Merry Christmas!

I know, I'm a day early, but we opened gifts today since we're flying to Beirut tomorrow. DH and I stayed up and wrapped presents last night. Due to a bit of lack of planning we used newspaper but the kids didn't exactly notice so forget about caring. LOL I thought I'd already gotten my presents, the keyboard from Friday Market, the blanket we bought this week for the bed. But there was a surprise for me as well...an iPod! I'd been wanting one for a while now and I have it! But it's taking forever to download iTunes. I could probably go shopping in Salmiya and still find it downloading when I got back. I do need to return D's keyboard so maybe I could do that. LOL I did feel kind of bad though... all I got DH were some shirts. But I tried to get him to tell me if there was anything he was wanting. But he's not one to say, I wish... so I'm stuck trying to guess. I'd be buying him tools if we were back home, but it's kind of pointless here due to lack of space and the need to get rid of them before returning to the States.

The kids were suprised to see gifts under the tree. There hadn't been any when they went to bed the night before. Right now the twins are playing with a wooden pizza set, complete with cutter and knife (also wood) and are making pizza and serving it up. They got toy cell phones, and hooded towels (now they can play Bibleman again without the towels falling off), and bikes with training wheels. The Little Prince's has Dalmatian spots on it and the Diva's has a frog. They're happy! The Boss is thrilled with the PS2 games he got. He's playing each one for a few minutes and then going on to the next one. In a few days he should settle down to be able to play one for an extended amount of time.

Well, after almost an hour I've gotten 23% of iTunes downloaded. At this rate I might get to start charging my iPod around the time we leave for the airport tomorrow. LOL

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Sticky cookies

Well, I made the cookies. Only one batch didn't stick to the pans (even with PAM on them) and those were the cookies that I forgot to put the colored sugar on. But they sure taste good though. The Little Prince "helped" me with them. He watched and held the wax paper still for me while I rolled out the dough. And of course helped with eating them later. We tried to just stick to eating the broken cookies until DH got home though.

Now I'm sitting here typing and smelling some wonderful Phillipino food that J is cooking for our supper. She made it earlier in the week and I was hoping that DH would have some this time. Hopefully he'll make it back in time to have some tonight. It's hard to leave enough for him it's so good.

Now the kids and I are watching "Frogs" with Sam Elliott, Ray Milland, Joan Van Ark. It's going to be rather campy but at least the little ones can watch it. They'll probably just be scared of frogs for the rest of their lives. LOL

Dead Battery

Well, I told you so. By the time DH was out of the shower, ready to head out, there wasn't time to go. Then he kicked me off my own computer! So I went to the kitchen and started some sugar cookies. I bought Christmas cookie cutters at Sultan Center a few weeks ago and now I'm going to use them. I went looking at City Center for colored sprinkles (I've seen them over here, I think) but they didn't have any. So to avoid going to Sultan Center for just those (and then possibly not finding them) I just bought some red and green food coloring instead. The sugar I buy is German sugar and pretty "chunky" so it should make some nice sprinkles. So right now my dough is rolled out in two batches between waxed paper waiting its at least 30 minutes before I can cut out my cookies. I also need to mix my food coloring and sugar but I'll wait until I'm ready to start cutting.

I was going to take a pic of my cross stitch project of The Lord's Supper. There's considerably more done on it since the pic I took a couple of months ago for my Facebook album. I was also going to take a pic of my new blanket we bought the other day. But the battery on my camera is dead so it's needs to charge. So I'll wait and do that later. So I guess even if we'd remembered the camera yesterday we'd still have been out of luck.

Today we're enjoying a day at home being lazy. The Boss is playing on his PS2, the twins are pestering him by just being in the room, and I'm on the computer until time to cut out the cookies and then after that I'll cross stitch. I started with Jesus...he's in the center of the piece and that's where you start. Then I did John and the one on the other side of him. I've worked all the way to the end opposite John and now I've gone back to the other side and I'm working on Judas. I'm saving the table and things on it until I'm done with the men. Then the background. It's going to be pretty.

Only 3 more days til Christmas!

Raining in Kuwait!

Well, it finally rained yesterday. It started a lot later than usual and seemed to be trying to make up for lost time. We went Christmas shopping after church (I forgot the camera so will have to try to get pics from someone who did have theirs) and it was drizzling or raining gently. Then we went to a movie last night (the new National Treasure movie) and when we came out at 10 it was pouring buckets. DH picked us up at the curb but we still felt like we were swimming to the car.

Kuwait doesn't have drainage systems for the roads/highways. If they did they would just fill up with sand anyway. So you get roads covered with water. The only time I've ever seen Kuwaitis (and the other nationalities represented over here) drive the speed limit.

The kids all did great in the play. The twins never figured out that they were supposed to be in the play too so they sat with DH. I was very happy not to have the extra help playing the piano. The Boss remembered all his lines and I was very proud of him. He was Shepherd #3. There was only 1 Wise Man. His page probably would have been promoted to Wise Man if the Little Prince had been willing to follow him around. But he didn't know the kid and didn't want to. Oh, well, maybe next year. The Diva almost tipped the chair back, crashing to the floor, but otherwise she enjoyed watching the show. I don't think I ever looked over at her without seeing her watching the play intently. The Little Prince would play a bit or look around but she didn't.

Pastor gave a short talk afterward. He talked about the image of the Light of the World we have. Some people think of candles in a dark room or maybe a flash light (have to admit that's not an image I usually have). But the word in Greek that's used means a torch, burning bright with a big flame. Lighting everything. Uncovering everything we are trying to hide. Neat image. Wonder if Christmas cards with that image will ever replace the ones with pretty candles. Hmm.

Today we're going to do some more Christmas shopping before DH goes into the office. But he's addicted to Sudoku and teaching the Boss how to do it. So I'm sure the water heater has the water scalding by now but he hasn't made it to the shower yet. So either shopping will be off or I'll hurried along everywhere. But I'm used to it by now. LOL

I'm thinking I might need to make some Christmas cookies today. If not today then maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow night we have a party at the home of friends from church. I'm hoping to make it to Christmas Eve service since the Christmas morning service is out due to our flight to Beirut. The Boss started the countdown last night. He noticed it was 4 days until Christmas and no presents under the tree. He's getting nervous. (There's no room...we have the tree on a small table and the power strip is on the table under the tree. We need easy access to it so we can plug in computers, phone chargers, etc.) If he only knew what all we have hidden around the house! LOL

I look young! :)

I went to my friend's house to rehearse with her daughter and her friend for the Nativity play at church on Friday. D and I were chatting and she made reference to books used when she was in school. She said, "They were used when I was in school and I'm older than you." I never thought she was older, or not by much, so I asked her age. She said, "I'm almost 40." LOL I told her, "I AM 40!" She said I looked much younger. :D I'm still walking on clouds. Isn't it crazy how someone telling us how much younger we look than our age can just make our day? Shouldn't we feel that good all the time if we're hoping in the One who can make us never worry about death? But, it's still a great compliment all the same.

Eid Mubarak

It's the first day of Eid. There are two Eids...one that celebrates the end of Ramadan with 3 days of feasting and this one, when they do the Hajj in Mecca. We are blessed to live next door to a small mosque with a loud speaker. Makes sleeping in on the first day of Eid rather difficult. It's hard to sleep in when the man is singing a very long call to prayer (about 20 min) followed by what sounds like a sermon. So I'm up a bit earlier than planned after being up til 1 after eating out with DH last night. Luckily I have to be up anyway to go practice with a couple of girls for the church Nativity play.

Last night DH and I went to eat at Diva's. It's a restaurant similar to Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood. We discovered it 2 years ago on our first visit to see DH and it's my first time to go there. A few years ago our neighbor back home started calling our daughter the diva (well earned even as an infant) and it stuck. So we visit Kuwait and there's a restaurant called Diva's with a crown on the sign...perfect! So we've called it her restaurant ever since. I finally got to go there last night. A bit pricey but you get a huge burger and the appetizer combo, which we ordered small, was a lot of food, so it wasn't as pricey then. So we rolled out of there after dinner. LOL So since everything's closed today for Eid, we'll continue our shopping tomorrow.

I'm thinking the water heater should be ready for me to wash my hair and get ready to head out. Hopefully I can remember how to get to D's house for practice. If not, I'll be taking a scenic tour.

Vacation has started!

It has started...19 days of vacation. Whoohoo! We leave Christmas afternoon for Lebanon and return on New Year's Eve. I told DH that I want to see snow this time. When the kids and I lived there for a year before moving to Kuwait it snowed just enough for E's bus driver not to make it to pick him up for school. I could have spent 7000 LL for a taxi but there weren't very many kids at school according to the secretary so he enjoyed a snow day. But it wasn't enough to really play in. So DH is going to take us to the cedars so we can enjoy it. The twins were too young in the States to play in it and there wasn't much at our place when when we lived in Lebanon so this will be their first time to play in the snow. If I forget the camera and the camcorder I'll shoot myself.

Yesterday I had 5 students in my class. They got to watch The Tigger Movie in the cinema. Then this morning the same movie was on MBC 3 in Arabic. They did a decent job of matching the voices. Especially with Pooh bear.

I've spent the morning catching up on blogs and forums and now I think I'll bake some banana bread for DH. He's dropping hints like crazy for the past week or so. I've been so exhausted from school but I went to bed at 8:30 last night and slept in today so now I feel like baking. When he gets home in a bit there will some waiting for him...or at least smelling up the apartment from the oven. I also need to write down this recipe for SIL...she loves my banana bread and was bitten by the baking bug while the kids and I were in Lebanon this summer.

After he gets home, hopefully we'll get some more shopping done. We're almost done...bought a bunch of sheep skins as gifts (they need to be aired out though...peuw!) and other things. Grandma will be 100 in February so we need to think of something that will be a special Christmas/birthday gift for her since we won't be in the States for her celebration. I was thinking of a donation to the seminary my grandfather attended? Any ideas, friends?

Music of the Season

Wow! I'm on here twice in one day. LOL I decided I wanted some Christmas music while I'm surfing the net so I'm listening to a station from back home. Windfm is one of my favorite stations. They play a great mix of music and this time of year they play nothing but Christmas music! They play the old standards plus new versions. It's so cool! If you want to check it out yourself, go to www.windfm.org. There's place to click to listen and you choose what you want to listen to it on. I listen to it with my headphones when the Arabic or Islamic teachers are in my classroom or without them when the girls are off in another class.

Now if the twins would just go to sleep, things would be great!

Stone Piles

It's almost break! The girls are doing review pages since there are almost half of them missing. I'm sure there will be fewer girls tomorrow. As I thumbed through my copy of The Lutheran Message I came across a story called "Stone Piles and Sand Traps" by Robert Tauber. He talks about going through his dad's things after his passing and finding stone piles. He was comparing them to the stone piles from Joshua 4:20-24 and how Israel had set up a pile of 12 stones after they crossed the Jordon River to remind them and their descendents of what God had done. He began a list of the "stone piles" he was finding in his dad's desk.

Old Bibles- Stones of sound doctrine
Journals- Stones that tell of dependence on God
Canceled checks- Stones of dedication
Old LPs- Stones of devotion and worship
Financial records- Stones of discipline
Old tapes- Stones of discipleship

He said he found no "sand trap". No porn, records of debt, broken promises, only stones.

How many of us,if our loved ones were going through our things, would be able to know that they would find only stones...not sand? I know mine would find plenty of sand (no pun intended...I know I live in Kuwait...I'm not talking literally. LOL) Looks like I have plenty to do in the new year...with help from Elizabeth George and A Woman After God's Own Heart.

It was another elementary assembly today so another time to pray the Lord's Prayer and recite The Apostle's Creed silently. A good day.

WHY JESUS IN MORE IMPORTANT THAN SANTA:
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.
You have to wait in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"
JESUS knew your name before you did.
Not only does He know your name, He knows your address too. He knows your history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on your head.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can o ffer is HO HO HO.
JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.
Santa says "You better not cry."
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree. JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.
Yes, from sin He sets us free!

I received this from an electronic newsletter to which I subscribe. I though it just hit the nail on the head.

I'm so excited...our 3-day week next has turned into a 2-day week. Whoohoo! Eid officially starts a day earlier than they had on the school calendar so we're off a day early.

I'm feeling so lazy tonight. For once, after nights of staying up late to watch the 3rd season of LOST with DH (we didn't watch last night so I went to bed on time) I have energy and don't want to go take a nap. I need to go to the grocery store but I'd rather be home playing my keyboard and blogging in peace while DH has the kids at taekwondo. E takes taekwondo and the twins like to join in. E's classes are Sun-Thurs for 2 hours. This school actually uses pretty full contact, not what he's used to in the States so he's collected a fair amount of bruises. I'm really proud of him...he's learning a lot and really enjoying it.

While playing my new keyboard (OK, used from Friday Market) I was playing through an old songbook from Grandma called "Youths Favorite Songs". It's actually rather old and Grandma and Grandpa gave it to me for Christmas because I'd found "The First Nowel" in it and couldn't stop asking Grandma to sing it with me. I found a hymn in there (we have a newer version in the LBW but who knows what they've done to it in the latest hymnal-if it's even included still). It really spoke to me this afternoon. It's so different celebrating Christmas over here where the more "traditional" things have to be improvised or left out. We have a church to worship in though and our Christmas tree. It's in front of our living room window for all the neighbors to see. Our next door neighbor when we lived upstairs decided she wanted one. I'm sure that would have gone over well in her family. LOL So we have our tree and we have our Christmas CDs and I can tune into WindFM from Springfield online. I sit and listen to it with headphones when the Islamic and Arabic teachers are in the room teaching my girls. Anyway, here's the song that stuck with me this afternoon.

When lights are lit on the Christmas tree, And children sing with glee,
My heart is full of joy untold In Yuletide story old.

At Christmastime we sing in praise, With hearts so light and free,
We sing of Him who bro't us life And taught us charity.

All earth must feel this joy with me, Beneath the Christmas tree,
And may the brotherhood of men, Abide in peace again.

For some really good teaching on Christmas, go to www.oneplace.com/ministries and click on Grace to You. He's having a series on the ugliness of Christmas...it'll make sense once you listen to it. Excellent food for thought.

Have a nice day, ladies.

I'm so sore!!!!

I went to the Friday Market today with DH. It's a huge Indian market where you can find everything including the kitchen sink. Literally. They had sinks for sale there. They have used items...including shoes, stuff you know they dug out of trash dumpsters, etc. and new merchandise. Most of the items were knock-offs, like Casho calculators. I loved reading the names of the colognes...Blueberry instead of Burrberry, Cooc instead of Coco, Chanele or Chamele instead of Chanel, Burt instead of Brut, and my favorite...Crust toothpaste instead of Crest. Now doesn't that make you want to just brush your teeth with the stuff? DH said it was so they wouldn't get sued. I sad, but they won't get sales either. LOL

We got there around 10 something and left at almost 6. My muscles are beyond sore. I'm in serious need of Norgesic AND Ben Gay. I'm going to smell lovely tonight, that's for sure.

Last night we started watching the 3rd season of LOST that I borrowed from a friend at school. I was going to watch more tonight but by the time I got everything done it's too late. Plus E has more studying to do. So I'll look forward to it tomorrow instead.

At least I'll be able to read the Bible tonight. I'm not real good about sticking to it on the weekends...I tend to get to bed too late to stay awake long enough to do it. Not good. I'm trying to follow Luther's suggestion for morning and evening devotions to just get in the habit... say the Lord's Prayer, followed by the Apostles' Creed, followed by either his morning or evening prayer. I only do it about half of the time, but at least that's better than forgetting ALL the time.

A friend posted on her blog about the inane idea of having people just wish Happy Holidays in public places, like stores, etc. instead of Merry Christmas. I agree with her...what holiday is it we're celebrating anyway? There's only 1 holiday on December 25. Other holidays may fall around that time too, but only one is Christmas, the day we celebrate Christ's birth. If we weren't celebrating that, we wouldn't be celebrating anything on the 25th. I live in a VERY Muslim country. My Muslim friends wish me a Merry Christmas. I wish them an Eid Mubarak and they come right back with a Merry Christmas. They're Muslims! They don't celebrate Christmas. But I can go to the supermarket and find Christmas decorations and my Muslim friends and neighbors wish me a Merry Christmas. And Americans aren't allowed to wish each other a Merry Christmas?! Absurd!

I hope this blog finds all of you happy and well and enjoying the CHRISTMAS season! God bless you!

Weekend at last!

It's finally the weekend. Yesterday was parent-teacher conferences at my school. All but one set of parents that had signed up were there (the best turn-out I've had yet) and never before have I had only nice things to say about all my students. I actually had parents who thought I wasn't telling them everything...their daughter had to be needing improvement somewhere. LOL What a nice change from oh....every other school I've been in. LOL

Don't get me wrong...it's my class. There are other classes in my school where that's not the case at all. I have been blessed with the most wonderful girls imaginable. They are terrific. I'm thrilled to have my contract for next year and to know that I'll be in that school next year, but I'm halfway dreading it. After such a high this year what will next year be like? I feel like there's nowhere to go but down. LOL But the Lord will provide. He provided this wonderful experience this year and He'll take care of me next year.

Today feels so strange. We missed church today because E still needs to finish catching up on his studying for exams next week. I feel bad because there was a rehearsal for the Nativity program after the service but I didn't want to risk exposing other kids to his bug and he needed to study. So next week, inshallah, we'll be back where we belong.

DH and I plan to do some Christmas shopping. We'll see how the dog is after her surgery. We may need to postpone until tomorrow. I'm flexible...just as long as we can get it done in time to get things sent home.

Have a blessed day!

On the Mend

E is on the mend now. I took him to the clinic (with your civil ID you can go to a Ministry clinic and for 1 KD see a dr., get meds, and any tests ordered) and he has an infection in his throat (but not strep) from the drainage from his congestion. So he got antibiotic and cold medicine. Claritin works better for him and lasts longer so he'll keep taking that and I'll save the cold medicine he got tonight for the twins since they'll sure to get it next.

It was Jeans Day at school. We all got to wear jeans/denim today. I wore my favorite skirt (lace trim and paint splotches all over it. My students looked adorable in their outfits...not plain jeans for them. They were all dressed up in their denim outfits.

One of the teachers on my hall loaned me season 3 of Lost. I know what I'll be doing this weekend...a lot of cross stitch while I plant myself in front of the TV. Can't wait! I really like that show and hated coming to the end of season 2 when we rented it last winter. It's been almost a year now and I survived. I wonder how many of the cast did. LOL

Well, I'm off to help E study for his exams. Have a blessed day!

General Musings

Ended yesterday with a sick boy. E had a bad cold and was very tired (Baba giving him Nyquil at 4 in the afternoon didn't help much either). This morning his temp was 102. I gave him Panadol and Claritin. This evening it was up again to 103. He's feeling better but still no school tomorrow. Of course his sore throat would probably improve greatly if he'd stop yelling at his little brother and sister.

DH and I took the dog for a walk on the beach. She chased down a cat and almost killed it. She really wanted to. After 3 walks up and down the beach I'm worn out. I'm thinking I might go to bed a bit early tonight. But I have to work with E on his revision for his midyear exams coming up in a week. So I'll sleep during break. LOL

I have to say that even though I'm teaching at a more conservative school...we have to wear longer sleeves, no crosses, more modest dress required than some others with western staff...I'm finding more freedom to study God's Word at school. I have a computer in my room and when I'm alone in the room (or the Arabic or Islamic teachers are in to teach) I can listen to Christian music or teaching (with earphones when a class is going on). I often do while I'm grading papers or making lesson plans. I listen to a Christian station from back home. They started playing Christmas music a couple of weeks ago. I'm hearing old favorites and new ones too. It's great. Of course, sometimes I have to listen to a country station from home too. I keep waiting for the British teacher next door to come in all annoyed but we have pretty sound-proof rooms. Darn! LOL

I also feel blessed to teach with a staff of just nice people. The Islamic teacher for my girls is a very nice lady and we get along well. We laugh together and chat and I really enjoy getting to know her. I don't know the Arabic teacher as well, but she's nice too. She taught a model class for 14 people from the Ministry of Education who came to observe her. She chose my class for the demonstration because, frankly, they're little angels. To show her appreciation, she brought in cake for them today and gave each of them a little gift. They certainly deserved it. They were on their best behavior and had to sit in a freezing room with the A/C turned up full blast. Brrr!

Well, I feel like I'm just rambling tonight. I'm so tired I think I'll just head to bed soon. I hope anyone reading this has a good day.

God bless!

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, died, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The holy catholic church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting.

AMEN!

This is what I recite to myself on Sunday mornings during our weekly assembly. Once a week (Sundays for elementary students) there is a morning assembly. Students are chosen to recite the Quran and then there's the pledge and national anthem. While the students are reciting the Quran I choose to bow my head and silently recite the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. Those are what I believe. I can't understand the Arabic being recited and that doesn't matter. It just helps me to stay focused. If I could understand it, it would make it more difficult to concentrate on what I'm saying. Why the Apostles' Creed? It's what I believe. It's the Gospel in a nutshell. It says it all. Some mornings the recitations go on a bit longer so I should probably work on memorizing the Nicene Creed. Actually it creeps in anyway. I forget the words to the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene steps in and takes over for me until I remember what I'm about. Thank you, N.C.

I'm enjoying this year of teaching. This school is a vast improvement over the one I taught in last year. There's much more work here but it's not wasted, like last year. Each teacher on her own with no appreciable materials (thanks to a very cheap owner and incompetent management). This school has plenty of materials and things are taken care of in a timely manner. It's not perfect, no school is, but it works very hard to do it's best. This is my opinion of my school at the beginning of December. That opinion could improve or worsen between now and June. 

Well, it's off to work on lesson plans and grade papers. I'm proud to say I have my newsletter for next week done and it's in the hands of my aide for translation. That's one big thing off my list and it's only Sunday. Yeah!

The First Sunday in Advent

Today the Bishop of Pakistan and Iran preached the sermon at our church. It was neat to listen to him talk about what's happening in Iran with the church. The Chinese congregation from our church met with us and one of the ladies translated for him. The gospel reading was from the 24th chapter of Matthew.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,[a] but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour[b] your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (NKJV)

He also pointed out the previous verse:
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

He said that confirmation is when we stand up and we know what it means to know the Lord personally. Not our parents or godparents, but WE say what Christ is to us. His words become important to us. There are 3 things we get from vs. 35: 1) None of His word will pass away or prove to be untrue; 2) Jesus is coming soon; 3) We mush be ready! We are between the 1st and 2nd Advent (the Second Coming). His question is: how do we get ready? It shouldn't be hard-we're always getting ready for something. Getting ready for work; for a holiday; a deadline at work. We should make getting ready for the Lord part of our schedule.

He also spoke about the church in China. China is an emerging power. Not just economically but spiritually. Even missionaries from China are coming to Pakistan to spread the Gospel. {Insert big smile here.}

We also had some hymns that I really enjoyed. One of my childhood favorites was the opening hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy. I think the reason it was my favorite was that I always pictured someone with a bunch of holes in their socks. LOL We sang a hymn by Rob Hayward.

"I'm accepted, I'm forgiven, I am fathered by the true and living God. I'm accepted, no condemnation, I am loved by the true and living God. There's no guilt or fear as I draw near to the Saviour and Creator of the world. There is joy and peace as I release my worship to You, O Lord."

We also sang "As a Deer Pants for the Water", another favorite of mine.

The confessional prayer from the liturgy was:

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbor in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen."

After church we went to a member's home to practice for the Nativity program which will be on the 21st. All 3 kids will be in it...if the twins can be persuaded to do it. They're more interested right now in playing with whatever toys are around while the others are rehearsing.

I hope when Sunday roles around this week that you all enjoy your time of worship and prayer as much as I did today.

Wow! I did it! I have a blog!

I'm so excited! I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while now. I didn't think I'd have enough to say, and I may not, so this will either be the most boring blog in history or I'll be livelier than I thought. LOL

I look forward to meeting fellow bloggers (and others) out here. God bless!