Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sweet Shot: mean faces


I told them to show me their mean face and this is what I got...


...thinking(???), really MEAN (and angry!) and half-asleep(bored?).

I am glad the rest of the week at grandma and grandpa's house was full of smiles, Monopoly, Nerf, food and fun!

We are still not sure when we will be heading to Guam. We are planning as if we are leaving this Saturday but it really is all up in the air. It looks like any changes to David's January schedule will be very last minute and 2011 will be completely unplanned and a surprise from the very beginning!

How are you planning to ring in the New Year? Party with friends or quiet night at home? Will any of you skip the whole midnight thing and just go to bed?


I'm joining in with Darcy's Sweet Shot Tuesday... with 2 hours to spare. :)

Sweet Shot Day

Sunday, December 26, 2010

hebrews 13:8



Our God Reigns!

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him,
Who brings good news, good news;
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness.
Our God Reigns! Our God Reigns!

He had no stately form, He had no majesty
That we should be drawn to Him.
He was despised and we took no account of Him.
Yet now He reigns, with the Most High.

It was our sin and guilt that bruised and wounded Him.
It was our sin that brought Him down.
When we like sheep had gone astray our Shepherd came,
And on His shoulders He bore our shame.

Meek as a lamb, that's led out to the slaughterhouse,
Dumb as a sheep, before it's shearer;
His life ran down upon the ground like pouring rain,
That we might be born-again!

Out from the tomb He came with grace and majesty;
He is alive, He is alive!
God loves us so, see here His hands, His feet, His side;
And yes, we know, He is alive!

{Leonard E. Smith, Jr.}



Joining in Week 14 of Katie's Scripture & A Snapshot.



Won't you join us?

Friday, December 24, 2010

the center of it all



May our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be the center of all our celebrations!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!




And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.

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

I am the living bread which came down from heaven:
if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever:
and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

3 weeks, 2 states and why I bought a swimsuit today

Last week was Oregon.

Lunch with Leanne

Birthday Party

My brother Stephen & big sis Coco


Nephew Caden.




Susan's house.

Yup, we have a lot in common... A shared love for JoTotes, photography and being half-Korean!




We are home in Texas this week.

In case you are feeling behind this Christmas, here are a few bah-humbug slacker-mom things to help you feel better about yourself:

1. I did not send out Christmas cards. (again)
2. We do not have a Christmas tree up. (again)
3. Zero Christmas lights up. (again)
4. Zero Christmas music playing. (still trying to recover from last year's overload. nonstop Christmas music from Thanksgiving to Christmas makes me not want to listen to the radio. ever.)

In my defense, I do have a very small nativity set up. What I like about it is that there are no wise men at the manger! That drives me nuts to see. Jesus was a CHILD, not baby, when the wise men arrived. (I love this little video about the nativity.)


It is the week of Christmas and I still have done none of the above. But guess what I DID do today?

Bought a swimsuit. Because I'm all about logical. *snort*


I had mentioned it on Facebook, but forgot that I haven't told my non-wastebook friends that we are going to GUAM! We will try to fly out there around January 1st and will be there for all of January and February. I never would have thought that I would spend 2 months on an island anywhere in the world, let alone the South Pacific!

A few temporary duty assignments became available with Continental (er, United) and we decided to take advantage of the opportunity. :) David is excited about flying in a different part of the world and the boys and I are excited to come along for the ride. This is one of those times that I am so thankful to homeschool! We wouldn't be able to take off for such a long time and on such short notice if our boys were in regular school.

It sounds silly to say, but David and I aren't even beach people. We much prefer the mountains and water that doesn't have salt in it.

Regardless, there is much to look forward to while in Guam:

1. It is an island in the South Pacific. Even a non-beachy person can appreciate the new landscape and culture that is far removed from Texas.
2. Everyone looks like ME. What a fun change for David to be the one to stick out!
3. Korean food available at the food court in the mall.
4. Fried rice with your Grand Slam at Denny's.
5. No cooking for 2 months. (this could be good and bad)
{I am all about the food, aren't I?}
6. No busy-ness. Goodbye guitar lessons, Boy Scouts, soccer and all the other "good" activities that force us to leave the house every single day of the week!
7. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 70s.
8. No house, business, cars, pets or anything else to maintain and take care of. It's all about relationships! :)

In all honesty, I do realize what a tremendous blessing this is. It is a DREAM to be able to live on an island for a couple of months. The normal commitment for being based out of Guam is 2 YEARS. So this short stint isn't available very often.

If you don't hear from me for a while, I'll be packing and flying. I am thankful that we will have internet service while we are over there. But if y'all need to text or call me, DON'T... at least not yet. We do plan on purchasing a pay-as-you-go cell phone when we get there and we can still Skype, email, google chat and Facebook! (Don't y'all just love technology?)


And now a few questions for y'all.

If given the opportunity, would you go to Guam?
Any advice for surviving 2 months in a single hotel room with kids?
Do you think not being able to cook for 2 months is a good thing or a bad thing?
Anyone reading this from Guam?

Sunday, December 19, 2010

psalm 105:4



So many times I begin the day thinking of myself. What do *I* need done today? Those are the days that I wish I could do over.

When your first step of the day is in the wrong direction (the me-way), there is a good chance that you will end up completely opposite of where you intended to be. Those are the days that lack fulfillment, joy, PEACE.

When I start my day seeking GOD and what HE would have me do, now those are the best days! Those are the days when my words are apt to be kind, my attitude filled with grace and a measure of wisdom in my actions.

I'm still far from perfect. But when I begin the day in God's Word and in prayer, I can rely on His strength and grace to make up for my many faults.

When you seek the Lord, you will find Him.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.



I am participating in Week 13 of Katie's Scripture & A Snapshot. It is never too late to join in the fun yourself!






Sunday, December 12, 2010

Luke 12:28



"If then God so clothe the grass,
which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven;
how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,
neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after:
and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;
and all these things shall be added unto you."

WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING?




Linking up with Week 12 of Katie's Scripture & A Snapshot.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas in Korea (& giveaway!)

Congrats to Sherry Lauser and Kellie Watson for winning this giveaway!

Sung Tan Chuk Ha! Which is to say Happy/Merry Christmas!

Christmas Around the World with CurrClick has partnered with myself and nine other homeschool bloggers this week. Goodies will be given away during our bloggy event, so be sure to check the schedule and stop by each site to learn about Christmas in other countries, and maybe even make some new friends! You'll find the TWO Korea giveaways at the end of this post.


My early childhood was spent in South Korea living on a military base with my American father and Korean mother. I remember the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the living room of our apartment. It was gigantic, all the way to the ceiling...



Okay, so it's not quite as big as I remember.
{I know y'all are diggin' the patchwork pj's, cool curtains and my awesome bike. Don't be jealous!}

SOUTH KOREA

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has roots in Buddhism, so you will not find a Christmas celebration or tree in every house. But Christianity is growing and you will find many Christians (and non-Christians) celebrating Christmas in ways similar to Europe and the United States.

South Korea is the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas (Sung Tan Jul) as a national holiday.


Kids in Korea LOVE Santa Claus, whom they call Santa Harabuji 산타 할아버지 (Grandfather Santa) or Santa Claus (said with a Korean accent). Unlike the American Santa Claus, Santa Harabuji can be seen in the traditional red suit, as well as a different color-- blue!


When friends and family exchange gifts, the most popular gift is MONEY. (Insert cheers from my boys!). For a close friend or relative, it would be more traditional to give a single gift with much thought behind it than to give many gifts.

A formal dinner is a favorite way to celebrate the holiday with family members. The menu might include popular Korean dishes such as sweet potato noodles (japchae), rice cake soup (dukguk), barbecued beef (bulgogi), and a variety of kimchi.

Caroling parties are a fun activity for young Christians on Christmas Eve. It is traditional to invite carolers in for hot drinks and treats. Here's a cute starts-out-normal version of Jingle Bells that y'all might like. Would you like to invite this group in for a visit?



(That guy in the reindeer antlers makes me laugh.)



NORTH KOREA

Life in North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), however, is dramatically different.

Christians there are imprisoned and even killed for having a Bible or simply being a Christian. They must meet and celebrate in secret. You can read more about the sacrifice and persecution of Christians in North Korea HERE.


*************************


HERE ARE THE GOODIES FOR MY GIVEAWAY!



{GIVEAWAY 1}

Christmas Copywork by Lilliput Station
Let your child learn the true story of Christmas as they practice their writing skills. This file contains fourteen different copywork pages with verses from the KJV Bible and one with a verse from a hymn. Each page is illustrated with black and white drawings and comes with both primary and straight lines.

Our Global Village - Korea by Milliken
Bring the world a little closer with these multicultural books. An excellent way for students to appreciate and learn cultural diversity in an exciting hands-on format. Each book explores the history, language, holidays, festivals, customs, legends, foods, creative arts, lifestyles, and games of the title country. A creative alternative to student research reports and a time-saver for teachers since the activities and resource material are contained in one book.

The Christmas Story as Told in The Bible by St Aiden's Homeschool
This 105 Page educational eBook focuses on the Story of the Birth of Christ as told in the KJV Bible. Included are fun exercises to take away any monotony that may arise (and often does) with copywork. Standard fonts have been used for general copywork, and Tracing Fonts have been used for the younger learner. Training lines and standard lines will be found throughout the book, which focuses on the entire passages of the Bible, but reinforces certain aspects of the birth which will already be familiar to your child when hearing the Sotry of the Birth of Christ. A Nativity Lapbook Craft is included in the book.

{GIVEAWAY 2}

Around-the-World Series, South Korea by Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
Learn about the people of Korea through their literature, music, food, art, games, and language. The folktale recounted in this unit, The Bird with the Broken Leg, brings Korean clothing and food, as well as Korean vocabulary, to the forefront and help students produce their own picture book of the story. Cut-out characters and a story mat are included. This unit also helps children learn by making Traditional Knotted Pendants called maedups, Trigrams (symbols formed by a group of three lines), and a Yut game board. There's also a recipe for Cooking San Jok, words and music to a traditional song about the Korean national flower, called Mugunghwa, and a rules for playing Yut, and much more!

Korea by Oakes Homeschool Consulting
A month-long unit study resource list on the country of Korea.

Globetrotting with Cinderella by Intellego Unit Studies
In this comprehensive and multisensory 174 page unit study, your children will explore much more than Cinderella stories! This unit study takes your children on a tour of 6 distinct global cultures, looking at history, music, art, food, and scientific contributions. Children will explore the literary genre of fairy tales while comparing the six Cinderella stories across the cultures. While on their journey, children will also explore chromatics and the use of color by the French Impressionists, the use of natural resources across cultures, the active volcano region of Russia, the history of kites in China, the fermentation process in the popular Korean dish kimchi, Egyptian math and pyramid building, culinary arts, literary devices, public speaking, listening skills, and so much more! Nations studied: France, Micmac Nation, Russia, China, Egypt and Korea.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me the most memorable Christmas present you have ever given or received, whether it was disappointing or spectacular.

The TWO giveaway winners will be randomly chosen when I wake up on Tuesday morning. (ha! It sounds like I plan on sleeping from now until then, doesn't it?)

Don't forget to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. You can even leave it as "yourname [at] whatever [dot] com" to foil the spammers!


I'll never forget the Christmas where my two other sisters, my brother and I put a cricket in a little box with a clear window. We wrapped it, wrote my sister Lele's name on it and placed it under the tree.

We tried to suppress our laughter when Lele began to unwrap her special present. As soon as she spied the cricket, still alive and safely contained behind the clear window, she jumped up screaming and hollering and being a spaz. That was the ill-fated year that we "took a break from Christmas" as my parents sent us to our rooms!

Although we were all mad at her for freaking out so much at the time, we laugh about it now. (Not sure Lele would categorize herself in the "we" yet!)

Sung Tan Chuk Ha!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

my Father's world

I have a habit of raising the blinds on the back door when I wake up in the morning. Each time I gaze through that glass, the view is different, ever changing with the weather and seasons.

Like many other mornings, the view today was spectacular.


I don't live in the beautiful countryside. I don't live in a part of the country with mountains, we don't even have hills!

Just plain. old. flat. Texas. Non-exotic, densely populated Houston to be exact.

And yet I can see God's handprint right here.



I see Him in the dewy grass.

I see Him in the clear blue of the sky.

I feel His power in the mighty gusts of wind that whip around me.

I marvel at His handiwork.


I went to bed last night feeling sad and tired, the familiar weight of sorrow heavy upon my chest.

I woke up this morning to the sun streaming in my windows, the dew frozen on the grass, and new mercies!


It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.


God is near.

I can almost picture Him walking through the grass and dew.


This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white, declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world, he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

-Maltbie Davenport Babcock


Have you said hello to God today? Do you look for Him? Do you know Him personally? Is He your Father?