Joyful Fast

Today's lesson in Relief Society was about Fasting. The first sentence in the manual caught my eye - "What can we do to make fasting a joyful experience?" I've had a conversation with a friend for a while now about joy - that sometimes we (I) make the gospel too hard and suck the joy right out of it. So I have really been noticing the word joy every time I come across it.


I've been to many a lessons on fasting. I've taught the principle. I am not sure that I have ever thought of it as a joyful experience. More like the feeling after completing something really, really hard. Like a huge final exam or running a marathon. An incredible feeling after it is over. So glad that I did it, but glad to have some time before doing it again. Yet, I have had some very sacred experiences with fasting. I always feel so incredibly close to the Savior during a fast, especially the last couple of hours. I want to want that feeling. I want to look forward to fasting and have the entire experience be joyful. So, I started to brainstorm...


Preparation-
*Saturday - use it! I would like to put Sunday dinner in the crockpot (in the fridge) or have it sitting in the freezer so that I don't have to cook a lot when I am fasting and I can instead read my scriptures. Also, make sure I have everything on hand for the next day so that it is a special day. I would like to clean my kitchen after the Saturday lunch meal and mop my floor so my kitchen smells clean!


*Decor - I want to frame a cool picture & quote and put it on an easel on my kitchen counter to remind us it is fast sunday. Maybe another one for the fridge. Light some candles. Write a message to my family on the white board or leave a question that all can respond too.


*Music - I am spending some time this afternoon to make a Fast Sunday playlist of my favorite hymns/music. Something extra special for just that one Sunday a month.


*Different Day - These are some ideas I came up with to make it a special day.
Listen to John Bytheway talks, an LDS movie, Conference or devotional talks.
China Dishes - we used to do this and loved it. I think I will bring it back.
Make homemade bread - I have a super easy bread recipe. I love the idea of having fresh, homemade bread on Fast Sundays. And I love how it ties into fasting.
Service - My bread recipe makes 4 loaves. I love the idea of taking 2 or 3 loaves and delivering them to others in the evening of Fast Sunday. If not bread, maybe some cookies. Or make some cards and drop them off.
Sweet Treat - have a traditional family treat on fast sundays. Something super easy and fun to have after deliveries.


*Remember - We have a Christmas Gratitude Journal that we have had since Tim & I got married. Each year, everyone with us on Christmas writes some thoughts down. I think it would be great to start a Fasting Journal to record our fasts and impressions. Maybe to include our testimonies. What a treasure that would be in a few years!


Anyway, those are my thoughts. Please feel free to add any to my brainstorm. I really want to work on making this day each month a truly joyful experience to be cherished and remembered.


I've shared the first before, but I really love these slideshows. I love how many times Christ is joyful. Enjoy!
Julie

Bread

My sister called me yesterday and asked for a good bread recipe. I thought I would take a few posts and share some great recipes. This is my all-time favorite whole wheat bread recipe from my good friend Judi. (She sent me another one but I haven't had time to try it yet.) What I love about this recipe: It is mostly whole wheat & yet is tastes so light and yummy. It is made with honey for the sweetener - very healthy & food storage friendly. And you mix everything in the same bowl - there is no second bowl for the yeast, etc.

Honey-Whole Wheat Bread
6 c. Whole Wheat Flour (additional flour below)
1 c. Wheat Bran
1/2 c. Canola Oil
1/2 c. Honey (see tip below)
6 tsp. Yeast
2 Tbsp. Salt
4 1/2 c. Warm Water

Beat together with mixer. Add 1 more cup Whole Wheat Flour & 1-2 c. White Flour. Knead 5 mins. or until elastic. Rise in a warm oven. Separate into 4 loaf pans and rise again. Bake at 375 until done (maybe an hour?)

Tip: measure your honey into the same cup that you measured your oil and your honey will just slip out of the measuring cup. No sticky mess.

Enjoy!