It's Christmas Morning - 12:54 a.m.

The turkey is in the oven - check out the recipe in this free Holiday Recipe cook book by Sue Gregg. The young men are over at Josiahs. Nolan stayed up to be able to be the first to say, "Merry Christmas". Mike is putting THIS together in the little boy's room. That allowed them to stay up and be a part of the festivities...but the thought is they'll fall asleep watching....soon?

BTW, this is Stacia's Christmas AND Birthday present and it fell within our budget. I found it online cheaper than what I was finding around town and had it shipped to Walmart for pick up - free shipping. We wanted to get it NOW so that she can enjoy it before all our things are packed up. LOL

Christmas is here...but Mom, here are a few shots for you and Dad from Christmas Eve/Day.

We got ahold of Mike's family today. They are also excited at all the news from our older children this week....and at the possibilities of grandchildren driving down to CA for a weekend. LOL

Played games, wrapped presents, made goodies today.

Chapel candlight service...Stacia checking out the finery.




I couldn't resist a "pew shot" but 5 of us were missing. LOL

We went to see the Christmas Lights on the Concho. Mike would like to go back and walk it with the Nikon and the tri-pod....I didn't bother taking photos with the point and shoot. LOL

Another clue "he who folds the laundry will find it"

Found it...

T-shirts for all

Jamin's says something about living in his own world. LOL

We opened Christmas Stockings....WE did NOT fill them - the kids did fill them. LOL

Jamin got this annoying, noisey monkey for Jared. ::snort::

Chocolate - always a hit around here

Yikes - look at those teeth

Could it be that this is at fault (check out the HAND)

I am hoping these markers will satisfy the artist in Stacia.

Alas, Bre loves them. ::snort:: I'm wondering what tomorrow will look like if 12 stockings made this much mess. LOL

We "ended the night" (though WE are still up) with Mafia. Bre ruthlessly turned on David.

While ARIELLE was the real mafia (I was dead and so took photos).

Cy misspeaks giving away Jamin's identity

I've been informed that "Gram's Cinnamon Rolls" are our traditional Christmas breakfast. Um....I'd forgotten. That means it's after 1:40 a.m. and I need to be up baking to have hot rolls by 8 a.m.

Ummm....I LOVE this man! 1:51 a.m. Mike always tells me to "buy quality" - and this is - but I think the plastic would have been easier to put together.

So......Merry Christmas dear friends and family. It's hard to believe 2008 is nearly over.

©2008 D.R.G.

The 14 Days of Homeschool

I've heard various forms of this read for years...but thought the video was cute. Thanks for sending it my way, Holly.

This is JUST FOR FUN - if homeschooling offends you, don't click play. ::snort::

A Soldier's Christmas (if you have no time to read - please take a moment to pray for troops and families deployed around the world).

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it t ickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its rea lly all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weig ht of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

©Copyright December 7, 2000 by Michael Marks

*Internet circulated copies of "A Different Christmas Poem" are often credited to LTC Jeff Giles, SC USN...but the International War Veteran's Poetry Archive lists this poem as written in 2000 by Michael Marks. The IWVPA titles the poem as I did above, you may click on the IWVPA link to hear the above soldier recite the poem. Regardless, the poem is "authentic."

I publish this poem as a reminder to take a moment out of our busy celebrations to pray for those famlies who have loved ones in harms ways; both our troops and the troops of other nations. If you are a wife, mother, sister, aunt...of a service member overseas, know that my prayers are with you. And yes, I'm still very thankful to have my husband home today. On a personal note - Ev, not a day goes by that I don't pray for Phillip and his wife during this deployment...this holds true for all y'all who know me personally and have loved ones deployed.

Here are some comments from the ICWVPA listing:

Author’s Note: In loving appreciation of the countless Americans who have, and continue to serve in the Armed Forces and those who gave their life for their country. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. We look forward to the day you come home. God bless and keep you always, and God Bless America.

A Soldier’s Christmas was the first in this series of patriotic writings, drafted on Pearl Harbor Day 2000 when in the wake of the 2000 Presidential Election our nation saw the right of US Armed
Forces personnel openly questioned and debated. I felt it unconscionable that at the onset of the
Christmas season, those serving to defend our nation would hear anything but our love and support. It is our challenge to stand for their rights at home while they stand for our lives and safety overseas. This poem went out and quickly spread around the world in emails, letters, and magazines. I received letters from Marines in Bosnia, soldiers in Okinawa, from a submariner who xeroxed a copy for everyone on his sub. Moms wrote, dads, brothers and sisters. I have saved and cherish every letter and set out to continue writing throughout the year.

They are ALL home!

This photo "should" be last - but it MUST go first! Krista made it home at 10 p.m. All nine children are now home "where they should be". ::snort::

Today I took Bre for the traditional Christmas hair "cut" (she's not cutting as she's growing her hair for locks of love, but she wanted a trim). We moved onward from Heather to the traditional Christmas Eye Exam and stock up of contacts. Bre has now finished her "yearly maintenance". ::snort::

We had several "activities" that were on schedule for today.

We played games.

We made a Gingerbread house.

We attempted to make a Chocolate house. We decided it would be best to simply eat the chocolate.

After our short devotional we looked for a gift. Our clue was "beside the fire, under the shepherd"....Arielle figured it out first. The gift was socks.... the wool ones were a big hit.

We played Mafia until it was time to go to the airport. I forgot to buy Zander's flowers for Krista, Josiah rescued me. He and I raced to walmart and then on the airport with plenty of time.

People seemed inordinately pleased to vote me the mafia.

Arielle proclaims her innocence

Krista brought this homemade "twister" board home for us. It is MUCH more durable and she made it a bit bigger so many can play at once.

This is a first: I keep falling asleep as I try to type. I KNOW the clock says 11:59 p.m. but it is really 12:30 a.m. - so I'm DONE.

©2008 D.R.G.

Hearts of Fire: Eight Women in the Underground Church and Their Stories of Costly Faith
By The Voice of the Martyrs

This may be the last book I read for my 2008 Reading List.

At the PWOC I conference in Dallas, Voice of the Martyrs was the organization that we blessed with an offering. We also viewed a clip from The Voice of the Martyrs and had a prayer table in the prayer room set up for the Underground Church. The clip was difficult for me to watch. This book was given away at the conference. I'm glad I picked up a copy.

This is an EXCELLENT book. From the back cover, "Hearts of Fire thrillingly describes the work of eight women whose mission continues to be telling the world that He is risen, and with that resurrection comes love, grace and forgiveness."

In the pages of this book we meet women from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Australia, Romania as they share where their faith and love for God has led them. I was challenged and encouraged by this book.

I plan to share Hearts of Fire with my daughters.....with women at chapel...with whoever is interested in reading it. These women's voices deserve to be heard.

©2008 D.R.G.

Never Dull

First the big news...blog readers have met our 21 year old daughter, Krista. She has been investigating various opportunities for missions. She has found several short term mission opportunities...but SURPRISED us by applying to Eugene Bible College. She's decided to get a degree in Intercultural Ministry. She'll enter as a Junior because of her course work at Master's Commission. (No, I did not make this announcement already. That was BREANNE and JAMIN last week!) I got to talk to the nice registrar at EBC several times today. I'm thrilled that he says they can all three rent an apartment (hopefully on campus)....that is certainly more cost effective than paying for three to live in the dorms (though I expect all will pay their own way - It is more cost effective regardless of who pays. )

In other news....we made our traditional "Christmas Dentist Trip" with Bre. ::snort::

Bre and all the young adults and kids went out shopping today. This left me ALONE in the house for a few hours. That's a rare thing. She said the quiet break was part of my Christmas gift.

I picked up a few items at the United truck - Thanks Z family for letting me piggy back...even though I didn't get the cheese. ::snort::

Jared had basketball practice. Josiah and Jamin both got called in to work early.

Some glimpses:

Sunday's Family Advent Gift...We already had Castle Keep for school and it seemed a good time to give it out...and the Dinosaur Match game is from our vacation. I kept it HIDDEN in my closet.

Early a.m. games

A bit excited to try out the new game

He EXCELLED at this memory game - I didn't.

Mike was tougher competition for him.

David and Bre teach a human video

Stacia loves to hang the Adorenaments

Reading the clue for the night - we hunted for two as we are behind several days again. LOL

Burt's Bees chapstick....

Putting make up on mom...so determined.

Magnetic book clips instead of book marks this year

I've come to peace with the daily Advent hunt/gift. We (Mike and I) won't fill stockings this year...so really the Advent gifts are their stockings spread throughout the month.....and we are still within budget. They may put a few things in the stockings. Who knows? We've also been putting the little gifts in the stockings of the ones who miss the hunt. We've also fallen behind on our activities....but we are doing others that weren't listed...like lots of games, shopping with Bre etc.

©2008 D.R.G.