A Christmas Whirlwind

Blog Post About Winter 2020

The cards you all sent made the best decorations in 2020! It was such a blessing to be remembered by so many and our plain-looking tree thanks you :)

We went to church for Christmas Eve, and then we came home and Kylie and Karis treated us to our own "food board." We weren't able to have all of our overseas friends come by for the Christmas story and some American food, and they were missed.

On Christmas morning, Keira read us the Messiah's birth story from Luke 2.

I don't have a picture of Caleb because I think I missed him opening the few he had. He had decided to forego most gifts so that he could buy parts for and build his own computer. 

That evening (on the 25th), we all loaded in the car to drive 2.5 hours to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with them and other family member that could make it.

Kylie and my sister-in-law put this "board" together. In reality, these are the kinds of foods we have always eaten and snacked on at Christmas and other times with family...for years. 

I was just thinking the term charcuterie board was something new invented to describe what we had been doing for years. Nope.

The French came up with this in the 15th century. "Chair" means "flesh" and "Cuit" means "cooked." It basically translates as "pork-butcher shop." Their shops also included the pig's internal organs, which I'm thankful has gotten removed from our boards in America.

In French, the one preparing the meat is called a Charcutier.

So just like Solomon in his great wisdom reminds us, "There is nothing new under the sun."

The cousins that were able to make it sat at the "kids' table" for dinner. 

Who doesn't love sitting at the kids' table, right?

Things like this happen at the kids' table :)

This is my son on the right and his cousin (12 days older) on the left.

They decided to try some hot sauce called "Da' Bomb" my dad had around the house.

The sweating, moaning, and pain continued for quite some time (and probably later, if you know what I mean).

When Kylie returned back to college, she found a youtube video showing that the hot sauce these boys tried was the third hottest in this particular hot wing contest.

Yes, these are things that happen at the "kids' table." :)

We only stayed two nights with my parents because we needed to go see the other grandparents and more cousins on the 27th. 

One of the many benefits of the grandparents living in Waco is that we can go see the Chip and Joanna Gaines empire almost anytime we want. We hadn't gone in few years so we drove over to see all of the new additions like this chapel. The crowds were really low because of Christmas, plus there was rain in the forecast.

We also took advantage of other "Waco-things" like the store near the Dr. Pepper museum.

S'mores by the fire was a nice ending to the day.

And the next morning, a few of us got up and went running/walking downtown.

Covid + Christmas made for a very quiet, enjoyable morning.

We knew it was important to see both sides of the family because we are rarely, if ever, in America during Christmas anymore. So even though this was a whirlwind of a trip, it was good!

Mountains and Other Notable Things in October

Shortly after her birthday, Keira wanted to get a haircut.


October 28, 2019

Check✔

Where's Waldo Caleb?

October 26, 2019

One afternoon, everyone except Caleb decided to get out of town and take homeschool, reading, dolls, etc to the mountains. 

The older girls downloaded all the things they needed for homeschool.  Doug and I took books and music, and Keira didn't want to be left out, so she drew a computer on a piece of cardboard and pretended to type along with the girls.



She also enjoyed walking around, discovering nature and talking to herself.

She also made time to take care of her baby, which she has named "Kathryn." 💗

As the sun was setting, the girls took this beautiful picture.

It wasn't long before they were photobombed.

And the "third party" kept getting closer to the camera.

She's was really thinking about something.

Then they lost control.

October 30, 2019

It was the best day of homeschool! 

We had blankets, sweaters, a big thermos of hot coffee, and an amazing sunset. 😁

I wish we had more time to have days like this.

The Arua Librarian

Well, not really. That title was for my friend Stefanie, but I do love to read!

During elections, I sent Patrick to town each day to buy a newspaper, so I would know what was going on. Since I was teaching school in the morning, I always told him he could read it first.

One morning, I looked out the back door, and saw him reading the newspaper to a group of people on the other side of the fence.

It really stirred my heart. So many people here can’t read, and they just rely on radio or friends. And if it’s on the radio or your friend tells you, they believe it as truth (thank goodness Charles Stanley and Family Life are both on the radio).

Here is an example of someone saying something and another taking it as truth: weather

“It can’t rain if it’s windy, because the wind will chase the rain away.”

Someone sometime said it, and they ALL believe it.

Anyway...I went to the bookshelf and got an array of books.

I wasn’t sure if he would like these,

But they were easy readers, and I thought I would try.

I also gave him two old Reader’s Digests from 2008 that someone gave me, an Encyclopedia Brown, a Choose your Own Adventure, and a book about the geography of the world.

I really wasn’t sure where his reading level was, so I tried a bunch of different levels.

He first picked up the geography book. He and the family next door enjoyed looking at the maps and pictures of different places around the globe.

Then he started “The Count of Monte Cristo.” He read the rest of the day. He came back two days later, and he read again. He was almost finished, and asked if he could take it home to finish.

When he returned, he had finished, and we talked about the amazing twist in the story.

He then read “Treasure Island,” and later finished “Heidi.” He really liked “Heidi.”

He must still be working on “Oliver Twist,” because he hasn’t given that one back yet..

By the way, I know you are thinking it's weird that I'm "tracking" him, but he reads under a tree outside my kitchen window (I promise), so while I cook, I can see him.

It's not like I've got some binoculars out and I'm perched in a tree taking notes all day like Marty McFly in "Back to the Future." (but I did take a picture through the screen)

He had already read the Reader’s Digests, and he wasn’t starting anything, so I gave him “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” I saw him reading it.

He soon put it down and started “Encyclopedia Brown.” He would glance off from his book sometimes, and I could tell that neither of these books were good for him.

I quickly went to Kylie’s second grade readers from last year and pulled out 6 books that were short chapter books plus a book of facts about the Bible and a book called "Dinosaurs and the Bible" that gives a very clear picture of the Gospel message.

He picked up the dinosaur book first, and he went through it quickly. I think the reading level was above him. Next he went to the “Big Book of Facts.” He left at the end of the day, so I don’t know what he will read when he comes next time.

This is fun for me, and I enjoy talking about the books with him. I’m guessing he’s like on a second or third grade level, but I’m out of those classics, so I’m going to keep looking for things. Maybe I can find an easier version of the Bible to give him to read.

Talk about some good stories and exciting adventures!

It’s the story of the Great Rescue - the greatest of all time!