Marvelous Monday

Outside our house, the wind is blowing cold and the leaves are off the trees, but in Katie's picture the sun shines warm and the flowers are blooming. And the cats smile.


Katie's math assignment in Singapore 2B today involved recognizing coins and adding them together to equal to reach certain amounts of money. The instructions included the direction, "Continue with this activity until the children understand the concept of the value of money." If only it were so easy!


Katie decided to make gingerbread cookies from Travis's new cookbook today. She did great with the measuring and mixing, and also with the rolling and the cutting. Then Ed and Travis pitched in with the decorating, and they had a good time and ate enough sugar to last them several weeks. (I got to make frosting, clean up, and admire cookies!)


Ed and the kids put the lights and many of the ornaments on the tree this afternoon. Most of the ornaments which still need to go on need polishing, which is my department, but I think it looks very cheerful so far!


Travis did the reading before we lit the Advent candle tonight. It was Isaiah 2:1-5, which I love.

In days to come

The mountain of the Lord's house

Shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths."

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the Lord!