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.

I Need a Silent Night...

I pray you are able to have many "silent nights" during this season and throughout the year. I love the message of this song. I've been blessed with several silent nights this month, as I wait on God for my new personal "word/direction " of 2009.

©2008 D.R.G.

4th Sunday in Advent

I was late getting to church...as I walked up I heard the opening carol and thought, "I love to hear Bre's voice again." I walked inside to discover that she was leading worship. ::snort:: Josiah read Scripture. Jamin and Jared were lighting the Advent wreath.....it seems when they walked in they were asked, "what would you like to volunteer for". Most bases, attendance stays the same or bounces a bit during the Holidays. There are usually lots of family members visiting. On THIS base 90% of the students go home......and no families are visiting. It was a small service today. Ch. B did a great job. Mike tried to attend but ended up leaving and spent the morning/early afternoon in bed. He works Mon/Tues and Wed night and then will be off for a good bit of time.

Our "calendar" says to make Christmas Goodies or a Gingerbread house...but we didn't. LOL

Several played Monopoly...this game is always so LONG.

Dealing - with right of passage et al.

Mid-West meets Middle East?

Mike got up for a bit and he and Arielle worked on our Christmas puzzle.

This thing is tough. They moved one of our dining room tables to the living room to continue working.

We had ice cream. We watched our new Tim Hawkins DVD, "I'm not a Rock Star". The boys and Mike think it's the funniest to date. I don't know. It IS funny. There is a poem his 7 year old wrote that he put to music that is hilarious.....

Krista will be home in 2 days.

©2008 D.R.G.

Full Day

I baked bread, made pancakes, went to Jared's basketball game, had lunch at Joe's - YUMMMM - picked up more Theraflu for Mike, took Jamin to work, bought a TURKEY (which is in the FRIDGE with a sign that it should stay in the fridge) and roast, watched a game of Monopoly and Life, talked with my brother on the phone, talked with my Mom on the phone, watched the Nutcracker DVD and then Opening Season...and now I'm posting a few photos.

Mike finally called uncle and called the reinforcements in to preach tomorrow. I'm praying he kicks this quickly and can enjoy the time with the girls. He's pretty miserable.

Krista has put in 30 straight hours at work. She knew she wouldn't be able to drive home in the snow, so she volunteered to work extra shifts. She'll be here Tuesday. It would not be too early to begin praying that she has as smooth a trip as BreAnne and David did. ::wink::

"Sorry, David!" It's become a game for Zander and Nolan to get Bre to sit between them and then inevitably, Zander will say, "Sorrrry, David!"

I told them to look excited!

©2008 D.R.G.

Saints 29 - Warriors 17

We arrived at Jared's game to discover that there was no memory card in the Nikon. The girls raced back home to get the card. I'm glad we did. We missed the first quarter....but enjoyed the rest of the game.

This is me about to go explain to the ref that if your son is elbowed in the neck, smashed in the teeth it's hard to understand why the foul is HIS. Dillon (Jared's friend/right) and Mike explained to me that smashing someone in the face is legal. We had great seats, right under the basket. LOL

As you might have noticed, Jared is the tallest player on his team. I think this makes him a target of some sort....and causes the refs to be SURE to catch any foul he makes. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.