Honiara Woman's Daybook

For Today...Monday, December 20

Outside my window...gray, cloudy skies following three days of rain; clothes hanging to dry on the porch because of all the rain

I am thinking...about being in labor during an ice storm in Little Rock eleven years ago

I am thankful for...a great link for ideas about how to pray for missionaries.  I need to print this out and post it on the fridge.

I am praying for...a friend in Georgia who is going through one family tragedy after another and for Naomi as she adjusts to living in Australia again with her family.

I am creating...Christmas embroidery and Christmas cookies

I am going...to host a SITAG Christmas cookie exchange on Thursday afternoon.  Just four ladies with Sarah and a friend, no fancy packaging, just sweet fellowship and sweet treats.

I am reading...Christmas picture books with the kids

I am hoping...that my back heals soon so I can start exercising again.  Got to get ready for those races on furlough!

I am hearing...Olivia practicing her whistling, dogs barking outside, driving rain pounding the driveway

I am remembering...the last two Christmases out in Marulaon village: carefully monitoring the amount of gas we used to bake; carefully doling out the remaining eggs (and using the "float" test to see if they were still good); dropping everything if somebody came by the house, joyfully dancing, singing, and cooking with our sweet neighbors

From the learning rooms...no school this week, but that doesn't mean we're not learning

From the kitchen...aebelskiver (pancake balls) for breakfast (made by Olivia), leftovers for lunch, and sloppy joes for supper

Around the house...tomatoes ripening on the windowsill, the big beetle (yes, it stinks, but it's soooo cool) slowly being dismantled in a frisbee on the porch rail

Something I want to remember later...Benjamin's amazingly creative acrostic poems, he's been writing quite a few lately about Christmas

On my mind...still preparing for furlough.

Noticing that...Deborah was the only person to comment on the Lavukaleve phrases.  Guess she gets her pick of Solomon Island goodies! 

Pondering these words..."First ,have peace in thy own breast, then thou wilt be qualified to restore peace to others. Peacefulness is a more useful acquisition than learning." -- Thomas a Kempis

One of my favorite things...Envirosax

A few plans for the rest of the week...a slower week, full of book-reading, cookie baking, and carol singing.  We are planning to take cookies down to the hospital (to Dr. Elizabeth's ward) and to host SITAG's cookie exchange on Thursday.  Saturday evening, we'll celebrate Christmas Eve with our SITAG family and a few other guests from Honiara with a candles and carols service.  Cultivating peace and focusing on Christ's birth - those are the goals.

Here's a picture thought I am sharing with you...my little wooden German man that burns incense and blows smoke.  I bought him when Aaron and I went to Germany with our college choir, and this little guy is very much part of our Christmas traditions.