We started taking a Sabbath in January 2022 and for our family, the Sabbath has already become a tradition and blessing we look forward to and crave each week. (If you are new here, this is why we started keeping the Sabbath.) 

Our week revolves around the Sabbath. It almost has to. Our rest day was the catalyst for a beautiful mindset shift to plan our week around rest and worshiping God, instead of stuffing it in the cracks.

This video is just one example of how we Sabbath, and while some things are the same every time, other things change with the weather, our children’s interests and what we find restful.

We believe it’s important to embrace your season of life and rest. With young children, Sabbath isn’t a spa at the four seasons. But it IS a break from every day life with it’s cares and demands.

What Remains the Same

1. Sabbath Dinner

I am not one of those cooks that gets energy from pouring creativity into food, and Fridays are such huge Sabbath prep days I am flying around the house until the minute the wifi is unplugged. However, Elisha and I both value a delicious dinner, and we knew we wanted the Sabbath to feel special.

Enter: Simple Sabbath Meal. I just vary the same meal components each week!

- Barbecued Marinaded Meat - steak or chicken (compliments of Elisha)
- Salad - kale/arugula, a cheese, a nut, a fruit, and a drizzle of infused vinegar and oil
- Homemade Sourdough - Artisan loaf, rolls, biscuits, or bread loaf
- Two Roasted or sautéed Vegetables - cauliflower, sweet potato, brussels, asparagus, green beans, etc.

This makes fancy effortless. And Sabbath dinner is often the easiest meal I make all week! 


2. Children’s Rituals

Our children love Sabbath, and we love coming up with ways to make it special for them. It makes my heart jump during the week when I overhear them talking about what they are looking forward to on Sabbath.

- Grape juice at dinner (the only time they get juice)
- Reading books with mommy instead of playing by themselves in their room during the morning
- A special breakfast
- Taking a nap and visiting with Leon
- Tea Time and a Treat
- Leon’s day to sit next to Mommy (Lucy sits next to me at meals the rest of the week :)


3. Catching Up on Sleep

- Elisha sleeps in
- Katie Naps

4. The Sabbath Meal Format

- Starting with singing and praising God ("This is the Day" and "Doxology")

- Taking time to speak life over our spouse and thank God for them! Elisha reads Proverbs 31 and I read Proverbs 112.

- Our dinner conversation revolves around visiting with the Children - asking intentional questions about our Faith and their lives.  

A Few Things that Change

This was our first spring Sabbath so we spent hours outdoors. However, most of our Sabbath’s have been cuddled up inside out of the 15 degree weather. Here are a few things we have done differently on those days. 

1. Indoor Morning Activities

- A craft from Target dollar spot
- Independent play with Mag tiles or Railroad tracks
- Playing family hide n’ seek or candy land
- Reading aloud as a family



2. Afternoons

This week we went for a walk, but when we stay home . . . 

- Lucy and Mama doing girl time (with Lawrence :) And Daddy doing “boy time” with Leon and Louis
- Taking a child and doing “special time”
- working out
- Elisha taking the boys outside to our backyard and starting a tiny fire in the cold

3. Evenings

When it would get dark around 3:30pm and we didn’t have the option of outside, we would eat an early dinner at 4:30pm and call Saturday night “Family movie night” once Sabbath ended. It was a way for us to feel 100% involved as parents during the day, but know we didn’t have to plan the evening . . . we could just snuggle up and relax before bed time.

Now that it is sunny, we find ourselves swinging in the back yard or going on a family walk after our Sabbath ends at dinner.

We hope this gives you encouragement and a few ideas as you raise your own family and work to rest! It is truly a blessing! 

Love,

Elisha and Katie 

Meals we Shared This Sabbath

Lettuce Wraps: I cut the recipe in thirds for our size family and just eye the portions :) 

(Serves 13, Prep time 30 min.)

3 lbs. Beef, ground

3 T. Sugar, brown 

3 t. Ginger, powdered

2 T. Olive oil 

1 T. Sesame oil 

6 T. Cilantro 

6 T. Lime juice 

1 ½ C. Chives, chopped 

1 t. Salt, Himalayan pink 

3 Jalapeños 

- Cook meat thoroughly. Strain off extra fat. 

- Add in sugar, ginger, salt, oils, lime juice, jalapeños. 

- 10 min. before serving add in cilantro, chives. 

PAIRS WELL WITH… Cilantro/lime rice, vegetable sticks, cottage cheese, avocado & tomato slices. 

Red Lentil Curry: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-red-lentil-curry/

Oatmeal Bake: I sub honey and add an extra cup of oats!  

https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/amish-style-baked-oatmeal-with-apples-raisins-walnuts.html