Ladies Christmas Tea

My friend Debbie volunteered to host this year's chapel tea. This was wonderful. I only had to do a bit of shopping, make some give away favors (photos to follow), figure out what to say and help out a bit. I can't tell you how nice it was to focus on ONE part of the event instead of the whole thing. The Nikon was acting strange on me - but here are a couple of photos.....Debbie took more but I don't have them yet.

Debbie (black outfit) and Rachel

Arielle won the door prize...it was a cute little tea set that Miss Vera (right shoulder) donated.


Debbie had invited Arielle to come to the tea. It was a great outing for her and I. I should have thought to brought one of her friends along too. Miss Vera is our Operation Christmas Child coordinator.

It was a fun day.

What Goes Around - Comes Around

Stacia has been a frequent victim of the boys' new squirt guns...

One day this week, Jamin was innocently doing school, when Stacia barged in and told him to "Put your hands, UP!" (can't do the sing-song voice via blog).

PS - no one was injured in the photographing of these subjects

Civil Air Patrol Honors and Awards Banquet

Mike helps Jared with final touches on dress uniform

Cadets at ye old Grog Bowl (radishes, green onions, vinegar, punch, apple juice, pickle juice)

Jared likes GROG! ::snort::

Pinning on A1C -

This is NOT our house.... but we did stop to take photos...I TOLD y'all our neighborhood goes all out with this light thang. ::snort::

2nd Sunday in Advent - The Bethlehem Candle by MEG

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” (Matt. 2:5-6)

The name “Bethlehem” literally means House of Bread. It was not one of the great cities of the world. It was not even one of the great cities of Israel. It was, in fact, one of the smaller cities. It was known as the “City of David” because it was the home of King David. He was the youngest of eight brothers, the shepherd boy, and the son of a man named Jesse. He was not known for anything, but it is in the wisdom of God that He would select an unknown to be king. It is also in the wisdom of God that He would not choose a great city such as Rome or even Jerusalem as the place the Christ would enter into the world. It was not in a great palace that the King of kings would come. It was not even in the home of a peasant. Instead, the Creator entered into His creation at the little town of Bethlehem, through a virgin named Mary, as a babe lying in a manger.

God constantly uses the littlest and the least to demonstrate His power and faithfulness. The following scripture readings emphasize this characteristic attitude of God.

Monday – I Cor 1:25-30 God chose what is weak…
Tuesday – Phil 2:5-11 …but being born in the likeness of men…
Wednesday – II Cor 12:7-10 …for when I am weak…
Thursday – Luke 9:46-48 …for he who is least...
Friday - Isaiah 9:6-7...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...
Saturday – Luke 1:7 …and laid Him in a manger…

TIS THE SEASON (Glimpse of this Chaplain family's life)

SHEW....I'll update more later - but quickly...since the last time I've written I've been PARTYING! Who BOY! I've spent the last 3 nights in dress, hose, and heels...and that is NOT my favorite attire. ::snort:: In the past three days, TWICE I've needed to be at TWO places at one time....all places I SHOULD have been. We've had produce co-op, ushered (and thus attended free) the local showing of The Nutcracker, watched Jared be promoted, had doctor appointments, gone Christmas shopping, made Christmas giveaways.... Tis the Season.

Today I attended 3 parties. I'm thrilled to say that not ONE Santa has done a table dance this season! Yes, I've had it easy the last two years. The last squadron Christmas party I went to three years ago, featured a Santa who did a table top dance at the head table....to rather rowdy music....and he seemed to have trouble keeping his winter suit and such on ....and well I haven't been to another party like it - ever! C'mon - I grew up in a missionary's home...attended a Baptist Boarding School in Manila, this was totally out of my "box". Mike says it won't happen at this base - that you need an ops base for those sorts of things. Our first year here I had a very tiny newborn and was not expected to attend parties with Mike. Our second Christmas here Mike was deployed...and there was the silver lining in that hard season - it WAS much more relaxed! ::snort::

This year - I'm being the good sport. I've attended a wonderful chapel Women's tea today, a Masquerade ball with the Med Group, and a great Christmas Party with the Wing Staff....and not one rowdy Santa.....Life is good.

Bragging Rights!

This is dead week of Josiah's first semester at College. Exams are next week. He thinks he can pull an A in two of the calsses and a B in the 3rd. WooHOO! Go homeschool!

Today the math prof dismissed the class and asked three students to stay. Josiah was one of them. He was a bit worried. She told them that the three of them have A's in her class now and don't need to show up for the exam next week. His final class total is 103.8%.

Way to go, Son!