Ganchimeg's Bat-Mitzvah and Birthday

 Our daughter just turned 12.  Which, according to Hebrew tradition, makes her an adult.  Beautiful and yet, sobering thought.  We've had 12 years to mold her character, to lead her to the Lord, to steward her experiences and help her to form her beliefs.  And now she stands before the Lord as a DAUGHTER OF COVENANT.  That's what Bat-Mitzvah literally means.  Bat: daughter.  Mitzvah: the commands of God.

To celebrate we asked Meg what she wanted.  To be sure she had definite ideas of how she would observe this special time of her life.  So between her ideas and ours, we had a weekend worthy of a daughter of the Lord!

It began on her actual birthday.  She invited only her closest girlfriends and women who she looks at as friends and mentors.  The theme of the party was actually planned by Gana and hidden from Meg until just moments before the party.  Gana worked late into the nights and in all his free time building her a Hope Chest.  The design and all the building and painting was done by Gana alone.

He presented it to her before the party.  She was so surprised and happy.  She's been wanting a Hope Chest for a while.

As the women gathered, they brought with them special contributions to the Hope Chest.  Heirlooms, antiques, presents with prophetic meanings, crafts they'd made by hand.  It was so moving as each lady presented Meg with a little piece of themselves that she can carry with her into her own womanhood.

Meg and her Titi

Hadassah, one of Meg's oldest friends

Me and my grandmother, who presented Meg with her own wedding Bible and a handkerchief that my Grandfather had given her before they even met face-to-face.  Yes, I cried.

A special gift from a grafted in Auntie.

The food was also all of Meg's choosing--CHEESE! Of many varieties!  Crispy fried goat cheese, homemade mozzarella sticks, port salut, blue, ricotta, several aged and stinky varieties.  Fruit and nuts and baguettes.  Sparkling cider with hibiscus flowers so we could toast pink!

 We celebrated Meg late into the night.  The next day, however, was the BIG DAY!  The day that Meg would make a public declaration of her movement from childhood to womanhood, receiving all the blessings of her parents, grandparents, god-parents and pastors.

On this day, men and boys were there to witness it as well as the women and girls.  It was a small intimate group of those that Meg chose as her spiritual mentors and fellow-journeyers.

Meg opened up the ceremony by quoting all of I Corinthians 13.

Meg was dressed in a beautiful dress from India, thanks to Auntie Micha.  Jewelry borrowed from Titi.  And an antique hair piece given her by Nina, a dear friend whose grandmother was a famous actress in India.  So special!

(In case you don't know Meg and are wondering at all the Indian stuff, well, it's like this:  When Meg was five years old she came to us and said something like "I had a vision.  And God told me I was going to go to India as a missionary."  And she has been unwavering in that statement these seven years.  She loves India.  She prays for India.  She is determined to go there and be the Mama Heidi of India.)

Then three of Meg's brothers serenaded her One Direction style!  What Makes You Beautiful, with a few lyrical changes to reflect Meg, her pink hair and how if she could see what God could see, she'd understand why the world needs her desperately!  It was hilarious and sweet!!!  Meg was properly embarrassed.  Mission accomplished, boys.

 Her pastors, Karl and Debbie, and god-parents couldn't be there that day, but they sent their prayers and blessings via YouTube, which we played next.

Then her grandparents gave their blessing to Meg.  Emee, Gana's mom, blessed Meg via YouTube (what a wonderful thing technology is!) and my parents spoke their generational and prophetic blessing over Meg's life.  I am a fourth generation Spirit-filled pastor.  So, Meg is the fifth!  That's a lot of blessings that come from a Lord who is faithful to bless those who seek Him to a thousand generations!

Papa washing Meg's feet.

Oh, our prophetic Nana!!!  She challenged Meg not to ask the Lord to fulfill her dreams, but rather that Meg ask God how she might fulfill His dreams!  AMEN!

Meg gave a speech, thanking those who have poured into her life and asking those present to keep her accountable for following the Lord and all His ways.

My turn.  Which meant get the ugly cry on.  I can't believe my little girl has come to this place in her life.  I thanked her, blessed her and laid out some of her new responsibilities and new privileges that come with growing into womanhood. 

When I started crying, of course, Meg started crying, too.

Daddy's turn!  I wish every little girl growing into womanhood could hear words from her father that Meg heard from hers.  The world would be a very different place if they did.  I'm sure of it.

Then we celebrated with Meg's celebration dinner of choice: Indian food and Russian cake!  

Some people have questioned why we do so many Jewish things, such as observing Passover and Shabbat and seasons of fasting.  And now we've undertaken to give our children Bar/Bat-Mitzvah.  No, we are not Jewish and no we haven't converted.  Rather, we are grafted in!  (Romans 11)  There has been such an amazing amount of blessing that has been poured out over our family through observing Hebrew and Biblical traditions.  We don't do it from a place of legalism at all.  It's all an overflow of grace!  

So, I guess you could say we gave our daughter a Gentile-Charismatic-Prophetic-Family Centered Bat-Mitzvah!

We felt it was important because in our culture today we don't mark times and seasons and much to our demise.  How many young people grow up and no one has ever declared them that they are men and women before God?!  No one has ever affirmed them and launched them into their destinies and callings.  Instead, so many young people wallow in doubt and second guess their place as a child full of promise.  And these young people grow up into adults who still feel as if they are sitting at God's kiddie table at Thanksgiving.

The Bible talks about two groups of people: children and adults.  There is no in-between stage called "teenager" where one is not accountable for their actions and are allowed to live in a self-centered way.  We try not to even use the word "teenager" around here.  Either you are a child or you are an adult.  (Which is why we don't usually do "youth group" type groups and activities.  Now that Meg is an adult, we expect her to participate in our faith--her faith!--as an adult and not as one who has a junior Holy Spirit.)

This last weekend we launched our daughter into being a full daughter of covenant.  She is moving from discipline to guidance.  Negotiating how to live her own life accountable before the Lord, seeking His face, following His ways, leading others to Him and finding ways to serve the Church and the world using her own unique gifts and talents.  Our job is to help steward her experiences and keeping our faces fixed on Jesus together.

On the 12th Day of Christmas....The Messiah Who Disappoints

"In choosing to be born in utter obscurity, the King of the universe ignored conventional expectations. He celebrated in His own birthday the freedom to be unorthodox. In failing to live up to people's presuppositions ("From Nazareth?" ask Nathanael, "Can anything good come from that place?") Jesus became a stumbling block to many of his contemporaries. The housebroken Jewish imagination cringed at the crib, shuddered at the ersatz salvation of a humble unpredictable God. A King in rags was an insult to the finely honed intellect of the Pharisee and the rational mind of the scribe. Simpleminded shepherds and the rabble who did not know the Law might be hoodwinked, but those who studied the Scripture could not be deceived. There is a fascinating principle at work here in very religious people: 'Messiah, You get our allegiance only when You fulfill our expectations.'"

Do you not just find it amazing that God feels no obligation to meet your expectations? He's not just free to surpass them; He is completely unfettered by them.

"In making decisions, Jesus was called in freedom to ask first not what the Law says but what would the Father have Him do. A free life is often unconventional and surprising because it is available to those creative possibilities and innovative gestures that have been screened out of consideration by standards of acceptable behavior. In opting to celebrate His birthday in Bethlehem in such low-key fashion, Jesus revealed himself free from public opinion, from fear of what others might say or think. Jesus is the incarnation of the Father's freedom."

(From Lion and Lamb, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Father Brennan Manning)

It's FRIDAY, but SUNDAY'S comin'!

Blessed Good Friday to you!  Hang on until Sunday!

Reason Number 43,782 We Home School

I ran into Party City the other day to pick up stuff for our home school co-op art show.  I needed a couple things for Passover (candles and such), so, thinking to save myself some time, I thought, "Ooo, maybe they have that stuff here."

They had a huge Easter section, but I didn't see Passover.  I know they have Passover things on their website, though.  So, I asked a guy who worked there.  The conversation went like this:

Me: Do you have a section for Passover?


Store Guy: Um....like you mean....Clearance?


Me: No....like the major holiday that's next week?


*crickets*

(For the record, the store does not carry Passover stuff.  Bummer.)

New Year's Eve Gombojav Style

If there's one thing we love, it's a party!  And a party at our house means lots of kids, music, great eats, great drinks, and a little zaniness.

This New Year's Eve we issued a sort of general invitation to anyone we found out didn't have other plans for the evening.  The result was an intimate little party with some old friends and some new ones.

Let's get this party started!

I stumbled upon a little bit of deliciousness on the Tokyo Terrace blog.  Oh boy, oh boy!  Light.  Festive.  Beautiful. And absolutely delicious!

Cranberry Ginger Sparkler and Cranberry Rosemary Sparkler

These were so easy to make and looked so pretty in the shooter glasses my sister gave me last year as a hostess gift!  

Does any drink look in more holiday spirit than this one?!

We had a great time--laughing, telling stories, and playing Five Second Rule.  Of course, several of the twelve kids present didn't make it to midnight.

River's first New Year's Eve

At midnight the kids lit up some sparklers, sprayed silly string (not at the same time) and made enough racket  with horns and noise makers for the whole neighborhood!  

Happy New Year from the Gombojavs!  May God grant you an abundant year--rich in love and friendship.

Happy New Year!

Someone please buy this print for me.  My birthday is coming up.

Image from here.

So, I started my little New Year's Celebration a bit early tonight by pouring some bubbly over some natural French Vanilla ice cream.  Yes.  Yes, I did.

It was ghetto.

And it was fabulous.

I was all over that like trailer trash on velveeta.

Don't judge.

Speaking of New Year's, have you made any resolutions?  I haven't decided on just one yet.  Yell less, dream more.  Take more walks.  Read more books.  Watch less television.  So many ways I can think of to improve my life.  Many though, I have not so much control over.  Like have more money.  Oh, and sleep.  I want more sleep.  Is there a magical place where money and sleep are dispensed?  Because I'll spend all my air miles to get there.

Not that I have ever been that big on New Year's Resolutions.  I've never been on a diet and don't need to give up smoking.  Maybe I should consult the government for help.  Did you know that the USA.gov will help you to accomplish the most popular resolutions?  Our government never ceases to be helpful.

Well, maybe this is a good place to start:

Image from here.

Well, I'm nearly three months post-partum and that's still too early (yes, I said it's TOO EARLY) to think about getting in pre-baby form.  So, pass the bacon.  Don't argue with the post-partum woman.  There is a very delicate balance of hormones in play.

Maybe instead of making obvious resolutions that no one keeps anyway, I should make a list of obvious things that I promise NOT to do this year:

1. I will not get a tattoo.  Not even a temporary one.

2. I will not eat at McDonald's.  (How anyone with taste buds or a sense of smell can eat there is beyond me.)

3. I will not eat at Carl's Junior.  I am a woman after all; I have standards.

4. I will not wear a bikini.  I have seven children; that ship has sailed.

5. I will not pierce any part of my body that I haven't already. (In case you're wondering I've only pierced my ears.)

6. I will not likely sleep past 8am.  If I do, I will thank my husband with a big sloppy kiss, because obviously, he whisked the baby out of the room early.

Whatever you decide to do or not do this coming year, I hope it's 100x better than 2011.  Because if your 2011 was tough you deserve a break.  If your 2011 was awesome, I hope everything only gets better and better!

Here's my New Year wish for you, my dear blog readers:

On New Year's Eve may you drink champagne with your true love while your children who insist on staying up behave beautifully.  May you share the ringing in of the New Year with treasured friends who share your affinity for things wrapped in bacon.  At the very least may your husband start the New Year by bringing you breakfast in bed--eggs, bacon, coffee--but not before like 10:30am.

How do I loathe thee, let me count the ways....

Halloween.  I just don't get it.  I don't understand what is supposed to be so fun.  It goes beyond just not getting it, though.  I actually hate this holiday.

I can leave aside the roots and history of Halloween and leave that debate to people smarter than I.  I can find enough things to hate about it without trying so hard or digging too deeply.

Let me count the ways:

Number one... 

Seriously, what is up with all the sexy costumes?  Supposedly this is a holiday for children?  This must be a favorite holiday for those that prey on children because we are sending our little girls into the night half-dressed to take candy from strangers.

Number two...

Everywhere I look this time of year--be it billboards, television commercials or the store--there is this celebration of evil.  Just driving around our neighborhood we pass several homes that freak the children out.  They have to constantly be closing their eyes.  Everything is so evil!  Why every October is it somehow acceptable to have statues of ax murderers in your yard?  Why is it OK for otherwise good and sane Christian people to pretend to cast spells and dress up like bad witches?  Blood dripping off vampire mouths, gangsters with machine guns, ghosts, demons--all of a sudden, come October things we deem unacceptable and evil are celebrated as fun and cute?  


Who knowing the judgment of God...not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  Romans 1:32


I more than don't get it.  I really hate it.  How can we be rejoicing in evil?  The world is scary and evil enough without our encouragement.

Number three...


Fear is a negative emotion.  I don't like being afraid.  There are plenty of things that scare me in life as it is.  Real life things that trigger a real emotion.  It's not pleasant.  I much prefer peace and harmony and happy thoughts and happy endings.  (Which is why I generally avoid movies that are thrillers, mind-bending or horror.  I watch movies as entertainment to escape a bit from reality.  I want a happy world where everyone lives happily ever after.)


I don't understand why fear is fun.  I really don't.  Why is it fun to go through a haunted house and shriek and nearly wet your pants?  I would have nightmares for a week.  


Number four...


Now maybe I take it too seriously.  But, I don't understand this mocking of the dead.  All the tombstone props, people crawling half-dead out of graves, and those who dress up like the grim reaper.  It has long been held as a Christian act of mercy to bury the dead.  Mocking the dead is just not acceptable.  


Likewise, mocking the resurrection is not acceptable.  There really will be a resurrection someday and it will not be gory, but glorious.  There will not be zombies arising, but those who have died in Christ will arise to meet Him with incorruptible bodies.  


So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  I Corinthians 15:42

I wouldn't let my children make fun of someone who has died or the resurrection.  The rule doesn't change just because it's the 31st of October.

Number five...

This is another one of those over-marketed holidays designed to get us to spend money we don't have on stuff we don't need.

Last July 4th we were chillin' with friends in our backyard, having a potluck, music on the radio and watching the fireworks.  Everyone was having a great time.  In conversation one of my friends hit the nail on the head explaining why Independence Day is so absolutely enjoyable.  It's not over-marketed.  You can buy nothing and still be enjoying it to the utmost.  Just hanging out with friends (free!), listening to Oldies (free!), spontaneously dancing (free!), kids running through the sprinkler (free!), watching fireworks (free!) and potlucking it for a fabulous meal (nearly free!).  It's low-key.  Doesn't take a ton of prep for maximum enjoyment.  And the life of it hasn't been marketed to death.

Halloween is the opposite.  Buy costumes, buy candy, feel obligated to attend parties or host one, decorate the house--for a ONE DAY celebration.  Ugh.

Number six...

Candy.  Last time I checked I was trying to avoid Red #40, artificial flavors, and excessive sugar.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I love dessert.  I eat it everyday.  But, it's made with ingredients I can pronounce and from my own cupboards usually.  The shelf-life of one of my desserts is two or three days, tops.  I'm scared by what I read on candy labels.

Oh, OK, I do indulge in candy from time to time.  Snickers are an old standby, if you must know.  But the sheer volume of candy given to the kids this time of year is staggering.  And we don't even go trick-or-treating.  Can you imagine if we did?

Dentists must love this time of year.  It keeps them in business.

Of course a candy now and then won't really hurt ya that much.  And you can make sure you brush your teeth afterwards.  And you can say that you don't let your kid dress like a hooker and your costumes are never scary and you don't make fun of dead people and you hand-make all your costumes from up-cycled materials.  So, all my reasons for hating it are moot.

Maybe that is how people get so much enjoyment out of Halloween.  I'm just over-thinking it.  Yet, unless you don't go to the grocery store or Target, drive down the freeway, turn on the TV and hand-make all your own candy, you can't avoid the evil side of Halloween.  It's there.  It's everywhere.

I can't wait for November.

So, what will the Tribe be doing on October 31?  We'll be celebrating Reformation Day.

(Bring on the comments about how it is your favorite holiday.  I will not be offended and will publish them.  *smile*  Just be kind and don't swear.)