A Good Day Was Had By All

The younger ones have been praying for a WHITE Christmas. I informed all last night I was praying the warm spell lasted until Dad could drive. But alas, it was snowy this a.m. Not bad....but more snow is predicted....

The orthodontist called to say Arielle's retainer was here. They wanted us to come in at 10:30.  It seemed providential to finish the errands from yesterday and pick up her retainer. I even bought SIX BIG steaks for the family. Eating a steak seems to be a post-op tradition for Michael. ::grin:: 

We watched movies this afternoon. Michael is feeling MUCH better now that the Vicodin is out of his system and spent a good portion of the day sitting and laying in the living room instead of bed.

I love to see THIS on a lazy winter afternoon.  Nolan reads,  "The Land of Barely There..."

Dinner was good - followed by family circle and an evening of games.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

Advent Clue: "I am feeling wishy washy." The hunt was on. 

Not in the garage - the laundry racks become drying racks for winter gear. 

Zander found it first - stepped away and yelled, "I found it." 

They looked and missed it. 

Arielle found it and then threw the others off the hunt before announcing her find. 

Yay! 

The present tonight is a puzzle. I got a kick out of the fact that the younger ones know the geography of Japan better than America....I'll work on it.

Showing where the Elder Gherkins live

Arielle napped

Her competitive spirit kicked in when we began to play, "Don't Forget It!" This is a great family game....easy, all ages can enjoy. 

Yes, Arielle pulled out a win - she even defended her math. Well done. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Quick Morning Update...

as you may be wondering!  YES - it does look spectacular this a.m. We have another scene we'll be able to make when this one fizzles. Very fun family project. I love the Lion figured so prominently in the Advent Hunt on the day we discussed Jesus as the Lion from Judah. 

Yes, my home school family have checked the Internet and their science books and quite simply - the devotional was WRONG. Lions are not the largest cats in the world. Bengal Tigers are. 

Snowing this a.m. and I have lots to do as I had to cut errands short to take Michael to the UCC yesterday. Should be an adventure. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Shew - It's Been A Day

We only THOUGHT life was getting back to normal. 

The plan today was for me to take Arielle and Nolan to watch kids for PWOC's Christmas Brunch. I would attend.  I noted Michael was a bit "off."

It turns out he woke in lots of pain and took the Vicodin....it made him dizzy, nauseated etc.  As we headed out the door I heard him sick.  I couldn't reach anyone to take the kids in and so I helped Michael a bit and then he told me to take them in and stay for the brunch. I called when we arrived and he wanted me to stay.

I stayed and enjoyed the opportunity to simply visit with the ladies. I do miss the grown up ladies now that I'm helping in PCOC on a regular basis...but no one gives better hugs than the pre-schoolers...not even their mommies. ::snort::

We ran errands after brunch. We didn't get through all of them - but a lot of them.  Michael called and needed me to come pick him up and take him to the UCC. The surgeon suggested he come in and be checked out.

Michael just cannot take Vicodin or Morphine. The poor man is SICK and the docs think it is from the Vicodin he took 14 hours earlier.

Gyudon - Beef Rice Bowl

Veggie Rice Bowl

Back at home again I made dinner....Gyudon (Beef Bowl) for the kids and Veggie Gyudon (which can't possibly be the right name) for myself. Arielle ended up having a couple of pieces of the beef and ate veggie gyudon with me.  Yes, I AM a messy cook...and yes, that IS what cooking is like in this season of our lives....Fairly Healthy and Vegan Healthy. LOL

As is typical for this time of the year, we're thinking through themes for the upcoming year and I've been meditating on my personal and family focus of 2012. Praying about a "word" for 2013. I decided to bring the family into my musings during family circle this evening.

I shared  I was considering my 2012 "word" which was "secret place" - refuge, place of safety, protection and sanctuary. 2012 has included illness, two surgeries for Michael, Dad G's home-going, graduations of children, and I won't begin to share the ministry challenges....it's been a challenging year on many levels.  I commented THIS is not what I expected when God impressed "secret place" on my heart....but I SHOULD have known the way to experience safety and protection in the storm is to walk through a few storms.

Everyone was tracking. I concluded by saying I was asking God what the word for 2013 should be and I wasn't sure yet. Zander piped up with, "ENOUGH!"  True. Enough.

We continued by discussing Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We weren't 100% sure our books was correct. It SAID Lions are the largest cat in the world, but a few of our family members think Bengal Tigers have that distinction....in any event....

The Advent Clue for tonight was something about Butyl Rubber ...

The clue led to a google search on "Butyl" as the kids weren't 100% sure what they were looking for.

 They headed to the garage, where our spare tires are stored, and found tonight's family gift.

It was Color Bloomz.  This was a great family activity as they decided which scene to work on, colored, assembled and set up the "tank."

Yuuki overflows her chair 

These two enjoyed a round of air hockey when they tired of the assembly

This isn't as spectacular as the photos on the box...but maybe by morning it will be. You CAN begin to see the colors bloom on the tree and here and there.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family Fun

Six days post op - to say our winter isn't going the way we planned would be an understatement...but we are finding joy in the days with Michael at home.  We're not doing as many errands, not really doing a ton of school - enjoying the down time. 

We talked about Jesus being the Bright Morning Star in family circle. I thought it would be good to do two more Advent Clues tonight as we are so far "behind." Michael reminded me that Christmas begins 25 Dec and we can simply keep opening these gifts in the 12 days beyond Christmas...so tonight is the last two gift night. LOL 

Clue Number One, "Of wizards and dwarfs." 

Nolan found this one next to Lord of the Rings...

Stacia isn't so impressed with a little notebook 

Clue Number Two, "While waiting to go somewhere, I can be kind of stinky." 

One of my favorite parts of Advent Clues is watching the kids' thinking process. The youngers headed AGAIN to the bathroom, then the laundry room, then they raced upstairs. Nolan and Arielle found it but left it until they found it....finally.....

This looks to be a fun game. You role dice and if you get "forget it" you lose all your points....at least that is what I figured from watching.

He's up...he even went for a little ride with me today...didn't get out of the car...and is still plenty sore...but up, had dinner with us, we did family circle in the living room instead of bedside...all big steps.  I didn't realize he was taller than our little BX special tree. ::snort::

I'm off to join everyone settling in to read a chapter or two of Cooper Kids before turning in for the night. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

German Lentil Stew

Recipe is from Happy Herbivore Abroad, a cookbook I hope to own by the end of January. ::hint:: Lindsay's recipes are plant strong, no animal products, and no oil. I've enjoyed them all - mixed reviews from the family. 

Ingredients: 
Small Onion diced
2 garlic cloves - minced (I used 5 or 6)
1/2 tsp Cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander - divided 
2 Carrots
1 C Lentil
1 Potato (I used 2)
3 C Veggie Broth - divided
2 tsp Lemon Zest
fresh parsley - garnish

Directions: 
Line the bottom of a warm skillet with water or broth - add onions and garlic and saute for 1 - 2 min.

Add 1/2 tsp of Cumin and 1/2 tsp of Coriander and stir to coat onion mixture. Add a splash of broth to pan if the veggies are sticking.

Add carrots and cook 1 min.

Add potato, lentils and 2 C broth. Stir to combine, cover, bring to a boil, LOWER HEAT and simmer until lentils are done. 30 - 40 min.

Add remaining coriander, lemon zest and 1 C more broth - you may want to add more broth to make it soup like...or leave it like this and eat it as a casserole?

Heath through, garnish with fresh parsley if desired. 

Note - Arielle and I liked this though we agreed we'd like more seasoning. Michael said it tasted like Curry - he doesn't like curry. I do think I'll make it with more seasoning again.  

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Chapel Card Takes 2nd Place

Woohoo! The Chapel's Christmas Card took second place in the base-wide competition this year. CE (Civil Engineering) won first.  I wanted to be sure to get a photo of it this year. 

Andy W did the cutting, sanding and what not. Erica M did the art work and the youth did the painting. This year Dave D and Aaron W set it up. 

I love the simplicity of the message! 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday Fun

SWEET! Michael has spent much of the day sleeping. Last night was a bit rough. The kids and I left for the Christmas Play tonight and to pick up some groceries. We came home and the Christmas lights and outside nativity were lit up. What a fun surprise.  He had gotten down the stairs and lit it all up for us. This is a good sign.

We've fallen behind on our "hunts" and so did two tonight. Michael had hidden two gifts while we were out of the house. He came down stairs and joined us. Exciting steps towards normal family life. Michael did a great job of picking one gift we'd want to play with and one that was for "later use."

The first clue was "Relaxation on high," and Stacia found the gift on the recliner at the top of the stairs before we could get up there with the camera!

The second clue was tougher to find, "There's no telling what you'll find."  Where could it be?

I agree with Nolan's thought - there IS no
telling what will be in this little collection
center on the stairs...

We've NEVER hidden a gift here...but I
suppose there is always a first time? 

Aha! Nolan's on to something....

Score

New Folders....already being used

It was a fun night to sit and play together at the kitchen table. We picked up the mail while on base and were happy to find a packet of news clippings, cards, old family photos from Mom G. All in all a nice way to spend a Sunday evening. 

Wow - surgery really has been rough on Michael

I'll post about the Christmas Play tomorrow....need to weed through the photos and see if we have any suitable to post. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...