Blogging Monday

Zander is up at the crack of dawn making zoob birds.


De'Etta is up at the crack of dawn baking bread before shopping there is something for lunch.


Arielle made goodies for our staff gift.


Notice the feet....Stacia waited patiently for someone to notice the big gift bag.


Ah - Football Nativity


Staff gifts are ready - Arielle made the chocolate roses and spoons.


United Co-op! God blessed. The truck arrived at 2:15 and folks were able to pick up early. All was done before we went to the party. Here are some of my groceries for the month - more "convenience" than I like - but I plan to have fun with babies at home.


I didn't get any good shots last night - I didn't feel well and was off my mark....but here are two....with Chaplains like these the USAF is in good hands. ::snort::





De'Etta ended the day packaging the loaves of bread that remained.....

©2008 D.R.G.

Shopping on Steroids (Zander's Day Out)

It's been our tradition since a memorable December when a store manager didn't understand 6 kids in a store with presents under their coats....for me to take each child out for a special shopping day. Less traumatic for the store manager, the children and ME. They buy ALL their presents on that day and then pick a spot for lunch. Mike took Nolan out on Saturday. Arielle and I went out Sunday afternoon. I owe her a food treat of her choice sometime, somewhere.

The highlight of Monday was my shopping day with Zander. I didn't think I needed to take him out for much. I'd put his name along with Stacia's on quite a few gifts. I hadn't reckoned with his love language. My bad. Months ago I was concerned that Zander seemed to try to sneak things in stores. One day, in tears, he explained that every time he asked if he could buy Dad or Mom something I said no. Mike and I talked and realized that his love language is giving and that we were not making way for it.....he gives us lots of little things all the time (pictures, Lego masterpieces, old toys) but we've both been sure to stop and buy flowers for Mom when he suggests it and he's quit trying to sneak things from stores. I should have put the two together. OF COURSE he would want to pick out HIS OWN gift for each person.

It was a joy to watch him. He knew EXACTLY what each person needed - from a glittery purse for Stacia to (well now, I can't share because all his other recipients read the blog) - but he picked out some great gifts.

Here's the kicker...we entered Wal-mart at 10:15....we were in the check out line at 10:45. ::snort:: Shopping on Steroids.

There were so many zingers from Zander today but here's my favorite....as he tore around Wal-mart, "Good grief! There are so many toys in this store I can't figure out what I want for Christmas." I assured him not to worry about that - that would be the worry of others.

He picked McDonald's for lunch as we "never" eat there. He's right. I evaluated all the salads around town last year, so I won't do that now. I DID pick up 11 free tickets to a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the City Auditorium....

Wrapping at home....


I don't know WHY but it took him a good 10 minutes to try to stack these in a way that he could carry them all at once. It had to be "just right" - just one of the things that make Zander - Zander....obsessing over small facts.


Job well done, Son!

Whatever Happened to Tolerance?

We studied being a contentious person in Bible study last week. We also looked at Romans 14 and had a great discussion that led to a discussion of tolerance and taking strong stands....and the fact that I CAN disagree with your point of view and still be tolerant of you. We discussed how society has redefined tolerance to mean "all positions are equal and you MUST agree with mine".

This discussion came back to me when I read about Sarah Palin's home church in Wasilla, AK being fire bombed and here. Yes, Sarah Palin is from the church and her political views angered many. The fact that she is a woman and a mom seeking political office angered others. The fact that the church held a conference called "Love Won Out" for homosexuals wanting out of their life-style angered many. But WHERE IS THE TOLERANCE???? Or is tolerance of views opposing our own only to be exacted from the Religious Right?

Enough said. My prayers are with the town of Wasilla and the 1,000 members who call Wasilla Bible Church their "home church".

©2008 D.R.G.

Scenes from Sunday

I love the various poses in which I find the kids' nativity set. I think this may be my favorite.


I'm very tired of coughing fits and the looks that say, "will you STOP coughing," at the Nutcracker, plays, meetings, Bible studies and services. I opted to stay home from church yesterday a.m. and rest. This is the result. Round one of our letters are addressed...more cards are on order.


Oops - it's backwards - but this is my NEW address book. I wanted to offer proof that I AM making a REAL address book for those patient souls that have repeatedly sent their addresses with each computer glitch


The camera got set to a strange mode - but this sort of encapsulates the busyness of this season. LOL BTW I found the manual for the camera and discovered it has a continuous mode and other such things.


I loved her expression though the setting is strange.


Advent Gift - Zoobs - Zander studies the possibilities





Arielle makes some animal


Nolan and a Zoob Crown

©2008 D.R.G.

Christmas School

True Confession:

The first week of December school didn't go real well with the younger set due to the Nutcracker.

The second week of December school didn't go real well with the younger set due to my illness. They did independent work but we've not touched Tapestry. This really isn't terrible...but I'd like them to do a bit more than math and language arts for the month.

The third week of December is going to be filled with two co-op orders, shopping, squadron parties and preparing for BreAnne and David's arrival.....and so in an effort to redeem a "bit" of the month I went looking for some Christmas lapbooks we could work on this week. I went to Beth's site Homeschooling 4 Free. I have printed out two copies of this darling Nativity lapbook, I envision Stacia and Zander working on it. I found this Nativity Lapbook for the older children, I envision Nolan and Arielle working on it.

The high school men have carried on all month....how they handle an honors load of classes in the midst of this craziness I cannot begin to fathom.

©2008 D.R.G.

DID YOU NOTICE?

One of our babies will be home in F**I*V*E* days. I really need to get those individual shopping days in this week. ::snort:: Nolan went out with Mike. Josiah doesn't need to go shopping with Mom any longer. I have five kids to take out in five days. Oy boy... The number of the day is FIVE - BreAnne will be home in FIVE days.

Go here Jamin's article on Wreaths Across America in our local paper. I'm wondering why the editor can't seem to spell his last name correct....it's been different on each article but they insist on putting "Rs" where no "Rs" should ever go. ::snort::

I'm home coughing and addressing Christmas letters. Those of you who receive them - beware. Use antibacterial wash after opening them. I've licked and handled each one. Of course, by the time they reach you those germs will have died and they will have picked up news ones along the way. LOL I ran out of cards and had to order more.....I'm remembering now the ever-growing list....we move a lot. I'll post the letter here when I hear that people have started to receive them in the mail. It wouldn't be any fun for them to read it here before they get the mail....and we are trying to marry "snail mail" with "technology". ::snort:: If you get a letter will you let me know that they've arrived and I'll post the letter here? Mike suggests I could have scanned the card and uploaded it here as well....but that would be a bit wild.....where is the balance between personal and convenience?

Krista will be home in N*I*N*E days....wow this month is going as fast as all the others in 2008 have gone. Why is that?

©2008 D.R.G.

3rd Sunday in Advent - The Shepherd’s Candle

This child, this babe wrapped in swaddling clothes who was both The Shepherd and The Lamb, was born in the shadow of the cross.

"And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them...And they went with haste, and found...the babe lying in the manger... And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen...(Luke 2:8-9, 16, 20)"

The Savior had been born. The Messiah, the Christ, had come into the world. The One who carried the hopes of all mankind had arrived. Indeed the shepherds probably understood very little of the glorious meaning of His coming. But there was a certain kinship between the shepherds and Jesus. This child was the Great Shepherd who came to give His life for His sheep, yes, to give His life for the sins of the world. This child, this babe wrapped in swaddling clothes who was both The Shepherd and The Lamb, was born in the shadow of the cross.

It is fitting that the announcement of the Lord’s birth should be given to shepherds. The imagery of sheep and shepherds is repeated many times in the scripture. With this in mind, the following meditations call attention to the imagery of Christ being both the Shepherd and the Lamb.

Monday – John 10:11-15 “I am the Good Shepherd…”
Tuesday – John 1:29-31 “Behold the Lamb of God…”
Wednesday – Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd....
Thursday – I Peter 1:18-21 …a lamb without blemish or spot…
Friday – I Peter 2:24-25 For you…have now returned to the Shepherd…Saturday –Rev 5:1-10 “…I saw a Lamb…”

©2008 M.E.G.