Makana's Story of Bravery

A part of Makana's literature assignment after reading about a young girl's bravery during a storm in Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie was to document her own brave story. Yesterday was her first attempt at her rough draft, and she's convinced she doesn't have to edit it for the final one. :)

Bird Chalet

 We were given this beautiful seeded bird chalet for Christmas from Dave's sister's family, and the fowl in our neighborhood didn't pay much attention to it until recently. I've been trying to capture the blue jays and red cardinals that seem to frequent the chalet the most, but the best I got was through our front door yesterday.

If you look VERY carefully (perhaps even click on the photo to make it bigger), the blue jay is on the left part of the roof (from our vantage point). 

Rex!

 Even though this adorable pup stole Makana's boots and never returned them, the children love him the same. Daddy thinks it is the best setup, for this black dog visits regularly, plays with the children, and then goes home, wherever that may be. Because he kept coming back, he needed a name, so he answers now to "Rex."

 Stephen's attempt at feeding Rex was almost to no avail. He preferred some Thanksalot Girl Scout cookies that fell to the ground during snack time. :)

43 so soon?

It's hard to believe that I'm 43, for it seems like yesterday that I was thinking, "Wow, I'll be 30 soon!" However, when I contemplate how much has transpired between age 30 and now, I suppose over a decade must have passed. After all, when I turned the big 3 - 0, we celebrated in northern Japan at the Hospitality House with grey balloons and our dear friends. Since then, I've lived in Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona, and Alabama (even though I said I'd NEVER live in Indiana again! Ha!). I've also become a parent to two lively children, who were very eager to surprise me with Daddy on my birthday. I'm still married to my dear husband, who is happy each year when I increase in age before he does. :) It was fun for him to use his jerseys with his favorite sports number as decorations. 

I couldn't believe that Dave ordered ND decorations ONLINE. (Yes, he's not really a shopper, no less an online one.)

Makana had a sinus infection w/a fever that would not go away, so we stayed home that day and made soft pretzels--YUMMY! :) Stephen was more interested in making the dough into balls, and Makana made quite lovely pretzel knots. She also loved the pretzel salt and wanted to eat the salt exclusively. Hmmm. 

I have to admit that the cake LOOKED a lot better than it tasted. It was fun, though, and Stephen contributed his little football without any prompting when he saw the ND symbol.

Thankful! It was a somewhat rough day/week, but I thought to myself, "There are a lot of people turning my age who wonder what their purpose in life is. Are they needed or wanted?" With Mom going into the hospital with fractured vertebrae and Makana sick, I was definitely needed. I thanked God that he showed me how I am needed and loved every single day. God is faithful to give us exactly what we need--in his perfect timing! :)

Jammie Time

I love it when these two snuggle in their jammies right before bedtime. :) 

Thanks, GiGi & Grandpa, for the stylin' jammies. 

Snowfall! :)

While we visited Louisville earlier this month, Dave wanted to put our zoo pass to work.

On perhaps the coldest/windiest day of the year there, we ventured to the (VERY BARREN) zoo.

The clerk working the front window said we were "Brave Souls" to venture out that day.

After exiting the reptile/amphibian hall, we were greeted with the white fluff. Dave was so excited. It took a little while for the keiki to get excited, for they were cold. :)

Stephen took very well to the various people we met on the trip. He was happy to guide Uncle Jon through the zoo. 

Celebrating Jesus

May Jesus be the center of our lives.

(Just a note: I don't know what I did to these pictures above to make them stick together as one merged image, but oh well, it turned out to look like a cross!)

Makana received a Samantha (American Girl) doll from our friends a few months back b/c they thought she'd play with her more than they would. She loves Samantha, especially that in the stories of Samantha, the girl is kind to those less fortunate. Makana plays "orphanage" with her dolls, emulating Samantha's love for those sometimes forgotten by society. Our prayer is that she keeps that heart for the orphans, just as God commands us to do.

After Christmas Day service

(We have lots more pictures, and I'll try to post some of them, but that's a glimpse into our celebration. We also partnered with our friends to have a cookie decorating party for some less fortunate children who wouldn't be with their parents at Christmas. It was great to focus on others!)

Can you believe it? Stephen turned 3! :)

We are incredibly thankful for our little guy, whom we affectionately called "Peanut Boy" when he was an infant. He could fit in my hand when we met him; not too many THINGS (no less people) fit in my hands (see our previous post).

He's a joy-filled boy, who loves to laugh and play.

Thank you, GiGi & Grandpa, for my special gifts!

Stephen loves to PLAY, especially with people. I have to admit that he does very well playing on his own while Makana and I work on her schoolwork, but he is overjoyed to have playmates of all ages.

Although Stephen likes all sorts of things, we decided on a Toy Story birthday party for him. We started out with an "Infinity & Beyond" contest. Everyone made their own flying vessel. Kennedy won that effort, with her younger sister coming in a rather close 2nd!

 We tried to simulate the "claw game" with the aliens by letting the keiki pull prizes out of a box with the toy claw.

 Unlike the actual game, everyone was able to grab at least a couple of prizes.

 Sticking the star on Woody turned out to be an interesting venture.

 Stephen was surprised to see all the figurines on the cake, for he saw the various stages of the cake, but he thought it was finished the day before. :)

 Dave said there were lots of children. It wore out the adults. :)

 The keiki were still going strong after all that play.

We're grateful to God that he has grown Stephen, so as of this moment, he has NO scheduled appointments for medical, speech, physical therapy, or anything else. Praise be to our God! 

Keep growing, especially in the Lord, Stephen!

Dizzy Dancing

Stephen enjoys people but is sometimes hesitant to come out of his shell around lots of people. It wasn't the case at our friends' wedding last fall. 

Celebrate Jesus! :)

We had a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party, and some people pulled together to make our banner. :)

God With Us 4

Fleshly divinity. Skin layered on spirit. Omnipotence with hair. Toenails. Knuckles. Molars. Kneecaps. Once again God walks with man. ~God Came Near, p 37

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ~Colossians 1.15
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God: Perfect. Why would he choose to take on flesh and become vulnerable to stubbed toes, cavities, scraped kees, zits, hunger, cold, germs (ewwww!)? When Stephen came home from the NICU, I became acutely aware of the many everyday "dangers" that could affect one's lungs and general health. God subjected himself to that. More importantly, he subjected himself to the sinful world and was tempted by Satan himself. Yet Jesus did NOT sin. For me. For you. That's true love.

God With Us 3

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." ~Luke 23.35

The verbal stones were meant to sting. How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. . . . If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. . . . Instead he died for them. How could he do it? I don't know. But I do know that all of a sudden my wounds seem very painless. ~No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, p 25
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"The Wonderful Cross"

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Need a trim?

Makana's been excited to take out our Christmas decorations for the past few months. During Thanksgiving week, she exclaimed, "I am thankful for Thanksgiving! Now we can celebrate Christmas!"

It took a little convincing for Stephen to become involved with the prickly venture. What clinched his assistance was the fragrance of the tree. "You smell, Mommy!"

Good help is tough to find nowadays, but we always seem to have volunteers for the dangerous jobs.

Makana demonstrated that the trunk was also "smelly."

Stephen's most efficient way to help decorate . . .

. . . one on the tree, three on the floor!