Over the Moon with Joy

2012-01-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

Wondering if any of you my friends and readers are into couponing. Everyone who bumps into me tells me that I should jump in and become a couponing girl. As I mainly shop in Sam's Club (versus a normal grocery store-well for the past 5 or so years)...I am not sure about coupons anymore.

Anyone feeling like they want to pass me some beginning tips-that would fast pace me to couponing genius?

I'd love to hear from you on this, come on don't be shy all of those of you who are normally so quiet! There is hidden talent awaiting to surface and be shared...won't you?

I'd love to get groceries for virtually free...

but where is a Mama to begin?

Bible Study Helps

2012-01-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

Blue Letter Bible

I highly recommend this wonderful site. It is full of all kinds of helps for studying your Bible. If you want different versions of the Bible at the touch of your hand, just click away.

John

If you click on John you will see small blue squares with a letter in each box. The first letter in the top row is a K. This stands for Treasury of Scripture Knowledge-Basically this pulls apart words and phrases that are also found elsewhere in Scripture.

Next is a C- this stands for Concordance and it is also a Hebrew/Greek Lexicon. A Concordance is a great study tool it takes every single word (in alphabetical order) and tells you where you can find it in scripture. It can help you locate a verse that you don't know the chapter or verse for. The Lexicon feature allows you to look at each word (by their number assigned to them) in the original:
either Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament).
I love this feature and use it all the time.

The next handy-dandy letter is L, this leads to commentaries, both in audio/video and in written study form. As you can see there is a drop down bar located to the top....click on this and scroll to find what would help you in your study, highlight it and click on GO!

Next tiny icon is a musical note...this leads you to music/hymns. Again this comes to you from a long drop down menu- click on it and highlight your choice, click Go to arrive safely at your destination ;-) Not all verses have this option available.

The V button gives you various translations and versions of the verse you've chosen.

I am showing you John 1:1 in various translations.

For other versions (like the Amplified version- which Joyce Meyer uses, or The Message...) I like Biblegateway.com. You use the pull down menu bar near the top of the website, click on the little blue down arrow (next to the search bar) and it will drop down all the translations they offer.

And last but not least is the Dictionary Aid icon. This will bring a drop down menu for your verse and let you dig a little deeper in other texts (encyclopedia's, topical Bible...)

Hope this helps you dig a little deeper into the Word.

2 Titus 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Prayer Request Sunday

2012-01-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Gathering up prayer requests...
do you have any?

Sharing my heart:

I found out yesterday that my beloved Picnik (photo editing site) is closing down as of April 19th.

I am heartbroken, as it was a source of such joy for me over the past several years. I found it a release of the pent up artist inside of me. I loved tinkering with their program and truly loved it. Oh how sad I am.

Prior to using Picnik Premium, I dabbled with Photoshop Elements. I didn't enjoy using the Elements program, because honestly I just couldn't figure it out. Back then I had a friend who tried to walk me through it, but even then it was a huge struggle to end up with what I wanted.

Would you pray that I would be able to find some other program before this online one is no more? Something that will let me use the artistic side that God has blessed me with, but one that won't rob me of hours of time.

And just so you know, when my 20 year old daughter told me yesterday I cried. Yes, I know that there are far more terrible things that people go through, but this is like losing a dear friend whom I love.

I pondered closing up my blog, as most of my pictures get a few moments being tweaked before their deposit here. It makes blogging more fun for me.

I am in prayer asking God if my time is up...perhaps?

Or maybe in His love and mercy He will send me a Photoshop mentor (knowing instruction manuals don't really work for my visual artistic learning style.)

Your Best Quality/Characteristic?

2012-01-21T06:12:00.000-08:00

I am reading The True Measure of a Woman by Lisa Bevere, which a friend kindly passed on to me yesterday. As I lay in front of my fireplace long after all children disappeared into their beds, I came across these questions that left me wondering.

1. What do you consider the most valuable quality about you?

2. What is your most unique characteristic?

I suddenly froze up mentally and couldn't come up with anything. My Knight sat in a chair a few feet away, busy in his own reading, so I decided to not interrupt this precious quiet time he was enjoying. However, I sat before the Lord asking Him what the answers could be. I haven't heard anything yet, but wonder if answering these questions come easily to you?

Guess What God Did!

2012-01-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I shared this.

At the end of the day I decided to call the company the young man worked for to see how he and his finger were. A sweet receptionist answered and giggling told me the young man's name was Jeff and that his finger sealed up just fine! He was able to proceed on with his day, without missing a beat.

Now the funny thing is that I just said he cut his finger at my house and I was wondering if he decided to go get stitches (and if he was okay now). She used the word "sealed," when talking about the gash in Jeff's finger. It was the same word that I had prayed over Jeff that morning in my bathroom, as I laid my hands on him.

MY GOD SEALED UP JEFF'S FINGER!

We asked Him and He did it!

Yahoo! Isn't that amazing! Wondering how Jeff is processing it all, considering his response when asked if he'd like me to pray was, "Yeah, that would be good."

Dancing and rejoicing that I got to see a miracle...it's my first, but now I kinda like it and am ready to jump back in! God sealed up that young man's hand, why? Because we bowed our hearts toward Him and asked in the name of Jesus, how cool is that!!!

John 14: 12-14

Most assuredly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do,

he will do also; and greater works than these will he do;

because I am going to my Father.

Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do,

that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

...but I am ...Only a Homeschooling Mama

2012-01-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

subtitled:

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
WHERE GOD HAS PLANTED YOU!

I've got a cool God story to share with you today.

This morning 2 guys showed up at my house to fix my water system. The older guy who was the leader of this team, well his name was Mike. The second man was just barely into his twenties I'd say, and didn't share his name. Both men were super polite and smiley.

I pointed them in the direction of the water filtration system and off they went. Up and down the stairs they came, gathering more materials from their truck. My kitchen was filled with homeschooling children, the men took notice, but kept about their work.

Then the younger man appeared, he was clutching his left hand and there was blood. He quietly asked for a Band-aid. I looked at him and said, "Hold on I will be right back." I tipped my head over the stairs and asked what size Band-aid he might be needing."

He replied that a couple might be good.

I bolted upstairs, leaving him standing there with my younger children. I came back with a package of Band-aids and told him he should wash it well first (hey, I am a mother!)

He said it would be fine, but he was a bit shaky. Which is funny, because it is usually me that is shaky when blood is the topic of conversation or is coming out for all to see.

I pointed to the bathroom and grabbed him some paper towels. As he washed his finger and began to dry it, I told him I was a Christian and asked him if I could pray for him.

He shyly smiled, but nodded and added, "That might be a good idea."

We both bowed our heads in my bathroom, I laid my hand on his shoulder and called to the One who could stop the blood flow and let this sweet young man go on his day without a trip to the E.R. My prayer sounded something like this:

Father,

I thank you for this day and that you are here with us.

I thank you that you can seal up this finger and allow my friend to go forward with his days work. Lord, I thank you that you are able. I pray that you would bless this young man.

In Jesus' name amen.

The Band-aid was rather bloody. I asked him if he wanted me to take a closer look at it, to see if he might truly need some stitches. He said if it didn't stop that he would go get it stitched up.

I offered to take him right now, so his friend wouldn't have to stop their work plans.

He smiled widely, but said, "Mike can take me if I need to go." I think he smiled because he knew I was ready to grab the keys and take care of him.

I told him he could leave- my job wasn't so important now.

And that was that.

When he came back up I offered him some ibuprofen, but he said he had some in the truck. He apologized for having a mishap so early in the morning. I smiled and said he was more important than my water problem.

Some days I feel like my field of influence is so small. Sometimes it feels like it doesn't even exist, but this morning the Holy Spirit allowed me to plant seeds in these two peoples lives. Today God gave me Kingdom business right in the place where so much everyday routine happens. Today He gave me the nudge to go beyond the band-aid to this young man's heart.

Today I said yes and am so glad I did!

And i smiled real big just thinking about that.

A Little Patience Please God

2012-01-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

I pray for patience because if I prayed for strength,

I just might kill somebody.

I heard this last week and cracked up.

Parenting is the hardest job I ever had. It is one that doesn't give you any holidays and rarely do I find time for a break. I hustle from the moment my feet hit the floor (which is why sometimes I am slow to put my feet down on the floor ;-) Many mornings I lie in bed and pray. I ask God to help me through the day, to help me to train my children wisely for Him. I pray for insight into their hearts, never mind the solutions to the math problems of the day.

Sometimes if I am really struggling to get out of bed, I pray that Starbucks will hurry up and get the pipeline to my bedroom. (Hey...they have a pipeline for oil in Alaska!)

This bridge photo reminds me that though I've hit a tough spot in parenting this last year, that God has a bridge coming. This said bridge, will take me from some troubled parenting times, and will bring me safely to the other side; to a place of peace and blessing.

My bridge has a name. Do you know it?

My bridges name is Jesus.

My trust is in Him.

He promises to give me wise counsel, He is praying for me as He sits beside our Father.

He enables me to walk out this calling of mothering 8 children.

He knows my broken parts; as well as theirs.

This bridge is solid and is trustworthy.

He has set my path (even when I am going through hard times)

and promises to never leave me or forsake me.

Can someone say Hallelujah!

Don't get so busy that you forget to call out to Him for help.

Don't forget that as you are speaking to Him (that is what prayer is),

that He is strengthening you for the day's path.

Luke 1:78-79

(from the HNV Bible)

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;

To guide our feet into the way of shalom."

2012-01-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

Anything we can pray about?

Do I Need a Rice Cooker?

2012-01-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Do any of you have a rice cooker?

Do you use it?

I am pondering getting one- any suggestions as to yeah or nay?

A confession: I am not the best rice cook.

From the Land of Vague

2012-01-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

Transparency is a gift.

Often times I catch a moment or two to read a few blogs, sometimes I have stumbled upon them, sometimes I am lead strongly. Many times I wonder what is going on behind the facade of words. Where is the pain stemming from, what is it that they are hiding.

I am one who wonders. Actually my Knight says he doesn't know anyone who ponders or uses the word ponder more than I do. I often ponder what is hurting the person behind the post. The one who dares to have a blog, yet continues to dig and hide behind vague entries that allude to trouble or difficulty in life, yet refuses to actually hit the nail on the head.

I do understand one must be careful sometimes with what one reveals and to whom it is revealed. However, I do think there are many times we need to be transparent, so we can minister or be ministered to.

There I said it.

I hope that this will touch some who find their way here, to my own pile of words and pictures. I pray that as you read this, if this is you and you feel the Spirit nudging you to move into the opportunity of transparency, that you will heed the nudge.

Words can bring life.

Lack of words that are honest can bring imprisonment.

I encourage you to take a good hard look at what it is or isn't that you are sharing. Could there be something that you should be sharing that could benefit someone else? Is there something that you need to share, so that you can get it out into the light so it stops controlling you?

I know there is someone who needs to hear this. I am going to go listen to God and see if there isn't some way that it might be me that He is asking to be more transparent.

transparent: definition from Noah Webster 1828 dictionary

1. Having the property of transmitting rays of light so that bodies can be distinctly seen through.

2. Admitting the passage of light

now to get it so it is really clear...

Matthew 5: 14-16 (The Message Bible)

Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Prayer Request Sunday...A LITTLE BOY WENT HOME TO Jesus

2012-01-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year all my friends.

Hard to get my mind around another year rolling in, but alas they seem to be coming hard and fast. I hope you enjoyed your end of the year celebration and that you are ready to embark on an exciting New YEAR!

Do you have any prayer requests? Let them roll and we'll jump in and hold them up together before the Lord.

I have a request myself, would you join me in praying for my special friends Laura and Ian? A few short days before Christmas their 4 year old Josiah, went into the arms of Jesus. Would you hold them up before God, as I can't imagine their pain in losing sweet Josiah.

They are such a beautiful family- I know you will love them too! Please let them know you are praying for them...it will bless their hearts I am sure.

On Becoming A Teenager

2012-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Princess Sunshine:

She entered our life as a very broken 3 1/2 year old girl.

She was so tiny, so fragile and so unsure of adults.

She had been taken from the only life she knew by state officials, who came to be her parents,

until adoptive ones could be found for her.

The Spirit of God came to us...

He called us to make her ours.

We heard Him clearly- from youngest family member to oldest.

We first met her without her knowing who we were. We were allowed to take her in, without fear to enter into her heart. We walked slowly, ever so slowly towards bringing her into our home. Moving her from all she had know, brokenness, hurt and neglect...to a place where she could bloom into all she was created for.

She slowly allowed us to love her.

She slowly, ever so slowly began to offer her heart to us.

love came, in bits and pieces. Love came and showed us how to reach her. Our girl has been like a present that was wrapped in many layers, the first layers were dirty and torn. But with each new layer a new level of glory has been revealed to not only us, but to her as well.

God has a beautiful plan for her life.

He promises to bring her life and life with abundance.

He knows the plans He has for her and they are not to harm her, but for her good.

She has given her heart not only to her Papa and Mama, but to the One who formed her in the womb of another. She has learned to trust Him.

He surprised her with the arrival of healing for the deep places that were wounded within her, with her Ethiopian older sister. Their love for each other was the touch of God that moved our sweet blond girl to wholeness. They choose to spend most of their time together, their hearts are knit together in an amazing transforming kind of love way. The kind of way that could only be orchestrated by God Himself, to which we are so grateful.

Happy 13th birthday 'Siddy Dirl'

(when she arrived she had a pretty large speech problem-

which disappeared as we held her, loved her and pressed into God together-

Expecting His Goodness!)

God has amazing, wonderful, surprise filled plans for you

sweet girl-

can't wait to see what surprises He has in store to bless you with.

2012-01-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

Something that struck me as I was up to my elbows in sudsy dishwater.

You never know who your life is going to influence.

You never are sure who is watching you and taking your life in.

Which got me to thinking that we need to be intentional in our living. We need to not be time wasters or unintentional people. We need to wake up and realize that there are people to influence for God's Kingdom. Our lives have the ability to even do so without words, just by how we choose to live and what we do with our time.

Kinda scary, but totally cool.

I want to influence those God sets in my path for Him. I desire that my life is lived in a way that it draws others to wonder what it is that I have that they don't. I hope that God gives me opportunities this year to lead others to Him. My being a Christian is something powerful, something that should draw others. We aren't called to draw out darkness, but just to live as the light.

364 days left in the New Year...

hoping to make great use of each of them!

Want to join me?

I Did IT!!

2011-12-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

I Finished!

I started January 1st, 2011 and on December 29th I completed my reading through the Bible chronologically. I loved it, as I had never read it in this order before.

I thought getting through this last few weeks on time was nearly impossible, but I burned the candle late some nights to keep on track. Last night after enjoying a wonderful dinner at my sweet friend Betty's house and arriving home to a sleeping house, I cozied up with a good fat blanket and my last few chapters of Revelation.

Tears were in my eyes as I got to the last few words...

Come Lord Jesus come...

what a wonderful year I had with Him.

I am not sure what I will be studying this year...the Holy Spirit hasn't said much as of yet. I am asking though, as I want to follow His heart for me and don't want to miss a thing. I long for deep and meaty times with Him. I long to have more time in prayer with Him. I long for Him to transform me into His likeness, definitely less of me and more of Him. I want Him to teach me how to give to each what they need from me in that moment. I want to learn to be intentionally present. I want to be a better listener and a kinder friend.

I have a heart full of adoration and thankfulness for what He called me to, that He enabled me to stick the coarse and finish well. I encourage each of you to consider reading through the Word this year. If you've done it before, maybe it is time to begin once again. I honestly was amazed at how it spoke to me afresh this time through.

I pray He uses it all for His glory and that somehow it encourages you too to press in harder.

Come Lord Jesus, please do come!

picture courtesy of my friend Jeff Crandall

Adoption Update from the Three Year Old

2011-12-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Sweet Princess Mercy (3) is quite obsessed with being a big sister. Most days she is telling someone she is now 21. (which makes her older than her oldest sibling). She is weary of being in last position in the family: the baby. She is growing a bit impatient with the wait for her arriving sister.

She says God is very quiet about it when she asks Him when she is coming.

I asked her why she thought He was being quiet.

With a big smile she said very firmly, "Because it is going to be a BIG surprise.

But I am going to be the big sister!"

From my heart:

we continue to wait for a birth mother to choose us. we have given our agency 5 books filled with sweet and tender pictures. The book is filled with beautiful descriptions of our home, each of us, our faith, our heart and our hope. we wait with eager expectation on a phone call from our worker telling us that we have a match. we think that our Princess Peace is still growing and forming inside her mother still. some of us are expecting an April announcement.

God is holding us all in the palm of His hands

and we continue to keep our eyes and our hearts on Him.

Merry Christmas From Our House!

2011-12-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas...

May the Savior reign in your heart now and always!

My friends...

2011-12-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

Sorry I went missing.

I've been so flat out busy with trying to get ready for Christmas, helping to take care of my friend who just had a double mastectomy and also run my home from afar. Don't think I have ever been so tired. My sweet friend is doing well, they think they got all the cancer (YEAH!) and she is resting well.

I miss all of you and hope you are enjoying the last few days before our celebration of Jesus.

Bless you my friends!

Youth Group Dress-up Party

2011-12-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

meet my dressed up girls:

The Queen of Sheba, Lydia the seller of purple and Miriam

They went, they had fun and they were admired.

all in a day's work I guess.

glad my girls were able to raid my closet. don't know if I should be offended, as this is stuff I wear.

well, not the eye shadow ;-)

Homemade Christmas Gift (easy!)

2011-12-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

Handmade Chocolate Covered Pretzels

(easy peasy!)

Grabbed this container at Target

my homemade double-boiler

Putting on the chocolate

The berbere action shot!

Get the kids involved in this!

Oh, YUM!

Recipe:

Pretzel Rods (can do dried fruit too!)

Chocolate (pick the kind you want) We used Ghirardelli 60% cacao, bittersweet chocolate chips.

We used about 2 cups worth.

1-2 Tbs. coconut oil (you could use Crisco shortening if you don't have coconut oil.

Sprinkles

Cinnamon and sugar mix

Berbere (Ethiopian spice mix...kickin' hot)

Chopped up nuts (we used some smashed up peanuts)

wax paper to let them cool on

transparent gift bags

pretty ribbon

handmade gift labels

Make a double boiler if you don't have one. Basically a pan with an inch or two of water that will host a bowl of chocolate above it. Warm chocolate and oil until melted. (stay with the pot...you just want it to melt). Turn it off once chocolate is melted. Put back on double boiler if chocolate begins to harden.

Grab pretzels and baste with chocolate. Making sure to only cover 1/2- 3/4 of each pretzel rod. Allow excess to drip off.

While chocolate is still wet on pretzel, coat with desired coating. (The berbere is yummy. Cayenne would work too.) We tried bits of dried cherries, but they were just too heavy.

Lay out on wax paper, making sure they don't touch each other. Give them time to dry and then bag those beauties up!

I didn't get a shot of ours before we blessed our friend Robin with a beautiful bundle of love!

We used all the left over chocolate to make some Bark. We spread a cookie sheet with wax paper, poured out the remaining chocolate, spreading it fairly thin with a spatula. We sprinkled all the goodies that were left over the top. We set it into the fridge for a few hours and then broke it into bits and bagged it up too!

Merry Homemade Christmas!

What Is Christmas to You?

2011-12-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Do you have a moment?

I am wondering if you can share what Christmas means to you?

Life is so busy, but my heart yearns to know what it is that you are celebrating this season.

What does your preparation look like? Who do you celebrate with? What is your favorite thing about Christmas.

and

If you have a prayer request...I'd LOVE to pray with you this week.

Let's open our hearts and let Him fill us.

Freezer meals (for one or two?)

2011-12-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

I could use some suggestions on freezer meals. I have a friend who will be having a double mastectomy next week, due to cancer. I would love to set her up with freezer meals. Problem being, I haven't a clue.

Any ideas or websites you'd recommend?

She is a single girl and will have need for meals for quite a while I think. I'd love some ideas or pointers. I tried freezer meals on our first trip to Ethiopia...let's just say they weren't really very successful.

Also, can you think of anything she might need? She really hasn't been given a lot of post-op information.We don't really have a clue as what it will be like for her post hospitalization. Have any of you any experience with this? She has been getting some stuff off of the Internet, but still we are feeling like we might not be totally prepared.

A few of her friends will be taking turns in staying with her and helping her until she can manage, but meals would be one less thing to worry about. (I am one of the small list of friends who will stay with her and do whatever is needed.)

I would covet your prayers because being there for her through this is so huge. I want to be able to bless her and walk her through this, but also have to balance my family. I could use prayer. My dear friend would like for us to be able to take care of her (without a nurse)...but not sure if this is realistic or not. I am not sure I am tough enough to handle changing the bandages, but am willing if it is possible.

thanks for your help.

On Becoming the Fragrance of Him

2011-12-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we need to speak to ourselves and replace discouragement (fear) with courage. Sometimes God sends someone to do this for us, sometimes He doesn't. Sometimes we need to just speak it out loud to our souls, which are in process of being saved. (our spirit is saved upon our salvation, but our souls (mind, will and emotions) are daily being transformed (saved) into hopefully His likeness.

Today I spoke courage to my heart. I find myself slowly slipping towards discouragement, slowly losing confidence in what God is asking of me. I doubt, which you know is fear and this of course busts us right off the road of faith.

In a moment of quiet time with the Lord I found myself discovering this in His Word...

But thanks be to God, who always (got that always) leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere (got that everywhere) the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16a

read it in The Message Bible yourself

Hmm.

Guess I need to keep on and do what God has asked of me. Seems that He is wanting to use me as incense (the smell of Jesus) before this world. Some will smell His life, others will be convicted and smell death; their own. I can't control anything but my obedience to Him. I want to be used by Him, I want others to find Him and the life He wants to give them through His Son.

When I was encouraging myself, somehow I forgot to breath deep and smell the fragrance of Jesus that surrounds me. Don't you think that would be the encouragement we all need to do whatever?

Hope you too are en-couraged for whatever it is you are facing.

Prayer Request Sunday-Would YOU??

2011-12-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

I would love to pray for you this week, but I have a request to make of you my praying friends.

Would you, could you pray for my new friend Robin?

The last few posts have been about her and how we met.

God put it on my heart to take her Christmas shopping tomorrow night. God arranged part of the details in getting her a message (the woman who works with her, well her husband came to church this morning and God told me to give him a note, so his wife could give it to Robin on Monday.) I gave her my phone number and AM hoping and believing that she will say yes. I am not sure if she considers me more than a nice stranger yet, I am hoping she is thinking of me as a friend.

You see, I want to introduce her to my family. Every year I go shopping with two friends, one who happens to be my sister in love/best friend and the other is her factual actual sister. They too love Jesus and they too would love to be in on some Kingdom business- so we are hoping to have Robin join us on our annual shopping event. My thought being that if she meets Rachael and Beth, that she would begin to feel more comfortable. Rachael and Beth (and their husbands) go to my church.

Also, we are having a Christmas special next Saturday and Sunday and I'd love to invite Robin and her husband. If she knows me, Rae and Beth...then maybe she would come.

I so want her and her husband to meet Jesus.

God keeps opening gates to her heart...praying she is open and ready for Him to come in and establish His throne on her heart. This morning He even had someone willing to do His bidding in getting her my note and phone number.

Would you pray with me too?

I am banking on God's Word...here is what He has told me..

Where two or more are gathered, there He is in our midst.

If we ask anything according to His will, He will do it.

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God:

that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that he hears us,

whatever we ask,

we know that we have what we asked of Him.

Father;

We thank you for this day and that you have put our hearts together in this place. Thank you for each that comes, I pray that you would move in their lives and that You would show Yourself strong to them this week Lord God. I pray too that as Your spirit leads, that we would willingly follow.

Lord, I thank you for my faith and for being able to believe that Your Holy Spirit is moving in Power in my new friend Robin's life. I ask You Lord to open the eyes of her heart, that she would know you as her Lord and Saviour. I pray that no weapon formed against her would prosper, that the enemy of her soul would be bound and that You alone would be revealed to her.

I pray that you would give me opportunity to lead her to You, that I would be strengthened by You and given wisdom and power to do Your will. Oh Father that she would understand that she is a sinner, that her heart would be repentant and she would be ready to confess you as Lord and Saviour of her life. Father, I ask that You bring her to harvest. Prepare her even now oh Lord God.

Glorify Yourself in me and Glorify Yourself in Robin. We ask all of this in Jesus' Name amen.

Thank you friends...let's love her to Jesus!

Wondering When?

2011-12-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

To get this you need to have read:

part one

part two

Okay, I am nearly bursting at the seams...

God led me to some special gifts for my new friend Robin. It was so fun to shop for her, just imagining her face as we bestow God's love on her.

Funny, some people you know really well are hard to shop for- you can look and look and never be quite satisfied with what you've found for them. However, I just knew in my heart what she'd like. I knew what would bless her. Isn't God cool!

I made it a priority to run errands on Wednesday, so I could offer her a ride home-instead of her taking the bus. And Thursday, my kids have a Bible club they go to, right in the path my Box Girl takes to get to the bus stop. So now we've gotten to know each other 3 times. Time two she was very quiet, I thought I might be annoying her or that she would rather just take the bus. BUT I know that satan is a liar and that he comes to steal, kill and destroy (God's plans)...so I pressed in past what seemed like a wall, trusting God to open her heart.

AND guess what!!

She let me take her for coffee (Starbucks!) before I brought her home. She was much more open and began to share her life with us (I had two kids in tow-my 17 year old and the 3 year old). I found out she is 29 and began to get glimpses into her heart, through how God led our conversations. Exciting stuff I tell you!

After we brought her home the three of us ran to a local shop and went Christmas shopping for her. We located 3 things we wanted to bless her with. I was so eager to just give them to her, I would have seriously drove back to her house and given them to her just then. I so want to see her face and to see how God uses this to draw her to Himself. (my Knight knew I was planning on doing this, he is much more of a generous giver than I have ever been. He encouraged me to go for it, as God led me.)

I instead used self control and decided that I should at least wrap her specially chosen gifts. I also want to give her a Christmas card (a picture of us) with her gifts. I am pondering when to give them. Should I do it today. Should I give them to her one at a time? Should I wait closer until Christmas?

So hard. What do you think?

Ministering to Strangers (part two)

2011-11-30T09:25:00.000-08:00

This post relates to this

I was pretty mad at myself for not remembering the girl's name. I kept asking the Holy Spirit to bring it to me, as it is much nicer to know someones name than to have to ask them again for it. I desired to meet her again and to minister to her heart as God led. I apologized to the Lord for not getting it the first time.

I was sitting in church the following Wednesday night, as I am worshiping the Holy Spirit says to me,
"Ask the woman behind you where she works. Ask her if she works at Crestfield Nursing Home."

'WEIRD,' is what I think, as this is where my box girl works. I haven't a clue where the woman behind me works, but I know her name. After service she has gone up front for prayer, but her teenage daughter is still sitting in their seats. I feel the Lord pressing me to ask her. I go between excited and nervous as I decide what it is I am going to do here.

I turn around and ask her, "Does your mother work at Crestfield?"

She smiles and says, "Yes."

I am in awe. I begin to tell this teen the story of my box girl and what the Holy Spirit did last week with her and I. The teen tries to think if she knows the girl I am talking about. She starts rattling off possible names, it turns out that her mother is the supervisor who trains all nurses aids on this shift, sometimes Jennifer goes along too. I thank her and tell her that I will talk to her mother when she returns, as none of the names ring a bell with my heart.

Can you imagine this woman's surprise as I tell her that the Lord told me where she worked and it was all about finding out this girl's name (which happens to be Robin). She began sharing about her and what a sweet young woman she is. How things are pretty hard for her and her husband, due to finances. She thinks her husband lost his job last year and hasn't found a new one yet. She mentions he is Goth. I am not really sure what this means, other than I know they dress in black and like a particular style of music.

I am excited about seeing Robin again. Excited because God continues to amaze me at how He handles details, especially when we come to Him seeking. I am eager to see how He ministers to her heart and am praying that if she doesn't know Him, that she and her husband will shortly be introduced to Jesus.

Would you pray? I don't want to minister out of my thoughts, but out of His wisdom. I don't want to offend her, but to draw her into His arms. I want her to know, more than anything that she is deeply loved. The Father has told me He has spoken the word, "Chosen" over her. I see it hanging, as a necklace, around her neck.

He knows all the details of their hearts and He cares a great deal about them. I will keep you posted. If you are willing to pray for Robin, would you let me know? I plan on giving her a ride home tomorrow...or maybe today if I can work out the details.

Ministering to Strangers (part one)

2011-11-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

I think sometimes we need to be challenged in our faith. Sometimes we need to venture into new pastures and experience God in a new fabulous ways. Bet you never thought about strangers or ministering to them this way? I know I never spent any time on it. A few Wednesdays ago one of the pastors from my church challenged us to reach out to strangers.

Honestly I listened, but no bells or whistles rang with this point of his sermon, as he tried to encourage us in our faith. It was point 4 and really I was not sure how it really tied into the other 3 previous points, but stuck it in storage for future pondering. (honestly when you sit next to a 3 year old- sometimes it is hard to make all the sermon points clear in one's mind).

Then Thursday came (the week before Thanksgiving). I went to my morning Bible study and during sharing time found myself crying. I think I am not the only one who doesn't like crying or the feeling it leaves you in for the rest of the day. I've never cried and felt better, just exhausted and trashed. So on this day I moved on, deciding to change plans of running errands later in the day, when my kids are at an activity. I dropped them off and go to head for home, with two kids in tow...

Then

Happened....

Here I am totally undone still, no make-up thanks to the big weep and feeling anything but social. The Holy Spirit says to me,( as I pull out of the parking lot drop off 4 kids, still have the 3 year old and the 17 year old.),

'To turn the car around and pick up the young woman,

who is walking down the road carrying a large red box.'

I know it isn't my voice, but the Lord's. Part of me says,

"C'mon really? Don't you remember that I am going home to hide out until tomorrow?"

The Lord says, "Do it, offer her a ride."

To which I turn the car around, tell my daughter to clean off the front seat and that we are going to be picking up the woman with the box (who is walking in the drizzly rain). I tell them God has told me she needs a ride from us. They know that when God speaks to me, that I try to obey, even if it's hard. Here is another perfect example.

My 17 year old doesn't say much, but takes the stuff from the front seat.

(a laundry basket full of raccoon food - for those who are curious).

I pull along side of the girl and ask her if she wants a ride. She looks scared.

(I would be, wouldn't you?)

I point out that I am a mother of 8- thus the huge ship that I drive. AND that two of said 8 are in the car with me. I remind her that it is raining and chilly outside. I try 3 times to convince her. The third time is the charm and she says yes.

As she is climbing in to said HUGE car, tank, she says her name. However, being the driver I am only half paying attention because there are now several cars behind me and I am concerned about an accident occurring. On top of that she can't get her seat belt on. (she thinks it is because she is too big...but she is a skinny tall girl in her early 20's).

I pull over and help her with her seat belt. I ask her where she lives. I was thinking this was the road she lived on, as I had seen her walking home from work every week. (she is wearing a nurses uniform and I know that the nursing home is already a mile back from where we are).

She names off a road and tells me she was going to a bus stop that brings her home. So instead I learn where her road is...we chat along the route. Turns out she lives a few roads behind my husbands workplace.

She doesn't take me the quickest way, but the bus route that she knows. It lets us talk a bit more than we would have been able to otherwise.

She shares she has only lived here for 1 1/2 years. She shares she is from Missouri. She also shares that she too was adopted (I shared about how God had prompted me to pick her up- how I never have picked
ANYONE

up before and how I have 8 children, 7 of whom God has brought to us through adoption).

God doesn't prompt me to do anything else today, just to be kind and offer her a safe ride. Though I think He has a ride in store for her that she is yet unaware of!

We arrived at her house and she thanks me for the ride.

I tell her I really enjoyed getting to know her and that it was my pleasure

(which it was, as it was the highlight of my day!!)

When she got out I asked my daughter to remind me of her name-

she couldn't remember. (we need to work on this!!)

Anyway, not sure what God is working on, but as I know this wasn't my idea

I am excited to see what my Father has planned,

as I know in my heart that we are not done yet.

*I never even thought about what my Pastor had said,

until I got home and then it dawned on me that I had gotten to minister to a stranger!

Pretty exciting...

wait until you hear the next part!!

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-11-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

I'd love to join hearts with you and pray this week?

So what is on your heart?

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

Psalm 107 : 8

Psalm 107: 15

Psalm 107: 21

Psalm 107: 31

(Yup, nothing like repeating something good over and over...

Psalm 107 does this and so should we!)

2011-11-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

I often think of wild horses as I think of things such as Black Friday or the day after Christmas in regards to shopping frenzy (is there a name for this one?)

Although I find great beauty in wild horses, I don't want to be among them as they venture out for savings on such days. Their behavior is unpredictable, certainly not to be trusted or relied upon. I know money is tight for many, but I am just not up for the madness.

As my company left yesterday and I plunked down in the living room in front of the roaring fire. My Knight handed me some of the sales circulars to glance at, as I rested after the big day. I am amazed at those who would venture out in hopes of being one of the ones who lays hand on one of the three available in the store, at its greatly reduced sales price. Three to five available, really?

1 John 2:16

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Hope you enjoy your preparations for Christmas. Let us remember that it isn't about things or gadgets, but about reflecting on Jesus coming to give Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus came not to herd us as Wild Horses, but to offer us life if we are willing to confess our sins and follow him. He offers us freedom and deliverance if we would just come to Him. In order to get there, I think we must rid ourselves of this wild horse mentality that we've picked up from this world. (remember we are to be in the world, but not of it.)

Wild Horses are not what He desires. Beautiful true, but the heart attitude is what He looks for~ you know the humbling of ourselves, dieing to self and loving others.

May we find harmony with Him as we prepare for Christmas' arrival. May His presence fill our homes, our hearts and our preparations.

Psalm 33:17

The wild horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Does this Ever Happen to You?

2011-11-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

Ever have this happen...you keep being bombarded by the same word spoken over and over to you?

Over the past few weeks the word *harmony* keeps coming up before my eyes and ears. I am curious because I've never really heard anyone ever use it in a sentence, besides maybe when you take your marriage vows. I have seen it in every book I am reading, several people used it in conversations with me, even a prayer minister used the words, as he prayed for my husband and I on Sunday.

And, other than the situation with my 17 year old daughter who is currently being difficult (okay downright rebellious), my heart and relationships are in harmony. Peace reigns in my soul, so what's with the word?

Wondering what the Holy Spirit is whispering to me?

Harmony

I don't know if it something for me personally

or something He is speaking to His Church at large.

Any of you hearing the same thing?

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;

be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Christian Parenting....Fruit (part 2)

2011-11-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

this is a follow-up to this post

you kind of need to read it to understand the rest of this...

Don't mind the hand picked 3 year old outfit, which consists of her pj top and rain boots-

this story is the testimony of a prayer warrior.

Two confessions to make before I begin...

1. I am a prayer junkie. I love to pray and I love to receive prayer. I look for opportunities to pray for those around me and I am a firm believer that if you are being poured out that you need to be refilled (spiritually and Spirit speaking). Thankfully at my church we have a prayer ministry team that offers to pray after each service, several times a week I look forward to this refilling and touch from God.

2. I hear from God and I try to follow through (without fear) when He directs me to speak or pray with someone, though it may be a stranger or unusual place to do so.

here begins the story:

We are at my church and the altar area has been opened up for prayer. Before I can begin to clear a way to the front, my 3 year old Ethiopian daughter, Princess Mercy, taps me and says, "Can I ask you a question Mama?"

I slow down and listen.

She says, "Can little girls go up for prayer too?"

I hesitate and begin to think of reasons why I shouldn't say yes to this. Instead I find myself saying yes. (My children have been up for prayer, but usually it is our bringing them up. None of my children have ever asked to go up at age three.)

So there we stand, leaning on each other and waiting for a prayer minister to come. Before long one does and she asks how she can pray. I tell her that my wee one wants prayer. She bends down and her catcher leans in behind our little girl.

The prayer minister asks what she would like to pray about.

My wee one looks straight into her eyes and says, " I have a friend named Miss Wendy, she has cancer. Can we pray that God will heal her and encourage her. She is very sick."

As I hear the words come out of this tiny little body, I am blessed beyond words. I had not asked, but trusted that what was on her heart was worthy of prayer. Thinking it was going to be a rather childish request and would not carry much weight in Kingdom business. Oh, how wrong I was.

So with a gentle amazed heart we all joined together to pray for our Rhubarb friend, Wendy. And God heard.

So parents continue to teach them the way they should go...live it out, Authentic Christianity and be ready for the fruit in your disciples lives. My heart as a parent is to raise servants of the Living God. To raise world changers. Some days we seem so far from this,

but occasionally God in His great mercy gives us a glimpse of fruit!

Restoration

2011-11-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

Parenting is definitely a full hands on project; kind of like restoration. When you restore something you give it back its original beauty and characteristics. Restoration of any sort takes time, patience and a lot of elbow grease.

definition: restore: (from the Hebrew) shuwb

a turning back

a returning

of human relations

of spiritual relations

to answer back
to refresh
to repair
a renewing
strength!

Today as I was picking myself up, after another morning of bringing my heart before God (and before my women friends at the Bible study I attend weekly). I had shared about my current struggle in parenting our 17 year old daughter, who is manifesting a rebellious spirit towards her parents and God. I started off speaking softly, but then somehow lost control and was weeping, rather loudly. Guess I needed to release some of the stuff that is building up on my spirit and soul.

Anyhow I was folding some stuff from my dryer and the Holy Spirit whispered that He is restoring my soul.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul.

He guides me on paths of righteousness

for His Namesake.

Hmm, guess it was a wee bit of revelation that I am in the midst of some detail work done by the very fingers of God. He is bringing me to a place of refreshing and restoring some of what has been hurting. I never really pondered that I am a constant restoration project and that God is so faithful to bring me to the place of full restoration (or as much as He can do this side of heaven).

I hope this too encourages you.
We are in this together you know.

It's All About that Someone Nominated me...

2011-11-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, this may sound goofy...

or maybe that its my birthday

and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by what God did for me today...

BUT

I popped over to the 7th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards for 2011

and was brought to tears...

WHY?

Because somebody nominated me for

Favorite Homeschool Mom Blog

really?

I have been so overwhelmed as of late with motherhood, homeschooling

and such that this just rocked my world.

(mainly feeling like a miserable failure)...

HOWEVER...

Some kind soul (maybe the same person) also nominated me for

Best Encourager

I'm not asking anyone to vote for me, but as this blog has always about me opening my heart to you,

just thought I'd share what an effect this has had on my soul.

Thank you from the bottom of this birthday girl's heart.

AND if you have a few moments and want to discover some great new blogs, click on the links under each category and enjoy a magic carpet ride straight to each blog. I am always amazed at the talent that God has given to so many, the great writing and photography gifts, the beauty of the blogs themselves and the time (I KNOW FIRST HAND) that it takes to make such a blog exist in the first place!

Yes, blogs can suck the life out of you...make you feel inferior OR you can enjoy a temporary escape into seeing what is going on in someone else's life. Sometimes God even surprises you and brings you a fast new friend (not a fake friend, but the honest to goodness real kind that we all crave!!) God sure is up to so very much these days (giggle-giggle!)

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-11-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hunkering down and ready to pray...

after several weeks of the unusual here (see yesterdays post)

I am ready to settle back into a more normal mode

-so prayer it is!

Would you like prayer?

How are things in your life?

from my heart:

stepping out and trusting God, we are shortly entering into a new land with our church body. normally i feel like i am pretty good about trusting God, but today my pastor asked us what kept us from ALWAYs trusting God. Like those times that we don't come immediately to Him, but try to work it out by our own strength. i realized that oft times i do this because i think i can manage control of the situation. i know, tsk-tsk kimmie.

in this new church community, that we will be building inside our body of believers, we will be walking on new ground. ground that hopefully leads us into deeper more meaningful relationships with each other. honestly, we have been suffering from lack of love and severe surface-y relationships. hopefully with all the changes, we will get to the heart of God's command; to really LOVE each OTHER.

that was me...now it's your turn!

Where AM I?

2011-11-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

Sorry to have disappeared for so long, but

Things got rather crazy at our place:

got a new dog!

Her name is Ruby...her owner died, she ended up in the pound.

The owner's best friend retrieved her

(but he already has 3 big dogs)...so he thought to bless us...

we had a visit for 10 days from our oldest daughter's courtin' fellow

(who is in the Air Force stationed now in Washington State)

we had a major snowstorm that left us without power for 8 days

we left for holiday whilest the lights were still out in the homestead

we ventured to Maryland for a week

-a free vacation due to a previous vacation where we had been vandilized

and then given a week anywhere for a *real* vacation

we missed our oldest terribly, she had exams and couldn't join us.

thankfully I just got texting ability and

we were able to write love notes back and forth to each other daily

we are currently unpacking and cleaning up the trees

we lost during the freak natural disaster that struck our state

this is the second time this year that we left for a holiday

while we were totally powerless (not liking this new trend at all!)

Hope to have time to share more...

how are things in your end of the world?

Feasting On His Goodness

2011-10-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

141. For 2 cords of firewood delivered before the first official snow.

142. For marshmallows that I leave on branches in the woods for my 3 raccoons.

143. For dinner over JoJo's dad's house
(our oldest is courting JoJo)

before we all went to church together Wednesday night.
JoJo is currently serving in the Air Force, being trained in structural engineering.
(we are very proud of him!)

144. For a surprise friendship with a woman named Betty who is a recent widow.

145. For Betty who is happy to have me for her friend and is quick to say so. Oh how much we love spending time together (did I mention she took 3 of my younger children for Saturday, while I was away ...)

146. For a weekend away with my Knight (last weekend).

it was our first weekend away in 4 years.

(without ANY children).

147. For my children who took over the command with ease.

148. For finding a new Italian restaurant we loved while we were away.

149. For our friends Lou and Brenda that blessed us with their beach house for our getaway. Lou has gone to a Bible study with my husband for years and years.

150. For
a man who will fill his pockets with sea glass & shells for me,

and waits patiently

while
I snap what seemed like a thousand photos of the ocean.

Non-PAID Movie Endorsement...

2011-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Just came back from

COURAGEOUS

RUN...

it will be out of the theaters soon...

Grab the man in your life and let God speak LOUDLY to your hearts.

*and I go to see movies once every great while...so this is from my heart and not from my movie frequent flier pass, that is encouraging you FIRMLY to go.

(if you can't go with your guy...buy him a ticket and let him go alone...seriously!)

HONOR so does begin at home.

Christian Parenting....Fruit!! (part 1)

2011-10-20T04:38:00.000-07:00

A little story for those of you who have time:

(it's a God story!!)

In July I began making jam, after finding some old canning jars that were too lovely not to fill. I tried many kinds of jams and marmelades, then I moved on to recipes with rhubarb. But my garden rhubarb didn't yield enough for my need, so I ran to several stores, but alas they had none. The sun was beginning to fade across the summer sky, when I heard the voice of the Lord.

He said, "Go down the road, to the house that has rhubarb growing by the road (in their garden). Ask if you can buy some from them."

Okay, as my kids were in the car after an afternoon romping at the lake, I told them what God said to me. I told them I thought it was scary and I didn't think I had the courage to do it. Got to love my kids, they began yelling, "Yeah, LET'S do it!"

So I drove past our street and towards the garden a few more miles down the road. I wasn't sure which house it belonged to, so first I tried the one way in the back. My 16 year old came by my side, as the others waited with baited breath to see what would happen. No one came to the door, so I backed out the long driveway and tried the small house closer to the busy road.

As I knocked at the door (again with my 16 year old daughter at my elbow), a woman came. She was tall and weathered, definitely poor. I apologized (profusely) and said I was looking to buy some rhubarb, but wasn't having much success at the local stores. She said, no problem she would happily sell me some. She called to a man to get her a knife and a bag, he appeared looking very *biker-ish.*

We walked around the back of the house, winding our way to the garden by the road. She made small talk very easily and before you knew it she opened not only her garden to us, but also her heart. She was undergoing treatment for cancer, it wasn't going well. She was 50 and had already lost her first husband to the disease. She had also lost all of her teeth from the chemo. She hadn't even had a cavity.

She said if we lived in an early time my visit would have been quite ordinary, people then were so different and so friendly with each other. She said I would have come in to tea and we would have time to visit.

I looked past her current appearance and saw her beautiful heart. I loved her deeply and her burden became my burden, as she passed me a huge bag of rhubarb.

I told her I was a Christian and asked her if we could pray for her. She said, "Yes, I am a Christian too." My daughter and I lay our hands on her and we prayed as the Spirit had led us." We hugged and thanked her...and went home to make rhubarb.

BUT

Daily we passed Miss Wendy's house and daily we began to lift her up before God. Each of my children knew her story, each would remind me (who often was busy with where we were heading) that we Needed TO PRAY FOR MISS WENDY. Many times it was our youngest (3) who would rally the troops into sweet intercessory prayer on the behalf of Miss Wendy.

We began in July, now it is October and daily this sweet woman has been blanketed in prayer because of our willingness to step out of our comfort zone and follow the Holy Spirit...

(more of the story next time)

In Times of Trouble

2011-10-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

Psalm 89:9

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up,
you still them.

If life seems to be crashing in all around, then stop; still your anxious heart and focus on the One who calms the storms. Put your heart in the hand of the One who calls us to walk on the water with Him. Let's not let the things of this world put their weight on us, let us who are weary give our burden to Jesus.

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-10-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Prayer?

Want it?

Need it?

Just ask, my hands are folded and I am waiting to join hearts with you, in bringing your request before our loving heavenly Father.

Don't be shy, there is nothing that is too small to hand over to Him and NOTHING...no thing,

too big for Him to be able to help you with.

Let's believe Him and seek His face together!!

Homeschool Preschool Alphabet Project

2011-10-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Homeschool refrigerator art...

supplies needed for this project:

A little paint,

some paper (paintable),

paint (I used tempura black and white),

an old newspaper (to cut the upper and lowercase letters from),

some glue (a glue stick works fine),

an old refrigerator magnet

and some googlie eyes

I took a look at a zebra coloring page I found online, then free handed our two zebra's. My 3 year old daughter then chose to paint her zebras (we were working on the letter Z- so we chose a zebra) black, white and gray. We let them dry then cut them out.

We had some old magnets that had seen a better day (but you can buy magnet tape at a craft store) that I chopped and hot glued on to their back sides. My daughter glued down the newspaper letters I cut out (with a little help and an easy peasy glue stick) and then she glued on the fabulous googlie eyes
(who doesn't love googlie-eyes!)

She played with them arranging them on the fridge for several days, while I reinforced the letter sound as she was happily playing with her cute little zebras.

In my earlier homeschool years I would have gone in letter order, but now as an older homeschooling Mama I ask her what letter she would like to learn and we jump from there. If she picks a letter she already knows the sound for (I am working towards letter and sound recognition to begin early reading), then I remind her she already knows that letter and that we should pick a different one. So far it has worked.

She is so cute and so enjoys painting everything in sight.

a typical artist face

I saved an old zip up sweatshirt of mine for our art project days. It is so easy to cover her up with and washes up with the snap of the fingers (okay and a little laundry soap.)

What a fun way to learn our alphabet and what a great way to showcase your child's school work!
When you are done, just label and date it and slip it into a plastic sleeve which you keep in a binder notebook. When the year is done you can marvel at all you did and ALL you learned along the way!

Jesus and Prayer

2011-10-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

This morning as I cuddled on the couch with a hot cup of yummy coffee and my Bible, I came across this passage that I probably have read a hundred times, but this morning the Holy Spirit showed me something new.

Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, who he also designated as apostles...

What I learned from this ...

*sometimes when we have a big decision we need to pull an all-nighter with God (in prayer)

*God speaks to us with specifics, as we seek Him with listening ears and a humbled heart.

*sometimes prayer requires us to separate ourselves (a moutainside).

*which also tells me that wherever we go (safe place or not...I imagine going to a mountainside in the dark is not a place you want to be sitting alone with your eyes closed) you need to empty yourself of your fears and fully trust God.

*sometimes God requires of us (especially when we are making BIG life decisions) a bit of self sacrifice (Jesus prayed, not slept).

*Sometimes the answer comes very specifically by morning (this verse goes on to say the exact disciples that He was to call to His service).

*sometimes we aren't the ones who are picked, but still we must follow with a good heart attitude. (the verse tells us he calls disciples in the morning (many) but then only picks 12). How often my heart has ached for not being 'picked' and how I've had to wrestle with this seeming rejection.

*His inner circle of servants were hand picked by God (following with abandon means God may give you more opportunities to serve Him in greater capacities.)

*a disciple is a student

*an apostle is a messenger

Isn't it funny how much you can pick up out of such a seemingly small verse?

Oh how I love the Word!

A Word from Heaven (training our childen)

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

subtitled:

when your child has a rebellious spirit,

but your prayer is heard in heaven...

I have shared over the past weeks that one of mine has been walking on the edge of a bitter spirit and a hard heart towards God and His Kingdom. My heart has been battling for her and many a night has my soul been overcome with tears.

Yesterday God showed me something He spoke over my life many years ago,
when I was but the mother of two.

Psalm 128

My labor being this work He has called me to, mothering many. I have poured myself out in this calling. I take my mission to heart and daily work to train my children in the Way they are to go. Early on we anoint our children to Him, we dedicate their lives into His loving hands. We ask that they would know Him early (receive Him as Lord and Saviour of their lives) and would never walk a day apart from Him.

The good news is that there is a promise here for me in Psalm 128 (and for you too!) I can trust that I will enjoy this task that I labor at...which is my children in right relationship with Him (and with us). My work is not in vain, but will produce good fruit. I am not going to be discouraged, even when it seems that still there is so much to do, instead I will continue to battle (by prayer) for her heart and will lay my heart firmly on His promises to me.

the devil wants us to be discouraged.
he wants us to quit and throw up our hands.
he is a liar and we need not lock onto anything he tries to convince us of.
he is the enemy of our souls (our minds, our will and our emotions).

I WILL benefit from the fruit of my labor...I will see all of my children walking with undivided hearts before their Lord and their God. How thankful I am that His Word ministers to us, that it is active and alive. Sharing this in hopes that it ministers deeply to your heart too.

Love Israel? A Virtual Tour of Israel

2011-10-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem

I was blessed by a sweet Jewish friend of mine with a link to this awesome website of virtual 3D tours of Israel. It is worth your time (especially if you love Israel), to go on these virtual tours of the Holy Land.

My kids and I enjoyed an afternoon visit to the Holy Land yesterday. It was an affordable and fast trip to a place where our hearts run free and our imagination is filled with days gone by, where Bible stories come to life!

Hope you can find time to gather *yours* up and venture together to the land where Jesus walked...

Bon Voyage!

Hand Quilting

2011-10-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

An old quilt top that sat too long in a box waiting for me to pay it some attention. A sweet friend who edged me on to take it out and shake its dust off. A trip together to the fabric store to secure all the bits it needed to get 'er done. Encouragement and love poured out just for me.

Slowly working on hand quilting. Pricking my fingers many times. Trying to get used to thimbles. Trying hard to keep my stitches small and even. Trouble with bad thread. Replaced said evil thread last week. Also found a beautiful small block of bees wax, golden and beautiful that should help me with knotting thread.

Hand quilting is something that takes time and patience. Kind of like parenting in many ways. I am reminded to go slow, to stick to the task given to me, to not give up or to loose hope~ that the job is too big for me. One section at a time, as God gives us just today.

Lord, as I hand quilt this king size quilt, let me make sure that in my every day that I am allowing you to be King over all I do or say. Humbly I fall before You, with thimbled bleeding fingers, submitting all I have into your hands again.

Speak to my heart and give me listening ears Oh my God.

Luke 8:15

"But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Cleaning Rituals

2011-10-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

As I cleaned out under my kitchen sink the other day I found this very glamorous box of latex gloves.

I couldn't just toss the box, so I captured the moment for you on film.

I can promise you that I never look like her when I wear them, not saying that to say I wouldn't want to, just saying there hasn't been a day yet that I am wearing red lipstick and patent leather slides when I tackle cleaning chores.

Hmmm, maybe she's on to something?

What do you think, should I change my ways?

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-10-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'd love to pray for you this week...anything on your heart that you want to lift up together?

2011-10-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Feasting on His Goodness

131. So thankful that I don't walk through life alone, but that God is always with me.

132. Thankful for a daughter who sees opportunities to help me

(like grading her younger siblings books that are piled waiting for me to correct them)

and gets busy without being asked.

*we are considering sending all of our children to Eyob at Emmanuel Children's Home in Waliso, Ethiopia to get taught such awesome servant's hearts.

;-)

133. For peace filled sleep

134. For my women's Bible study that started up (we are studying First and Second Samuel this year).

135. That God helped me get through chapter one of 1 Samuel without crying. (As a barren women whose womb God did not open, as He did Hannah's, this is a hard chapter to study).

136. For a sweet friend, Stacy,

who emailed me to see how she could pray for me with my parenting trouble at hand.

(and also built me up in so many loving ways with her words.)

137. For the Holy Spirit who counsels me.

138. For a Knight who bends his knee to tell me what

a wonderful mother,

follower of Christ,

wife

and friend I am...

even when the rest of the world seems to say the opposite to me with their words.

139. For a small silver charm that hangs on my neck that says,

" Jehovah Shalom the Lord our Peace." Judges 6:24

Which reminds me to pray for our daughter who is coming through adoption...

God has called her by name which is Shalom,
(it means wholeness, peace, completeness,

health, safety soundness, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony,

absence of agitation or discord.)

In modern Hebrew Shelem means to pay for

and

Shalum means fully paid.

Sounds like God has both my daughter and my family covered in this adoption!

140. For afternoon trips to a place I have called My Serene Pleasure,
which is where my 3 raccoons live now.
Yesterday we took them food
and left them a bucket of brook caught crayfish for a little late night snack.

*Oh how I love the woods and this spot on earth that I feel is my own peace of heaven here on earth.

Behind the Fence of Trouble

2011-09-30T05:09:00.000-07:00

"We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched. We should never enjoy the juice of the grape if it were never trodden in the wine press. We should never discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten. And we should never know the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed.

The excellence of the Christian is brought out by the fire of trouble."
Charles H. Spurgeon

I find myself in a time of trouble. My heart feels rather heavy from the load that I am carrying. I have lifted it to him, this parenting stuff, but still the daily tasks remain on me to carry. I find myself feeling separated out, with friends and church not the support I had thought. As if God is removing things so that I can lean on Him alone.

Some days we can only see where we stand, God does not allow us to see into the next month or the final outcome. I continue to press in, to fight the good fight of faith. Perhaps in this time of trouble God is growing me from faith to faith and from glory to glory.

Certainly my soul (my mind, will and emotions) are being transformed. Though trouble and the times it brings are not fun, they are times of learning in my walk with Christ. Praying for wisdom and strength as I walk this part of the path alone with Him.

Proof that Life is Good

2011-09-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

sisters who are friends too

a 3 year old who loves the water (and taught herself to swim)

a best friend who became family (by marrying my brother)

for remembering this summer, the summer of my raccoons

remembering that though the trail sometimes is treacherous,

that thankful God is with me.

for my raccoons that are now wild

how thankful I am for pictures and a head full of memories

for this Knight who celebrated 25 years of bliss with me this August

that I am loved

Words of Friendship

2011-09-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Unusual Pleasures

2011-09-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

subtitled:

Because Sometimes the Posts Need to Be About What Pleases Me

an evening on holiday

watching the carousel ponies go round.

Tonight Mama does one of her favorite things, which is playing with photo editing. Time slips by, the crickets quietly sing through the study window as I gently nudge this and that around in this one photo.

Self taught, but how it makes me feel. Glorious, after many heavy days of parenting.

Oh, Picnik

how thankful I am for you to snatch me away from the weight of motherhood for a few moments. How thankful I am that my Knight upgraded me to the premium account (a sweet birthday/sanity gift).

Photo editing is a form of temporary escape. You just might find a few more posts like this one. I need it for the spot I currently find myself in. No I haven't forgotten about prayer, or Bible reading or friendship...but somehow this seems to sooth my heart in the perfect prescription.

If I cross your mind (ever) would you pray for me...or I might just slip into photo editing as a full-time position and toss my hands up at this parenting thing.

my heart is contented.

a huge sigh came up with this black and white addition.

i can push away and fall to me knees,

thanking God that indeed He is guiding my steps,
today and all-ways.

photo editing is easy, parenting not so much.

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-09-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Would anyone like prayer this week?

Great Site ~ Archaelogy for Kids (homeschool)

2011-09-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

As I come across great teaching sites, I bookmark them in a folder labeled

*Homeschool and the current year*

When time allows I use the sites throughout the year, as bonus teaching tools. They are certainly not for homeschoolers only, certainly they are a great extra for any child who is hungry to learn.

One of my daughters has always had a love for archaeology, so naturally I bookmarked this for her. I know my other children will also enjoy this, she will spark them on as she oooohhh's and awwhhhh's.

Hope you can enjoy it too!

Archaeology for Kids

Archaeology stories and games

(which is highly educational, but is totally FUN!)

God Behind the Scenes (some monkey business)

2011-09-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Until one has loved an animal

a part of one's soul

remains

unawakened.

Anatole France

My baby raccoons are gone, Oh how I miss them. We go to their spot in the wild every few days to bring them food (their mama would still be there with them if she was able). We (meaning my raccoon loving Knight and I) want them to stay fat so they hibernate through the coming cold months.

We haven't seen them because now they are nocturnal, though some day we may venture into the area way after dark to see if we can catch sight of them. My heart misses them terribly.

But...

my wonderful Father has brought me a new surprise friend. Recently she lost her husband and we have been getting to know each other better. Over coffee in my living room, she told me a few years back she had a monkey,
though a cougar is all she really ever wanted. Be still my soul, a girl after my own heart.

She went on to tell me crazy monkey stories and how her husband Paulie had brought it home after she asked him for one (back then it was legal). Betty told me how the monkey found a new home, after its adventure outside its enclose. bad monkey, bad monkey. How she told Paulie to get rid of it (she was MAD) and he brought back two neighbors and the warden (who had a gun). No animals were hurt...but that monkey took a ride (without a seat belt or cage) and dear sweet Paulie got a $50 ticket trying to *get rid of that monkey!*

I told Betty last night at church that my only regret is that, 'I didn't know her when she had the tiny monkey,' as we could have made quite a team with a music box, monkey and two girls full of animal love.

She looked at me and tipped her head back to laugh, hard.

God is good.

Recipe for Ethiopian Tea

2011-09-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

One of the many benefits of adopting children from a foreign country, has been the blessing of discovering culture through our taste buds. With two beautiful Ethiopian daughters (age 3 and 14), we have thankfully been led into Ethiopian foods and drink. I think having a 14 year old who grew up within the culture has helped us retain many of the traditions within the Ethiopian daily life.

It wasn't until I pushed my buna (coffee) cup away-that I learned to love Ethiopian tea. Now I don't know how they prepare this in Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa I only experience a real buna ceremony. But in my Ethiopian church, this tea is served during fellowship time at gatherings close.

All of us look forward to a cup, each of my kids always line up to get handed their own cup of tea, including our 3 year old. They normally pair it with Ethiopian bread, which is a yummy partnership: caffeine and carbohydrates-in my book you can't go wrong there!

Ethiopian traditional tea

What you will need:

tea pot

(mine is a stove top whistling model-I try to get whistled at a few times a week at least)

4-5 black tea bags

(well for a typical tea kettle size)

(my Ethiopian friends like the Lipton variety)

8-15 whole cloves

5-8 cardamom (the green whole variety)

one cinnamon stick (about 3 inches long)

fresh cold water to fill the kettle with

sugar to taste (but my Ethiopian friends aren't afraid of sugar, enough said).

Put all ingredients into the kettle. Bring to a boil. Let sit for 3 minutes, fish out tea bags (which if you were smart, you let those cute little strings hang out over the edge of the kettle and secure them with the lid).

Pour into cups, add sugar while hot.

Stir...

Drink!

Personally, I don't drink tea black or with tea with sugar, but this is beyond lovely this way.
You can reuse the spices and tea bags for another round,
often I reuse mine for several days before discarding them.
They sit their waiting, patiently waiting for some fresh water, so they can get to business!

To change it up once in a while (hey, a girl has to have change, right?) I sometimes throw in some fresh ginger, a big hunk with the rest of the spices before brewing occurs.

Hope you will give it a try and let me know what you think!

cardomom

(easily found at an Indian market)

cinnamon

(you only need one, but the one I had looked so lonely

that i brought a friend along for the photo shoot)

cloves

This is what we're talking about!

Fear, Vision and Reality {parenting}

2011-09-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

Parenting is hard.

Sometimes the burdens we carry are hard. Sometimes they are hard to share.

Many times it is difficult to admit that you are struggling. In admitting that no matter what you try, nothing seems to be getting the heart of your child. Even admitting that you are at the point of questioning if anything done thus far has even penetrated the heart strings of the child that you so desperately want to see touched by God.

Parent's sometimes grow weary of their hard task of training.

Today I met with a dear friend, wise woman and huge mentor of my heart. We caught up after a long summer of little contact with each other. We shared what we have been carrying. I unloaded a lot of my parenting burdens on her, one daughter in particular who I am concerned for.

She spoke peace to my heart. She told me to trust Him with it and to wait to see what He'd be doing.

On the way home from our meeting, the Lord showed me a vision.

It was of me driving what seemed like a 1,000 wild horses.

My hands were raw from holding the reins so tightly.

I was not leading, but instead being dragged by the reins that attached me to said horses.

Everything around me was dry and looked in need of refreshing.

I looked (and felt) beat, but then there was a voice that said,

" Loosen your hold on the reins."

In exhaustion I did. Immediately He showed me that it wasn't me holding the reins,

it was Him.

My hands had only been clutching His (which were indeed the Ones who were holding the reins.)

The flood seeped out.

I've been holding so much in, maybe too much.

I am not a super-hero, I am just me, a mother of 8,

who passionately Loves Him and desires that my children do too.

I can trust Him, He knows all there is about wild horses.

I am not giving up, I am taking a break and instead releasing my wild horse team to Him. I am not driving,

I never was, it was His nail scarred hands that had been tenderly holding the reins, while my hands dug into His, never realizing the reality of what had been occurring.

Psalm 139:13

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I never saw this verse written in the King James Version, guess I had it memorized in a more modern text. How perfectly it matches my vision the Lord gave me...He is asking me once again to release control to Him and to trust Him fully, as I am fully known.

What Saturday has Become

2011-09-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

soccer

It finally happened~ we signed up to be on *teams.*

Four days a week we are committed to the field-

a huge change,

as family dinners have become (3 nights) a hand held sandwich on the way.

The kid's are passionate about soccer...so guess I'm in too.

Today games start at 9:30 and end at 8:00 p.m- 3 different towns.

Our Ethiopian princess is filling in on another team, so she has two games today...

and we're off!

Sewing for the First Time

2011-09-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

Our sassy Ethiopian Princess got invited to try her hand at Mama's sewing machine. This machine is Mama's baby and NO ONE is allowed to touch her. She runs like a dream and doesn't give Mama fits or make Mama cry, this is why children aren't allowed to touch her.

BUT

my girl is 14 and never has sewed...

invited

her to come.

I walked her through how we were going to recover an old pillow I had acquired and how these two pieces of fabric, with their right sides facing each other would become a lovely new adornment to her hang-out couch downstairs. We pinned them together and then with a marker I made dots for her to follow so she could hold a straight line.

She was NERVOUS.

(guess the fact that Mama loves this machine so much made her fearful.)

But Mama loves her more, so (sew) she sat her down and gave her lesson #1.

Honestly, I meant to do it sooner. But my sewing time is scarce these days, but I am bound and determined to find time for some sewing time and such in our homeschool this year.

She sewed beautifully. I couldn't believe she would ever do so great on her first time out. She currently is blind stitching up the opening. Once she gets it done I will post it...

but for now, you will only see with what she started with...

Another benefit of homeschooling I guess.

When you are Side Swiped

2011-09-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my Knight and I felt like

we were hit by a very large truck.

At our home church, it was announced a restructuring of sorts, no more Wednesday night services (which are teaching and prayer focused). As of January we will begin to break up into smaller home groups for our meeting, the groups will be sermon based (but sans our children).

I get why we are doing it, but as a mother of many my heart is a bit shaky. How will no worship service on Wednesday effect my children's lives? I understand the need for change, actually the change is being done out of desperation for getting us beyond surface~y relationships and into true love and fellowship with one another. Still my heart is aching and very unsure, we did home groups for many years and it didn't change the lack of love and fellowship.

Then our beloved Ethiopian church announced that our Pastor is leaving. OUR BELOVED PASTOR, who loves us, adores our children, and makes us feel much a part of the church. A Pastor who has been willing to change up his church, just for US. He not only preached in Amharic, but always translated for us so we would also be included in being fed and encouraged.

This the church of my heart, the one that brought me so much healing in finally feeling connected and loved. Though it is a tiny body of Christ, its influence and effect are huge to many.

All of it really didn't hit me (and my Knight) until we got home, until we separated ourselves from the days events. At my home church I encouraged others to trust that God would walk us through this, that we would come out better. At my beloved Ethiopian church, I kept my tears in my heart and instead chose to build up my Pastor in not being sad, but believing God is going ahead of him to California and all that He is calling him to there.

At days end my Knight and I lay in bed saying how sad we felt, over and over I found myself saying,

"I am SAD,"

Somehow saying it helped.

Of course God is the one who binds up the broken~hearted. He goes before me, my Knight and my children as we follow Him in obedience.

Still my heart weeps.

Letting go of what you love is hard.

(I learned this lesson first hand in having to let go

of my 3 orphaned raccoons-

allowing them to be who
God created them to be.)

Today I am still sad, but I remind myself that God is in control and that..

He is leading me (us) to green pastures

and though

I walk through the valley (a sad place) of the shadow of death (letting go)

that YOU (my Lord and my God) are with me

and

I will (should) fear NO evil.

Prayer Request Sunday-devotion

2011-09-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Something in my Pastor's notes jogged my heart this morning, he asked us to think of three things that we were devoted to.

I began to think of my long term devotions and then I also made a mental list of my current things that my heart is devoted to.

in case you are wondering about what devotion actually means:

devotion

My Long term (life long) list:

1. God (this covers my faith, my time in His Word, time in prayer, time with Him)

2. my family

3. others (church, friends...)

Short term

(meaning this list changes depending on the season of my life)

1. Reading through the Bible chronologically

2. Caring for my raccoons (who now live in the wild)

until winter comes and they go into a semi-hibernation.

A mama raccoon normally cares for her babes for 1 year. I stood in the gap (from my master bathroom, which was converted into a raccoon den) until they were 4 months old, and now I mother them from a far.

3. Praying for my unborn daughter who God is calling into our family through adoption.

What would your list look like?

Would you like prayer?

I'd love to stand with you believing God to move in whatever situation or circumstance you are currently facing.

the verse on my heart for this week:

2 Cor. 10:4

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Reading Logs for your Kids (Homeschoolers!)

2011-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Reading logs give readers
(and reluctant readers)

a feeling of achievement.

Set some goals for each of your readers and make sure you also celebrate along the way.

We like to see how many we can read

(at our level, or bundle 10 easy books read to a younger sibling counted as one for reluctant readers)

from beginning until end of our homeschool year.

We have been doing reading logs for an eternity here at our little schoolhouse. Thought you'd might like a few links to help you get started.

Ice cream or candy makes wonderful incentive to stack up the books on each child's log!

read!

read! (color)

read (colour)

read! (a little more detail)

and a book report form too!

and don't forget to make multiple copies for your teacher's folder~

expecting that this is going to be a very productive and illustrious year!

Happy homeschooling!

16 First Days of Homeschool Celebration

2011-09-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

Yup, this is our 16th year of homeschool
-day one.

I survived with all my fingers and toes intact!

I wasn't so sure how today was going to go...as when we were bundling every one's curriculum for the year the night before our big opening day, my Knight and I were growing faint.
We started the day however without any casualties
and only one case of whining about an assignment
(note: 9 year old son suddenly doesn't want to write short stories).

We finished the day singing "Happy First Day to you" (sung to the tune of Happy birthday).

It was a fabulous hit and made the teacher (moi) endeared to every one's heart
(note: the three year old Ethiopian princess can be bribed with sugar).

The delightful red frosting was scoffed up over the summer from Aldi's at 25 cents a jar, so you will probably be seeing red and blue Fourth of July frosting for months to come.
(note: make more cake and come up with more songs to keep the morale high in school).

Here are the faces that will grace our homeschool,
that we named 16 years ago as "Growing along Together.
...well, except for the oldest who is now in college, but still graces us with her loveliness.
(and as she got me started in this homeschooling 16 years ago....
well she is included in today's snaps too!)

our homeschool graduate...

13 years of homeschool for her..

and she is on the Dean's List at college

(note to self, relax you are doing fine teaching your children).

our 11th grader...

working harder than ever!

The one who will hit the piano to unwind after a long day of hard studies.

our 6th/7th grader...

her second year of homeschool. Last year she completed from K- grade 6!

(can you say Halleluyah that we got that much done in one year).

I never taught English as a second (third) language,

but all things are possible with Christ who strengthens us!

Guess the sky is the limit with this Ethiopian daughter.

our 7th grader...

eager to learn and happy to homeschool next to her Ethiopian sister/best friend.

4th grade it is...
she is careful and hard working.

This year we are going to work a bit extra with speech.

4rth grader too...

this boy is fast...need to get extra work to keep him busy.

(and work on writing more short stories)

3rd grader at large.

Quick to get concepts and able to leap small buildings in a single bound.

AND...

my 3 year old preschooler.

Candle licker and proud of it.

Always happy to sing, puzzle it up, entertain, correct her siblings,

snack, pray and move heaven to earth,

occasionally she slows down long enough to work at school.

"Happy First Day to YOU!"

From my True Love

2011-09-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

a celebration of our first date...

my Knight brought me a huge bunch (45) of roses.

30 years of being an item...

(25 years of marriage, preceded by 5 years of courtship)

so glad he said yes to me joining him in shopping for a pair of sneakers.

(and thanks Norm for blowing up your father's car the night before...

I took your place that day thanks to your mishap.)

Where there is great love there are always miracles.-- Willa Cather

See some of the miracles we've been blessed to be a part of:

(cheese puff face)

Thank you God for all of these

beautiful

miracles!

Reaching Out to Orphans

2011-08-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Last night God spoke to me in my dream.
To put it simply He showed me the need,
the very real need of the 174 million orphans
(actually there are probably more than that).

The weight was huge and I wondered what it was that one person could do.
What beyond words would God require of me?

It is quite simple. It boils down to heart,

submission (to Him)

and a phrase that we have all heard,

but perhaps haven't been brave enough to mutter aloud.

He said,

"Tell them this,

( to begin to get the Church (His people, Believers) to take action in caring for the orphans)

it begins with saying,

"Here am I Lord, send me."

Sending may mean a number of things, guess you will have to be brave enough to listen to Him whispering to your heart and then be willing to say it, knowing that He will indeed direct your path.

You see He has a heart for orphans.
He has a plan for putting them in families and rescuing them from a future as an orphan.
But He needs me and He needs you in order to do it.

He knows what life looks like in our day in and day out. He knows all the reasons why we haven't said,
"Here am I send me."

BUT

He is now saying it's time, submit your very lives and homes into my hands.

He is ready to show us the way.

How about it...are you willing?

I'd love to hear what you think

and whether you'd be willing to bow your head and seek Him on it.

I am.

Isaiah 6:8

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

Thrift Store Finds... repurposing

2011-08-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

one purple beanbag...$4

one square pillow-$.50

a little time with a large remnant of fabric I picked up for $1

and wallah refurbished accents for the kids playroom.

Now we are ready to put them to use..

got to love some recycled love!

Good-bye my Sweet Raccoons...

2011-08-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Thankful,

sad,

tearful,

happy...

so many thoughts running through my head...

tonight my three babies will run through their new world...

a piece of heaven tucked into a patch of protected forest,

a haven for 3 orphans to grow up under the watchful eye of their loving Father.

I will miss them more than words can ever capture.

SkippyJon, Faith and Love you stole my heart

from the first moment I saw your tiny little handful of you.

My life has been changed because you needed me.

Thank you and be joy filled running up and down all those trees.

LOVE Always;

Your Mama

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-08-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

Prayer is like an egg...
it is full of life if you can wait on it with an expectant heart.

Need prayer?

Great Math Site (attention HOMESCHOOLers)

2011-08-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

Need help with upper math levels?

In looking to brush up on our Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry and Pre- Calculus, I found this great site. I am going to use it HEAVILY...for 3 of my older students this year. Maybe you want to check it out too? It claims to be an aid to 13-100 year old math students.

http://coolmath.com/

Easy to follow, practice available and done with an ere to eye appeal (for your visual learners!) Can you believe it is already back to school time!

Happy learning!

Princess Mercy's Hospital

2011-08-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

Our wee-est babe has a gigAntic giraffe that graces her bedroom

(thanks Becky).

Imagine my surprise when I found this giraffe laying on my bedroom floor wrapped in a towel.

Turns out that Mrs. Giraffe has a bad sore throat and needed some extra rest.

Oh how she is loved.

Guess she needed to be mothered more than Princess Mercy (3) could manage herself, as she somehow got her from her room to mine for recovery time. I was told it was a very bad sore throat and that she was very worried about her.

Upon looking a little closer, I could see that truly old Mrs. Giraffe was concerned herself.

My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
~ I John 3:18

Tuesday's Thoughts (with update)

2011-08-17T03:19:00.000-07:00

update: no release today (Wed.)
The Knight has cancelled a weekend camping trip (rain forecast)
and declared that we can release early next week instead.
(I am rejoicing greatly at a few more days of being a Mama to my 3 fat waddlers!)

Tuesday's Thoughts:
tonight is our last night together...

Tomorrow...

we say our good-byes,

they have grown so well,

they are ready for the forest.

they will walk into the care of One who loves them even more than I do

(though I can't imagine that, as I find myself tearing up

just in thinking of introducing them to their beautiful new woodland habitat).

I will walk away (in the arms of my Knight who will accompany me)

trusting that the Lord will watch over and keep them for me.

How thankful I am to hear His voice saying that He will care for them now.

Maybe we will see each other again,

as I plan on stopping by and bringing tasty treats for my babies.

A mother's heart is a tender thing,

it longs to raise them up in the way they are to go,

hoping that all that was poured into them will help them in their coming days of life.

Ultimately we need to let go and put our trust in Him.

Love is hard, it hurts sometimes.

But the option of not loving, is no option at all.

So, I am so thankful I chose to open my heart to 3 tiny helpless masked creatures, whose eyes were hardly yet open.

The four months I've had as their Mama was life changing.

I have so many memories to cherish...(would you like to know some of them?)

How a large bathroom can become a haven to orphaned babies

How I asked God ten years ago for one (after reading Rascal) and how He blessed me with three

mopping up piles of mess, only to have them run through it (laughing I think)and spreading it in every direction of the wind.

barely getting down the newspaper that they have trained themselves to use for potty time...and having all three hustle in and dirty it all up before I could even step back to admire the clean newness of the rectangular toilet

How much smarter they are than dogs or cats

having my boy always look at me with puppy eyes, so that I will stop mopping so he can suck my thumb

When I am too rushed to sit down with them, how he will nurse on his own foot (and purr like crazy doing it)

How my biggest girl can jump on my back for a piggy back anytime I crouch low enough for her to make the running leap

For their love of marshmallows and how they roll them around in their paws as they eat them (kind of like how some eat corn on the cob)

How they don't like corn, though it is supposed to be a favorite

How they eat chicken~ bones and all

How they nurse on my clothes while I feed one of their siblings with the special bottle

The days of dropper feeding that turned into syringe feeding, which in turn headed to the special bottle

Seeing them smile while they ate cut up bananas

How they loved to get a new toy and how much they would enjoy it

How fast they could undo anything we tied

How gentle they are

How feisty they can be playing with each other

How many ants we've squashed since May because I refused to put down ant poison thinking they might eat one of them

How cute they are, even when they are keeping us up being nocturnal

How even when they are half asleep how they can wake up to say hello

How they destroyed my mop and I am not sure I want to replace it with a new non-chewed version (each tooth mark now is precious)

The night they got under the sink, pulled off the plywood behind the plumbing and climbed through the walls with great joy (much to our fear that they would never come out)

How I think I am allergic to them (suddenly I have eczema on my face and occasional swollen eyes after kissing and hugging them)

and how I still would love to keep them forever (for very selfish reasons)

How blessed I am that God put me on someones heart and I got to be their Mama for a time such as this!

Prayer Request Sunday-How about it?

2011-08-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."

John Wesley

(who spent 2 hours daily in prayer)

Could I interest you in some prayer today?

I'd love to pray with you...leave me a note and we will get right to it.

Does your life feel dull, how about your heart and spirit?

"Prayer is where the action is." John Wesley

Feasting On His Goodness

2011-08-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

121. For 4 months of raising 3 masked critters,

which will be released next week to a perfectly beautiful serene spot in the forest

(PRAY FOR ME...!)

122. Glad we will be able to do food drop offs

for the 3 critters until they get established in their new home

123.For beautiful memories of my r.a.c.c.o.o.n mama-ing days

(everyone was worried about them bonding to me,

but everyone seemed to forget that I would be bonded to them!

Oh, a mother's heart !)

124. For the tiny paws that helped to rub the conditioner through my hair as I bathed

(yes, hard not to laugh, but they are obsessed with running their fingers through my hair.)

125. For the mop I bought at target that has been used 3-5 times dail

in my master bathroom (i.e. clean up after the 3 wild things).

126. For homemade coleslaw that came out awesome

127. For my friend Becky who shares her gifts, talents and time with me
(and my love for coffee at Starbucks)

*I had the revelation of how in May God told me to take a sabbatical from
friendships-I was struggling with one that had gone bad and not knowing what to expect anymore from the ones that I still had. As I stepped out in obedience,
He began to bless me in ways only HE knew could
(i.e. see above picture)
as I draw to a close with my furry friends,
He has brought me a new friendship with Becky.
Funny how you can know someone for a long time,
but not realize that actually they were a kindred spirit!

(Becky making a tart for a treat for us...taking a break from teaching me how to quilt!)

128. For my oldest who always is willing to help watch the littles,

so I can occasionally meet up with friends (or just escape!)

129. For a beautiful 25th anniversary dinner (which my kids all insisted that we go out alone)

at a little bistro called Cafe Mangia

130. For homemade sangria

which my Knight makes better than anyone else~

because he knows how much I like it

Growing Like Weeds

2011-08-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

A quick stop at a park after Shakespeare camp for 4 big girls

a Mama with a camera

(and an itchy trigger finger),

a field full of wild flowers free for the picking

and

5 smiling girls willing to be captured.

Celebrate with Me!!! (a big ONE!)

2011-08-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

Happy anniversary love of my life...

it has been a wild ride to say the least!

Who would have thought that two kids that bumped into each other at a tiny country church

would fall in love

(while I was vacuuming and cleaning his parents home),

get married, have 8 children

(soon 9!)

and still be head over heals in love after over 30 years together!

How thankful we are to God for the gift He has bestowed upon our lives. Knowing He placed us together and is using our lives to impact this world.

I love you my dashing Knight!

Rejoice with us for a moment would you?

Teens in the Kitchen (Ethiopian cooking)

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Friendship

Princess Sweetness has a guest visiting- it is a girl she grew up with in Ethiopia. Both she and her sweet friend Genet shared the orphanage experience together for several years. A year post their adoptions, God has reconnected them for 3 weeks at our house! How good is our God!

They have enjoyed cooking together, reminiscing over their time in the orphanage kitchen when the wise director, Eyob, had each girl pair with another and learn under the hand of the nanny; how to cook Ethiopian food. And learn they did, as these girls are amazing in the kitchen. I am speaking as a girl experienced in the kitchen, they really far exceed my knife skills.

I made the injera (Ethiopian flat bread) and they made the rest; doro wat (spicy chicken with boiled eggs), denish wot (potatoes in a berbere sauce...spicy too!), a green bean dish that I don't know the name of (yummy), and a lentil dish that also is nameless currently, but more than delicious.

They beamed at the opportunity to take over the kitchen. Several hours of prep work and we sat down to a wonderful authentic Ethiopian dinner. This week they will cook another Ethiopian meal, I am salivating already just at the mere thought of it. If you have never eaten Ethiopian food, I recommend that you search out a local restaurant and give it a try. Never did I think I would eat Ethiopian food, never did I think that I would someday have two Ethiopian princess' of my own, but then again God is full of all kinds of surprises.

Genet has been the best guest we ever had. She is sweet, gentle spirited, kind and helpful. A low maintenance girl with a heart of gold. We hope to have her visit again and again and again.

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen,

and this one is delirious!

anonymous

Can I Pray for you?

2011-08-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

How about it...

would you like to join hearts this week with your prayer request?

Not Quite Whispering Sweet Nothings

2011-08-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Funny how children treat their Mama, even such

wild children.

I know my little masked wild things love me,

but...

Love certainly has many different facets and formulas!

Professional Taste Tester

2011-08-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

This 3 year old girl enjoys food.

Princess Mercy happily offers to stop from her busy schedule

to help her Mama see if it tastes good, doesn't matter what is cooking, she is willing. Today's tasting was about strawberry jam.

Bless her sweet Ethiopian tongue...

truly she is quite the little taste tester.

Prayer Request Sunday

2011-07-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

Hi dear One's...

Do you have something weighing on your heart and mind that we can lift to God in prayer? He is waiting (actually He is well aware of your needs, but is just waiting for you to come to Him)...won't you share your burden so we can lift it together to Jesus today?

Praying for you to have courage...remember we are not in this world alone, we have each other and we are called to carry each others burdens. I'd love to stand with you and believe God together this week.

James 5:16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.