Day 12: Shopping

Well day 12 is here, which means we are halfway through our 24 "Days of Christmas."

In case you missed it, we are counting down the days until Christmas with some sort of event each day. The events are mostly tied to the true meaning of Christmas (the birth of Christ), although there are a few "just for fun" events thrown in there. This is to teach our girls the true meaning of Christmas before they are too exposed to the world's view.


Tonight was "Go Shopping." While this is something we usually do at Christmas (or year-round, really), we pointed out that the reason that we give gifts to each other. God gave us the most wonderful free gift of all, a way of salvation. It is free because we cannot earn it, we cannot buy it. All we can do is accept it.

Tonight the girls bought a gift for "Baba" (grandma), and for Auntie Lisa, so we cannot show you what they bought!

Day 11: クリスマス歌

Day 11 was "Sing Christmas Carols."

The girls don't really know many Carols. Maybe the tune to Silent Night.
(that explains the look of "excitement" on their faces!)


So this was more about exposing them to the rich heritage and traditions of Christmas Carols.

Plus it was a good chance for us to practice them in Japanese too.

We also read a devotion as it was "Family Worship Night."


This is a kids devotional called "Leading little ones to God."
It's a little dated, but good. It is simple language that they can understand.

Day 10: Apple Cider

Nothing better on a cold Autumn day than a nice cup of spiced apple cider!

'course, this being Okinawa, the temperature was 24 degrees still (about 70 F).

Plus you cannot buy cider here, just apple juice. Still, heated and spiced with some nutmeg and cinnamon and you could hardly tell the difference.



Emi liked it. Mika though, well she was more interested in the "pig hat."

Day 9: クリスマスの本

Day 9 was a Christmas story.

I did not say THE Christmas story, but A Christmas story.

So really, any story about Christmas would fit the bill.

However, Debe found this great book called "Room for a Little One."

Basically it is the birth of Christ from the animals point of view. Plus it teaches sharing.

Girls loved it!

New Family Photo

Decided it was time for a new Family photo.

It isn't often that we have everything ready:

• Camera not lost? (check!)
• Batteries charged up? (check!)
• Girls not looking like homeless waifs? (ummm, pretty good, I guess)

Well, here it is:

Just for fun, here is the first shot:

Day 8: Snowflakes?

What do snowflakes have to do with Christmas?


A lot, really. Not only is it cold and snowy (in some places), but if you think of the classic Christmas stories (Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch), they usually use snow as part of the plot somehow.

More importantly for us though, is the fact that no two snowflakes are the same.


Just as no two people are the same. "What about twins?" you ask?
Twins may look alike, but they still have their own characteristics (fingerprints, personality).


So, just a reminder that God made each of us individually.

I love the Stephen Curtis Chapman song "Fingerprints of God", which makes this same point.
Not only are we made individually, but God wants to continue to shape us and mold us.
Pretty cool, I think.

- Psa 139:13 -

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

Day 7: Stockings

Today we hung stockings.

We mentioned the story of St. Nicholas.

You're probably familiar with the legend of how he would anonymously leave money in socks left to dry by the fire.

It's a nice story. I hope it is true.

Anyway, it is fun to do stockings!