TACYANA NIXON // Kingdom or Kinship

SHARE

verb
1. have a portion of (something) with another or others.
REFLECT // Look for the Helpers
Sonya Reaves | USA
When Mr. Rogers (of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) was a boy, he used to see scary things on the news. Every time he was scared, his mother would tell him, “look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” to show that not everything is bad even when it seems scary. Think of a time when you needed someone to guide you and found the exact right person to help. How did that make you feel knowing you weren’t alone? How might you be that person for someone else in the future? What would it take to get yourself ready to be a helper?
WATCH // Oliver Jeffers TED Talk - An ode to living on Earth
FOR THE KIDDOS // Ice Age 4 Cast, 'We are a Family'
MUSIC // Jack Hartmann, 'We are a Family'
This song is pretty cheesy but the heart of it is good!

MAKE

verb
1. form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; create.
2. cause (something) to exist or come about; bring about.
MAKE // Christmas cookies
Ame Fowler  | USA

Bake some Christmas cookies and share them with new people. Being family or kin, means something special around Christmas time. Our extended family used to have a big Christmas cookie exchange. Every year we’d bake tons of cookies and goodies. Divide them into smaller batches and box them up. Then get together and exchange cookies with the other families. This way we’d all have several different kinds of cookies to enjoy.
Maybe this year you can do a “cookie exchange” with your neighbours. Making a new tradition that includes new family. Giving and sharing from our limited energy or when we feel we have nothing left to give… That’s when and where God does His best work. 

“...share what we’ve learned. We can’t be hoarders of good stuff.”

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients
1 stick of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened grated coconut
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries
 
The Simple Steps...
1. Preheat your oven to 400˚. Butter or grease two cookie sheets.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Beat in the egg.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, coconut, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add this mixture to the sugar mixture and beat well. Stir in the dried cranberries. Coconut makes these cookies even more chewy and irresistible.
4. Drop about two tablespoons of dough, or use a small scoop, onto the cookie sheet. Make sure each drop of dough is about two inches apart. Makes 18 cookies.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until light brown. Leave the cookies on the sheet for 2-5 minutes then transfer them to wire racks to cool.

TRY

verb
1. make an attempt or effort to do something. Use, test, or do (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
Welcome Here Manifesto by Lindsay Letters

MAKE // A family manifesto
Ame Fowler | USA
Think about what your family wants to be about. You have a choice to continue doing the things you’ve been doing or change. Now is the perfect time to rethink the way you interact with family and friends and people you’ve never met.  Example--- “We show kindness to others and ourselves. We believe it’s important to laugh and play together and include others. We share even when we think we don’t have enough. ...Etc.”
Here is an example of a welcoming manifesto. One of my family members has this framed on their wall. Once you’ve written your’s, print it and hang it up so you can see it everyday.

“If we walk throughout life longing to establish kinship, it will make all the difference.”

PLAY

verb
1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
PLAY // Introductions
PLAY // Yes, and...