by

Our Daily Thread 12-20-12

Good Morning!

5 DAYS!!

🙂

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Quote of the Day

“Happy,  happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days,  recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler  back to his own fireside and quiet home!”

Charles  Dickens

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Here’s a favorite verse of mine.

Matthew 1:23 KJV

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

And a song I very much enjoy.

33 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 12-20-12”

  4. Years ago, Elvera, along with presents, made Christmas stockings filled with goodies, cheap stuff, but still lots of something. She made them for Chuck, Linda, Becky, Mary and Jennifer.
    Becky, Mary and Jennifer got married, and Becky had children. Last year she made stockings for Chuck, Linda, Becky, Mary, Jennifer, Brian, Caden, Addison, Mary, Tom and Jeremy.
    This year, Linda agreed to make stockings for her grandchildren. Yesterday, Elvera worked on stockings for Chuck, Linda, Becky, Brian, Mary, Tom, Jennifer and Jeremy.
    She starts working on getting stuff around September.
    In the past several years, I included CD’s of old VHS home videos that we made of the girls when they were little. I also had slides to CD. I don’t have any this year, but they loved the CD’s.

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  6. 7:45!? It is only 5:30 😉

    Shopping is done. Presents wrapped. Cookies made. Now the parties begin. Tonight is a welcome home party for a missionary from Chile. Tomorrow is the end of the world party and hubby’s birthday. Saturday night is a Christmas party at my brother’s. Sunday is a day of rest before we host all my extended family for Christamas Eve. All my siblings do Christmas morning with their own families and then we all usually regather for Christmas dinner. This year we are splitting by gender. They guys will watch foolball and keep an eye on the potroast while the ladies go see the opening of Les Miz. Whew! We will sleep in on Boxing Day.

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  8. The rest of my week is like Adios’. I’ve already had a mimosa and it’s only 7:45 in California. Tea with a client this afternoon, choir practice tonight and then the real fun begins:

    The adorable grandson as Frosty the Snowman, at least 15 for the annual cookie baking fandango at our house, adorable grandchildren on Saturday for their parent’s anniversary, church on Sunday and then the windup and pitch for Christmas Eve and Day–lots of singing, eating, relatives, presents and excitement with the aforementioned grandchildren. In our case we’ll go through Boxing day and then we have a family wedding on top of it all.

    Wheee!

    God REST ye merry gentlemen and ladies!

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  9. It is a beautiful morning in the Forest…the sky is blue, snow flakes are shimmering in the sunlight…and the sound of the snowplows are humming in the background! He just took another swipe along our road…piling the snow in front of our just cleared driveway! grrrrr (the newspaper is now under a foot of snow I suppose!)
    I have to go out tomorrow for last minute errands…then I am done! Enjoy your day everyone 🙂

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  10. I’m expecting one of my final gifts in the mail today that needs to be wrapped for delivery on Saturday, though I have a couple extra *little* things to pick up for a neighbor and co-worker. And an Amazon gift card for another friend. I guess I’d better make a list!

    I’m running a little late as usual, but juggling what is a regular work schedule for us complicates everything (we get only Tuesday off).

    My former roommate and friend comes over Saturday for a long visit, I’m getting together with cousins for dinner Sunday, then trying to make plans with my friend in the assisted living facility to get her out either Christmas eve night or early Christmas morning, other friends I’m seeing later that day.

    Our church Christmas eve service is at 5 p.m. Monday, not sure I will make it but hopefully I will if I can get a story turned in before then — they typically bump us loose if there’s nothing else pressing to do. I have a couple more stories to finish this week but need to get something planned that’ll be easy to crank out on Monday.

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  12. Indeed, since you have a little boy you really should read aloud all the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder before he’s too old to appreciate them.

    (I have done this five times as a service to prospective daughters-in-law)

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  13. Have him make a memory day. Show him how to work your digital camera (if he doesn’t know already) and tell him you want him to be a journalist and document that day. You don’t care what he takes photos of and when he’s done (maybe let him do this for an hour or two, or take him out around town to photograph what he wants to take pictures of), you’ll print the photos and together make an album of one day in his life.

    I think I’m going to use all these tips for my blog next Friday . . . Thanks, Kbells!

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  14. Kbells,

    Or you could do some boy stuff with him.

    How do you feel about finding a dead animal? You know, so you could poke it with a stick.

    How are you’re construction skills? You can’t go wrong with fort building. Inside or out, that’s a winner.

    Next up, maybe get some friends together and play ball. Base, foot, soccer, basket, whatever, just Play ball! with him.

    If not, slingshots are cool….. Yeah, maybe skip that one….

    😯

    Michelle’s cooking idea is good. What does he like to eat? Show him how to make it.

    Movies are good too. But I’d recommend letting him pick something you hate, that way you’re sure he’ll like it. For this time of year, I’d go with a classic, like A Christmas Story. Which reminds me of another fun game to play with him. You could double dog dare him to lick a cold piece of metal or lightpost. Most kids love that one, but it’s best to bring a gullible friend along for that one, for obvious reasons.

    😯

    Also, for a real blast, you could introduce him to Coke and Mentos. Messy sure, but fun!

    🙂

    Model rockets are cool as all get up. So are the new drone type helicopters. Those are slick as snot. And they’re so quiet, you can even spy on your neighbors. Or so I’ve heard……

    If you need anymore ideas, you let me know, I’ve got tons.

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  17. Some very interesting ideas, except I’m sure he’s ready to fool with fire (he can already work a microwave) and I’m not poking no dead animals. His first reaction to seeing a dead possum was “Kitty Cat broke.”

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  19. Oh no MIM….praying the culprits are caught…with everything intact! Kind of temps one to say Bah Humbug…hmmmmm…but, oh no…don’t let it rob your joy…no sir…it’s not going to rob your joy!! 🙂

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  20. KBells, for another perspective…

    Get some free math worksheets on line from freemathsheets. Have him do one-five in the morning and one-five in the afternoon, depending on his willingness to cooperate and ability. If he puts up a fuss, causes a disturbance of your peace, or whines keep him within five feet of you for the rest of the day, not allowed to speak to you unless spoken to. Give him some legos OR construction toys OR a puzzle OR tinkertoys, replacing the toy every hour. No electronic entertainment at all. Meantime, put your feet up and read a good book. If you feel like it, get down on the floor and play with him for fifteen minutes every hour but no more. You will have a changed boy. A happy boy. An imaginative boy. A stronger boy with more confidence and less need for attention. A boy who can pay attention to what you want and willingly do it. A freer boy.

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  23. The math is not a punishment. It should be fun. It is to keep his mind moving and toned for listening to you and getting back to school. It is to keep his mind moving so he does not become challenging in an unhealthy way.

    Thanks, Rkessler. Some folk just think I am a lunatic.

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  24. This kindle book is free:

    Description: “From seasoned professor and pastor, Bill Giovannetti, Four Letter Words shines a fresh light on the Bible’s most troubling topics. Whether you’re a pastor, layperson, student, parent or grandparent, this book is equips you to defend your faith in an increasingly intolerant culture. You’ll know WHAT you believe. You’ll know WHY you believe. And you’ll know what to say when you don’t know what to say. The book’s message is specially important for younger Christians in (or going into) college. A discussion/study guide (included) makes Four Letter Words especially helpful for small groups and personal reflection. A companion website offers even more resources.”

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  27. Mumsee, if his friends come over do I put them on the same program? There are a couple of them that I don’t mind him hanging out with as long as they’re close by. As a matter of fact we are down to just one in the neighborhood who’s house I let him visit. Plus a new kid I like so far.

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  28. KBells, yes. They need to do a math page before they can stay, he will do one with them to allow them to stay. One mess up and they spend the rest of the time with you. At maximum freedom, they are never allowed in his bedroom. You don’t entertain guests in yours, why should he? If he is already with you, they can join him when their and his math pages are done. The neighbor will think it silly at first but will suddenly realize without knowing why, that he is quite comfortable with the new format and is in a home with true love, or he will leave. Win win situation for both you and your son. Feel free to eaves’ drop on every aspect of their conversation and direct the conversation to safer ground if needed.

    Another thing, if he is in lockdown, you can read to him while he is working on his building. Something of substance like Little Lord Fauntleroy, or Freckles, or Chronicles of Narnia, or The Hobbit, etc. Not a little kid book. He will find it interesting and want you to read more. You will be expanding his attention span while expanding his vocabulary and love of reading. Choose a book you like.

    Thanks Kare, that is very encouraging.

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  32. I feel like I’ve been doing nothing but ranting on this blog the entire week (on the prayer thread, especially, ironically). So let’s try some positive news for a change: 😉

    My three girls at home were an excellent Christmas card crew for me yesterday. I signed our names in the cards (eight names times thirty-eight cards — hey, more math, Donna! 😉 — takes a little while). Third Arrow addressed the envelopes (someday I’ll have to figure out how to make mailing labels), Fourth Arrow folded the Christmas letters, put them into the cards, and the cards into the envelopes. And last but not least, Sixth Arrow put on stamps and return address labels — and in the correct corner each time! 🙂 We went to church in the afternoon, and on the way home, we stopped at the post office and mailed the Christmas cards, completely done on the day we started them. 🙂

    And another piece of good news to report is that Second Arrow, our college daughter, has met a nice Christian young man who is also the second arrow of six 🙂 and loves children as much as my daughter does. He is very family-oriented and told her he wants to meet her dad and me and our other children. So when she is home for Christmas vacation, we will be meeting this fine young man. 🙂

    So there have been definite bright spots in the week, too. 🙂

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  33. We have snow in our mountains. It looks really close, but is probably a 90-minute drive away. But it sure is pretty. 🙂

    Yes, it’s the card finish line looming right around the corner. I did several today and tonight, will finish up tomorrow morning. Was happy to get the address of some friends who moved to Alaska a few months ago, sending them some cold-weather “paw balm” for their California dog’s feet.

    And — whew — got the gift delivered that I was waiting for tonight, finally. Just need to wrap it in time for Saturday.

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