1. THE BEGINNING OF MOTHER TRUELE'S BLOG
MARCH 28, 2013

1.
This blog was inspired after I read a blog on motherhood that Richard and Linda Eyre's daughter, Sarin, wrote about all the creative inspired things she was doing to have a Christ centered Easter.  
http://motherhoodmatters.blogs.deseretnews.com/2013/03/06/a-deliberate-mothers-guide-to-a-christ-centered-easter/

I awoke in the early morning appreciating what she had shared and I was filled with the desire to share some of the wonderful traditions and experiences that I have had in an effort to have my family live Christ centered lives.  I will share this with motherhood matters, and then let the spirit guide people to discovering my blog for other creative inspired ideas.

What I will share is actually a lot of work, in contrast to Sarin's fairly simple things spread out over a couple weeks.  I love her ideas, but I think my beginning tradition I will share also has merit and may appeal to some mother's.  

I will start with a tradition that I started in 1991.  By then one child was 15 and the other six children were over twenty and two had children of their own.  So this tradition was started a little late, but the last three daughters and one son still were living close enough to enjoy the tradition and  about 10 grandchildren have a memory of it when they lived close to me.

OUR 1991 REMEMBRANCE SUPPER FOR JESUS

It was on Sunday the 18th of August 1991 that the ideas began to come to me about preparing a Remembrance Supper for Jesus on Wednesday the 21st of August.  The flow of ideas began during my Worship, Prayer and Receptivity time and continued through the day.  I went to Kahala Ward for their Ward Conference at nine in the morning, where I shared with the Primary children and leaders THE TESTIMONY OF PETER and showed the painting I painted of that moment of testimony.  During their Ward Conference I had my notebook out and wrote down some of the menu and plan that had come to me in the morning.  It was a wonderful experience of increasing little insights into how I could make the Remembrance Supper special.  
I have always saved newspaper clippings or articles about the Passover, or other Jewish Holy day meals, so I got out my JEWISH file and found I had written down some of the meanings of the foods on the ceremonial plate for the Passover.  I thought I would try to have everything they served in the passover, except the lamb.  I knew Jesus did not have that at the Last Supper with the Apostles, and so I wanted to have it somewhat like they may have had it.  I thought of the idea to go to a party supply place and get some plastic "wine" glasses.  On Tuesday morning I decided to call the Temple Emanu-El which is the only Jewish meeting place in the Islands (there may be a place on the military bases)  I talked to the girl who answered the phone and she said she wasn't Jewish, but she had been to the Passover feast and so she told me the menu, but I still wasn't satisfied, as I wanted to know the meanings of each of the foods.  She let me talk to the Administrator.  He finally ask me what was the reason for my inquiry.  I told him I was part Jewish and periodically my interest would surface in some aspect of Jewish culture.  He said he had a booklet that he could send me which would tell me all the answers better than he could say on the phone.  I ask if I could drive up there in a few minutes and pick it up.  He seemed surprised at my willingness to do so, and said, "of course it would be alright!"    When I got there it took him a few minutes to find the booklet, and he gave it to me, saying again that it would answer all my questions - more than he could say to me.  He did not seem curious about me or want to talk further.  I was delighted when I saw it, for it showed the plate and where the foods would go on the plate and the meanings of each food!  Inside it had all the "script" for the prayers and what is said, in English and in Hebrew!  I then went to the supply place, (Flora-dec) and bought some plastic "champagne" glasses for the grape juice and some others for water, and some small ones for the salt water.  I went to Safeway and found they had the Gifilte Fish in a bottle, and I bought some whole wheat Matzos.  I called around and found there was a Jewish deli at Ward Center (!), so I called there and found they had Matzo ball soup.  In the afternoon C and I went there and got $8.00 worth for take-out. 
I was so slow in my preparation that we didn't start eating until 8:00 p.m.  But, I will try to describe how it was.  I put a stripped cloth on the table which in my mind looks "Jewish"  It has pink and green and and yellow ochre stripes then in the other direction there is the same stripes, but they are lighter.  So, that was the tablecloth.  I had a black candle holder on the table with about seven white candles.  I put a board on the living-room low table and made it bigger, and so we were sitting on the floor for the dinner.  I used our best dishes.  The ones that J urged W and J to contribute to as well as M and C, so I could have a new set of Stoneware dishes on Mother's day in 1989.  They are so pretty with a delicate floral design on them.  

This is a photo of the first remembrance dinner.  The angle I took it makes the table look like it is tipping : ) But you can see the cloth I thought looked Jewish : )...and the plastic wine glasses I bought!  I have since got a collection of goblets from Ross that work fine for the grape juice.

W was going to make home visits with the Elder's quorum and Bishopric, so he said he would come late.  L came over and helped me a lot in setting the table and serving.  J's friend, M, wanted to join us when he heard about it, so he drove here from Laie.  M and C were here also.  C fixed the wine glasses together and she and L got everything placed as best as we could on the table.  It was a bit crowded, but it looked nice. 
If you visualize the plate as a clock, in the middle was the horseradish (actually we placed it near the bottom of the plate). It is the Bitter herbs, to represent the Hard Life of the Israelites.  (Life is hard for all of us!)   About 2 o'clock position was where the lamb was supposed to be, so we put the fish there.   Of course, the Lamb was to represent the lamb that was killed and the blood put over the door in order to save the life of the first born sons. Then at 4 o'clock we put the mixture we made of applesauce, cinnamon, dates and honey (blended in the blender).  It is called the Charoses and it is to represent the mortar used for the bricks.  About 10 o'clock on the plate is the Hard-boiled egg.  I don't know what it represents.  We decided it could mean mortal life- being in time and space, but Lena also called it a cholesterol ball, so she and I did not eat ours!  About in 7 o'clock position was the parsley (Karpas) to represent new life, and that was to be dipped in the salt water which represented the tears we shed in life.  My children do not like regular parsley, for some reason, so I bought Italian parsley and thought it might be closer to what they grow in Israel.  We had a glass of grape juice (Welch's!) and a glass of water above each plate.  Oh yes, we had the above foods on the salad plate to the left of the main plate.  On the main plate we had the Matzoh cracker and a soup bowl with the Matzo ball soup in it.  Then, I was worried that they would still be hungry, so I made a large container of Pasta salad.  It was a vegetarian recipe which I got from a famous artist and his wife in Minneapolis when I was there.  It is a delicious blend of pasta, carrots, green and red peppers, olives, celery, and lots of interesting spices and lemon juice.  So, everyone could have that on their large plate after they finished the soup.
I told the children the meanings of things as we went along and did not do any formal reading as I have done in the past, and no, I did not read the ceremony from the booklet!  It is good to have, but perhaps another time it would be appropriate.  I know how Jesus felt about ceremonies, and so I wanted to move to the most important part of the evening, Remembering Jesus.  I had ask each of them to write down the gifts they had given Jesus in this past year and to share it with us, if they so desired.  On the day before Three grandchildren had come to stay all night and so we had done lots of activities with the three grandchildren that live close by.  On The morning of the 21st I had ask them to each think, that if it were Jesus's birthday what gifts would they be able to give him.  (J's birthday is on the 22nd!)  (I had a say in naming him, and I suggested Joshua, since that is Jesus's Hebrew name!  Jesus is the Greek way to say Joshua!)  Well, the children that can write - wrote down some of their gifts to Jesus and I read them at the dinner.  C had had a remarkable experience on the morning of the 21st.  She had lost her CTR- Choose The Right - Ring, and with Heavenly Father's help we were able to find it!  C wrote a wonderful "poem" to Jesus, and read that, in addition to her list of gifts!  It was wonderful.  Here is her poem:

Dear Jesus
What can I say?
To make you know how I feel.
You HELP me not to be scared.
And you help me not to be blue.
When tragedies' occur.
or when Adversities a blur.
You seem to make it clear.
You may not give us all the Answers
But instead help us along.
And even the way you assist my sister's
in the power to write a song!
In these ways I know
That a thank you isn't enough.
So I hope in the way I live my life
will show you that this is no bluff.
I LOVE you with all my HEART
And when I pray
I make it known.
For each time I close my eyes.
I alway's remember to say.
I LOVE you Heavenly Father,  (She put a heart in place of Love)
and JESUS CHRIST today...

Then J played a song she had composed on the guitar!   She is just beginning to learn to play the guitar, so it was a lovely gift!  The words were:

Oh my Lord, My Elder Brother, 
I look up to you
What can I say to convey
All that I feel 
I Love you
In your eyes I see Forever
In your life ETERNITY.

Then J sang those same words in Spanish.  Simple, but beautiful.   She shared some of her gifts and they were lovely.  Her friend, M had written his list and read it to us, and it too was very nice.  M said her gifts were personal, but she did say that she is grateful for her Family. I read my gifts that I had written on a steno book in Kahala Ward, and had not had time to re-write!  I had put the painting I painted of JESUS AND PETER at one end of the room, so that was one of my gifts.  
In the traditional Passover there is a setting for Elijah, so we put Elijah's plate at the foot of the table and one for JESUS at the head of the table, right by the painting of him!  So when we had the blessing on the food we invited Elijah, Jesus and Dad to come to be with us for this Remembrance Supper!   
J and M sang a song that M composed called, WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES.  It is a beauty!  They harmonize so well.  
It was a special evening of REMEMBRANCE!

By 2005 I began to see that I could have new meanings for the Passover tradition and printed the menu out with the meanings for the family to see while I talked to them about the new symbolism.

MARCH 20, 2005 SUNDAY
REMEMBERING OUR MASTER AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST
P A S S O V E R   M E N U
GRAPE JUICE -THE NEW WINE
Symbolizing God’s promises of deliverance to the promised land
It can remind us of how God gives us freeagency and we can choose Eternal Life
NEIDLACH - MATZO BALLS AND CHICKEN SOUP
All Jewish holidays and many Shabbat dinners start with chicken soup.
THREE MATZO CRACKERS
represents Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
It can remind us of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost - one in purpose
KARPAS:   CELERY, LETTUCE OR PARSLEY
Dipped into salt water to symbolize the growth of spring.
The salt water represents the tears shed by the enslaved Israelites
It can remind us that each day is a new day to live a good life and we can be grateful
At the same time remembering the past history of the Jews and
Jesus’ life on this earth
MAROR:   HORSERADISH - A BITTER HERB
It symbolizes the intense bitterness of slavery
It can also represent the tears one sheds when we do wrong and are in bondage to sin
CHAROSET:  WALNUTS, APPLES, CINNAMON AND HONEY
Symbolic of the mortar and bricks that the enslaved Jews used
to build the pharaohs’ cities and pyramids.
It can symbolize: Walnuts (Body), Apples ( Mind-Bearing good fruits), Honey, (The Spirit)
With the help of the Spirit we are held together to bear good fruits and be ‘fragrant’ as cinnamon!  We can build our ‘pyramids’ - our souls - as we live our lives
ZEROAH: TERRIAKI CHICKEN WING
Represents the Paschal lamb that was always sacrificed at the Temple
We can remember the great sacrifices of those in the past
Jesus Christ, the Prophets, and our Ancestors
BAYTZAH:  A NEW POTATO
The potato symbolized the saddness Jews feel for the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem
For us it can symbolize rebirth and renewal of life
and the joy we feel as we are born of the spirit and realize
that we are the temples of God and the spirit dwells in us.
We are children of our loving Father in Heaven
TZIMMES -VEGETABLE PANCAKES
A Yiddish word is synonymous with a complicated chore
SESAME CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM STUFFING
can remind us that the gospel enhances our lives and we are meant to have joy
OLIVES
The Olive tree symbolizes peace.  We can live peacefully in our families and our lives
WATER
To remember that Jesus said he is the Water of Life- Let His Spirit fill us always

By 2011 I had enlarged on some of the meanings and was serving Salmon as the main dish.  

APRIL 24, 2011 SUNDAY
REMEMBRANCE SUPPER FOR JESUS 
P A S S O V E R   M E N U

GRAPE JUICE -THE NEW WINE
Grapes freshly made into juice
Symbolizing God’s promises of deliverance to the promised land
It can remind us that God, our Heavenly Father, gives us LIFE and we can choose Eternal Life
NEIDLACH - MATZO BALLS AND CHICKEN SOUP
All Jewish holidays and many Shabbat dinners start with chicken soup.
THREE MATZO CRACKERS
Represents Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
It can remind us of Our Father in Heaven, The Son-Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost - One in purpose
KARPAS:   CELERY, LETTUCE OR PARSLEY
Dipped into salt water to symbolize the growth that happens in the spring.
The salt water represents the tears shed by the enslaved Israelites
Remember Jesus’ life and the Pioneers and our Ancestors who shed tears but 
Endured to the end - faithful to the Church of Jesus Christ - loving and serving others as Jesus taught 
It can remind us that even though there are trials and sorrow there is also joys and happiness when 
Through FAITH AND TRUST WE RELY ON JESUS CHRIST-his Spirit of Truth-his mind-his faith
The challenging elements visual aid
MAROR:   HORSERADISH - A BITTER HERB
It symbolizes the intense bitterness of slavery
It can remind us that we are only free and happy when we choose to do what is right
Addiction take away our freedom and make us slaves
CHAROSET:  WALNUTS, APPLES, CINNAMON AND HONEY
Symbolic of the mortar and bricks that the enslaved Jews used to build the pharaohs’ cities and pyramids.
It can symbolize: Walnuts (Body), Apples ( Mind-Bearing good fruits), Honey, (The Spirit)
With the help of the Spirit we are held together to bear good fruits and be ‘fragrant’ as cinnamon! 
 We can build our ‘pyramids’ - our Souls - as we live our lives
ZEROAH: CHICKEN
Represents the Paschal lamb that was always sacrificed at the Temple
We can remember the great physical sacrifices of those in the past
Jesus Christ, the Prophets, and our Ancestors who gave their will to doing our Father in Heaven’s WILL
Which is the only sacrifice we are to make
BAYTZAH:  A NEW POTATO
The potato symbolized the sadness Jews feel for the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem
For us it can symbolize rebirth and renewal of life
and the joy we feel as we are born of the spirit and realize
that we are the temples of God and the spirit dwells in us.
We are children of our loving Father in Heaven
TZIMMES -   (VEGETABLE PANCAKES)
VEGETABLE STIR FRY
A Yiddish word is synonymous with a complicated chore
We can remember that in every adversity, trial, challenge, problem it takes work to solve them
But, within the problem is always a gift of wisdom we receive
SALMON
Can remind us that the gospel enhances our lives and we are meant to have joy.
We can also remember that Jesus was well acquainted with fishing and eating fish
He wants us to be fishers of men and women, which means he wants us to share the Gospel with all we can
Through the lives we life and through our words
OLIVES
The Olive tree symbolizes peace.  We can live peacefully in our families and our lives
WATER
To remember that Jesus said he is the Water of Life- Let His Spirit fill us always.
He told the woman at the well that “whosoever drinks of the water of the living spirit shall never thirst.  And this living water shall become in him a well of refreshment springing up even to eternal life.”

Now I will share some photos of our Remembrance Supper's for Jesus

The only purchase I have ever made at Neiman and Marcus was these chargers for $17 dollars each.  I purchased them so we could enhance the beauty of our place settings for special dinners.