2012

                       HAPPY

                        NEW

                      YEAR!!!

After Christmas Post

Well, we had a great Christmas here. My hubby got 11...yes 11 days off of work!!! This has been the best Christmas leave ever! He is off until after New Years!!! This is a real treat for us.
We had a good Christmas eve day. I think that we started a new tradition. We went out to eat at Chili's for lunch, and instead of ordering meals for everyone, we ordered different appetizers and shared all around. We don't often order appetizers, so this was a real treat for us. The kids loved it, and I was so surprised at how much less money we spent. Then we went and saw Santa Clause at our BX. We don't teach our children to believe in Santa Clause, but it was fun for them to get to see him. We always tell them that Santa is not real. Then we came home and made a delicious ham dinner, and read the Christmas story out of the Bible and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Then we went out to see Christmas lights. That is a yearly tradition for us. We like to go to a candlelight Christmas eve service, but they were running too early and late this year, so we missed it.
Christmas day is our family day. We open presents and have doughnuts and play all day. It is a lot of fun for the kids, and us too.
Now we are gearing up for New Years. We are planning to have banana splits and a meat and cheese and cracker tray and some homemade punch. I have to come up with a recipe for the punch...if anyone has one they would like to share, I'd be ever so grateful. (No alcohol tho...we don't drink and this is also for the kids). The kids get to stay up until midnight if they can make it. It's the one night of the year we encourage them to stay up!  :) A real treat for them!
Well, I hope that all of you had a Very Merry Christmas and that you have a great New Years! I would love to hear all about your Christmas holiday traditions, so feel free to leave them in the comments.
Happy New Year!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Food For Thought

I wanted to share a link to this post... A great read for Christmas
http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2007/11/surrendering-our-stuff.html

Snowman

This is just so cute...I couldn't resist buying one!

He talks and sings when the fridge is opened.

We had fun hiding him in the fridge and watching the kids reactions when they

opened the fridge and heard the snowman.

Such a cute thing!

Christmas Gifts

This year we are sending out a lot more homemade items than we have in the past. I actually like sending out the homemade items. Our kids get to help make the items we are sending. It takes a little off of the store shopping/materialism of Christmas and it allows them to be more involved in the gift giving. This year we made birdhouses and wooden ornaments and hot cocoa mix and the kids made their own cards. The birdhouses dad made and the kids get to paint them. The ornaments were made out of wood by dad, and I painted them solid colors and the kids painted the decor on them. They each got to paint one ornament in each set. The hot cocoa mix was easy to make and I bought these cute canning type jars from the hundred yen store. I filled the jars  and put ribbon and a bell around the top. They look pretty nice. The kids decorated their cards. They made one for each box and they all get to sign all the cards.
Since we have such varying ages and the younger ones have a smaller amount of patience, I turned on Charlie Browns Christmas and that helped keep the ones who weren't having a turn making the crafts happy.
Here are some pictures of some of what we made:

                                              The birdhouses before the kids painted them.

                                                             The hot cocoa mix

Jesse Tree

This year I was involed in a Jesse Tree ornament exchange. 25 ladies all get together and each pick an ornament to make. There are specific ornaments to be made.  Then about a month later, we all gather again to exchange the ornaments. So each lady makes 25 of the same ornament, and then when all the ornaments are exchanged, you end up with a set of 25 ornaments. Then on December 1 you have a devotional for each day and the ornaments correspond to the devotionals. Each night the kids get to put the ornament on the tree that goes with the devotional for that night. The book we are using is called The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert. It has a devotional each night for children and adults, so you can pick which one is better for your family depending on the ages of your children. I have really enjoyed having these devotionals. It is a great way to focus on the Lord during the holiday season, and I have enjoyed the Bible talks that can come out of this.
A lot of people might be put off by having to make the ornaments. I actually had no idea what I would make until I went and saw what others had made. Also you are only making one ornament 25 times. So you don't have to be super creative.
Anyways this was a great experience and I hope to lead or be involved in a Jesse Tree ornament exchange at our next base. It was a lot of fun.
Anyways here is a picture of some of the ornaments...I already have some on the tree. :)

 Some of the ornaments the ladies made.

I made the Noah ark ornaments...my dear Husband was so sweet to cut the wood out for me.

Randomness

I thought I would share some random things today.

Our seven year old is sent to wash his hands. He comes out of the bathroom and I ask
Me:"Did you use soap?"
The Boy:"no"
Me:"When I send you to wash your hands I want you to use soap".
The Boy:"But I don't want to waste it".
The boy was sent to wash his hands again...with soap.

A Blessing:
My wonderful Hubby and I are at the grocery store. I need baking supplies. I am almost out of flour. The commissary is out of all purpose flour. Ugh!! They have little ity bitty bags of flour and expensive organic flour. I look and think that I see a pack of flour that is all purpose...the regular size. There are two left...all purpose flour to which my husband proclaims "Praise the Lord". That was a blessing!

We are still finishing up our crafts and boxes to send home. Still hoping that they will make it home by Christmas. Can't mail any packages until tuesday...the post office is closed until then and then I'm not sure we'll get them out before the end of the week anyways.

I have some posts to post, but am waiting for the pictures to add to them. We are working with the laptop because our house is so small that when the Christmas tree goes up, the main computer comes down. Tho the tree looks so much prettier than the computer.

The hamster and our seven year old:
Our hamster is mean. He bites. He is a fat little critter that is spoiled in a luxury hamster home with food and carrots. He even has a little ball to run around in. But he bites. So he is more for the kids to look at than to touch. Well one day we find our seven year old holding the hamster. I am surprised that he can hold him and the hamster doesn't bite him. Well come another day and the seven year old picks up the hamster only to have it bite him. He washes his hand and I bandage it. He goes back to the hamster cage and has a talk with the hamster and then...picks the hamster up...only to be bitten again. Boys sometimes have to learn the hard way. He doesn't like the hamster as much now. I think we need a new hamster.

That's all for now. Hope to have some new posts up this week. Hope you are all having a great holiday season.

Some New Blogs

I like to go searching from time to time for new blogs to read. I have my favorite blogs and still stop by their blogs, but sometimes I like to find something new. I found a new one today that I like. It is called Missional Mamma.
http://missionalmamassoul.blogspot.com/
Hope you stop by to visit.

Squirrel Revival

I couldn't help but share this video.  It will give you a good laugh.
http://travisab1.multiply.com/video/item/73/The_Mississippi_Squirrel_Revival.flv

Thanksgiving

I thought I would post some links to some Thanksgiving projects. I love doing art projects with our kids. We have lots of projects planned for gifts this year. Our kids will be making birdhouses and hot cocoa mix in jars. We are also going to make some Christmas decor and paint our own nativity set. Daddy is going to build the stable for our set. Anyways, back to Thanksgiving, here are some great links to some fun crafts.

http://www.freekidscrafts.com/printable_native_american_headdress-e563.html

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/pilgrim-hats-661561/

http://crafts.kaboose.com/pilgrim-hat-for-girls.html

A craft that we make as a family is to trace our hands on construction paper and then we cut them out and write on them what we are thankful for. It is a great activity, and makes for some fun Thanksgiving decor.

I haven't had too much to say lately. Guess I have hit a block or something. It's been real busy here, and I am struggling with being tired. Also I have been getting over a cold or something that has been really rough and drained my energy quickly. Anyways I hope to be back sometime, but I think I will be taking a break for a bit.

What Is It?

Well, I asked if anyone knew what the picture was in my last post...and yes it was poo! It's not the poo that amazes me, but what we did with poo. We went to a museum here and they had a display set up on poo and some of the things it can be used for.



This was some sort of tea made from some animal droppings...I want to say catapillars, but I can't remember.



This one I was most amazed at...you could take pooh from rabbits, girraffes, and some other animal, and make a Poo Poo strap. I think it's meant to hang like a charm from your cell phone. The poo was sealed and it just amazed me that they would think to take something like that and turn it into a profit. We paid 200 yen for each poo strap. One of the mom's we went with convinced me that we should make one...so we did. I mean when else would one consider playing with well...poo?

Randomness

Looks like we are moving, doesn't it? Nope, not yet. This was our great deals that we got at our stores case lot sale. Being overseas, I oftentimes think we don't get a lot of great deals. But we hit the jackpot this time. We got Captain Crunch cereal for 99 CENTS a box. Now for us that was a GREAT deal. The kids were really excited, because it is the Berry kind!  We got 28 boxes of Captain crunch plus more boxes of other cereal, and some other food items.  We got all this for about $129 dollars! I love great deals!

I finally learned how to do oragami!  I have wanted to learn how to make oragami, but had never been able to do it. A friend of mine showed me how to make these oragami boxes. Might come in handy at Christmas!

Our kids got to make some bread at our homeschool group. They had such fun and enjoyed eating the bread they had made.

Well that's all for the randomness post...Oh one more thing...can you guess what this is? I'll tell you in my next post!!! The Japanese amaze me sometime...they can make something out of anything!

Check This Out!

I thought I would share this link today...It is a homeschool sweepstakes and has some great giveaways!
Super easy to enter!
http://homeschoolconvention.com/hedua/?page_id=196

Good Reads

I really like how this woman addresses her attitudes, as well as her children's attitudes.
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/09/struggles-in-child-training-finding-solutions-in-the-word.html

I really liked the honesty and real life in this post.
http://theartofmakingahomejoyful.blogspot.com/2009/08/home-lifebeing-stewarts-of-our-money.html

Looks delicious!
http://www.blessedbeyondadoubt.com/2011/09/21/wfmw-pumpkin-pie-pudding/

Random Pictures

We found this visitor on our bench



Flowering Tree




The Ocean



Ramblings

Well I haven't done a rambling post in a while. We started school already here. Trying to get done before the move and with the baby coming it's always good to get a head start on things. We actually started school during the summer.
I had quite a bit of all day morning sickness. Praise the Lord for a wonderful husband! He would come home from work and cook dinner and take care of the kids when I was feeling bad. I am happy to say that I am feeling better and can now cook more meals! ;)
School is starting to get into a rhythm I think. We joined a homeschool co-op, so now once a week we go and do extra curricular activities with a bunch of homeschool families. The kids enjoy it, and so do I. All the mothers help out either in teaching a class or helping in some way.
We are starting to get out our baby things and see what we have/what we need. We have officially hit 20 weeks! Yeah! Can't wait for the baby to get here. We find out this week if it is a boy or a girl!!! Can't wait.
This summer was a hot one. We didn't go outside much during the day...it was that hot, but we would go out in the evenings. It was so hot, that going to the beach was almost too hot. But we have been having lots of Bbq's, and I love it. I love eating outside and having all the summertime foods. Yummy!
Can't wait for the fall now. Even tho our leaves don't fall off the trees, I love the fall feeling. Getting pumpkins. Decorating for the fall. The smell of baking pumpkin, and all the other baking goodies. Delicious.
I am getting excited just talking about it!

Encouraging Magazine

I want to share a magazine I love, called  ABOVE RUBIES, sent out by Nancy Campbell.  It is a great magazine and is sent out as the Lord provides the funding. It is a wonderfully encouraging magazine about the family, and great encouragement for Mother's to follow the Lord. If you have never heard of Above Rubies, I encourage you to go check it out and subscribe to this wonderful magazine.
http://www.aboverubies.org/

Giving It Your All

The other day was a day that was a lesson for one of our children about working hard. It is hard for kids to always stay focused on a bunch of school work that they really don't want to do. Today that child got to learn that when you don't work, you don't play. A hard lesson to learn, but a necessary lesson to learn. I think that many children today are not taught the value of hard work. I love the Bible verse that says, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."  2Thessalonians 3:10. It is sad that so many youngsters grow up and don't realize the value of hard work, and the satisfaction that it brings to those who work hard. 
We as adults can be a good example to our children of showing them the value of doing a good job and not slacking. And also explaining to them why we work hard. We can teach them that we are working hard to glorify God, and that even if we don't like our boss or the work that we have, that we can do our job to the best of our ability, without whining and without complaining. We can exeplify to them a joyful spirit while we do it.
We can turn many an everyday oportunity into a teaching lesson for our children. We can teach them daily about the scriptures and how it applies to our lives, and the ways that we follow it.

What A Deal!

This is a deal that we got a while shopping a while back. Brand new jeans for $2.07. Can't beat that deal!
It was such a blessing, and came at a time when the boys needed new jeans.
Would love to hear what bargains anyone else has gotten.  :)

Wednesday Scriptures

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain
we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men
in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Timothy 6:6-10

Typhoon Muifa

                  Our typhoon snacks and fun...and necessities.

                                          Front porch mess

                                          A leak in the roof

Ants

We have had horrid ant trouble at this house. We had never had ant troubles before, so this was a first for us. We tried to get rid of them, then I thought I would have to learn to live with them, then they got unbearable....and then we found this...Ant Killer Bait by GRANTS. The BEST ant product we have ever used. Sprinkle it around the outside of your house and anywhere near your house where you know the ants reside. In about a day or two...wow! what an AMAZING difference. I am totally sold on this product and will definitely use it again.
As a side note, if your kids love watching ants, this is great fun to watch. I have never seen ants come crawling out for bait like this. They come pouring out and carry it off. Amazing!

Great Posts

Thought I would share some good posts. Enjoy!

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/08/the-surprising-place-that-ugly-comes-from/

http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/search?q

http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/2011/08/dont-forget-your-purpose.html

http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/search?q

http://lifeonlocustlane.blogspot.com/2011/08/making-your-home-haven.html

Enjoy The Little Things

I was putting some flags out front for the Fourth of July, and my daughter said, "I know what the Fourth of July is for." And I said "what?" And she says, "It's when Grandpa and Grandma come".

"My butt scratches."

When being quizzed for a history test the question was: "A working class farmer in Europe is called what?"
son's answer "fertile".

I have been feeling pretty sick this pregnacy, and when I go to lay down, my youngest will come and lay down by me for hours. So sweet! He also gave me his snoopy and woodstock, he would tell me that they would make me feel better.

The other day we were talking in school about doing things for others, things that make them happy. So two of the kids wrapped up some of their toys and some pop and gave it to Daddy when he came home.

The look of a freshly cut lawn...my husband never lets me mow the lawn. He says it's man's work and he always mows. Isn't that sweet?

A Link

This is a great blog post about training children.
http://goodnessandgraceblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/sweet-words-of-wisdom.html

School Stuff

I recently came across this blog, and found this story. I really like it and it says a lot to us mothers. I have really been struggling recently with feeling like I don't spend enough time with my kids doing learning activities together,and just spending time with the kids reading or whatever. I feel frustrated a lot that there is much that I need to get done, and I think of how much time something will take, and I will wonder how I can finish what I have to get done. I have been feeling strongly that maybe I should begin to look into another curriculum. I like my curriculum, but with three kids in school and a baby on the way, I feel like I am missing out on those heart to heart moments in favor of a schedule that MUST get done. This is something that I really need to think and pray about. I feel that another curriculum might be right, but that is a big step to take, especially as we have already bought all our books for this year. I am afraid that if I don't have something laid out for me, that I might miss something the kids should be learning. And I am not good at making my own lesson plans. I seem to jumble things up. I never want to lose my children to "mom is too busy to care about what is going on now". Anyways here is the link to this story. I hope that you will stop over at Audry's blog and read it. Great story, it's called "Sam's Story".
http://motheringfromtheheart.blogspot.com/2011/06/sams-story.html

I just wrote that I have nothing to blog about and now I blog all this...  :)

A Block...

I have hit a block. I just can't seem to get anything written here of late. Even writing this, I don't have much to say, except I have hit a block. Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Wednesday Scriptures

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I was trying some settings on our camera...

Contentment

I have recently had a verse on my mind. It is the verse in Philippians that speaks about contentment. The verse is Philippians 4:11 and says, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." I have been having a struggle of late with being content. I am also focusing too much on the future and not enough in the present. So I have thought of that verse a lot lately. I think of Paul and it is hard not to wonder, how could he be content with his lot in life? It is quite a verse to focus on. When I think of the persecuted church, I think that I  would struggle with contentment if I was in their place. Another verse I found about contentment is 1Timothee 6:6, " But godliness with contentment is great gain." I think I am going to put those verses up on the wall.

(a side note...I have been having trouble with comments left on my blog...some cannot leave comments and sometimes I post a comment that has been left and then it doesn't show. I hope that it will be fixed soon. Thanks for stopping by. )

Late Fourth of July Post

America is the greatest country on earth. We have amazing freedom in America, that other people in other lands can only dream about. We are an incredibly blessed nation. So for the Fourth of July, I thought that I would post my favorite singing of the National Anthem.

http://youtu.be/wupsPg5H6aE

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

A Link

I know I have been sharing a lot of links lately, but I found a great post that I had to share. The post is called Large family dynamics  over at Large Family Mothering. I like to hear when Mothers are thankful to be at home and thankful to have a large family. It is truly refreshing in this day and age when Motherhood is often put down, and raising our own children can often be looked down upon. I hope you go over and read the post. http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/2011/06/large-family-dynamics.html#comment-form

Wednesday Scriptures

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, let no one who waits on You
be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously
without cause.
Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:1-5

Blogging Tuesdays

I have found a new favorite blog. It is called Glorious Treats. I love to bake and this blog has such wonderful ideas, and such yummy looking treats. I think I will be trying one or two ideas from here.
http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/

Another new blog I have found is Making Memories and I can't wait to try to make the Super Balls. My kiddos are going to enjoy these. She also has some great baking ideas and fun things to do with your kids.
http://makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-super-balls.html

College Football

What is your favorite college football team...or do you follow football? Growing up, I hated football. I hated it when I would wait for a game to end or a quarter to end and it would say 4 minutes and 12 minutes later the game was still going or in overtime or something. When I grew up and got married, I married a man who LOVES football. I have learned over the years to enjoy the games a little more. And even tho I hated football, I had a favorite team, Michigan. My husband is an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. This drove him crazy that I liked Michigan. I was not allowed to put any of our children in Michigan clothing. I loved to tease him endlessly about our difference in teams. It was quite fun. But finally I decided that as our children got older that I too needed to become a Husker fan. I didn't want to feel left out, and it did make my husband so happy to have his wife cheering for his team. It was quite rare a couple of years ago for the Huskers and Michigan to play. However this year, they are both in the The Big 12...now know I believe as The Legends. This means that they will be playing against each other...kindof a tough pill to swallow. I can't decide if I will watch any games that they might play together.  :)
Anyways we are Husker fans...what is your families favorite college team...or do you all have different teams?

                    HAPPY
                 FATHER'S
                     DAY
           TO MY WONDERFUL
                 HUSBAND!

Summer Time Fun!

Summer time is such a fun time. Lots of time to do some fun activities with our kiddos now that school is out. So here is a list of fun summer time activities.


1)Water balloon fights


2)Backyard pool


3)Play in the Sprinkler


4)Playdough


5)Make cookies...color some dough and let the kids have fun cutting out their own cookies


6)Have ice cream night. Get some different kinds of ice cream and toppings and enjoy!


7)Get some glow in the dark necklaces and roast some marshmallows


8)Set up a tent in the living room and let the kids camp out


9)Color pictures or make crafts to send out to family. This is a great summer activity that we don't always have time for during the school year.


10)And my favorite...go to the beach...free and fun! If you don't live by the ocean, you could look for a nearby lake.


Just some summertime fun. I would love to hear what your summer activities are.  :)

Summer!!!

School's out! School's out! Teacher let the monkey out!!!!
Ok...Ok... I am super excited that my 1st grader has finished his school for this year!!!!!!!
We finished two and a half weeks earlier than we had expected, and this gives us a little extra summer time. Yipee!!!!!!!!!! My oldest is still finishing up, but hopefully he will be done next week.
Our kids are so excited for the Cars 2 movie to come out. Since we are over here, we have to wait a little longer for the movie theatre to show it here. I think we are going to go see it in the Japanese movie theatre this time. So that will be fun. They are getting out all their Cars toys to play with...yes my first grader still plays with his Cars toys...which I am very thankful for since they are so expensive.  :)
Now it's time to start planning summer activities for the kids. I am thinking backyard pool, and playdough. Maybe some movies and popcorn.
How is your summer going?

Announcing...

Baby number 5! We have waited a long time for this one and are so excited for him or her to arrive.
Now all there is to do is to wait to see if its a boy or a girl. And to get over the almost constant feeling of being sick...oh and the on and off dizziness...If anyone has some remedies for all day morning sickness, I would be happy to get any suggestions.

Typhoon Songda

We had our first big typhoon. We have lived on this island for about three years and this was the first big one we have had. There have been some smaller ones, but this one was big. I have to say it was a little scary too. The wind was loud! Our littlest guy came and laid down by me and hid under a blanket. We were without power for 15 hours. But praise the Lord no one was hurt and nothing of ours blew away. A lot of sheds were destroyed and trees...whole trees uprooted. I thought I would share some pictures of after the typhoon.

                                                        Some garbage by our fence.
                      That black and white stuff was part of someone's roof.

                                    This is the bottom of a  tree that was uprooted.

                                          The aftermath of the storm in the "jungle".

A Good Read

I recently found a new blog, weird unsocialized homeschoolers. I really liked her blog post entitled Dirty Jobs. You can read it here http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2011/05/dirty-jobs.html.
I want to add a few thoughts of my own. I have long thought that our school system should offer trade school for those kids who weren't interested in school. You know, once they hit high school, if they aren't inclined to schoolroom type learning, then why not let them learn a trade? Pare them up with a plummer or electrician, or whatever.  Let them learn the ropes. The tradesman gets free work...a help to him, and the kid learns a trade...valuable to him. There seem to be a lot of kids today who have no interest in school, and who I think oftentimes fall in trouble. Why not put them on a good solid workpath? Anyways it was a great read. I hope you'll go check it out.

A Great Read

Hidden Rainbow is a great read. It is the true  story of John and Anna Olesh. They live in a Catholic village in Yugoslavia. It shares how they become saved after a missionary stops by their home and offers them a forbidden New Testament. A great read. It can be bought from http://www.clp.org/search/results?query=Hidden+Rainbow.

Nature Photos