Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Too Funny




Sometimes there are pictures that are just too good not to share! These are a couple of my favorites from our 2008 holidays. The top picture is one Bee snapped at the Dai Loc orphanage party. Tony is with one of the staff there--you can guess, Bee is not accustomed to tall people being in a picture! The bottom picture is Jillian with "Santa Bee." White beard down the front, long black hair down the back, sun glasses and high heeled shoes--I love it!

Happy New Year to all! Praise God for every new day to know, love, and serve Him!




Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Celebrating the Uniqueness of One








(From Dai Loc) Top, down: Decorating the tree; a new sweater; feasting; cheers!

Hello, all--

Before we are totally out of the "holiday season" I wanted to at least begin a report of some of our Christmas activities. In the midst of all the Brewer birthdays, we were able to directly participate in three celebrations here in Vietnam (our helpers in other countries took care of Christmas celebrations in their locations). We hosted two parties in Tien Phuoc (pronounced "tin fook"), a rural region about 3 hours from Danang where jobs are scarce and poverty is rampant. The "human services" director for that area invited 200 children and their families for two parties on the morning of Dec. 21. Since Christmas celebrations are new to this area, it was requested that only Vietnamese attend, so our family helped with the shopping, preparing gift baskets, and loading the van. Then we sent Duc, Linh and Bee to deliver the message and host the parties. Our neighbor, Mrs. Bo, also went to take it all in.

For most of two days, our kitchen looked like a warehouse. We prepared "baskets" in kitchen collanders with some items that these families rarely see: soy sauce, fish sauce, a good quality food seasoning, candy, a small cake, and a toy. We wrapped each basket in plastic for delivery. What a production line we had going! All the girls helped, with Jillian staying with it from start to finish. I couldn't help but smile to hear Elizabeth call out from her work station, "Soy! I need some soy here!" Linh and I handled the plastic wrapping. With more than 200 baskets prepared, we boxed and bagged them in groups of five to keep an easy count for delivery.

Thankfully, Tony found a van driver who agreed to come Saturday night and load the gifts. Because of the distance to Tien Phuoc, the group had to leave our house at 6 am Sunday morning! So we gathered at about 5:30 am in our living room for joyous sharing. The Vietnamese like the Santa suit, although most do not know the stories of St. Nicholas. Duc had purchased a suit last year and brought it along--so, Bee played the role. I told Duc about the man Nicholas, who was known for his love and care for poor children and those who earned their living on the sea--which people here can definitely relate to. Duc shared this information with the children, pointing out that Nicholas realized that each person is created with special gifts and abilities that they can use to be a blessing to this world. Small beginnings...but a beginning, nonetheless!

After the two morning parties at Tien Phuoc, the van returned to our house and we left again at 1pm for a party at the Dai Loc orphanage. In addition to the Vietnamese team and our family, a family from New Zealand (Jillian's friend) came with a teacher-friend, plus four new friends from our bank here (all Vietnamese). Yen opened our bank accounts and has shown much interest in doing something to help children. So, we were a group of 19 with about 60 gifts, travelling by 16-passenger van and two motorbikes. Thankfully, the Lord gave us a beautiful day (incidentally, the last sunny day we have seen).Our friends from New Zealand, Kerri and Russell, provided a small Christmas tree, and prepared craft materials for the children to make ornaments. What a joyous celebration! The meeting room at the orphanage stayed abuzz with chatter, laughter, squeals, and playful activity. The kids used every scrap of material--filling the tree, and decorating the walls and windows. Then we played games. Musical chairs was a big hit! What a noisy, happy time as the children scrambled for a chair. They loved it. Then the younger children (age 8 and under) played "Duck, Duck, Goose" while the older kids played another "rowdy" game. After the games, we gathered back in the meeting room, and I had the opportunity to talk about the Christmas tree and the ornaments on it--we had angels, stars, balls, snowflakes, and bells. These provided a way to talk about our Christmas celebration. Next, it was time for gifts. Two of the orphanage staff had come to Danang several days earlier to accompany Linh and me to the market to purchase warm jackets, sweaters, and a toy for the kids. So, each child had items "hand-picked" for them. You could tell by their excitement how much joy they received along with their present. We also presented the eleven staff members with a gift of warm houseshoes.

We ended our time with a feast. Bee had planned the menu. We had shopped together for the food, which Bee and our girls had delivered the day before by taxi (Dai Loc is only about 45 minutes from Danang). During the party, Bee and the staff were busy slicing, dicing and cooking. What a great meal: soup, pork, beef, shrimp, fish, sticky rice, soda...the kids ate and ate! Throughout the meal, each table would spontaneously count "Mot! Hai! Ba!" ("moat, high, baa"--"One! Two! Three!") and raise their glasses in a toast, followed by peals of deep, unhibited laughter.The spirit of the day was present in love, joy, and hope.

We returned home about 7:30 that night. What a glorious day!

Grace and peace!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Birthdays





















Hello, all--

I wanted to share a little about the birthday celebrations at our house. Jilllian turned 10 on Dec. 9; Faith and Joy were 6 on the 16th; and Elizabeth was 7 on the 18th. This is the first year that Elizabeth has had a party all to herself. She thoroughly enjoyed it. But more about that later.

Jillian had two friends over for her party. They are sisters. Olivia is 11 and Lucia is 9. They are from New Zealand. Their dad works for a bank here and their mother homeschools them. Jillian wanted a "cooking party", so we selected foods to represent each continent of the world. Our menu: Pasta habanero-Europe; Chips and Salsa-South America; candy bar cake-North America; spring rolls-Asia; fruit salad-Africa; banana rolls-Australia; ice cream-Antarctica. The girls washed, sliced, diced and cooked everything. We gave each cook a bib apron and wisk. The food they prepared was our supper, and we invited a few extra adults--the Bos, Duc and Linh, and Dawn, a gal who is here teaching English and who leads the children's class at our church. Jillian said it was her best birthday party ever--the girls enjoyed every minute of cooking. The gift Jillian really wanted was a guitar, so now we have lots of strumming in the house.

For the twins, we invited some children to the house for cake and ice cream, and then took the group to the Big C center to watch the movie "Madagascar 2." Our girls had seen it, but they enjoyed it just as much as the first time, maybe more, since they were looking forward to their favorite parts. We gave Faith and Joy small scooters that they sit on to ride. They love them! They have played and played with them, offering their sisters "taxi rides" on the back. Their cake was decorated with their favorite candy: M&Ms.

Elizabeth chose a puppy theme for her party. We played "Put the Puppy in the Doghouse" (like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey") and had a "Puppy Chow" eating contest. They ate cereal from their dish without the use of their hands. Elizabeth won, with Faith a close second. The kids made puppy ear headbands and dog collars. The cake was...what else? Cut to the shape of a dog bone. We had a lot of fun. Elizabeth had been praying for a guitar, so how could we do anything else. Like I said, lots of strumming going on around here.

Birthday parties were easier this year. People are not so busy during Christmas-time here as in the US. Also, we could have the parties right after school during the week, so we didn't have to try 3 different weekends. I am becoming well-acquainted with the toaster oven, having baked four cakes over the last 10 days--the twins got 2 cakes--one for the party on Saturday, and one with the family on Tuesday (their "official" birthday).I can hardly believe how everyone is growing up. Jillian is 10! And our "babies" are 6! It hardly seems possible.

One of the sweetest moments was after the last party. Joy came to me with a very serious face: "What about Anna Mei, Mommy? When do we sing "Happy Birthday" to Anna Mei?" I assured her that Anna Mei is not forgotten.

I pray that my heart will remain tender and caring like that--to take notice if someone is left out, to want celebration shared, to be aware of others even in the midst of my own happiness.

Grace and peace!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ask (or not) and you shall receive



Top: Joy (left) and Faith (right)
Bottom: Me in the jacket from Bee.

Hello, all--

I hope you are having a blessed holiday season. Four of our daughters have December birthdays within a span of 9 days, so it has been a busy time. I will share about their celebrations after the final party, which is Thursday afternoon. I am so thankful for our toaster oven--after baking four cakes, I am getting quite comfortable with it.

I am not making light of the Biblical directive to "ask and you shall receive." But today I was reminded again of God's goodness to surprise us with expressions of kindness when we do not expect it.

I think I mentioned that after my first trip to the tailor I was thinking about having a jacket made. Because of the mixed results with Vietnam tailoring, I hesitated to spend the money for fabric and labor to have it done. So, as the weather has cooled considerably, I have turned to the only "warm" clothes I brought--three long-sleeved tops. Jillian bought me a large woven scarf that I wear as a shawl, but I had still been wishing I had taken a chance on the tailor.

This morning, Bee arrived for work as usual. Grinning from ear to ear, she gave me her Christmas present--a silky, tan colored jacket. It is just right! I was amazed. What a precious reminder that the Lord sees everything, and knows the thoughts of our hearts.

Later, as we started school, it was Faith's turn to be the "Prayer Leader." Her job was to ask for prayer requests and then lead us in lifting the prayers to the throne. Faith loves to pray. She is always one who reminds everyone at meals that it is time to give thanks. Often, she has asked her dad if she can say the prayer. Still, I was quite surprised today. Joy was the last person she called on for a request. Joy was more quiet than usual. Faith said, "Are you sick, Joy?" Then, without any hesitation, she walked over to Joy, put her hands on Joy's head and prayed, asking God to make Joy feel better. After she finished, she walked around the room, putting her hands on each of her sisters as she prayed for their requests. I was amazed, touched, and inspired, all at the same time. It made today all the more special...it is Faith and Joy's 6th birthday.

Charles Dickens wrote, "It is no small thing when those who are so fresh from God love us." The prophet Isaiah wrote, "...a little child shall lead them." Today, I feel that I understand a little better the depth and truth of these messages.

Grace and peace!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Joy prepares her first Christmas cookie of the season!

Hello, all--

As you may recall, about three weeks ago I was invited to preach at the international church here. With the Advent season starting the next week, the phrase kept repeating in my mind "Let every heart prepare Him room...." Here is an abridge version of the message. If you choose to read it, I hope the Holy Spirit uses it in some way in your life.

When I was very young, our church did not celebrate Advent. Our Christmas preparations and celebrations all focused upon the manger. As an adult, I have felt drawn to a time of preparation in my own heart. Calendars are useful for marking time and for relating the events of the past with the present and future. So, each year, with the coming of the Advent season, I am drawn again into God's story and I find myself on the road to Bethlehem.

You see, before a young Jewish couple could search for a place with room for the infant Son of God to be born, God Himself had to search for a heart with room to bear this most precious and awesome gift. He did not choose a woman wise from experience or revered by the community. Instead, He looked to a young girl, engaged to be married, a lowly bondservant, by her own estimation. Human nature being what it is, we are often people of extremes. Some venerate and hold Mary up to the point of making her God. Others shy away from her. Yet there she is…popping up throughout the pages of the New Testament.

From the angelic announcement of her destiny, to the visit with Elizabeth, to the birth of Jesus, his childhood trip to the temple, his life, ministry, death and resurrection—Mary is there. She is involved in Jesus’ first public miracle: turning the water to wine at wedding in Cana. And we find her at Pentecost in the Upper Room, receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit. I like to think of her as the 13th disciple.

So, what can we learn from this young woman-girl, chosen to be called “Mother” by Jesus? God found room in her heart to play a pivotal role in history.
One passage that tells us so much about Mary’s heart is her song of praise when she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary had recently been visited by the angel Gabriel who told her of God’s plan that she would bear His Son. Elizabeth herself was miraculously expecting a child—John the Baptist. You know the story—Elizabeth’s child leaps in her womb at the sound of Mary’s voice and Elizabeth recognizes the work of God in Mary’s life. Mary responds with what has become known as “The Magnificat”—a hymn of exaltation and rejoicing at the works of God.
The passage is found in Luke 1:46-55, a remarkable song. Let's look at the passage in three main parts: Praise, Purpose and Perspective.

First, Praise. Mary’s first words are full of adoration. “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” At the first opportunity this young girl has to share the wondrous miracle that is taking place in her life, words of praise tumble from her mouth like water released from an open dam. You almost get a sense of gushing here, like she has just been waiting to express the joy of her heart with someone who can receive it and share it. I can relate to that feeling. At the time Tony and I were dating, my mother was very dependent upon me. We actually became engaged on the phone. Hmmm...when was it? Tuesday, July 15, 1986, 9:20 am. Now it’s a story for another time, but I might say that Tony and I had met 7 years earlier. And we had lost contact for 3 years. And then God brought him to teach at a school operated by the church where I was on staff. And almost 2 years after that, we began to date. So I was a little….well, okay, deliriously happy about our engagement. However, I knew that my mother could not share my joy. For her, it meant the loss of income and companionship. So she was not the first person I told about the engagement. Instead, I waited until I could visit a motherly-type woman in our church. When I got to her house, I spilled the news in a flood of excitement. I wanted the first person I told to be someone who would be happy with me.

“My soul exalts the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” In these two words, “soul” and “spirit”, this verse captures the full meanings of the Greek and Hebrew words that encompass the whole of the mind, will, emotions, disposition and personality. A phrase that most closely expresses their meaning is “heart-life.” It also gives us the key to the Scripture’s admonition to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). A heart that exalts the Lord, that focuses on praise, that has eyes turned off of self and on to the worthiness of our great God…that heart will find reason to rejoice. I would say it is impossible to truly lose oneself in adoring the all-loving, all-merciful, all-powerful Savior and not be moved toward rejoicing.

Mary continues…”For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.” Did you know that God has regard for you? That he looks upon you with favor and with partiality? Do you know deep in your heart that he has compassion for your situation and circumstances? The word for “humble” here means “cast down in circumstances or in disposition.” No one else may be aware of what the struggles of your heart are, but He is aware. He has regard for you: he sees, he knows, and he is partial to you.

“For behold, from this time on all generations will call me blessed.” I find this to be one of the most interesting statements in this passage. It is most certainly a statement of faith. Think about it. Mary--a young woman, engaged to be married--suddenly turns up pregnant. The Bible tells us that kind-hearted Joseph intended to “put her away quietly.” Saying “yes” to God’s assignment cost Mary dearly in the way people viewed her—people that she loved, trusted, admired. The people in her community probably had several words to describe her, but I doubt that “blessed” was one of them. It’s kind of like being informed that the grand prize you have just won is a free root canal. You may need it. It may benefit you. But there is some pain involved. Yet Mary had spiritual insight. The word blessed means “indwelt by God and thus fully satisfied.” I love that. Listen to it again. To be “blessed” means “to be indwelt by God and thus fully satisfied.” The approval of others pales in comparison. Praise is the backbone of confident hope.

The second section of Mary’s song centers on Purpose. She boldly proclaims the Word of God, quoting directly two verses from the Psalms, and giving a prophetic glimpse of the work of the coming Messiah. There is a feeling here that Mary knows that this monumental event, the coming of the Son of God as a baby, is not about her. It is the fulfillment, the culmination of God’s promises of help, victory and salvation.

“His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him,” she begins, quoting Psalm 103:17. “He has done mighty deeds with His arm.” In Hebrew, the arm is a symbol of strength, power, ability, and glory. What imagery for us who know “the rest of the story”—that the Sovereign Lord, full of strength, power, ability and glory-- would willingly stretch His arms the length of a cross to accomplish redemption.

“He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed.” These prophetic words speak of a Savior who will turn things right—bringing down the proud, all those who trust in themselves as “self-sufficient.” The words here, too, bring to mind Jesus’ statement in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

The final section of this passage shows Perspective. Mary perceives a “grand scheme of things.” The Holy Spirit has revealed to her heart that what is occurring is a fulfillment of the ages. What was promised centuries earlier is now coming to pass. Verses 54 and 55 say, “He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary has not lost sight of the fact that He remembers His people. They are a fixture in His mind. All His activities throughout history have a backdrop of His lovingkindness. He has promised, and He will not forget. When you are discouraged, or weary, or disappointed, remember: there is One who is remembering you. He bears you in mind. Always.

So then, even if the framework of Praise, Prophecy and Perspective is helpful for understanding these verses, we are still left with the question: What kind of heart prepares room large enough to embrace a destiny of God’s design? I would suggest five qualities from this passage, that might help us prepare Him room in our hearts this Advent season.

First, Mary had a heart that refused offense, even if offense was understandable and well-grounded. Can’t you imagine the snide remarks, the condemning and knowing looks, the cold shoulder treatment that she must have endured? I have lived a few years now. I am old enough to know that life will offer plenty of opportunities to take offense. I can receive the offense, and let it grow into festering anger, bitterness, disillusionment, self-pity, and envy. Or, I can refuse it. I can give my hurts to my Savior, who understands them so well. When I do, my heart grows a little larger. I have given Him room.

Second, Mary’s heart showed that she had a God-given wisdom to recognize real, lasting, eternal treasures. More than once we read of her in the Scriptures, “Mary treasured these things in her heart.” She refused to be caught up in herself, or her circumstances. Her focus is always outward and upward. When we embrace the call of God with total surrender, we are free to see and experience so many treasures that we would otherwise miss. We “prepare him room” by giving Him full control and by treasuring the fact that He would choose us as His vessels. Our hearts are enlarged by the size of the treasure that we hold.

Third, Mary’s heart was focused on the purposes of God. She was fulfilling her role, but the design was His. Our hearts are large enough to receive Him, and to share Him, when we live with the realization that in ourselves, we are like the grass that is here today and gone tomorrow. But in saying “yes” to every leading of the Holy Spirit, we take our place in history. We become “indwelt by God, and thus fully satisfied.”

Finally, God chose a heart in Mary that could bear the cost. Love costs something. It is willing to extend itself, to bear the hurt, to persevere in the face of sorrow and personal loss. The joy of tenderly cradling a newborn Son would turn to anguish as He was bruised, crushed and despised. There is a price to be paid in following Jesus with a whole heart. Many of you know it well. A financial price in leaving careers, real estate, or lucrative jobs to come to Vietnam. A relational price in leaving family, friends, vibrant church communities. A personal cost in the separation from tradition and culture or in relinquishing our own plans. But in bearing the cost, we prepare Him room, for we must open our hearts to His comfort.

Like Mary, a heart with room for Jesus does not depend on social standing, age, education, or ability. It is realized through joyful surrender and trust. God delights in using for His glory those who are small, insignificant and ill-prepared for ministry according to the measures of the world. Gladys Aylward was born in England around the turn of the 20th Century. Her family was poor, and she had to discontinue her schooling as a girl in order to work as a maid. As a young woman, she received salvation through Jesus, and shortly after learned of the ministry of China Inland Mission. She felt the call of God to go to China. She eventually made it there, only to be rejected by her superiors and sent home to England. Still, her call persisted, and though it took her 10 years of working and saving, she made it back to China. Miraculously, the Lord opened one door after another for her to share the Gospel. From merchants, to villagers, to prisoners to orphans—Gladys rose to every challenge, empowered by the Holy Spirit. For about the next 40 years, Gladys ministered the love of God to people of every age and walk of life. Once called a “foreign devil” by the Chinese, her name became “Ai-wei-deh”, which means “Virtuous One.” At the end of her life, Gladys Aylward wrote these words. They show a voluminous heart.

“My heart is full of praise that one so insignificant, uneducated, and ordinary in every way could be used to His glory for the blessing of His people in poor persecuted China.”

You and I can be like that. We can fulfill our role in God’s plan and design. We can say “yes” to all that God has for us, and trust Him in all that we face. This Advent season, we are all on the way to Bethlehem. It is a time when we can ask the Lord to once again to work in our hearts anew that we might “prepare Him room” in our lives.

Grace and peace!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Lock


Hello, all--

One of our routines at night or whenever we all leave the house is to lock the gates. Like most Vietnamese families, we use two padlocks, one for the inside of the gate, the other for the outside. the handles of the gate have a half-circle opening so you can put your hand through to unlock the opposite side.

The locks are heavy-duty. I don't know what they weigh, but it is easy to imagine one breaking a toe if it fell from the lock. They are meant to last. Yet I discovered last week that they need periodic attention, or they will not work at all. A few days ago, I was outside (in the rain) trying to unlock the gate for Bee, who was due to arrive any minute. Usually, this takes only a few seconds. But on this day, the key would not turn and release the lock. I jiggled. I wiggled. I pushed, pulled, turned softly, used force, took a deep breath, counted to 10...then 20, walked back inside, came back outside and repeated the whole process. No success. What would I do if the house was on fire, I mused. It was only about 7:20 am, and the man who repairs motorbikes at a store next door was just opening up for business. I used my new Vietnamese phrase, "Can you help me?" It took him about a minute, but he opened the lock.

Later, when Duc was at the house, I showed him the lock and explained the problem. "It needs oil," he said simply. He too the lock next door and came back in only a moment with the lock in hand, dripping with oil. It works fine again.I got to thinking...the lock needs attention to work. I couldn't help but think of situations in my life where I (or others) have locked up long-standing anger, bitterness or resentment. Sometimes we defend it...I can't help it. It's there and I can't do anything about it. When a wound is fresh, that may be true. But I have a fair amount of experience with offenses. In almost 50 years of life, 22 years of marriage, 33 years of ministry, and hundreds of family and friend relationships, offenses have been given and received. I know what it's like to lock them away, and I know the freedom and joy of letting them go and receiving healing.

Here is what I felt the Lord put in my mind about that lock: If you (or I) want to keep anger or resentment locked away, we will have to work at it. Why? Because the Holy Spirit will occasionally pour His oil on the lock to make it open. We will have to remove the lock from His presence and refuse His help to stop His oil from loosening the lock. Periodically, He will come afresh and offer more oil to release those old hurts, and the wrongs we have been unjustly given. Whether or not to receive His help is up to us.While we say we want emotional healing and restoration, often we do not. When you have carried a very heavy bag on your arm for a long time, there is some pain when you first release it. Still, the pain subsides and your journey is much more enjoyable, the possibilities for activity much more inviting--with the baggage gone.

Today, I am asking the Holy Spirit to pour a gallon of oil on any lock that I have in my heart, to insert the key, and open wide the gates that are keeping in things that should have been out long ago.

If you have refused His oil before, do not fret. His love will not let you go. He will return with a new flask. Surrender the lock to Him with complete trust. Freedom awaits!

Grace and peace!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Decking the Halls

Thanksgiving leftovers in our new oven! Yum!
Elizabeth lit the first candle on the Advent wreath. Anna Mei is wearing the extra purple tinsle. :)

Tree assembly. It was night--you can see Tony's motorbike parked behind him in our living room!


The train. Faith's "Little Guy" is in the brown car.



Anna Mei works with the ornaments.

Just finished!


Hello, all--

Hollywood, move over. Danang has a definite shot at becoming a Christmas-time tinsel town! They love the stuff here. Traditional gold and silver tinsel garlands, but many other colors, too--red, green, blue, purple, even pink! All of it thick and shiny with little silver stars and package shapes throughout.We were able to get a tree--artificial, of course. I haven't seen a live evergreen tree here. But every store sells artificial trees of various sizes. One about 5 1/2 feet tall is around $20, but the big ones can go up to $100. Many ornaments look like those you would find packaged at WalMart--shiny, covered with glitter, etc. Thankfully, they are plastic--it would be disaster on all these tile floors.

Jillian and Tony worked together to assemble the tree. Elizabeth jumped in occasionally. Anna Mei was working on ornaments. They do not use hooks here. Each package of ornaments comes with gold or silver thread to tie on each ball. It is very time consuming. I let Anna Mei experience it for a few minutes before I brought out a package of paper clips--much easier to make our own hooks. There are many kinds of tree lights, but all white strands are not very popular. Multi-colored strands are plentiful. The are made to blink, so our tree pulsates with color from top to bottom! We will have to make an angel for the top. Star tree-toppers are common, but there was not an angel to be found anywhere (neither was there anything that directly portrayed the nativity).

Tony surprised us with a battery operated train set. It was a special joy to me. I have always wanted a train to encircle the tree--even when I was little, but we've never had one. Until now. The engine even puts out little puffs of smoke. I never tire of watching it round the track. The girls love it. A variety of tiny bears and other toys have even taken a ride.

While we were decorating, Tony had another surprise. Somewhere in Danang he had found a DVD of the Cedarmont Kids singing Christmas songs. (For those of you who don't know, Cedarmont is a church in Tennessee that has a children's choir that presents professionally done DVD's of songs with costumes, filmed in different locations.) After decorating, we watched a DVD that I ordered long ago and then hid away. It was a presentation by Ballet Magnificat entitled "A Christmas Dream." The ballet used the music from the Nutcracker, but had a story line directly related to salvation in Jesus. It is beautiful. We had hot tea and sweet crackers. It was a nice family evening.
I made an Advent Wreath, using some green and purple tinsle. The girls have enjoyed learning about the prophet's candle this week.

A funny thing today--we have been learning a couple verses of "Silent Night" in school. I have a song visual with the words printed with large pictures. Today Elizabeth was actually reading the words off the page, instead of just singing from memory. I heard her sing, "Round yon Virginian...mother and child...." So sweet and sincere. Too cute.

Jillian and Anna Mei can hardly stay away from the new oven. Yesterday, they mixed up a concoction of eggs, milk, flour and sugar and made their own version of cookies. Today, Tony and I had to go to the bank together and the girls were here with Bee. Their creation today focused on baked mayonnaise. We have had to make a "no cooking" rule when I am not home. Between the oven and the gas stove, too many mishaps can occur. I told them not to fret, though. As soon as I can purchase more flour, butter and sugar, we will make some Christmas cookies. We can't wait.

Speaking of our trip to the bank, a couple interesting things happened (at least to me, they were interesting). First, Tony signed his whole name on one document, instead of first, middle initial and last. The poor teller almost went into a panic. He had to sign with the middle initial 4 times to get our business done. Secondly, most banks here have high stools at the counters for customers to sit in while making transactions with the teller. Tony and I were standing, but I had my hand on the back of the stool. The woman behind us in line was curiously staring at us and she moved in and actually held my hand. I could tell she meant no harm, so I just let her hold it. Still, I chuckled inside myself thinking how uncomfortable this familiarity would seem in an American bank. Service at the bank is rendered according to number. You take a ticket when you enter. There are more than a dozen windows, so numbers being served are above each window, plus a lady announces over a PA system the number being called up. I was pleasantly surprised--I recognized her Vietnamese message with each announcement and knew when our number was called, even before it was posted on the sign. I think Tony was impressed. Ha!

I have the opportunity to lead worship singing at our church for the month of December. Our regular worship leader is going to her home in Australia for several weeks. I am blessed to take part in this avenue of ministry.

Just as I was finishing this message, I received word that the youngest son of my first college roommate was killed in a car accident over the weekend. He was 19. Please pray for this family. It is a terrible tragedy.

May we invest every day in God's kingdom, walking the path He lays before us, that we may have confidence of His presence, care and love in every circumstance.

Grace and peace.