Interactive Christmas Quiz

This year we sent out a Christmas Quiz and a photo card. It was quite an event - we've not sent out cards for 5 years and I had to rebuild our address base. I'm sure we left many out. We've had fun with it. I've started to hear that some have received their cards. I want to be sure that the answers are posted so those who want to check their answers, comment, and enter to win our New Years Giveaway, can do so.

We structured our quiz to combine old fashioned mailed cards with technology. Readers only received the quiz. They must email or stop by the blog to find the answer key.

I ran out of cards and mailed out another batch this morning. Some of you have not received your Quizzes yet and will. You may read it at the link or wait for your card....to allow for this I back dated the quiz. Hint - local cards were mailed today, if you want a surprise in the mail - don't click the link at the top of the side bar. ::snort:: If you'd like to read the quiz, click the link at the top of the side bar and it will take you to it. We will see your comments.

All are welcome to read the quiz and all are welcome to enter the giveaway even if we did not send you a hard copy of the Christmas card.

©2008 D.R.G.

Evening Activities

Shopping, Lapbooks, College admissions....and all that's left to show is tonight.

Poor Mike has a SORE throat and is losing his voice. Pray. He preaches this weekend.

Nightly Scavenger hunt....

netted...silly string.

One of my favorite Christmas sights.

We had a candlelight picnic around the Christmas tree while we listed to Josh Groban's tape NOEL.



Mike said the music reminded him of Christmas in Hungary. We looked around at the 5 kids on the blanket and realized that we FIT ON ONE BLANKET. We discussed the upcoming changes and our thoughts and feelings about it. We're certainly being more emotionally intentional about this move.

Mike stayed home did various things (hid Silly String and filled out some recommendation forms) while the rest of us went on a walk to look at Christmas lights. This is a new tradition we've come to enjoy since moving to a climate where it is warm enough in the winter to go for WALKS to look at Christmas lights.

I liked this one.

This seems to be a popular decoration. Amy, do you have one?

Ah, time to go pick Jamin up from work....later.

©2008 D.R.G.

Jamin's Day

Shew - never know what you'll learn on these shopping/lunch dates. Today Jamin shocked me.

We've known he was wrestling with a few things....in fact this a.m. I PLANNED to post a request for prayer for Jamin. It's hard to know WHICH college to apply to, which deadlines and admission requirements to try to fulfill when you aren't sure WHERE you'll be attending. Jamin has toyed all along with the idea of moving with us and attending a college wherever that is to get general classes out of the way....until we know where we're moving....It's hard to complete those plans.

Today at lunch he mentioned that HE'S been thinking of attending Bible College instead of pursuing an English degree with writing emphasis. He LOVES writing. He enjoys his writing with the paper and magazines....but he can't get away from the idea of missions. He could explain his feelings better than I - but basically he feels "alive" when he's on missions trips or volunteering at House of Faith. Until writing became his main focus about 4 years ago....missions was his focus. We can see missions and writing in his future. There is a significant discount for applications received by 1 Jan and so today we came home from shopping and checked into what would be needed for him to get his application in by 1 Jan to Eugene Bible College. We spent the afternoon working on his application. He has a bit more to do and we'll send it off tomorrow. He's not sure that this is the option he will follow....but if, after more prayer, this is still what he decides to do, he'll have the application in.......and if we move to Alaska...he's coming with us. If we go overseas to Europe....he'll come. ::snort:: I asked the admission's office if I could get a discount for multiple students attending - they looked into it and said there is no precedent for such. LOL

I was blown off my mark and forgot to take photos!

I also tracked down Nenana School District and had them fax Bre's transcript to Eugene.

©2008 D.R.G.

Christmas Lapbooks

After shopping today, we worked on lapbooks. Here are some photos.

Anything with scissors will captivate Stacia

Plans for the lapbook the younger two children made can be found here. It was easily done in one sitting. Well.....we HELPED Stacia a lot....and helped Zander with cutting. He'll finish some coloring "later".

Zander's book

Stacia's book - same insides not sure where the photo went. LOL

We began this lapbook 2 years ago....I couldn't figure out the accordian type folder where we were supposed to attach all the mini-books. This year we've seen Lois' kids lapbooks and saw how easy it is to make extensions. Both had little booklets....so we made one lapbook with extensions to showcase their individual work. We were glad to have it done. We decided not to do the other lapbook that I'd printed for them. Putting this together and reviewing the info in the booklets is enough.

Cover

Sides - joint work; middle is Arielle's extension

Top red is Nolan's work, bottom is the back side of Arielle's extension

Back side of Nolan's extension

All opened up

Stacia loved the star punch best - notice the bangs - she cut them again.

It's a good dad who will work a full day, come home with a sore throat, take a son to work, pick up dinner on the way home, and still take time to enjoy a youngster's accomplishments. I love this man.



You can see more of our lapbooks at Our Lapbooks Page.
©2008 D.R.G.

Prayer Update

Bre called. The youth service tonight was cancelled. They are leaving and trying to get as far as Portland, OR tonight. There is lots of snow in Spokane already. They are trying to beat the storm....they'll drive the rest of the way from Portland to Spokane tomorrow.

Keep praying. Thanks.....and then pray Bre and David can get OUT of WA on their flight Friday a.m.

©2008 D.R.G.

Please Pray for BreAnne

BreAnne is in OR with a Master's Commission trip. They have to drive back to WA on Thursday. There have been freak ice/snow storms. Bre is the relief driver. All the students and Bre have flights out Friday morning so they really want to make it back to WA on Thursday. This is reminding me of the Greyhound experience of a couple of Christmas' ago....y'all remember they would NOT have made it on the plane? This year all are flying home.....would you pray for safe travels?

Also - in other news - Bre submitted her application to Eugene Bible College yesterday. She'll be able to enter as a Junior with her credits earned while at Master's Commission.

That's all my news on Bre. Well, Zander told MIKE last night that I was "plain wrong" and that we'll all see when Bre gets here with a man. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Jared Goes Shopping

Nativity does the Conga line


Today was Jared's day of shopping. One of the things we love about a small town is running into Josiah when we are out and about. ::snort:: I saw him at the end of the aisle and told Jared I felt like I was in one of "those" movie scenes. I threw my arms wide and started towards Josiah. He laughed. JARED then threw his arms wide and actually started RUNNING towards Josiah. Josiah turned down and aisle and Jared followed. This is right after Josiah punched Jared. Guess running beach scenes are NOT cool, Jared. ::snort::


Jared and his gifts

Yes, I did do other things today. I cleaned a closet! Deja told me that the closet could have waited until after Christmas....she doesn't KNOW that I can't relax when the closets are a mess. I don't mind if there is clutter and chaos but the closet needs to be organized. The funny thing is that as soon as I finished, I was fixing lunch for the younger ones and opened the PANTRY DOOR.....Jared put away co-op last night for me...all stacked on the floor in a big tower of boxes. I resisted.

I had a great lunch with Jared. We talked about his goals. He's really interested in politics and would like to make a career in politics. He loves it here and plans to come back some day. We also talked about the upcoming move......but I held myself together admirably (a strategic coughing fit helped). I'm glad that Jared is such good friends with Josiah and Jamin.

I really don't remember what else I did because I went from one thing to the other all day. ::snort:: The second batch of Christmas cards came so I addressed another batch to mail out. LOL

©2008 D.R.G.