Our Second Sunday in Advent

We are having a blast with this season. The sweetest thing that I've heard in a long time came from Nolan on Sunday. I asked him if he wanted to go to the Cast Party and he said, "I've been missing a lot of family time. I'd like to be with family." I checked, I was told he wouldn't be missing anything special and so he skipped the party.

Sundays are the one day of the week that Josiah and Jamin aren't working or in school. We enjoy having the day together. This week we had chapel, we ushered and watch the final performance of the Nutcracker, we had our own cast party, we enjoyed our family advent activities. I love how our older kids continue to go along with the fun for the benefit of the younger ones. Fun memories we are building.

Photos:

Jamin (17), Jared (14), Josiah (19)


Of course, DQ was called for!


Stacia was mesmerized by the dancing and hasn't quit dancing yet...here she struts her stuff at Dairy Queen.


Back at home we had TWO gifts to find.....





Forget the hunt...look at these treats the Grandmas at Chapel sent home!


Nolan found Saturday's gift...a bag of rings, cards, and funky sunglasses




Bling or pastries - which to choose







I was SICK by this point on Sunday....


The Second Sunday gift was a new Tim Hawkins DVD. We've not watched it yet...





Saturday's activity was "Host the PWOC Tea and play Tickle Little Kids" and Sunday's Activity was "attend the Nutcracker and eat Ice Cream Sundaies". We subbed DQ. That left playing Tickle Little Kids.....which turned into tickle the 14 yo.....but you'll see the progression.

Nolan and Zander aren't so sure about this when the big boys get involved....














What's this? The 14 yo is NOT one of the big adult ticklers...he should be a ticklee????

Stacia attemps Jared's rescue....

Stacia's rescue attempt involved grabbing Jared around the neck and pulling. ::snort::


More "dancing and leaping"

©2008 D.R.G.

Catching Up?

This was taken at the tea on Saturday. It apperas that Arielle has caught up with Debbie.

©2008 D.R.G.

The Wisemen Played Chess????

We continue to enjoy this little Nativity set. We have no one to deliver surprise Nativities to this year.....but this one reminds me of last year. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

The Season of Guessing....

is upon us...and I'm not talking about Christmas. I LOVE the anticipation of a move. I like to imagine the various spots we could go. I LOVE looking up various bases, checking their services, housing plans etc.

We will be moving this summer. The "requirement" list is out. Simply put this is a list of the bases that need someone in Mike's rank and a brief description of what they are looking for. Not all bases get their requirements in - but it's a FIRST indication of the various slots that will be filled. So....we look at the list, keep in mind being told it would be good for us to go to a "big base or overseas" and wait.

I also begin to research. Mike will be adjusting his sheet to match openings....I really know about the stateside bases. Here are the overseas bases that have slots of Chaplain (majors).....Incirlik, Turkey...Ramstein and Spangdhalem, Germany and Kadena, Okinawa (I think). Anyone been to these bases? Have an opinion? Sites for me to check out?

It began to hit me last night as I drove home from the Nutcracker. We are really moving in a few months. I hate to move and I LOVE the adventure of a new place...how do you balance those competing feelings? I actually cried on the way to DQ for Nolan's celebration, I was considering that this was the last Nutcracker we'd watch in this town, the last time we'd see the amazing light display - but chalked it up to exhaustion and being ill. Now, I wonder anew, do we really want to move far away, while the older kids stay - "here"????? Do we really have a choice anyway? ::sigh::

Again, I remember what I believe. Christians in the military are Christ's ambassadors. He will place us where we need to be, where we will minister best for Him, influence those He wants us to influence and where there will be the right people and opportunities for our children. I can rest...or at least I should rest. ::snort:: For now....I'll take joy in researching and imagining the possibilities...Central, South East, Pac AF, USAFE, NW.....the options are mind-boggling.

©2008 D.R.G.

Second Sunday in Advent - The Bethlehem Candle

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 9:45-48...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...

©2007 M.E.G.

One Cool Thing we Did today....that my "boys" would like to share with y'all.

Deja, we didn't find your parents.....

A Very Full Day

This was a very busy day. I'll simply post glimpses.

"Among the keys" or "black and white music"


The hunt is on.


"Jamin, pick a card. Now put it on top. I can tell you which card is yours." ::snort::


Nope - the seeds are not your gift - they got little rulers (this was from yesterday).

Our activity directive of the day - "Go to Christmas at Fort Concho."




This spouse from FT Hood was fun to visit with. I got a new appreciation for how TOUGH it was to be a military family at the Fort in the 1800's. I'll try to keep this perspective during our upcoming move. LOL





Tea Brick - cool - they'd grate a bit of tea into a mug of hot water and there you had it.


Zander was most impressed with the cannon and the green backs.

We happened into the school trips, before it was really open to the public....but many of the re-enactors enjoyed giving us specialized instruction and history lessons. We heard many times, "we can tell you are a homeschool family" - and they seemd OK with that. ::snort::

This was very interesting. Each block told a story....


More tea prep....


Jamin reads a clue to Zander


More tea prep





Party Boys on Opening Night


Someone gave them yo-yo's....imagine 6 boys in a small room, with yo-yo's and hours on their hands. ::snort:: I was glad they had something to keep them really busy. One night down - two to go.


Gingerbread Men - Erik, James and Nolan


I'm very proud of the lessons Nolan is learning and the way he's conquered hesitations.

©2008 D.R.G.