Racing, Crawling and Power-Walking: My Adventure with the Word

When saying that I’m led to “study” through the Bible this year instead of “read” through the Bible this year, am I inferring that there is something wrong with the goal to read through the Bible in a year? No.

This issue of an annual race through the Bible is one I’ve wrestled with for years. I am allergic to legalistic religion and the way this concept has been presented to me through the years, does, I must admit, smack of legalistic religion. A checklist, if you please, to make me “feel good” about my walk. I’ve resisted. Since Bible College days I’ve had a passion to inductively study the Word. Crawling through the Bible some would say. {Grin} Wasn’t that far better than simply racing through the Bible year after year? Wasn’t the 15 – 20 hours a week that I spent in the Word to prepare to teach Precept courses ENOUGH time in the Word? I reached the conclusion that it was and that I would not fall into the legalistic trap of checking boxes as I read. This was my “former position”. My “current position” has evolved over time.

Quite a few years ago a godly woman made a comment that resonated in my spirit. Nelda Thomas is a Precept Area trainer now in her upper 60’s. I consider her to be one of my mentors. I first met her at a workshop I attended in Ekalaka, MT. We met again at a ladies retreat at Diamond Bar X and it was my joy to host her at a ladies retreat in Alaska and a workshop at Elmendorf AFB in AK. She is quite a lady. Nelda loves the Lord, loves the Word and loves the body of Christ. She KNOWS her Bible. She explained to me that she has a daily STUDY time. She explained that she also (in addition to her study and class prep time) has a DEVOTIONAL time. SHE reads through the Bible at least once a year. Hmmm…of course I had to explore her reasoning? God has given her the gift of teaching His Word to the body and therefore she must be immersed in it, intimately acquainted with it. She must handle this gift well because of her love for the Lord and for His family. (These are my words to explain her challenge to me).

After prayer, I began to race through the Bible year after year. I have learned there is much to be gained through reading the Word over and over. You develop a sense of context that you miss even when you are careful to place individual books into context. You also find yourself reading obscure passages that are often not chosen for local studies.

Someone once told me that in reading through the Bible in a year I should read it "like a novel" and when I study a book inductively I'm studying more "like a school assignment". Racing or Crawling? I believe both approaches are valid and both are needed in the body of Christ. I race through the Bible and I glean context and familiarity. I crawl through specific books of the Bible and I mine the gems beneath our cultural understanding of what I've read. I learn to accurately handle the Word of truth and I glean accurate and powerful applications for my life.

Regardless of our chosen approach, we all need to be in the Word. Recent surveys have shown the majority of those who claim the title “Christian” are NOT spending time in the Word, in prayer, or in fellowship with the body of Christ. It's sad. It’s been my practice each year to race through the Bible while I crawl through 3 - 4 books.

As I’ve prayed about the plans and goals that God would have me set for the upcoming year, I'm led to begin a survey/study of the entire Bible. I believe there are seasons when the Holy Spirit will lead us to do something different than we've always done or different than we'd planned to do. This is one of those seasons for me. I will not be racing through the Word this year, because I am led to “Power-Walk” (cross between my normal paces of racing or crawling) through the Word this year. I’ve reached this conclusion not because reading the Bible in a year is a worthless endeavor but because I want to be even more familiar with the obscure sections, I want to be more comfortable with context. I’m not attempting (at this time) to do an in-depth, inductive study of each book of the Bible. I want more depth than the typical survey which includes historical background, main theme, date and author. I also want to study it personally and not simply read another's summary and commentary(good as they may be). I'm certainly not sure I can accomplish my Power-Walk in a year (most plans I find are scheduled to take 3 years), but I believe my desire to begin this Power-Walk is God-pleasing, Spirit-birthed and will produce fruit in my life regardless of the date when I reach the finish line. I'm excited that I will shortly be even more familiar with the Word that I've come to love so much.

In my ministry with women through PWOC, I’m often asked where I find the time to read through the Bible in a year, participate in local Bible Studies, and study a book or two in-depth. The sad thing is that many Christians don't find time to even participate in a local study that will require more than 10 or 15 min a day of their time. Many don't find the time to read even 10 minutes a day. I was challenged to rethink my attitude toward the time it takes to be a woman of the Word by Nelda Thomas and Jan Priddy (Precept Trainer/Workshop Teacher and on staff at the National office of Precept Ministries). Both have made the comment that there are 24 hours in the day and we can certainly give God an hour of our day! This convicted me. The next step came when I began to realize that I could at LEAST tithe of my time..... That would be roughly 2.5 hours a day. Previously I've been able to race through my reading plan and participate/teach inductive studies locally within this daily time frame. Because I'm often the teacher it has been easy to combine my crawl through a book with local teaching responsibilities. Sometimes I was doing what I would call "fluff" or "milk", an in-depth course and reading plan and it has always been able to be accomplished in less than 2.5 hours a day. However, computer time and communicating with others often have to take back burner to bigger goals for the day or week.

I’ve been led to the realization that I need to do all I can to make sure MIKE has the opportunity to tithe his time in personal time with the Lord. I’m possessive of the few hours he has at home, but we are discussing and praying over schedule changes that will make a set “study hour” in our home for all those who need it. He may stay at work even later a few nights a week to have this time. I believe it is important, as his helpmeet, that I do all I can to support his goal in this area.

I hope this clearly explains why I’m doing what I’m doing and why I feel that any time in the Word will be beneficial. As you read the Word this year may you come into personal contact with the Lord of the Word, may you develop an accurate view of who He is and what He requires of you, and may you be transformed by the time you’ve spent in relationship with Him through study of His Word.

http://blog.honeypot-hollow.com/ This is the blog of a friend of mine. She reads through the Bible twice a year and has listed links to many reading plans

Personally, I will be using the New Inductive Study Series and the plans in my New Inductive Study Bible for my power-walk. http://www.precept.org/newindex.html here is a link to Precept Ministries.

Another great site to download FREE inductive studies and information is http://collegelife.grace-bible.org/html/download_bible_studies.htm

Day Eleven of Vacation – 31 December 2005

Wow – the year is drawing to a close and so is our vacation time.

We spent today attempting to take this year’s family picture. This took a long, long time. We took 29 picture and then took a Stacia mandated break. We had the kids vote on pictures and we all liked one – except Nolan. Obviously, he was wearing a less than perfect expression in this photo. He asked that we try for a better shot.

Back to the living room and 19 shots and who knows how many minutes later and we have a few more shots to pick from. We are still not sure which photo will win. We all like the one with Nolan’s silly face best of all…but we want to honor his feelings as well. ONE of these pictures will become the new Family Picture hanging on our wall and mailed out in our “After Christmas Cards”. OK - one photo uploaded before blogger tells me that the page isn't available...so I'll post whichever picture we finally choose, later.

We had hoped to make it to the lake and such this afternoon…..but that photo session took much longer than we expected. By the time the session was over I had the raging start to a migraine. Mike and the kids decided to spend the couple of hours they had playing Ultimate Football at the school down the road. I took drugs and slept.

We had all planned to ring in the New Year at a friend’s with a game night. It became apparent that if I hope to be functional tomorrow I need to avoid light, noise and being overly tired tonight. I took more drugs and stayed home. I am going to bed now….and I’ll bring in the New Year in style in the a.m.

Almost a Family Picture....

After hours of posing, running back and forth from the tri-pod to the pose, breaking for bottles etc., the kids are voting on which picture will be our "family photo". We had one but Nolan wanted it redone...so we had another session.

I'm quite sure it will not be one of these:

Severe case of PPSS (Post Photographic Stress Syndrome)

Eager Expectations - A New Year's Reflection

Excerpted from an article I wrote for our local PWOC newsletter

My family teases me for having "calendar issues". At any given time I will have at LEAST five calendars in use at my home....two on the fridge, one in the bedroom, a desk top one beside the computer and a PDA in my purse. In addition to these calendars, I'm teaching two students how to use calendars (great way to learn so many things) and those daily lesson plans x5 can look suspiciously like a weekly calendar. No doubt about it, I like a well-thought out PLAN, and I probably do have calendar issues.

Are you a "first of the month" type of person? Do you love tearing off the old calendar page? With one mighty rip of the page, 30 days of past accomplishments, frustrations and, yes, failures are crumpled and left behind in the trash can. We get to move on! We get to START A NEW MONTH; a month with somewhat clean spaces and boxes. We get to choose how to fill those spots. We are faced with 30 days full of possibilities! Think of the awesome opportunity and responsibility of "tearing off" a whole year of months! May I challenge you to consider how God would have you fill some of those boxes? Would PWOC play a part in any of your plans?

Starting a new year can cause us a certain amount of uncertainty as well as excitement. We aren't sure what lies ahead in the upcoming year. There may be successes, failures, moves, deployments, joys, births and more that are unexpected as of 31 December 2005. BUT GOD knows the plans He has for you! Isn't that an awesome assurance? One of my all-time favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11! "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Oh, I can never stop with ONE verse )Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to ME, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find ME when you search for Me with all your heart (emphasis added) I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile." Jer. 29:11 - 14. Is your heart full of joy? Do you feel like you've been exiled? Regardless, the principle remains: God has a PLAN for you. It's a well-thought-out PLAN. It's a good PLAN, a PLAN for your welfare. God is not planning for your downfall - you can trust His PLAN - even if you can't see the purpose of all the details. God PLANS to give you a future and a hope!!!! Dear Sister, you are not hopeless! Are you searching for God with all your heart? He will be found. You can trust His mercy to walk with you along each step of the New Year; you can trust His loving-kindness to guide you. You can trust His strength to sustain you through any unexpected twists you may discover on your path in 2006. God wants to give you a future and a hope. A very basic definition for the Hebrew word translated hope is an "eager expectation". Are their areas of your life that you are clutching close to yourself? Why not consider handing them over to God and letting Him give you instead an eager expectation for the upcoming year? Do you sense an eager expectation in your heart? It's God's PLAN for you to have hope. It's God's plan for you to have an eager expectation for the things He will teach you and the ways He will guide you in 2006. If you find that you have no hope, will you make it a priority to spend time with your LORD today and ask Him for that hope which He promises those who seek Him?

Over 25 years ago I began to ask God to display His mighty miracle- power to turn me into a Proverbs 31 woman. May I leave one more exhortation with you? Proverbs 31:25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future." In the quietness of your heart will you honestly evaluate if you are smiling at the future? If not, God stands ready to calm your heart and to give you the grace to smile at the future...to even eagerly expect great things from Him for this year. Journals are great tools - you may want to take some time to write out a prayer to the LORD about those "eager expectations" He is impressing on YOUR heart for the year 2006.

As for those calendar issues, could it be that I'm subconsciously trying to find more time in the month?

Geocaching Pictures - 30 Dec 2005

Pictures simply would NOT open in the message below:

Thanks to Jen who emailed after reading story below and suggested how to do a group cache so that the cache isn't opened until all find it. {grin} I bet we would have eventually worked out a system....maybe.

Josiah opens Altoid Tin - Our first Cache

Picture seems representative of this current season of parenting! Little ones are being helped along by older ones...all taking steps towards independence and seemingly away from me.....I'm chasing behind trying to record their new adventures! {grin}

Josiah finds our second Cache (see it?)

Day Ten of Vacation – Part 2 – GEOCACHING

Geocaching has hit our home. Mike got a Garmin eTrex Vista C for Christmas and the kids got a Garmin eTrex. Mike spent spare minutes the last few days learning how to use the GPS units and I spent time asking questions of friends, like: “What do they mean leave something in the cache – what?”

To those who aren’t familiar with geocaching, it could best be described as a cross between 19th century treasure hunting and 21st century hide n seek. A cache is hidden. The owner of the cache logs onto http://www.geocaching.com/ and lists the coordinates of the cache, how hard it is to find, encrypts any clues they want to leave and gives a description of what they placed in the cache. You choose a cache, enter the coordinates on your GPS and set out. When you find the cache you sign in the log book, take anything you want and replace the items you’ve taken with like items. When you get home you go to the website and log your find and comments.

This afternoon we headed out to try to find our first three caches. I’m not sure how Mike picked them. I was all for finding the level 1 caches but he found the 3.5 ones for us. I think he picked the interesting sounding titles. We went to one that was outside a military cemetery in the really old section of town that we didn’t know existed. That cache was right near the road and Josiah found the actual Altoid container that was full of goodies. Arielle and Nolan voted to take a squishy, water-filled palm tree and we left a smiley face Italian Charm. I had navigated to this one and Mike had driven. Since I had no clue how to read the directions on Mike’s GPS I suggested that I drive to the second one. We headed out to find our second Cache in high spirits.

With Mike reading the directions – it does NOT say “turn right” etc….it’s an arrow headed towards a destination and you get to guess which way to turn and WHEN – I headed back onto the loop. We were surprised to eventually find ourselves back in our own neighborhood. This cache was called Chapel Hill and we couldn’t remember any chapel near our home…..but….if you go to the end of the dirt road and then hike about a mile on a dirt road and then take off across the cactus/mesquite infested plain….you see a lovely view of a chapel on a hill…and you find our second cache. Josiah AGAIN is the one who first spotted the hidden cache. This time we took a lens cleaner and left a bracelet. On our way out of this site we saw 5 deer. The sun was setting so we decided to save cache number 3 for another day. This one promised ducks and water…..THIS I’ve gotta find!

We had a BLAST with this. It’s family fun. It’s cheap. It got us outdoors and to two new areas of town we’d not seen before. We all enjoyed trying to follow the coordinates to the hidden container. I think this sport appeals to families with one or more outdoor-loving techno-geeks in them….we have several. {grin}

Some things we observed: In AK they grow fern…in TX they grow all manner of prickly vegetation. In AK the ground would have been covered in snow this time of year and in the summer you’d have to deal with Grizzlies. In TX the ground was covered with cacti, the weather was a wonderful 70* or so and in the summer you’d have to deal with rattlers. I, De’Etta, am planning more park and grab caches and mall caches for the summer….AIR CONDITIONING!!!! Personally, I learned that there are dire consequences to trying to “brush” cactus thorns off your pant leg with your hand. My hand was covered in the nasty things. Then I tried to bite a few thorns out of my hand and got a thorn stuck on the inside of my lip. We’ve decided to gather a geocaching backpack with water, Band-Aids, tweezers (for pulling thorns), garbage bag to haul out cans, bottles and such that we find etc. Stacia will ride in a back pack.

Below are some pictures of the adventure! {No, we didn’t take a family picture today. Tomorrow I will venture to Wal-mart and buy white t-shirts and then we’ll head out to find scenery for a picture}. Pictures won't upload will try again in the am.

Day Ten of Vacation – 30 December 2005

The day is off to a very slow start. It is currently 10:35 and 60% of our family is still in BED. I will let you guess which 5 are up. {grin}

We had discussed going out with the tri-pod to get a family picture while the girls are home. If we are going to do that it will have to be today or tomorrow. Sunday will be full and then they leave. I wonder what the day will hold. I wonder what the score of the Spurs game was and I wonder how long 60% of the family will pretend to sleep through the racket of the other 40% of the family. {big grin}

I’ve spent several hours searching for an “inductive survey” to use to study the Bible through this year. Most plans are going to take significantly longer than one year. I’m not looking for an in-depth inductive study of each book. I want a survey but more than a skim-the-surface survey. I want to get a deeper understanding of the overall context/structure of the Bible as a whole so that when studying and teaching specific books of the Bible I will have a good foundation to “hang it on”, a deeper understanding of the context of the book. Having spent all this time doing internet searches, praying, reading, enjoying my devotional time…it is time to hit the shower and see if any of these others can be raised. {grin}

Day Nine of Vacation – 29 December 2005

The day began early this morning with a drive to the local airport. Yes, Mom and Dad have left to fly back to the NW. This goodbye seemed harder for us than normal. I think this is in part because it foreshadows another goodbye we will be saying in a few days. Good – proper, beneficial….Bye – leave taking. It sure seems from my point of view that there isn’t much benefit in much of the leave taking we do. BUT I refuse to go there now! Maybe I’ll have “thoughts on saying Goodbye” on the 2nd of January. {grin}

We did have a blast with Mom and Dad. We hadn’t had both of them to our home since 2002. Mom did come up to AK in July of 2003. Always a joy to have family visit….

Back at home the kids spent a bit of time on the computer. THEN ::::Drum Roll:::: Bre, Krista, Josiah, Jamin and Jared prepared to board a bus and head to San Antonio with a student trip sponsored by the chapel. They’ll be attending :::drum still rolling::: a Spurs game! Poor Mike couldn’t go with them because he is duty chaplain. We are thrilled they were able to go. There ARE advantages of adult children being home.{grin}

The younger set and I (Arielle, Nolan, Zander and Stacia) met Mike for lunch, spent the afternoon at the Lake (met a family of boys from Kodiak Island, AK), picked Mike up at 5 p.m., and went to Mr. Gatti’s to eat and play. Zander has been waiting to get tall enough to ride the bumper cars (42”) He is a good inch past that tonight – so he got to ride. The lady asked if he knew how to work the cars before she turned it on. Mike told her that he’d be fine, he’d quickly figure it out. We laughed. He figured it out really quick and loved it. I didn’t have the camera with me – bummer.

The younger set, Mike and I are now going to watch Kid Movies that the older ones get tired of and then fall asleep. We’ll have to let you know tomorrow how the Spurs do. {grin}

While at the park I was able to read another chapter in *Third Culture Kids* and continue my search for some sort of guide to an “inductive survey” of the Bible. My goal this year is to study the Bible through instead of read it through. We’ll see.

Day Eight of Vacation – 28 December 2005

Mike had to run into the office for 20 minutes today. Read that 2 ½ hours. {Grin} The rest of us ran to the base park to make the most of the gorgeous 70* days. TX shines this time of year!!! While at the park our football unexplainably found itself in the top of a tree.

When we were all satisfied that we’d fully enjoyed the park we headed to Fort Concho. This is an AMAZINGLY restored Army Fort. Our guide was excellent. He had lots of great info to share and was humorous and entertaining at the same time. There was only our family of 13 and one other family on the tour. He tailored the tour to the children. We plan to go back and try to get some family pictures in front of one of the buildings or such…

The evening finds us enjoying each other, playing Star Wars Trivia (present for Mike and three older boys from Bre and Krista) and Mom and Dad packing for an early plane out in the morning.

Thus ends another full day.

All our Angels

Nolan calls everyone to school

Zander & Cannon - scary sight

Day Seven of Vacation – 27 December 2005

We had a bit of a down day today.

Mike had to go to work to write an OPR (0fficer’s Performance Report).

Jamin got the 5 older kids organized to try their hands at raking yards. I drove them to Lowes to pick up rakes and garbage bags. They ended up raking 3 yards and making $75.

Mom, Stacia, Zander and I did a BX and Commissary run.

The other kids were still raking yards when we returned. We decided to walk to the park with the four younger ones. Arielle, Nolan and Zander rode their bikes. It was a beautiful day here today – 78*.

A pleasant surprise was a package from Grandma Mary and Grandpa Earl. It turned out to be Night Sky monopoly…..fits in perfectly with our astronomy studies. The board is spectacular.

Dinner, another walk, playing “Narnia game”, Mike exploring geocaching and the day was full.

Ah one last thing. Tonight Mike dished out ice cream for everyone. Dad came in by Zander. Zander looked at Dad and said, “Grandpa you won’t like my ice cream”. :::snort:::

Day Six of Vacation - December 26,2005

What does one do the "day after"? We were determined NOT to go shopping. {big grin}

Grandpa played games with the little ones. OK, Jared took this picture and obviously they don't primp and preen for him like they do for mama. {grin}


Mike and I set up toys for the little ones. This is a 3 sided "play Kitchen" from collectionsetc.com. We plan to use it for a pattern. Our kids are really, really into drama. Mike and I have been watching "plays" since Bre was about 6 (she is now 20 1/2 and 20 days). The traditions continues. The last play was a GREAT one that Jamin wrote and directed and Jared, Arielle, and Nolan preformed. I suppose all that practice helped Josiah with the Chapel Christmas Play involvement. {grin} ANYWAY!!!!! We plan to make a couple more backdrops like this in plain colors and then make mountains, clouds, trees etc to velcro on to the backdrop. We plan to make them taller. {grin}

In the afternoon Mike and I took my parents and went out for a bit of "adult time". First we went to one of my favorite stores called "Barbed Wire and Roses" - specializes in TX stuff. Mike and I ordered my new china hutch.

After the above said errand of great importance was accomplished we went to Logan's for dinner. I love that place. Yumm.....Mom and Dad said they have something similar in OR called "Roadhouse". I'd never been to them before but I guess they are a franchise because ours is Logan's Roadhouse. When we got home we were surprised by a CLEAN and UNCLUTTERED home. I thanked the kids and Bre said, "Mom it was JOSIAH'S initiative, he really got those kids to work". He's the man!!

The afternoon found us down by the river.....observing ducks and muskrats. We had tried to catch an afternoon showing of Narnia (Bre and my parents hadn't seen it) but they were SOLD OUT! I didn't knkow movies SOLD OUT in this town. {grin}

In the evening we stopped by DQ for some "whine cooler" and then on to the movie theater. That place was CROWDED. They said they were "really swamped" on Christmas. Ten went to see Narnia (second time - loved it) and Krista and I went to see Cheaper by the Dozen 2. We liked this movie better than the first. Like Yours, Mine and Ours it had some great parts and some lame parts...but overall we got a kick out of the family portrait that emerged. The issues the parents are dealing with mirror our "issues" - in the saying goodbye, family growing older aspect....not in the 8th grader dating or competive dad aspects. {grin}

Thus ended Day 6 of our vacation.

Glimpses of Christmas 2005 - Day 5 of Vacation

Stacia is still too young to really enjoy her 1st Christmas...but we had fun opening her gifts. She received a baby Cabbage Patch from Bre and Krista (with stories akin to Turbo Man from Jingle Bell All the Way), sleep sacks, bibs and pacifiers.

Regardless the gift...the box is always the best toy - Zander

The girls brought each of us t-shirts for NYC...Zander got his today as he was sleeping when we opened stockings last night. Jamin observes that he looks like a "street punk" in this picture.

Nolan receive Hank books and games, a Narnia game, King Arthur books

In a family our size, Christmas involves a significant amount of watching and waiting....Arielle is not thrilled with this...

Arielle had a "doll" Christmas...like her older sisters she has a "collection" of dolls. This year she got a varitety...this fancy one from Collectionsetc.com from Jamin and Jared, a big stuffed doll from Grandma and Grandpa, a Cabbage Patch Doll from Bre and Krista....Mike and I gave her a portable CD/MP3 player with HEADPHONES (the key request) so that she could listen to HER stories and music when the boys are all listing to "their" stories. {grin}

Jared's requests were for GA Henty books and Redwall books. Between us all he ended up getting a couple of Henty and 6 Redwall books in the series (a respectable beginning). He also got a Camelbak water pack for running.

Jamin had requested a camelback water bottle for running and an audio GA Henty book - he got both. He also got a Redwall book, jump rope and various other items.

Josiah got a paint ball gun...he quickly explained to Mike, Jamin & Jared that until THEY also own guns they will be simple target practice for him. This was a Christams/birthday gift and the boys all have birthdays between now and the end of Februrary. Paint ball wars have become a new hobby of the men folk since moving to TX.

Mike & GPS...he was happy.

Aftermath of Christmas

* Note in addition to the things mentioned in the post "my shocking Christmas" I also received the complete Penn Dutch series....The kids each got me one or two...these are set in the Amish community with the heroine being a Mennonite and are very funny. Jamin got me a under the cabinent radio so I can listen to Rush or Sean while I cook and Josiah got me a great rustic moose for the wall. The girls got me a snowman and bear nativity.....

GIRLS' QUILT

Special thanks to the members of Support4HomeSchool email list who talked me step by step through this project. I can now share a "bit". Krista mentioned that she wanted a "blanket" for Christmas...not a problem at all...Walmart is right down the road. Then she commented that she wanted "Mom and Arielle to make it"....THIS was a problem. I don't sew.

{excerpt history of our family boycott on Walmart - SHS can SKIP }
We began the odysey with a trip to Walmart to buy supplies and ask questions. When I told the clerk, "we have a few questions" she said, and I quote, "Oh GOD, what do you WANNNT?" I told her we'd buy our supplies and ask our questions at Hancock fabrics. A few minutes later, in another part of the store another clerk yelled at Arielle and I for smelling some cologne that Arielle wanted to buy for Mike. I DID write a comment card with date, time and clerk's names and quotes. I left my phone number, name and address and said that we'd not be back until after Christmas without an apology. After a week Mike thought I should contact the manager and make sure she had seen the comments. She had. She told me it was against her policy to "contact customers and apologize for the clerks, I'll deal with it." I decided it was against my policy to give my money to businesses with rude customer support. SO....all through this season we have explored our other options in our new homeplace....and we've found that other stores in town have GREAT customer service and that online shopping is WAY cheaper because we don't have sales tax, impulse buying or shipping in most cases. Not having walmart as an option caused us all to be much more thoughtful about what gifts we wanted to purchase...instead of roaming the aisle looking for things that cost $10. {grin}

{Quilt story resumes}
We headed to Hancock and found friendly clerks, better fabric selections and answers to our "how to" questions. Through this project I learned to thread a machine, sew a somewhat straight seam, wind a bobbin, replace a machine needle (3), adjust tension and how to stretch a 45" piece of fabric to a 90" blanket. It was good.

The quilts were from Mom and Dad and Arielle. They were both in the same box and it was funny that they each reached for their quilt immediately....Krista purple and Bre pink. These blankets, and the ones we made my parents, are "prayer blankets". Each time we tied either fleece or yarn we offered a prayer for the receiver of the gift. We told them that we wanted them to be reminded that they were covered with their family's prayers whenever they used them. As Arielle said...after we had finished tying one said of Grandpa's no sew quilt...."that's a LOT of prayers for Grandpa, I think I've run out of prayers". {big grin}

The daughter who started the project...

Bre thinks the blanket will make a nice travel companion....

My Shocking Christmas

We have an ongoing joke in our family about Mike's Christmas Eve shopping for "moi". We also have a budget....$50 per person. I told Mike all I wanted was a well thought out gift...not the "what's left at Walmart" spree. {grin} A little joke for those of you who know that THIS year we aren't shopping at walmart - which has led to much more thought going into our gifts.

Imagine my shock....when I dumped my stocking and THIS fell out....it was a gold chain with a heart pendant with rubies and diamonds....considerably more than the budget. THEN Mike told me that he made plans for me to go and order my CHINA HUTCH tomorrow. This is one that I've been saving for...I have about 1/3 of the purchase price saved...and it's also considerably over budget. I was shocked...and I teased him about going over budget. His answer: there was no budget set for stocking stuffers. He stayed within the $50 budget for gifts with a wonderfully warm new pair of slippers and a cleaning apron from The Clean Team. {grin}

BTW HE got his GPS today (25 Dec) and loved it. I showed that I can match Mike in creative budgeting by taking the $ saved from not doing the pj thing for Christmas Eve and putting it towards a gift for him. {grin}

Stacia isn't sure what all the excitement is about but she enjoys being in the center of the family gathering.

Sites from Christmas Eve - Day 4 of Vacation

Bre admires the book mark that Arielle picked out for her....

Sister time.....Stacia watches the nail routine.....

Josiah Big Brother Extradonaire









Late night for Zander.....He loves having Krista home

Stacia's First Christmas (Eve)

She no sooner had her darling red Christmas outfit on than she spit up all over it....so we went with Plan B....4th of July...well not really...it had red and stars...that's Christmas. Stacia now belly laughs, rolls over and tries desperately to catch up with the other children.

Christmas Picture.....

More to follow as I have time....

The Family 2005

We can only maintain SOOOOO long!

Note that Stacia isn't smiling in any of the normal pictures...it appears she is more at home with the craziness....wonder WHY?

My Christmas Prayer for You

Yes, I’ve been up since 3 a.m. – and with the exception of Stacia the children are still asleep. Christmas continues to fill me with awe and excitement. The amazing thing being that Christmas is an attitude of heart to be celebrated year round. It’s my tradition to leave a piece of Christmas out year round to remind our family of this fact (some years its been a strand of lights around the kitchen sink, or picture ornaments hung from the piano, or a wreath left on a bedroom door). Our hearts should constantly be welcoming the gift of Christ’s presence to our lives.

I’ve been thinking of a “Christmas Wish” and early this a.m. it hit me…this is my Christmas PRAYER for my family and friends.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Phil 1:9-11 (NASB)



I could type on and on. In fact, I believe I HAVE spoken for an hour on these verses. I suspect they are most powerful standing alone…but let me share a couple thoughts….a few things that I’m praying for my friends and family.

May your love abound!!!! May you have eyes-wide-open with knowledge and discernment (so very badly needed in our time) and STILL LOVE….this will lead you to approve the excellent things of our Father. It will lead you to be pure, sincere, maturing in your walk with Him…..and may you be filled to overflowing with the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit that will only develop as you are in close and constant, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

May we all bring glory and praise to the Father’s name this year! Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Fourth Day of Vacation – 24 December

We have spent this day simply reconnecting and fellowshipping with those we love most….our family.

Mike and I have thrilled to hear the girls speak of the work God is doing IN their lives at Master’s Commission and THROUGH their lives as they learn to step out of the way and step up to the plate (my summary ).

Bre made us some “Rocky Road” treat that her host mom makes. Krista helped me make “White Chocolate Tic Tac Toe”. Grandma and Grandpa continue to play with all the children. Krista helped me dip truffles for tomorrow’s snacking. Hmmm….I do see a chocolate theme here!

I had to run to the store and Krista and Mom graciously came with me….I needed to buy only one item…Oreos to make an Andes Mint Cheesecake.

The evening found us at chapel worshipping with our new family. Ch. Steve did a wonderful job of planning the service. The message was excellent….by my favorite pastor in the world (MIKE).

We came home and opened our Christmas stockings. THEN….being a big kid at heart I pulled out the “PJs”. We always give each person new Christmas PJ’s but this year I did the math. It’s over $240 for me to outfit this crew in pj’s….old t-shirts will work just fine. Instead I bought a Garmen etrex GPS and a book about geocaching for the family this year. They were excited….and THEN I had to pull out the new, real Bibles for Nolan and Arielle….because they aren’t really Christmas gifts after all but “school tradition”. When the kids can read they get a real Bible as opposed to a story book Bible. THEN I was reminded that if I didn’t stop we’d open all our gifts tonight. That wouldn’t do.

Pictures are on the camera in a room of sleeping folks…so I’ll have to upload those later.

Third Day of Vacation - 23 December

Mike is home today! Yippee. He, Bre, Krista and Jared went out shopping.

While they were gone, I shredded the meat from 3 roasts that I had baked overnight. I then made BBQ. I set aside enough for dinner tonight and put two bags full into the freezer. Then the girls and Mom and I headed for downtown…the real downtown. I’ve yet to fully explore the downtown area. It’s a treasure trove of little antique shops, unique stores etc.

I did find a store that carries Taylor and Harogate tea – my brand. Still not a sugar cube in sight. I could tell I must be hungry when we left that store with some Cinnamon Butter, Peanut Ginger dressing and 2.5 pounds of homemade fudge. Home we headed for dinner.

Tonight we are watching Bre’s solo from her graduation, Krista’s speech at her graduation and Santa Clause 2. I think it will be fun for my parents to see these clips and it reminds me again that we need to make copies of the girl’s ceremonies to give both my parents and Mike’s parents. We’re STILL on track with our advent readings in Bartholomew’s Passage. I think we’re going to do finish it this year.

We are getting a lot of Christmas cards and letters and it’s been so fun to catch up with people and reflect on the relationships we’ve enjoyed over the years.


Stacia is thoroughly enjoying all the attention. She really is a social little girl. Here she is with her oldest sister and with Grandpa Paul.

Back a bit later – an added bonus to the “home movies” was seeing old friends who celebrated with us. May God bless you all with a Merry Christmas and a Joy filled New Year.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

For nearly 300 years it was illegal to be a practicing Catholic in England. Catholic parents wanted to teach their children about God and celebrate their beliefs, and so the story goes that they became creative. Some say they developed the "Christmas Code" that became the "12 days of Christmas". I find it interesting that our city chose this as their theme for this year's light tour. We've not had some of the situations we hear about on the news. The radio station we listened to at the city sponosred Light Tour constantly encouraged us to remember the "meaning of the season" and our county courthouse has a big nativity on the front lawn. Below I break the code and then show pictures from the light tour...in no particular order.

Breaking the Code:
My True Love = God who gives all the gifts listed in the song

A partridge in a pear tree = Jesus, who gave His life on a tree

Two turtle doves = Old and New Testaments

Three french hens = Faith, Hope and Love

Four calling birds = Mathew, Mark, Luke, John - the gospels

Five golden rings = Pentateuch - 1st 5 books in the Bible

Six geese a laying = six days of creation

Seven swans a swimming = Seven gifts of the spirit (Rm. 12:6-8)

Eight Maids a Milking = eight beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10)

Nine ladies dancing = nine fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22 - 23)

Ten lords a leaping = ten commandments

Eleven pipers piping = eleven faithful disciples

Twelve drummers drumming = 12 points of the apostle's creed

*based on info from "The ADVENTure of Christmas" by Lisa Whelchel.

Light Tour:

OUR LIGHTS

Looking down the block

Our house - brought to you by Josiah, Jamin & Jared

Second Day of Vacation - 22 December

Mike had to work.

Arielle and I spent some time formatting her Christmas writing assignment.

The morning found a site that I never imagined I’d see in my back yard.


After lunch the kids, Grandma and I headed for Tinseltown. The kids voted to see “Yours, Mine and Ours”. There were parts to this movie that I loved and parts that I thought were lame. All in all, we did enjoy it. Back at home Grandpa rested.

The afternoon provided time for the girls to wrap presents and for me to take Mom to the local stores to buy a few last minute items.
Mike got home in time for us to have a late dinner and head for the Concho River. Our little town puts on an amazing light tour on the banks of the river. The lights are reflected in the water and the radio station plays greetings and well loved Christmas carols. Much of the light displays are built around “The 12 Days of Christmas”. I’ll upload more pictures of that tomorrow . . . love having the camera back.


The night ended with us discovering that our very own neighborhood is really one of the most lit up in town…and then reading the night’s reading from *Bartholomew’s Passage*.