until Christmas Eve to put up the tree. Because anything earlier than that might interfere with Advent. And we always had our creche under the tree. I understand this is a German tradition, and there are lots of Germans on both sides of my family.

I like having the creche under the tree. It is in front. Presents go behind. And that is how it should be. The presents are nice, but the message of the manger should be primary. God came to earth as a child, helpless and poor. As Brennan Manning puts it:

God entered our world not with the crushing impact of unbearable glory, but in the way of weakness, vulnerability, and need. On a wintry night in an obscure cave, the infant Jesus was a humble, naked, helpless God who allowed us to get close to Him.

I can’t stop the rampant consumerism of Christmas. Last year I saw commercials of couples buying luxury SUVs for each other. This year, they went even further and ran commercials of people purchasing luxury vehicles for themselves for Christmas. It is a little jarring in how far away that is from the message of Jesus in the stable. The message of the manger is a message of less for ourselves, not more.

So I like keeping Christmas simple. We don’t generally spend a lot on gifts. It is more about time together. We do a gift exchange, but it is usually filled with things like board games and jigsaw puzzles. the real gift is the time we spend together doing these things while everyone is home.

Thanksgiving with Milk and Honey Bread

November 27, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

About Milk and Honey Bread

Even with the pandemic raging on, we still feel like we are living in the land of milk and honey. This Thanksgiving, I am grateful to have all of the boys home for the week and everyone healthy.

Normally we go to my niece’s house for Thanksgiving, but with the warnings against gatherings, we had our own little celebration instead. So I made what they asked for. Turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, pecan pie. And they wanted bread in this very starchy meal also. So I made milk and honey bread.

And the bread was a big hit. At first, they were talking about how the leftover bread would make great French Toast. But by the end of the meal, all that was left was one slice from the end. And when I woke up this morning, even that was gone.

This is a very soft, light bread. It is slightly sweet. I made the dough in my ABM, but then transferred it to a pan and baked it in the oven. I prefer the control I get over the baking process in the oven.

So here is the recipe I used. I have include ABM and hand made instructions.

Milk and Honey Bread

This very soft white bread can be made in your ABM or by hand. Makes excellent French Toast, if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp vegetable oil or canola oil
2 tbsp honey
2 1/3 cup bread flour approximately
1 tbsp gluten
1 tsp salt
2 tsp SAF yeast

Instructions

To make dough in ABM

Add ingredients to pan according to manufacturer’s instructions, except start with only 2 cups flour.
Select the dough cycle and start.
While the dough is kneading, open the lid and check on it. If it seems sticky, add additional flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until it forms a ball which pulls away from the edges of the pan.
When cycle is complete, transfer it to a bread pan which has been coated with non-stick cooking spray.Continue with the rising and baking instructions below.

To make dough by hand

Combine water and milk and warm to 110 degrees.
Add oil and honey to milk mixture.
In a large bowl. combine 2 cups flour and the remaining ingredients.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir by hand or in your mixer.
Transfer the dough to a well floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as necessary.
When finished kneading, transfer it to a bread pan which has been coated with non-stick cooking spray.Continue with the rising and baking instructions below.

Rising and baking

Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bake the bread for 30 minutes. It should be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
Remove the bread from the oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove from pan and slice with a serrated knife.

Notes

If you prefer to bake the bread in your ABM, use the Basic or White Bread cycle. This recipe is for a 1 1/2 lb loaf.

Launched into Springfield

November 24, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

Many people have been hit hard during this pandemic. As I said in an earlier post, we feel we are in a yacht during this storm rather than a boat. But it was hard for our oldest to be back home with us after losing his job. Happily he got another job pretty quickly and we have moved him to Springfield MO. He is enjoying being back on his own. And Springfield seems like it will be more fun for a young professional than Jeff City.

I feel we have so many things to be thankful for this year. We are thankful that JD found a job. But we are also thankful for the few months he spent back at home with us. We never expected to have him living under our roof again. It was an unexpected bonus to get to have more “family time” with him. I am thankful that so far we have been healthy. I am thankful that our family members are being very careful and staying safe. I am thankful that we are closer to a vaccine which will get this pandemic under control. I am thankful for all of the doctors, nurses, technicians, custodial staff, etc at our hospitals. I am thankful for all essential workers, many who were not considered that essential before Covid-19 came around. I am thankful to live in a country where we are free. I am thankful for my faith community which has supported each other through this difficult time. I could go on and on.

Have a good Thanksgiving!

We Are Not All in the Same Boat, But We Are in the Same Storm

June 9, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

You may share this image provided you provide a link back to https://emptynestmw.com or one of the Empty Nest in the Midwest social media accounts (see the website) and include this notice with your post.

We are not all in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. Some of us are in a yacht. Others are in a leaky rowboat, barely keeping afloat. Many are somewhere in between. The current issues of institutional racism and the pandemic affect each of us differently.

This is a very different year for us. My younger sons came home from college in mid-March and finished their semesters via distance learning, which is not the college experience they were hoping for. DS graduated with degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering, but cannot find a job in the current market. JD – also with degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering – just found out he is getting laid off next week due to the company he works for in Jeff City downsizing due to lack of projects. ZD and LC would have been working at Cub Scout camp staff and living away from home this summer, but camp was cancelled so they are also at home.

So our nest is not so empty anymore. All four boys back home!

But we are in a yacht. We are able to provide for them and live comfortably. We have our RV to take off in when we want to get away. The boys are old enough to take care of themselves. And it has been an unexpected bonus having them home again. We play a board game every night at dinner. I really never thought we would have this kind of family time again and we are enjoying it. And I have hope that they will find jobs eventually, even though it might take a while.

So the question is, how do we help those who are in the leaky rowboat, on the verge of sinking. It might be difficult, but we have to look at how we can make life fairer for everyone. How do we throw a lifeline to those who are in danger? How to we patch up that boat and keep everybody safe?

One thing I support is a more even distribution of education funds. The way that education is funded by property taxes and the history of the discriminatory practice of redlining, the effects of which are still felt today, means that I live in one of the best funded school districts in the area. Meanwhile my neighbors who are just a few miles away have much fewer resources. I would support a unified school district or another solution even if it means my property value is not boosted by being in a certain school district.

I think it is also important to be willing to discuss the topics of white privilege and systemic racism. It can be very uncomfortable, but I have to admit that my experience is my own. I know that I cannot fully understand the experience of someone who has lived in very different circumstances than mine.

And we need to be willing to social distance and wear a mask for the sake of those who are at risk. The mask does not protect me, but it does protect my elderly neighbor from any germs I might be carrying.

These are difficult topics, and my own opinions on them. I also need to be willing to listen to others with an open mind and a loving heart.

First Communion – 1975

June 7, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

The second graders at our parish were supposed to receive the Lord in Holy Communion for the first time back in April. But due to the pandemic it was delayed. Their day finally came yesterday. They had to split it into two different masses to allow for social distancing. And only parents and siblings could accompany them. But even though it was different, it was still beautiful. My prayer for them is that they always feel this close to Jesus and that they spread His love all over the world during their lives.

So in their honor, here is my first communion picture from 1975. I am in the first row, all the way on the left.

Webelos Camp at Camp May, Beaumont Scout Reservation, July 2007

June 6, 2020 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

Here is a throwback to when LC went to Webelos Camp at Camp May. Several years later he would spend his summers working on camp staff there.

This year, he and ZM were supposed to be working at Camp May again, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, camp was cancelled. LC was going to be aqua director and ZM was going to be field sports. But instead they are stuck home with me and The Husband and DS. Not quite what they planned, but we are enjoying our unexpected family time together.