Eighth Candle

Latkes

Mmmm.... we were looking forward to the night of Hanukkah that we would make latkes. They were worth the wait!

3 large potatoes

1 small onion

2 beaten eggs

2 tablespoons matza flour

1 teaspoon salt

pinch of pepper

1/2 cup of olive oil

Wash the potatoes very well, but you don't have to peel them - they're healthier and easier to prepare unpeeled. Grate them coarsely into a bowl. Grate in the onion. Add the beaten eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for ten minutes to thicken. Pour off the excess liquid. Heat the oil for one minute in a frying pan. Gently drop the potato mixture into the pan, making each circle two inches across. When the latkes are brown around the edges, turn and fry them until the other sides are crispy. Drain them on paper towels and eat them with sour cream and/or applesauce. Makes about 24 pancakes.

John 10: 22-30

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.I and the Father are one.

The Maccabees

For years, we have been collecting Nest videos. One of our favorites is about Abraham and Isaac... Eddie and I still cry everytime we watch it.

During Hanukkah, we pull out the video of the Maccabees... and yes, I usually cry during it too. Here's the section that encourages me so.

Robin Sampson (in "A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays") writes, "The same powers promoted by Antiochus are in the world today. Worldwide immorality, and idolatry are the norm. We must come out and be separate."

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17

The Eight Nights of Hanukkah

So, why has our family chosen to celebrate Hanukkah anyway? It's simple... Jesus celebrated The Feast of Dedication. It reminds us that God is still the God of miracles. Jesus declared Himself the "light of the world" all three times during Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means "rededication." For our family, it is a time of rededicating our lives, our home, and our family to The Messiah and His kingdom.

It is the eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededicating of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees. In 175 BC, King Antiochus IV of Syria ruled over Judea and the Jewish people. Among his many decrees, the king insisted that the Jews worship the Greek gods. The Jewish people refused to worship any other gods but the one true God, Jehovah. A man named Mattathias and his five sons formed a group whom today we call the Maccabees. They were a small but determined group that fought King Antiochus and his army for several years. God was faithful and the city of Jerusalem was regained.

However when the Maccabees reached the temple, they discovered it had been nearly destroyed by the Syrians. The great seven-branched lampstand, meant to burn day and night in the holy of holies, stood dark and neglected. The temple was cleaned and repaired. In the process, it was discovered that there was very little oil for the lampstand. Yet when the lampstand was lit, a miracle occurred: the oil which should have only burned one day continued to burn eight days until more oil was available.

A great resource to learn more about Hanukkah can be found HERE.

Hanukkah 2009

Finally! We lit the first candle of the menorrah and started our celebration of Dedication. Isaac started Hanukkah with giving Eddie and me a box of our favorite candy... Twix and Kit Kats for me and Peppermint Patties for Eddie. The best part was that he used white out to cover the nutrition labels. Way to go, Son!

Accessories

Eddie and Isaac took a trip to Knoxville Monday afternoon for Isaac to see our family physician (yep, it's bronchitis and his wrist is not broken- just a really bad sprain).

They were later getting home than I expected.

But I assumed they had been out seeing customers.

Instead, Isaac came to the front door with this....

Huh? Okay... how thoughtful.

Then he informed me that they had also gotten me a few accessories to go with it....

even an extra battery and case too!

Wow! Was I ever surprised! Thanks guys.

I promise to learn how to use it in time for Hanukkah.

8 Month Photos

All-Knowing

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

(Psalm 139:1-6, King James Version)