Marulaon Woman's Daybook

Just for today, Monday, December 1

Outside my window...calm seas.  So thankful, since Aaron, Edi, and Brennen left a little bit after 5:00 this morning.  Everybody got up early to say goodbye and hug necks, then those not getting into the motor canoe went back to bed.

From the learning rooms...Sarah and Benjamin are finishing up "Pride & Prejudice" and beginning "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"; Olivia is reviewing percents; and Katherine is learning about attributions in language arts and insects in science.

A heart overflowing with thankfulness...for our time with Edi (and Brennen).  Wow!  Those two brought sweet, soft hearts, full of love for Jesus and full of willingness to be a blessing to our family.  Today, a big, gaping hole is left.  Edi left sweet notes for everybody to find.  Here's an excerpt from mine:

Part of me expected to find glamour or a special shrine in the life of a village missionary family.  But like you mentioned to me before, the village brings out the worst in you.  And perhaps that is one of the reasons Jesus has you here, to "burn thy dross and refine thee."  This is the greatest thing I can thank you for - for showing me the real, raw Choate family who needs Jesus.

Cooking in the kitchen...nothing.  We are eating leftovers today.  Two wonderfully full, late nights and a very early morning has left us moving around like slugs. 

On my bookshelf...finishing up "Notes from a Blue Bike:  The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World" by Tsh Oxenreider (from my friend, Gayly) and looking forward to beginning "As Soon as I Fell" by a former SITAG colleague, Kay Bruner, loaned to me by another SITAG colleague, Roxanne.

Pondering these words..."Both [the unwillingness to acknowledge their helpless dependence and the unwillingness to be obedient] are declarations of independence and, whether physical or moral, are essentially atheistic.  In both, the answer to the call is no."  ~Elisabeth Elliot

One of my favorite things...letters mailed in March and July that finally arrived after being mis-sent to Nauru.

A few plans for the rest of week...I'm headed down to Margaret Rasol's house this afternoon to try and finish up transcribing "Daughter of the King," Wednesday I'm supposed to head to the other Margaret's house to show her how to lay out a pattern on top of material, and Friday the whole family is walking over to Fly Harbour Primary School to attend their 6th grade graduation.

A peek into my corner of the world...December 1st means it's time for our family to de-worm with our yummy chocolate meds!