Hilarious Christmas Charades We Love!

Can YOU guess who they are? 

I think I've trained this one right. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

VERY Merry Christmas

Our morning began with our traditional breakfast of Cinnamon Rolls and the commissary had TURKEY sausage. We enjoyed. 


Mike read the Christmas Story. The kids paid close attention, having been warned that this would be good info for the upcoming games of charades. 

We then settled on our gifts for Jesus. Each person had a budget, and the house pot allotted a healthy buffer..... We also brainstormed ideas for leveraging our donations for next year. 

All got involved in decorating the Birthday Cake for Jesus. Alas, it was  a cake malfunction of cosmic proportions. I managed to weave in the catastrophe by saying that our sins create a GAP between us and God. We took this photo early in the day as we weren't sure what the cake would look like by the time of the party. I've decided to make Twyla's Retreat Cake Balls with the left overs.

At this point the kids brought down  presents for family. We plan to open these on New Year's Day. Mike fixed the wifi and so I caught up on blogging and email. He also fixed the wind chimes that had been blown around the neighborhood earlier in the week. We all rejoice in having Mike home this year....and I find myself praying for those who are experiencing Christmas without a loved one at home.

We tried several times to reach family on Skype. We were able to reach John and Mary K (one of Mike's sisters). It was a bit late after getting off the phone with her to try others. (But our KIDS had a surprise for us on that count - LOL).

Finally, time for our Birthday party...and the GIRLS Skyped in. How cool is that? That happened last Thanksgiving too. Totally by "chance". Bre and Krista were able to join in the singing and watch the festivities via Skype.

I asked questions, explained symbolism - even the gap in the cake which by this time looked like a cross. ::snort:: 

We lit the 2010 to symbolize Christ (and discussed how much older than that He is), then each of us lit our little candy from the Christ candle to show that we are to "Shine in the Light of His Glory." We even lit candles for Bre and Krista as they joined us via Skype. 

The boys later joined us - 2 a.m. for them, midnight for the girls....5 p.m. for us....we lost video but oh what fun it was to listen to all of them talk and share...plain and simple when we all get together at one time (either in real life or via Skype) it's loud, chaotic and great fun. ::snort::

We had our Christmas dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic bread....and then played a few party games. 


Pin the Star on the Stable...fairly self-explanatory.....

Our Winner....

Gabriel's  Telephone...the old gossip telephone game...started with a "message from Gabriel" and ended finally with Mary or Joseph.... This message started as, "A baby is a wonderful gift at Christmas."

Joseph (Michael) ended up with a message of, "Obviously 99 30." He knew it couldn't be right, but hadn't a clue where to go. LOL We learned that one of our kids is prone to interpretation. LOL

Charades is always a family favorite. Today all selections had to deal with the Christmas story in some way.

I'll post some hilarious video clips next...A few random shots in closing: 

Auxiliary Freezer

At the end of the day, our pet, guards Jesus and Mary is flat on her face....destruction everywhere in the scene. 

Many of you are just now starting your Christmas. We pray your Christmas is as Merry as ours has been.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Happy Birthday Jesus!

If you've read our blog, you know we've been Christmas transition for some years.  We have been convicted about how and why we give on Christmas.  This led to us moving our family gift exchange from "Christmas" and focusing solely on celebrating Jesus and giving gifts to Him on Christmas day. (We realize some use Christmas Eve for this - that's fine - we chose this way).  We've focused on giving to Jesus for years - but it was rather intangible for our littles. 


We hesitate to share much here, not wanting to seem pharisaical. However, this is a family journal and we do try to journal those things which are important to us. We do also share what we've bought for our children's birthdays. In that spirit, here are the tangible gifts we have been honored and blessed to give  to Jesus on His birthday today. Gospel for Asia gives 100% of our donations to the areas we designate.  We have begun brainstorming how we can leverage our donations next year. I think we'll sell something and spend the money on more gifts....we still didn't make the Water Buffalo....but we're happy for these gifts....most will allow a family some relief now as well as provide an income for years to come. Many of these are destined to those in the untouchable castes of India. 

Pair of Pigs

Pair of Rabbits

Fishing Nets

Water Filter for one family

Four Blankets

3 Pairs of Chickens

Embroidery Machine

2 Lambs

1 Rickshaw

1 Radio

1 Pay Telephone (income)

and a CAMEL! 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas Eve

I love the candlelight Christmas Eve services we've enjoyed at various military chapels throughout the world.  This service always seems like a wonderful illustration of all the best parts of various church traditions.

Last night we had various passages of Scripture read (Christmas story, John 1:1 - 14 and more), a host of hymns, special music....communion and candles. Lots of candles.

No, not my sweetie, but she IS the doll of one of my gals who said I could post this photo....

After the service we drove around in search of a truly LIGHTED up neighborhood. We were sadly disappointed, but I suppose that makes the ones who DO decorate stand out all the more. LOL

Back at home we baked a Birthday cake, ate pizza,  and played our new game - Don't Say That  (Taboo for the Jr set).

At Stacia's persistent request we even played Candyland.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

21 Dec - PWOC at Nursing Home

At Misawa PWOC's Fall Rally, we passed out no sew, tie, fleece blankets. Each one said "God Loves Me". Our goal was to tie 100 before Christmas. We received permission to give each of the residents at the nursing home we visit a blanket - as well as the staff. 


Throughout the fall semester of Bible Studies, women took blankets home, brought them back and one study even tied together during their DVD each week. 

100 fleece blankets under the tree of a local nursing home

Mike discovered the doors are a bit short...or he is a bit tall. ::snort:: 

Susane had translated Joy to the World for us into Japanese and we had a good time singing it for the residents. Kilian and Christine provided Christmas music. (No photos as I don't have official permission to use children's images). 

Twyla (Misawa Outreach), Mrs. F and the Nursing Home Director display a blanket. 

This always cracks me up - the great shoe puzzle as we leave. 

This was a great outing. I wish we could have had more interaction with the residents...but we'll take what we are allowed. We met a woman who will be 105 in March. She was here when Miss Veedol made it's flight to WA. 


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

SCORE

 I purchased the very LAST bit of ginger at the Farmer's Market up the road.  I was out of Kim's candied ginger....and need to go find out how to make more. I can't remember what the Japanese say Ginger is good for - but I know they eat a lot of it in winter. Of course, I hadn't a clue what to DO with this to get it ready for the Gyudon.....until I googled.

You really can peel it with a spoon! Very fun. 

Other than we tracked down  various yard furniture, grills, glass floats and OUR SHED. We have had WILD weather last night and today. It's probably because my friend Mary and family are traveling to Tokyo. She said they always get weather when they go on a road trip.  We had WIND, rain, thunder, slush, snow...Tina says it's hormonal weather and I agree. ::snort::

Yep - our shed blew away - but is now set up in the garage and housing the spring planters and kids bikes.  We found all the parts of the grill. The wind chimes will chime no more. All floats are collected....and in the meantime our Japanese neighbor came over to talk to us again. I'll write a separate post about them.

We went on a wonderful winter walk around the neighborhood and saw a white crane.

No, we've still not finished Christmas shopping - but no stress here. We don't exchange gifts until New Years. ::snort::

Ah, the kids need my laptop to watch a movie that was downloaded via itunes. I'm off.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

School Bits

Bladder Bathroom, Saliva Coaster, Liver Gifts, Mouth Caves....we're going to leave it there.  Can you imagine? We set down to discover a "Digestive System Amusement Park."

Bags, jars and bowls of green, growing things.....in my KITCHEN. WHAT IS THIS? Ah - learning how various foods break down in the stomach....um so what is the tooth in a jar of soda for??????

Arielle and Nolan are working through Human Anatomy on their own. I debated about buying the Notebooking Journal. They love it.  I've informed them I want some warning and input when they hit the Reproductive System.

Zander, Stacia and I are working through Zoology 3 - Land Animals. I've not ordered a notebook kit for Zander yet....debating.  It's enough for now to try to get some sort of a routine established as our Oct and Nov were not typical.  Zander and Stacia were thrilled to get Christmas Greetings from Sam - of their phonics program. I couldn't understand all the words.

The Littles and I finished reading, The Hidden Jewel, about Amy Carmichael and Donhaevur Fellowship, by Dave and Neta Jackson. A good book.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...