Christmas

We have been so very busy this holiday season and while at times I feel very anxious over getting to events, I have been so blessed by each thing we have done.  Yesterday I told Dan I was sad that we had not gotten more involved with the chapel earlier on.  He reminded me to look forward, not back. 

The girls danced for the joint base chapel's family celebration service.  They did so well and it was such a joy to watch them.  They also sang with the children's choir at the beginning.  Ashton and Landon recited the first several words of John 3:16 and others finished it in different languages. 

The sermon at church yesterday was so good.  It was all about the importance of fellowship for Christians and reminded us that wherever we go we have family in other believers in Christ.  I have found this to be so true over the past couple of years.  Gatherings with other Christians almost always turn out to be a blessing.  Serving for the church can be challenging but I always walk away feeling like I have been filled even more than I filled those I was serving!  I am thinking this year that my New Year's Resolution will focus on hospitality and having more friends over to our house and organizing more group events for women and kids to get together and strengthen each other. 

Saturday was such a great day.  Dan humored me by taking us over to kbay for a "change of scenery".  We ate Subway and walked over to see the jets, helecopter and tank on display and run around a brick wall nearby.  The kids ran and jumped and we enjoyed the beautiful view of the bay and mountains.  Afterwards we went to drive around and got turned back because the president was on base.  We ended up finding a beach we had never known about so that worked out well.  The kids were excited to get out and run in the sand.  It was very windy and the waves were large and choppy.  We were content to stay up on shore since no one had bathing suits and there were jellyfish and current warnings.  I mentioned to Dan that I feel like each base has its own culture.  We (well, mostly just me) really enjoy going to the different bases around the island and playing at the different parks, looking in the different exchanges and seeing the island views.  Some bases have really fun pools or beaches and one has a track we like to walk around.  Back in the day of way-less-homeschooling I would take trips like that a couple of times a week, but now they are limited to a few times a year.  But anyway, that marine base visit was just what I needed.  We even finished a short, but really fun, book on the way there and back. 

Today was a red letter day because the base thrift store was 50% off everything.  I found Landon 4 underarmour shirts and Thea a pair of Merril's to grow into.  Landon also got a catcher's bag with wheels on it and everything.  Evangeline just had a growth spurt and I was blessed to find 4 cute dresses for her...2 that were gymboree!  I even got a workout shirt for myself.  The kids were thrilled with the Little People farm set for $4.  Why does this make me so happy?  Who knows?  But saving money is always a good thing. 

Tonight we took dinner to Holly.  Her baby is six days old and Grandma left yesterday.  She is so cute.  Those little yawns and sneezes and alert baby eyes... 
Too bad I ate way too much while making the stew, salad, cornbread and cookies.  Mareea helped me with the Sour Cream Cookies and cornbread.  Next time maybe I will teach her to make the soup.