For the last ten years, the Advent and Christmas season has been a time requiring gentle care. In those years I have either been pregnant, postpartum, or in the case of last year, dealing with a global pandemic with limited options for support. Through a kind lens, I recognize my coping strategy in those years as quiet, peace, stillness. I learned to hold expectations gently, wrap myself in peace, and slowly uncover what it means to find the hopeful light of this season, a light no darkness could overcome. Seasons that require great self kindness are the ones that help us grow. For this I am grateful, and proud. 

But this year felt different. Not because the darkness of life is gone (do you read the news?) Not because life with children is easier (have I mentioned I have a three year old?) And certainly not because my body feels all great and perfect now (hello perimenopause.)

What felt different to me this year was more what *I* want out of the holiday season. I want a new narrative, one that leads me feeling strong.

Literally. I want to be stronger, not just in spirit but in my body.

This is where I feel I need to shout from the rooftops THIS IS NOT ABOUT BODY IMAGE! The wellness industry has left me so upside down it is difficult to even trust my own health instincts. But similar to how I feel about the women and wine industry over Rachel on the Rocks, I want to take back the narrative of my own health. I want to be able to choose, celebrate even, lifestyle choices that feel right for me. Not because I should, and not because I want to be better than I am, but because celebrating what my body can do feels right to me. Getting by was about all I felt strong enough for in the last decade. That was perfectly ok, great even. But now I feel ready to be stronger. 

This week I was reading through an advent devotion and I came across these words, twice actually. First in Luke 1:80 speaking about John the Baptist “And the child grew and became strong in spirit.” And then later in Luke 2:40 regarding Jesus growing up “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

The word “strong” rang in my heart. This is what I want to feel. Perhaps through the dark seasons, the challenges of early mothering, the moments of forced quiet stillness listening to God has been helping me grow, helping me build strength and wisdom. That time is valuable. Now, it's time to focus on a new kind of strength.  

Maybe Christmas feels like a bad time to start a strength journey. Don’t we have enough to worry about? To me the time feels right. Instead of focusing on shoulds or should nots from wellness industry to consumerism, I want to focus on feeling stronger. Not because I want to “end the year strong” or “earn those Christmas cookies’ (Ugh, I am itchy just typing those phrases.) I want to feel stronger because I know I can. Christmas is about celebrating greatness that came from believing. I believe I can be stronger, and so I will. 

So here is my goal plain and simple: I want to do 10 pushups every day of the month. I’m not setting a time limit or speed. I’m not analyzing how well I do them. I simply want to just do it. That is all. That is the whole goal. I’m not sure how it will go, currently I think I could do maybe two without collapsing, but I know by the end of the month I will feel stronger. 

Do I have a good track record for daily challenges? Absolutely not. But this is why I’m inviting you along. Accountability is my best friend (and so is grace upon grace for when I make a mistake.) Are there ways you want to be stronger this month? Maybe you want to hold a plank position, do X number of squats. Maybe you want to be able to do a handstand in yoga or find a stronger meditation practice. I can think of some great breath prayers from Kayla Craig of Liturgies for Parents that could help you with that this season. 

Whatever it is that leads you to strength, I would love it if you would join me. Let’s do it together and be sure to share with #deSTRONGber. I imagine my marketing spouse is cringing at the word as it sounds a bit like I want to take away strength, but whatever I’m keeping it. What does he know anyway?

So who’s with me? Let’s get stronger this De-STRONG-ber.

“In the quiet hours of a mid-October morning, I notice my children momentarily distracted by play. I slide my bare feet into the red galoshes sitting by the door and sneak outside before anyone remembers they need me. Steam quickly rises from my coffee cup in the cool morning air, and I wish I had grabbed a sweater. It feels too risky to go back. I let the rising sun and a big slug of coffee warm me instead as I make my way towards the garden.”

Read the rest of the essay “On Preserving Gardens and Memories” over at Twin Cities Mom Collective.

On Preserving Food

I feel entirely unqualified to document proper food preservation strategies as I simply follow the lead of mother Google. But I love the idea of having a taste of summer all year long and writing this down reminded me how important this is. 

I don’t follow a strict plan or recipe, I just try things and see if they work. Here are some of the things I preserve, all that end up in the freezer because I’m too lazy for canning. 

Slow Roast Tomato Sauce:

Half plum or cherry tomatoes and quarter or eighth large tomatoes, placing all on a large sheet pan. Toss with a few tablespoons of olive oil, a hefty sprinkle of salt, a good grind of black pepper, a few cloves of slices garlic, and a handful of whole herb sprigs. I like to use oregano and thyme. If you have an hour, do a 400 degree oven. If you have a few hours do 250 degree oven. Keep an eye on it. You want everything to be soft with a few dark edges forming. Let everything cool, strip the herbs from their sticks, then whir everything in a food processor or blender. I like to use the immersion blender. You can taste for salt but I never seem to need any. Then you may store in glass jars or freezer bags. 

Herbed butter and Oil:

You can always dry your herbs at the end of the season on paper towels or hanging tied together. However, I don’t love dried herbs as much. So this is a great option. Oil and butter freeze well and can be added to roast meat and vegetables very easily. It could also even be good for dipping into bread. 

For oil chop favorite herbs finely. Fill an ice cube tray half way with herbs and cover in olive oil. Freeze then store cubes in a ziplock bag. 

For butter, blend two sticks softened butter with three tablespoons of herbs. You can also add a few cloves of minced garlic if you like. Roll into a log and store in freezer bags. 

Frozen Greens:

Our CSA has been over abundantly generous lately. And among all those beautiful vegetables has been a crazy amount of greens—turnip greens, beet greens, kohlrabi greens, radish greens. I hate to throw any of it away but I can not cook it up fast enough. So just as it started to get a little wilty, I threw it in salted water for a minute, shocked in ice water, and then gathered in bunches a few tablespoons at a time. I squeezed these balls to release as much water as possible before freezing on a tray. Then I popped the green balls into a freezer bag to grab in amounts needed for soups or tacos or pasta. 

Our Father, Our Mother, Our Creator…

be near, we pray, as we walk through the season of Autumn, seeking peace in your presence and finding gratitude for your abundant gift of life. 

Oh God of the busy squirrels…

we pray for the church, its members and its mission. Like the animals that must prepare their shelter with warmth and nourishment, show us how to make our church a welcoming place of peace and comfort. Teach us how to be focused on your mission, to store up love and forgiveness, so that the world might know of your abundant grace even in times of our coldest winters. 

Oh God of the changing trees…

as we watch the trees transition into their truest shades, help us to remember our own true gifts. May the brilliant colors of the leaves remind us of the wonder of your creation inside ourselves. Help us to use our talents, our knowledge, our skills, our positions in society, and our strength in Christ, as a community of faith, to support our neighbors.

Oh God of the migrating geese…

we pray for our leaders. Like animals that travel in groups, remind us that to move forward with efficiency and grace, we are better when we work together. Be with those in their decision making that impacts the people of our country. Give us humility and the wisdom to know when and how to follow their lead in seeking solutions, and in making positive changes. Teach us to trust our leaders when it is time to move forward in times of transition.

Oh God of the harvest…

we pray for our Indigenous neighbors. As we gather and collect the bountiful fruit of the earth at the end of this growing season, we remember the great care and attention our Indigenous people take to tend to Creation. Help us to trust in the deep wisdom and traditional knowledge that you have gifted to our Indigenous neighbors. We ask that you will help us to let our Indigenous neighbors know that we honor them, we want to live together with them in harmony, and we share their hope for a blessed future together, for growth in mutual understanding and respect, for healing, for justice, and for reconciliation. 

Oh God of the shortening day…

we pray for the sick and suffering. As the setting sun arrives earlier each day, let us remember the importance of taking time to rest. Bring this same comfort and rest to those in trouble. May the steam of our breath in the cooler air remind us that it is you who gives us the breath of life. With this breath, remind us to breathe in your mercy and exhale through the pain and suffering.

Oh God of the falling leaves…

we pray for the departed. Like the plants preparing for dormancy, we are reminded in your seasons of the passage of time. Be with those mourning the loss of a loved one that they may find peace in remembering their life and acceptance in letting go to return to the earth. May the dying of summer’s spirit remind us of your great promise that death is temporary and life is eternal.

//

A prayer written and shared in worship at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, October 17, 2021.