Traditions

It seems like Christmas is the holiday in our family that has the most traditions attached to it. Some of our traditions come from things we did when I was a kid and some things we have added since we have had our own kids. One of the traditions that we started when the kids were little is this Christmas countdown calendar that my mom made for them. All the fabric stars button around the outside border of the wall hanging and each day the kids button one onto the tree. I thought for sure as they got older this would lose some of it's thrill, but even this year, they wake up in the morning and one of their first questions is "who's turn to add the star to the tree?"

Last night we started something that we hope will become a tradition. We had a family PJ party. Larry rented a few Christmas movies and bought some snacks and we all slept in the living room and watched movies. We had a great time. The kids all thanked us for doing it this morning. Being so far from family and giving up so many of our traditions made it important to start some new ones.

Lasagna on Christmas Eve is another favorite of the holidays. My mom always made lasagna for Christmas Eve and I use her same recipe. My sister and brother do the same.

We always read the story of the Nativity from Luke chpt 2 on Christmas eve before we go to bed. Larry and I began collecting Nativity sets several years ago and try to add to our collection every year. These are some of the ways we try to keep the true meaning of the holiday at the forefront.

Christmas Cheer

Last night we went to dinner at the Darr's house. They are the pastor's of the Bible church here on the island. We had a great time. Larry and Brad are so much alike! We laughed alot and had some good "down" time with them. It is nice to be making friends with others in the same position we are. We are able to "let down" in a way we can't with others. Very nice people, and they have a son who is the same age as Noah. He was so excited to meet another PK that is his age. He has had a hard time making friends as we have no boys his age in the church and we haven't met any homeschoolers that age either.
Today the kids restacked all the wood (we finally had a good day for it, sunshine all day) then came in the house and crashed. They worked really hard and did a good job.
Mary and I went to a gingerbread making party for the Girl Scouts in the afternoon. It was good and sticky. Tomorrow is our church Christmas party. We have a potluck and a White Elephant gift exchange. We decorate the gifts in unusual ways and then play a game with them before we open them. TJ wrapped his totally in duct tape, even the bow. Mary made hers look like a cat, and Noah wrapped his in toilet paper. I had to nix the idea of using brown markers to decorate it...sheesh. We did this last year and hope to turn it into a tradition at the church.
Although we really miss our family and friends at this time of the year, we are trying to have traditions that the kids will remember for this time and place in our lives.

Harlem Ambassador Basketball Game

Last night TJ and the CAP squad presented the colors (flag) at the Harlem Ambassadors game at Craig HS. I was so proud of them! They snapped to attention and marched in perfect formation. They have worked long and hard to get it right. I never would have guessed that learning to march together would take so much practice. It looks easy, but it has taken some serious practice. TJ carried the Alaskan state flag and he had to dip it during the National Anthem. He said his arms were really sore afterwards. This mom had a hard time keeping the tears of pride in check. The game was fun; Harlem Ambassadors against the Craig Alumni Dream Team. Of course, the Ambassadors beat them. Mary was chosen to sit on the Ambassadors bench in their cheering section, so she had a courtside seat. Lots of music, and lots of joking around. I am really grateful to the Lawton family who bought the tickets for us as a Christmas present.

Church work day

We had a work day at the church today. I love getting projects completed. The old youth room had graffiti artwork on the walls that the former youth group had painted on it. We had one wall that a couple of the ladies from the church had painted a beautiful ocean mural on. We painted over the graffiti with a nice blue and it looks great. I hope to get the rest of the room put back together tomorrow while I'm there putting up the Christmas decorations. We plan to make that room a multi-purpose room. We have an air hockey table and a ping-pong table for in there, and there is a good video-sound system for showing movies.

Larry and the kids went out to a muskeg and cut down two trees today, one for the house and one for the church. Tomorrow we will decorate the church tree and the home tree if we have time. I usually like to put the decorations up the first weekend in December, but many of our church families will be out of town this holiday season, so we will get them up early.

Stikine Invitational

TJ and Mary left Wednesday to go to Petersburg for the Stikine Invitational Basketball tournament. They left from Coffman Cove and took the jet ferry. Mary called yesterday and said the ride was really rough; she almost got sick. They will be taking the state ferry home and come through Ketchikan.

Rumor has it that the boys team won the tournament! Way to go Chieftains! I don't think the girls did as well, but I'm sure they played their hearts out.

It has been fun to watch them play this year. I didn't get to see any of the games last year becuase of my broken leg, so I have doubly enjoyed this year. TJ has imporved a great deal. He really enjoys the sport too. Mary likes playing, but her favorite is volleyball.

Noah and I have had a nice weekend together. We have rented some of the newer releases (Wall*e, Star Wars Clone Wars, and Kung Fu Panda) and enjoyed them all. We also baked some holiday cookies together (well, started together, I finished alone...). So, all in all we have had a very nice weekend. I am looking forward to us all being back together though, something just feels "off" when we are not all here.

Being Healthy

Well, yesterday the Dr confirmed that I do have diabetes. My sugar levels are only slightly elevated right now, and we feel with a few lifestyle changes (not a big surprise) that I can get the numbers down and be able to stop taking the meds for it. I was a little disappointed at first, but I know there is no one to blame but myself. I praise the Lord we found out early enough that I can make the changes needed and hold off any worse prognosis. I get frustrated with myself that I have known this was a possibility and waited until now to get serious about doing anything about it. Weight loss and excercise are not only good for me, but the kind of lifestyle I want to model for the kids and hubby.

The smells of winter

I love the woodstove in the winter. The smell of woodsmoke and the crackling of the fire are hearwarming as well as room warming. The cool crisp air is free from the fouler smells of decaying fish we have earlier in the fall and I think I can almost smell the snow in the air. The mountains are half covered in snow now. It seems everyday that white line creeps further down the slopes. Even the lower elevations are white frosted now and I know soon it will reach sea level. The snow falls straight down and is heavy and wet. In the dead of winter it will last for a couple of weeks, but these first few flakes will be washed away with the rain. I love to watch it pile up on the porch railings to see how high it will get before it blows over or the kids (who are destined to knock it off) get to it. We put studded tires on the car this year. That is the first time we have ever done that. All those Michigan winters we lived through without studs...but, everyone here says its the safest way to drive the winter roads. We will have to change them out again in April, but I guess that will be a sure sign spring in on the way.

Homeschooling

This year to homeschool the youngest, we have chosen to use Switched On Schoolhouse. He seems to be enjoying it. As long as we get started right away in the morning, he works right along and gets his assignments done. If we delay getting started, I have to sit with him more and encourage him to complete all the assingments. I am amazed at how simple it is for the teacher. After spending years figuring out my own curriculum, I am now asking myself "Why didn't I do this sooner?" We are covering 5 subjects and still have time to add in extra things like typing practice and library reading. The subjects aren't covered as thoroughly as if I were doing a unit study on them, but thoroughly enough. Meanwhile, his typing has greatly improved and he is learning to take some of the responsibility for his own education.

www.aop.com

Civil Air Patrol

TJ has been in Anchorage for the weekend with Civil Air Patrol. I am very impressed with this program. They have covered all the expenses of this trip, air fare, hotel, and meals for four days. I had never heard of CAP before, but they are the auxiliary of the Air Force. If TJ choses to continue in the program, through his high school years, and then goes into the military (Air Force or Coast Guard) he will go in as an E3. A significant pay raise. Meanwhile, he has some excellent opportunities to learn some leadership skills and make friends. It seems to really fit with his personality.

Ladies Bible Study

Monday nights are Ladies Bible Study nights. We have just begun working through Becoming A Woman of Prayer by Cynthia Heald. I am excited to finally be leading a women's study again. The Lord is really leading into a season of intense prayer. He is laying the foundation now with good teaching in the bible study and on Sunday nights with the "When God's People Pray" series by Jim Cymbala. I look forward to what He has in store for us knowing that His plans are good.

Winter's coming

I can see the snow on the mountain tops. We are all fighting off colds. Sure signs that Old Man Winter is on his way. The temps are still reasonably normal during the day, but we have to get the wood burner going at night. The maple tree in our front yard is getting red. Last year, a man stopped in our driveway to ask what kind of tree it was. Most leaves just stay green and drop off here, so the red maple really jumps out at you. I miss the glorious colors of Michigan in the fall. The drive up to Traverse City is one of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen.
I am amazed at the number of gulls I have seen lately. I must have missed this last year, because I am constantly amazed at how many there are. In the early morning, standing on my front porch I can here the cacophony of their calls down on the water. I wonder if they are getting ready to go south or just finding lots to nibble on down at the mudflats?