A Winter Rambling From Jennifer
I have a brown headlamp that is dear to my heart! The first time I put it on, I thought I looked like a dork. It fits snugly over my head, with the little rectangular box of light stuck to my forehead (Yes, it leaves a mark on my head!). However, once I got past my vanity issues, I came to love this little – BIG light. It has been my companion on some epic and not-so-epic adventures.
Many years ago, Single MOMM did our first I Climb for Her camp experience in Woodland Park, Colorado. Ten of us climbed Pikes Peak. We began the climb at 4 am, and, as all good moms know, before leaving anywhere, the question must be asked: “Who needs to go to the bathroom?”
As we made our way to the public restroom with our headlamps lit, a man passed by us mumbling, “The bathroom is closed.” As a group of moms, that disappointing fact was not going to stop us. We looked at one another, made a deal that we would spread out across the grass lawn, turn off our headlamps, squat, and meet back at the trailhead to start the climb. We have laughed throughout the years, remembering this moment, and are universally grateful for the darkness that hid us as we squatted.
Darkness was a good thing that morning. However, darkness isn’t always good, and sometimes it can feel paralyzing. The reality is we live in spaces that have both light and dark. This past summer, we took another group of single moms to climb Pikes Peak, and I once again had my brown headlamp. My role was to be the caboose. I hiked at the back of the group, making sure no one was left behind.
Shortly after our hike began, one of our team members got sick and needed to rest. Together we leaned against a rock, and when she was ready to climb again, we stepped out onto the dark trail with our circles of light beaming out in front of us. One circle was all the light each one of us got. In the stillness of that morning, I found myself reflecting on the similarities between this lighted circle and my life. I can’t see everything ahead or even sometimes around me in my life journey. There is a lot that is unknown and not in my control.
I am not always comfortable with this reality. And, yet. If I really think about it, I have the light I need to take the next step. We live in this place of tension. We hold the hope of what may be in one hand with the realities of what is in the other. We each walk in our own light circles. The light allows us to take intentional steps forward. And our light circles can grow. Becoming more personally aware of who we are, how we are wired, the talents we possess, and what gets us stuck increases the light we walk in. A healthy community also increases this light. Allowing healthy friends, family, people who have gone before us, and those with great wisdom to speak into our lives increases this light.
““Your (God’s) word is a lamp to guide my feet, and a light for my path.””
Our circle of light increases as we meditate on what is true. God’s word illuminates our steps. It guides us like the guideposts on the trail and allows us to be sure-footed in our steps. It doesn’t take away the darkness that remains ahead of us, the things unseen, but it offers peace to us as we walk and a sweet knowledge that we are never alone and that God always walks before us, ready to illuminate our paths. In this light, we can see the things that are possible, the steps we can take, and what is ours to control.
This week, take a small flashlight or the light on your cell phone, and shine it on a piece of paper. Let the light circle grow small enough that it fits on the paper. Then draw around the light circle with a marker, colored pencil, or pen. Looking at the circle, consider the things going on in your life, worries you may have, or circumstances that seem overwhelming. Ask yourself, “What is true about my current feelings or situation?” “What can I control?” “What does God’s Word say?” Write out or draw pictures of what you can control, and what is true inside of your circle. On the outside of the circle, capture the things that you cannot control or that are unknown. This can help us see what steps we CAN take. It helps bring order to our thoughts and fears.
As all of us stepped onto Pikes Peak this past August with headlamps shining, we shouted, “How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time!”
Each step we take in the light moves us towards our personal summits – our mountaintops.
A Shared Kitchen
One of my favorite memories as a kid was eating bread pudding at my grandparents’ house. It was the perfect combination of sweetness and comfort. I find bread pudding is best eaten with good company and a hot drink. If your week ahead has no space to sit down with this sweet treat, consider throwing together a jar of trail mix. The best part of this recipe is that you choose all the ingredients. Just mix and go!
Bread Pudding
A classic winter comfort food and great use of day-old bread!
Servings: 12 (8-inch square pan)
Ingredients:
• 6 slices of day-old bread, broken up into small pieces (think the size of a quarter)
• 2 tablespoons of butter melted
• ½ cup of raisins
• 2 cups of whole or 2% milk
• ¾ cup of white sugar (or substitute coconut sugar)
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Gather all the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the broken-up pieces of bread into an 8-inch square baking dish.
Drizzle melted butter over bread and sprinkle raisins on top.
Whisk milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla together until well combined.
Pour mixture over bread and press gently with a fork until bread is covered and soaked.
Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and top springs back when lightly pressed, about 45 minutes.
*Optional to stir in ½ tsp of nutmeg, a splash of bourbon for more flavor, or drizzle caramel over the top.
Trail Mix: A little bit of everything
Grab a canning jar, throw the ingredients in, and shake!
Ingredients:
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (or good ole M&Ms)
Salted nuts (pick your favorite type)
Dried fruit (maybe pick a tropical blend to bring some sunshine into your home)
Coconut flakes
Supplies:
• One flashlight
• Other people
Flashlight iSpy
You can play this anywhere that’s dark, perhaps from the comfort of your cozy February nook, turn off all the lights and get ready for a little nighttime adventure!
Choose one person to be “It.” They will hold the flashlight. Everyone else sits quietly with their eyes closed. The person who is “It” shines the flashlight on an object in the room then turn off the flashlight, everyone else opens their eyes and the person with the flashlight says, “I spy with my little eye… something that is ______,” and give a clue (color, shape, size, or what it’s used for). The guessers take the flashlight and try to find that item around the room. The first person to guess correctly becomes the next “It.”
Flashlight Silly Copycat Dance
Choose one person to hold the flashlight. Everyone else stands where they can move without bumping into anything. The flashlight holder does a silly movement or dance and then they shine the flashlight on one person to copy the move. Take turns being the flashlight holder until everyone has gotten a chance. You can switch it up by copying shadow poses by shining the flashlight on the wall and having each person take turns making a shadow and everyone else has to copy it. Make it even more exciting by playing some catchy dance music or playing freeze dance, everyone dances until the person with the flashlight shines the light on you and you have to freeze in your dance pose.
We would love to connect with you. Please reach out to your local office or stop in for a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!
Grand Traverse
Location: 1240 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City
Phone: 231-944-1710
Email: grandtraverse@singlemomm.org
Benzie Leelanau
Location: 901 Barber St, Benzonia, MI 49616
(Our Mobile Office is located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church)
Phone: 231-499-5817
Email: benzieleelanau@singlemomm.org
Holland Zeeland
Location: 100 Pine Street, Zeeland, MI 49464
(The SMHZ Office is located inside City on a Hill)
Phone: 616-373-1499
Email: hollandzeeland@singlemomm.org
Wexford Missaukee
NEW Location: 118 Stimson Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-463-0820
Email: wexfordmissaukee@singlemomm.org