WHAT A DAY!!!!

But it's over! YES.

The day began early with children's ministry at PWOC. EVERY child in our younger room was "off". Then I discovered that Zander had acted up - somehow. I'm not quite sure how...but I know he did. I try to tell myself that at least he isn't hitting his head on the wall or spitting....it's better than it was.....but I'd sure like things to be BETTER BETTER....if you KWIM. ::sigh::

We came home for Japanese Lessons.

Arielle had middle school drama.

I worked on the Protestant News, a few more PWOC communication things, prayed a bit more, read a bit more, prayed a bit more....

I worked on my MOPS thoughts.

We ate.

THEN....we read our excerpt for the day.

Tonight was Stacia's night to grab the clue.She cracks us up by "reading" the clue from the night before. We hadn't realized what a good memory she has.

From 09 December

Clue: "Clearly, I can see the whole world."

This made Nolan think of the globe.

From 09 December

He checked out the plastic drawers. I wondered why the printer ink was on the shelf and went to put it away and found.....the gift!

From 09 December

A triangular puzzle.

From 09 December

I had a wonderful call last night about the ministry...but I found myself dragging all day. I guess I'm not as young as I once was....

Several have mentioned that Mike's Advent Devotionals, which have always been linked, are no longer linked. I'll have to try to figure that out tomorrow.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tis the Season....

Fifteen minutes until our CRAZY TUESDAY begins - we leave the house.

The weather here is changing. Stacia cracked us up when she wanted to wear the cat costume under her coat instead of a hat.

From 09 December

Yesterday we played, did school, I sent out 3 PWOC related letters, one international call and several emails.....all good.

Advent Clue: "Where food is found but this is down."

From 09 December

Nolan found the gingerbread tree - which was NOT what they were supposed to be looking for. ::snort::

From 09 December

Ah - glowsticks!

From 09 December

Advent Calendar on DVD - yesterday the excerpt was on the story of the cease fire in the trenches on Christmas 1914....we've read a children's book on this before. Cool story. Here's a book: Silent Night: The Story of a Christmas Truce and a History Channel Special on the story.

Fifteen minutes are gone.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas Alphabet

Here's the link to a Christmas Alphabet. I plan to have the younger ones make a "book", drawing, pasting or coloring a page for each letter of the alphabet. Things like this make it easier for me as I don't have to do quite so much thinking. LOL Rumor has it my friend, Melinda, is going to post a Christmas Alphabet and I may use her alphabet instead. LOL

Enjoy.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday's Fun

Mike was sick. He stayed home. Arielle had a sore throat but was needed for a performance. She, Jared and I went in. She performed. I taught Mike's Sunday School class. We left after Sunday School, bought a thermometer and headed home.

Jared decided to run back to base - as in RUN to the base...and BACK HOME. He'll feel it tomorrow.

Meanwhile, back at home we took everyone's temp. All were fine....except mine was HIGH...which is a shock becuase my temp is always low due to my thyroid....so I'm typing this up and heading to bed. I've taken it easy today.

Advent Clue: "Think outside the schoolhouse."

From 09 December

The boys ran hither and yon in places that might be considred outside of the schoolhouse. Stacia followed.

From 09 December

Arielle learned from Mom that it's a good idea to sit and think about these clues. ::snort::

From 09 December

Then she discovered 1/2 of the gift. In the antique school desk that is outside the schoolhouse.

From 09 December

Nolan found the other half.

From 09 December

We try to do four "bigger" gifts on the four Sundays of Advent. Last week was a game, this week was DVD's. I loved how they fit in with our Advent Readings. They are Veggie Tales...one on St. Nicholas (today being St. Nick Day) and one on Abraham (who we read about this week in our devotionals).

Advent Calendar on DVD excerpt: Saint Nicholas

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Saturday Night's Clue

From 09 December

Clue: "If you are hoping it will be there, it will be."

As I thought, I realized it must be in my HOPE CHEST. Since this is where I keep Bible studies, I thought I better go supervise.....

From 09 December

Nolan found the prize UNDER the hope chest.

From 09 December

The prize was two kaleidoscopes - one assembled and one in a kit.

From 09 December

From 09 December

English subtitles allow us to work on our language skills. ::snort::

From 09 December

Advent Calendar on DVD excerpt: O. Henry's, "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Fourth Wise Man".

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Intercultural Children's Christmas Party

It's been a full day.

It's been a fun day.

We participated in an Intercultural Children's Christmas party. A local man brought 20 Japanese children to the base. The chapel provided 20 American Children (not all from the chapel, but we were the base agency who hosted it).

They played games, shared language, worked on a Sand Art "Nativity/cross" craft, ate lunch, sang a carol (in English and Japanese), had a gift exchange. At that point the Japanese children went to have their photo taken with an F - something or other plane.

The chapel middle school drama team went to the Weasel's Den to get ready. The Japanese children met us there. Our kids put on a bit of their Christmas drama. A Japanese interpreter interpreted as they went along. Then they played some more at the Weasel's Den. Great day.

From 09 December

Volunteers are given gifts by kids

From 09 December

Arielle is Joseph, Mollie is Mary....and I used this photo because no other kids' faces are showing.

From 09 December

Think about the opportunity to perform the Christmas story for a group of your peers who have most likely never heard it before. These were not Japanese children from an off base church, they were children from a language school who wanted to learn about Western Christmas. What an amazing opportunity.

I stopped at the commissary, came home and made chili and cornbread for dinner and am ready to call it a day.

Prayers for Mike and now Arielle who dont seem to be feeling 100% well.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Friday's Advent Hunt

Tonight's clue: "In the real world, this would be really cool.

I had a hard time with this one....but the kids figured cool - play room in the garage - and that led to...

From 09 December

Ah...."A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the freezer of the play kitchen. Filmed in 1965, this movie is one of the few secular movies that retains the Christmas story. I'm glad we've added it to our collection. The younger ones thrilled at Charlie and Snoopy....we'll have to see if there are other movies we can get from netflix.

We are enjoying our Jesse Tree Devotional readings from Reformed Church in America. They are SHORTER than what we've done in the past....but just the right length with the Scripture reading and then discussion. We are also using the DVD Advent Calendar this year. I'll have to review it seperately. We're only 4 days into it. Tonight's clip made me want to find a performance of Handel's Messiah to attend.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...