Politics in general seem to rub me the wrong way so much of the time.  So much of the arguing seems self-serving and hardly ever for the good of the majority.  When it gets to the point where even your church leaders are suggesting certain ways to vote I think its gotten pretty bad.  Is there anyone else out there that feels that the real reason things aren’t working is because our priorities as a group are not in the right places? We are trusting in the wrong device, and  looking in the wrong place!

So in our state, they are trying to raise taxes, and everyone is up in arms, it seems  that everyone has an argument one way or the other. Honestly both sides want to protect a certain aspect. One side is worried about pushing small and struggling businesses over the edge, which is indeed a problem.  The other side is trying to save and improve on our education system, which is also more important than we’ve made it.  The unfortunate part is, even as riled up as they are,  I don’t think either choice once made, will offer a real solution to what either side is wanting.

The thing is, it seems money is always at the center of it. It’s an alternate idol, and the biggest problem maker.  People want to earn more and more, because it seems to be the means by which we do everything.  It determines one’s “value”, one’s “status” one’s “importance”, but I ask you … does it really?  Or are we failing our selves by continuing to allow it to be our form of measurement. I seriously feel sick to my stomach thinking about it.

Let me ask you… and I’m sure there are some economists out there that probably have the professional  answer for me, but really I’m curious….. Who is it that determines inflation? Who is it that decides that services we render this year should cost more than they did last year?

My answer… its us! We do this to ourselves because greed is so rampant in our society.  We’ve gotten to the point where we don’t even notice it much. Because everyone’s  striving for “something better” and since our common form of measurement to achieve that -  is currently in dollars and cents – then that means the only way to achieve something “greater” is to have the money to do so.

Since in reality, money was never meant to be the measurement of everything we are, we begin to bind ourselves continually in a belief system, a way of life  that isn’t able to be maintained the way it should be. More and more money is spent yet less and less actual needs are taken care of. Some have so much, while others have next to nothing, and are easily kept in that position even if they happen to be fortunate enough to have a full time job. Does it not seem wrong? There are those who have so much who are intent on keeping our society the way it is.  The greed benefits them.

It seems so black and white to me, it’s so frustrating! Does our society, our state, our country benefit from having illiterate, under educated citizens?  Do any of us benefit from having neighbors and friends that can’t afford to get health care when they are sick? Forcing them to wait until the need is more severe and more urgent? or for them to bankrupt themselves to get treatment?  Does it help us as a society to have neighbors whose homes are barely livable ? or even worse, for people and children not to have a home at all?

This is all so stupid! And sadly we bring it on our selves, because we continue to see the only method of fixing things as being to throw money at it.  Divert money from this location, to this other location.  When will we wake up? The true measure should not be money but creativity and time invested, but monetary rewards are all we know, so its what we stick with.

If we could find a way to reward people for investing in each other, investing in our future.  If we found a way to make our system work to where people could also have an alternate way to   sustain their most basic needs through time spent on improvement of others.  Make it a collective effort to train our children in what ever gifts they have, so that our countries future would actually be filled with the best and the brightest. It does no good for us to limit our best resource, our people.  As long as our focus is on ourselves, and on how much we ourselves can acquire, then we are selfish, and will remain trapped in a system that doesn’t work for any collective greater good.  We need community, no matter how much we like to deny it.  Many want the pride of saying they are self-made, but its false.  No one is self-made, if they were they wouldn’t need money to show it.

On my own, I don’t find my self inspired to pick up a book that is not non-fiction.  Growing up, I read a whole lot of fiction, but since adult hood, sadly if I read anything, its for a specific reason and rarely involves imagination. I like to keep tabs on what my daughter is reading, mostly because while she is quite down-to-earth in many regards, there have been long discussions brought on by some … lets just say ..  non-big-picture-thinking.

It is an avid goal of mine to have my children think through things in a way that helps them progress in understanding rather than getting tied up in drama.  I know.. I know, I realize it is a book and meant as a form of escape, and while that is all good and all, I think its important to make sure she understands that point. A lot of things I think we just assume our kids know, or understand.

Shelsea read the first of the Twilight book, and in me doing some research on the book, there are some very conflicted views..  people seem to either love it, or hate it, and many seem crazily obsessed by it.

So…

I’m trying to read Twilight..   trying to maintain an open mind, and keep forefront in my thoughts that I am not the “targeted audience” and not to judge it too quickly or harshly…  (shh.. so far.. its been a little hard as I already have a healthy dislike for the main character and how easily she can justify using people around her , but I’m only to chapter 4).

But  I just have to remember the point is to know what it is actually about when we discuss it.

“I hear that in many places something has happened to Christmas; that it is changing from a time of merriment and carefree gaiety to a holiday which is filled with tedium; that many people dread the day and the obligation to give Christmas presents is a nightmare to weary, bored souls; that the children of enlightened parents no longer believe in Santa Claus; that all in all, the effort to be happy and have pleasure makes many honest hearts grow dark with despair instead of beaming with good will and cheerfulness.”  ~Julia Peterkin, A Plantation Christmas, 1934

I found this quote when looking for a few “Feel Good” Holiday quotes. I have to admit that as far as Christmas has been concerned I felt that I’ve been slightly lacking in overall feeling.  Sure, I have had sparkling moments here and there where I see a hint of what I’m after, but sadly they haven’t been as all encompassing as they are expected to be at this time of year.  So it was with the desire to find inspiration, I did a quick search, looking for a quote or two to make me smile and put me in the “right” frame of mind.

It was then I came upon the above quote.  What interested me the most about this quote was not only its honesty regarding a few, small shared points of frustration with the holiday.. but what really stood out to me was actually the date.  That is right, the DATE  in which it was written is what impressed the most meaning upon me today. This had been written in 1939! That was 5 years before my Father was even born! Wither we like to admit it or not, this  struggle has been going on for quite awhile, and its not just me! This is not a “new development”. It has far less to do with the times, society, the administration, the country, and more to do with our own human nature.  I think we hang too much on our expectations of how we think things “should be”. It’s a downfall of ours. It is our sense of expectation that leads us to disappointment, and makes us view things as bigger issues than they really are.  An ego issue truly, our pride gets hurt when things don’t go the way we want, or when people don’t fall in line, and we get angry.  Perpetually children, especially in the instances when we are totally oblivious to it.

All my life there has always been kind of this over-lying shadow. The thought that as time moves on, we as a society get continually worse. When I was a teenager, it was my generation that was abhorrent and disrespectful. We were ruining the world, and that our values were askew.  As since my generation is no longer teenagers, the torch has been passed (a few times even),  and now I even hear people my age talk about how “the current generation” is on the road to ruin. I think I contend that they are really no worse than we were. The only difference is how honest they are allowed to be at the time. They feel they have a right to say what they feel, where we may have bit our tongue.  In truth, at their age, the reason we bit our tongue was probably less out of respect, and more out of fear of how our statements would be received. Of course some argue that fear is respect.. but that I totally disagree with and is a tangent I’m not going into at this point in time.

How fickle we can be, we decide as a country that their should be basic premises… right to religious freedom, right to freedom of speech, so we institute them for our future – in our most precious governing documents, but when those around us explore these  venues with different ideas, we suddenly seem to want to add the amendment of “as long as it doesn’t disagree with my point of view”.

This year I’ve been bombarded with e-mails of people nit-picking at each other.  Apparently there is a whole “War on Christmas” thing going on where people feel it necessary to take exception to how someone else chooses to wish them well this season.  Shouldn’t we just be pleased that people are wishing us well at all? Why should we care about what particular words they use? Should you really expect a Jewish fellow to wish you a “Merry Christmas”?  In the truest spirit of the season, how can you consider yourself so high that you should “expect” anything from anyone? This is the time of year meant to inspire humility, not self-righteousness. Humbly giving of ourselves, blessing, supporting, and loving on those around us.  Not reprimanding over plain term useage.. especially if we aren’t living up to the core meaning ourselves. Have we become so soft, as to be so irrevocably overly sensitive about this? Are we really in need of something else to complain about, or are we simply looking for something to blame. Possibly an impatience we ourselves have towards others. Being intolerant much?

By allowing someone to wish you Happy Holiday, does it really make Christmas less special, less meaningful to you? If it does,  I think that is an internal issue, a personal problem as it were.  Your spirituality is really a personal relationship between you and your God.  It has to be, otherwise the whole thing is a facade.. a show put on for, or else controlled by others -which deems it insincere.  Each individual through their own experiences has in tow their own perceptions on words, meanings, symbols, connotations of everything around them, including holidays. So knowing that, how can anyone realistically say that there is only one “right” way to wish someone well? Its like there is only one single way to express love to another individual. Oh! How we seem to continue to limit our own understanding and possibility of happiness with our closed minds!

Isn’t there enough to deal with that we shouldn’t be making up issues?

Sincerity in giving is another point I struggle with. Not to sound all “Bah Humbug” – like, but I get frustrated with the obligation of Christmas.  I love to give, don’t get me wrong, but I want to give because its in my heart.. not because its expected of me, and I surely don’t want people to think that I don’t care because I couldn’t afford to get them something from the store, and I want to give where its going to do the most good. I wish that the season was more based on being “Present” in our loved ones lives, than giving them just some gift we found at Wal-mart because it was expected.  I want Presence for Christmas.. not presents 

Even through hard times, I think most are in truth far more blessed than what we give appreciation to. What reason do we have to be sad, except for our own self-made expectations for what the holiday should bring to us, and how others should act.  We should know better. Anytime we look to others to supply us the ability to be happy, we are setting ourselves up for failure. If only we quickly understood that any real satisfying happiness isn’t in what we get, but in what we give!

It is with this thought that I will endeavor the following goals this Season.

• I will continue to wish people well, using whatever terms I feel are appropriate.  How they take it, and what they read into it is totally up to them, and may quite possibly be  as flawed as their desire to read anything more into it than what it is. A greeting of well wishing.
  
• To strive to breakdown my own expectations for what Christmas should be, or should “feel” like,  and focus my full attention on blessing and being a blessing to others.
  
• To allow an open heart, and an open mind in which to take part in a more gracious and lasting spirit that may not flutter away once the decorations come down around us.
• To put my all into giving in areas that will do the most good, and be sincere in my intentions.
  
• To know that life is too short to dwell on unimportant details.. not having everything perfect doesn’t really make the sentiment any less
  

I remember when I was small, how often I was assured that milestones I wished for were “would be here before you knew it.”   When I was little, it was pretty hard to believe. Everything took SO LONG!, seemingly taking forever! Birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Middle School, High School, Dances, Dance Team Competitions, May Day Celebrations, Graduations & Summers! It all came so slowly..

Something odd happens the older you get. All that time you spent as a child, wishing for that time to hurry …. well it seems to catch up with you, and now all the sudden  it is more than willing to oblige.  When you have children, you are graced with an obvious gauge that makes it unmistakenly clear, just how fast time flies… and suddenly you are wishing that you had a pair of brakes that could slow things down, at least just a little..

I make this observation as my son Haiden, my second child, turns 10 years old.  Two of our three children are now a decade or older… absolutely insane.. it can’t really be possible!

We had a small get together for Haiden on Saturday.  We gave him an IronMan watch, which he was pleased with as he had actually just asked for a watch the other day.  Deon made an absolutely awesome gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate cake with strawberry-coconut filling! It was great!! There were a few regular cupcakes for others, if they weren’t brave enough to try the allergy-free cake, but honestly we could have done with out. Deon’s cake was better than any allergy-full (hehe) cake I’d tasted.. well… back when I could taste them. ^^

Deon’s Parents (Poppa & Tutu) , and my sister Muriel, and Aly were over. We had fun talking, and the kids entertained themselves with The hot wheels toy that Aunt Muriel, Uncle Trevor and Jeremy got Haiden for his birthday.

Alysondra enjoyed herself a cupcake… preparation for next week when she has her 1st Birthday party… which also doesn’t seem possible.. 

she had quite the face… hehe

Neighbor girls even came by a little later to wish Haiden a Happy Birthday, as well as his God Father.

In other news.. My niece Stephanie had her baby a little over a week ago.  So we welcome little Jackson Dennin into the family..

Also, the boys had their Christmas programs on Dec. 16th, which was my father’s 65th birthday… talk about time flying!…   The boys were lucky enough to have both sets of Grandparents come out which was cool.

Here is a picture of them with some decorations after the show.

Kylan’s was first as his was for the K – 2nd graders, and then Haiden’s program – the one for the 3rd – 5th graders followed. They both did great! It was fun to watch, the music teacher did a great job putting it together!

Kylan was adorable, singing in his first Christmas Program as last years got snowed out.

We really liked their rendition of “Polar Puppy”.. was pretty cute!

here’s chatty Kylan…   this was actually before the show started.. hehe

Haiden was a character, fully animating all his parts as usual.. the kid is the biggest ham.. definately a performer. Haiden even had a small speaking part.

It ended up being even more  eventful as well as the evening ended up included two seperate instances of someone pulling the Fire Drill.. luckily whoever did it, waited to do so after each show, so it was times that people were leaving the building anyway… Well unless you were like us and had a child in both shows.

It all just makes me realize how important it is to not just exist, but to live! To be present in this day and to maybe worry a little less about the past because it can’t be changed.. and the future because nothing is written in stone..   Enjoy NOW.. because its really all you have. Soon before I know it, the days of my children being young will be gone.. They will have grown to live their own lives, and they will be gone, and then at some point I will be gone. All I really have is now, can’t fight time, it always prevails, but I can choose to enjoy the time I do have! It really is a choice.

Loved this, received this e-mail from a co-worker today.. (Thanks Peggy!) thought I’d share! ~ sc

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Letter from Jesus about Christmas ** **– *

*It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. *

*How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.
I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. *

*Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. *

*Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8. *

*If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it: *

*1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home.
They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time. *

*2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally.
They just need to know that someone cares about them. *

*3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… It will be nice hearing from you again. *

*4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them. *

*5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. *

*6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. *

*7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas”
that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families *

*8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. *

*9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them,** **buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you. *

*10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. *

*Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :*

*I LOVE YOU,*

*JESUS*

I really don’t understand those who don’t believe that our health care system is broken. Even worse.. those who know, but don’t want to venture to do anything different. Heaven forbid that our nations people have access to affordable insurance. (Affordable meaning that not only are they able to pay the monthly premiums, but that they are also able to afford to actually use it when its needed, and not end up bankrupt)   Our health insurance is far too lucrative of a business. The focus is all wrong, its so frustrating!

I read an article today (here’s the link.. may not work for long because it is a news article link, but  here it is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34330376/ns/health-health_care/

The points I found most disturbing:

In 2007 as reported by the OECD

International Average  of money spent on health care – $2984.00 per person
International Average infant mortality  – 3.9 deaths per 1,000 births
International Average  for Life Expectancy     –   79.1

United States Average of money spent on health care – $7,290 per person
United States Average infant mortality -6.7  deaths per 1,000 births
United States Average Life Expectancy  – 78.1

Quote from the article:   “It suggests that the U.S. is not getting great value for its health spending, in terms of life expectancy,” Gaetan Lafortune, one of the report’s co-authors said.”

hmm.. really?

We received our yearly notice..  premiums & deductibles are going up…  over 20% higher for the same plan we had last year.  I am fortunate to work for a company who tries their best to minimize the impact on their employees by exploring options.  I work for a smaller company. I fully expect that if the trend continues, sooner than I like to think, they will no longer be able to help the employees as much as they have.

I listen to some of these politicians in interviews, and they make me want to cry at times.  There is a serious departure from what seems like common sense.  They just don’t seem to care. ~ Serina

I’ve figured it out… if I end up being deemed unsuccessful in this life, it will not be because of apathy, but rather because I don’t choose money as my motivation.

There is a quiet relaxation that comes from drawing.  I should do it far more often.  This weekend, my kids and I spent some time curled up on the couch just calmly drawing and loved it. They are pretty creative..

Here is a few pictures Shelsea drew:

"Enling" by Shelsea Clason 12/5/2009

Here is one by Haiden:

He was copying a color book picture..

Here’s a couple of mine:

this first one is from awhile ago…

"Lailee" by Serina Clason ~ Sept. 2008

"Kat sketch" by Serina Clason 12/5/2009

Its been a week of baby steps

On my sister’s facebook entry this morning was a quick entry mentioning that little Alysondra (my niece) is getting braver.   Nearing her first birthday, She’s been flirting with the idea of walking for a few weeks now. Small brief periods of forgotten fear as she ventures out  to take an unsecured step here and there.  I’m hard pressed to think of a joy more appealing than seeing a child find their confidence and take their first steps.  Of course that elation is quickly displaced by worry as  their new independence changes the whole game, immersing us in a plethora of new adventure. Now it becomes far more difficult to be their protective shield. Then it only gets more and more difficult with each new ability they add to their repertoire.

On Thursday we had our very first Thanksgiving at our house, and it ended up including nearly all of our local family (minus niece Bekah & nephew David who we missed, but they were spending the day with their Mother).   It still ended up being pretty nice and calm, one of the better ones for me I think.  The kids were able to spend time with both sets of grandparents.  In keeping with the theme of this post, I really hope that it proves to encourage some further “baby steps”  to occur, and inspire more tolerance and understanding within our family. Its always a delicate line between individuality and expectations.. but I think it can be done.

My niece is due to have her baby any day.  She’s having a little boy that she is naming Jackson.   This elevates the number of hats my sister-in-law wears, increasing it by one, thereby adding one more title in the process  – Grandma, or Gigi, or whatever they end up deciding.

I have yet to guess what that must be like. I’d imagine,  that once you get past the sillyness where people now taunt your age (which she has nothing to worry about there. In reality.. she’s a super young Grandma, not even 40 yet.)  you’d probably feel  joy, happiness, as well as fear and apprehension all rolled into the same event.

The child that you brought into the world now having their own.  Lots of  worrying over how your child is going to deal with the vast life change they are approaching.  Knowing full well there are things you don’t understand fully until your own baby is looking at you with those eyes.  Realizing that yet another layer of our inate desire to protect our (now adult) child has been stripped away by time, growth,  and independence, severing yet another apron string.

Letting go must feel clumsy and awkward, and induce some amount of fear.   Bitter-sweet I’m sure, and definitely hard for a Mother. I think I can definitely wait to have a child that is an adult, and I should very much appreciate my time with my kids right now, when it is still acceptable for me to be the Mama Bear.

It will be yet another doorway of opportunity,  immobilizing yet another plethora of further adventures, and one that will induce change in relationship, and growth on the parts of both Mother and child.

Isn’t it interesting that no matter what place we are in life, there continues to be further “Baby Steps” we all have to take.  We are never done learning or growing when we are open to it.  Our routes may all be quite different, but new phases come about regardless of our direction or  uncertainty to take the next step.

Take heart that little things, small changes, tiny adjustments – baby steps -  taken with care and determination, can pave the way, as well as inspire hope for the betterment of us all.

I wonder some times why it is we live our lives the way we do.. It seems we are born with the notion to be in a hurry to find something to fully devote ourselves to, a relationship, a career, children, a calling.. something solid to identify ourselves with, and define exactly what, or who we are. I just wonder sometimes. A long time, I’ve pushed and pushed under the notion that if I can just sacrifice a little more, for a little longer.. then I will get to the point where I will be allowed to do something profoundly positive.. something that will make my time here make sense, to fulfill what it is I was put on this earth for.

I feel anxious for that time, but I have to wonder still, why should I be in such a hurry? Wouldn’t fulfilling that accomplishment (whatever it is) mean that my time here is done? If I found the reason for my being here fulfilled tomorrow, while I’m sure it would feel pleasing to have answered my reason for being, what about all the things I haven’t touched? What about the forgotten unexplored pieces of life I’ve hurried past, not taking the time where I should have. Isn’t life about the journey? afterall, we will all reach the destination in due time? why hurry there? What about the journey?

The more I thought on this, the more I started to piece together the following. The fact is that we are all a product of our experiences. From each joy, tear, heartbreak, or situation, we are meant to take away with us bits of ideas that together fully form intended lessons. Gathered from exploration of ourselves and the world around us, these lessons make us more rounded, stronger and wiser individuals, better preparing us for accomplishing our purpose.

If I continue to allow pieces of my being to go unexplored.. untouched.. and ignored until a time when I am no longer able to do anything about it, then what section of my coursework, my preperation, my training if you will, have I lost out on…  all because I was in a hurry, and pushed it off until later?  How can I ever expect to be at my best, if I don’t do more than just wait to exist?

Energy and time are already an issue,  responsibilities, and the needs of those dear to me are also present.  Its a real struggle to balance it all, and I wouldn’t trade any of the things in my life right now, I just…  want it to be ok to be me.

I want to draw again, I want to sing, to dance, take up yoga, and paint pictures, maybe go back to school and get some kind of degree, so that I can be taken seriously in some aspect.  To take beautiful photos, To laugh  a lot more with family and friends. To have adult conversations that last more than 3 minutes,  that enable me to visualize and intelligently talk about ideas, and to learn from others.  I yearn for something creative.  I think it would actually be very cool to be able to work with computer graphics, and do CG for movies, etc..  I want to take philosophy,  psychiatry, art. Pick up where I left off learning Japanese. I want to figure out how to fix my computer and know why things work the way they do. I want to study and understand more about nutrition. I want to encourage, inspire, and help the world around me be healthy. I want to help people heal and begin to understand and analyze personal perceptions, to acquire deeper and more truthful understanding of themselves, so they can in turn use it to inspire healthier attitudes in others.

Just the tip of the iceberg really.. and maybe that’s why it seems so overwhelming, and why it feels much safer to fall back into a routine… but I want to be so much more than I am, and I can’t help but feel like if I don’t pay attention to at least a couple of these soon, that I will miss out on lessons I was really meant to learn, and it will be my own fault. I have chosen my lot in life, but in reality, I’m the only one limiting myself, sure things may not be ideal, but in honesty, they will never be perfect.  My world is not insurmountable stone..  It may just be time to get the chisel out, and start working on a masterpiece..

I was looking for a recipe for Lefse (Norwegian Potato flat bread)

and I found this one from the book “Christmas in Dairyland” by LeAnn R. Ralph

Wish us luck, we are going to attempt to make it more as Muriel puts it “Serina & Haiden” friendly by substituting:

Milk = coconut milk
Butter = dairy free milk
Flour = Rice/Soy flour

Here is the regular recipe as from the book:
Lefse

- 4 heaping cups of mashed or riced potatoes
- 1 stick of butter (or margarine)
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of flour
- extra flour for rolling out the dough.

Measure out the mashed/riced potatoes into a large mixing bowl. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter/margarine in the milk; stir in the sugar and salt. Then pour over the cold mashed (riced) potatoes and mix.

Stir two cups of flour into the potato mixture. The dough will be sticky and soft.

Start heating the griddle or electric frying pan. Do not add any oil, margarine or shortening. Lefse is baked on a dry surface.

Take a lump of dough about the size of an egg. Place a heaping teaspoon of flour on the surface where you’re going to roll out your lefse. Work about half of the heaping teaspoon of flour into the lump of dough (enough so you can handle the dough, but not so much that the dough becomes dry).

Starting in the center, roll outward until the lefse is about the size of a dinner plate. Try not to roll the lefse so thin that you cannot pick it up. If the lefse tears when you start to pick it up, gather it into a lump and roll it out again. Don’t do this too many times, though, or your lefse will end up tough and dry. Ideally, you should only roll the lefse once, although that’s probably not a realistic expectation if you’ve never made lefse before. Also try to turn the lefse only once while you are rolling it out. If the lefse starts to stick, add a little more flour.

When you have the lefse rolled out, transfer it to the hot griddle. Carefully pick it up and quickly move it. If you move slowly, the lefse is more likely to tear. Expert lefse makers use flat lefse turners (they look like long flat sticks) to transfer the dough by rolling it onto the turner and then unrolling it onto the griddle. You can also try rolling your lefse onto the rolling pin and transferring it to the griddle or the fry pan.

Once you have the lefse on the griddle, bake it for about a minute, just until brown ‘freckles’ start to appear; then turn the lefse over and let the other side bake just until brown freckles start to appear. While the first piece of lefse is baking, roll out your second one.

After the first piece of lefse is done, use the pancake turner to remove it from the griddle and place it on a clean dishtowel. Cover with another dishtowel.

Bake the second lefse and roll out the third piece.

When the second lefse is finished, place it on top of the first one and cover with the towel again.

Then bake the third piece.

Repeat until you have baked all of the dough. Place each newly baked lefse on top of the previously baked lefse and cover the stack with the towel.

Once the lefse is completely cool, place it in a plastic bag or wrap it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to help keep it moist. You must wait until the lefse is completely cool before wrapping it, otherwise the heat from the lefse will condense inside of the plastic or the aluminum foil, and your lefse will end up soggy. If you leave the lefse overnight without wrapping it in plastic or aluminum foil, it will probably be dried out in the morning. If the lefse dries out, sprinkle a little water on the dishtowel and wrap the dishtowel and the lefse in plastic. The lefse will soften up again.

When you’re ready to eat a piece of lefse, spread it with butter (or margarine), sprinkle sugar on it (some people also like to sprinkle cinnamon on their lefse), and roll into a log.

Also, once the lefse is cool, it can be frozen.