Snow to play in? OR to serve others? OR both?

Being that this is our first full winter that we are in Alaska, we purchased all the needed equipment for the children: boots, snow pants, face masks, gloves, hats etc.  Hannah has grown so much that her snow pants are more like "capris" and I am certain that Max's boots are a bit too small. Bronwyn lost her winter jacket the first week of snow (it was florescent green).  Thankfully, we have great second-hand shops nearby and everyone is ready for the snow.




Currently, we have had a winter wonderland (LOTS OF SNOW).  A few weeks back, we had a sledding outing with the young adults at church.  It was a blast.

First we get on the sleds hooked up to the back of the Jeep.

And sometimes we fall off.

We are then toed up the sledding hill/mountain.

Then we get to enjoy a fun fast ride down.

This weekend, part of my thankfulness journey I noticed that we have no snow drifts in our driveway or stairs.  But, I looked out my window and I saw 4 of my neighbors on the other side of the street shoveling and hacking away at the drifts.  I called James and we went to attack the drifts with shovels and face-masks on.  Bronwyn came too to jump on and help break up the snow.  The neighbors were so thankful for our help.  We are glad to finally meet our neighbors.

Today, I was able to meet and older couple struggling to get their back door free from the snow drifts.  I am thankful that God opened a way to share God's love to others.  No need to run today, shoveling is a free workout!

Annie playing in the LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW

House Full & Homeschool Video

Okay, in South Africa, it was almost a joke, but our home was full of activity. People buzzing the gate, phone calls, skype calls, guest house people, scheduled guests, and sometimes people living with us in our home, etc.

It was fun and flurried.  I loved it! I had the kettle going and something to share.

Today, I felt like I was in Africa. Breakfast with Anita, speed school with the children, then a few items from Carr's, Lunch with Molly, then two new friends Jeanie and Victoria.  James came home at 4 then off to Who's Coming for Dinner with another family and friends.

Needless to say, it was a full day. But, I love it.

That was Friday, today is Saturday.  We spent some leisure time gathering supplies (library, grocery). Then, I was able to catch up my reading.  Play a little "Just Dance Now". And now, I have the privilege of getting my meal planning done.

I am using an online version called: www.saymmm.com and hopefully you will be able to see and take my recipes if you want them.

Best Ever Pancakes w/ apple grated
2 c flour
1 t salt
4 t baking powder
1 T sugar heaping
3 eggs
2 1/2 c milk
3 T melted butter
3/4 grated apples

 mix dry ingredients. Add milk and beat with a whisk. Add eggs and beat again. Add melted butter last. *optional for awe factor add grated apples

The following is a video report that I submit every term to our Homeschool Contact Teacher with IDEA.

Thankfulness... kills anxiety

Well, James said it.  The magic words that I have been longing to hear.  "Let's go look for a dog." Good and bad.

Good part:
Now, that we are settled into our home since moving in the end of October, it is time to find a dog.  Like I posted before, I really would LOVE a Great Dane.  There happens to be one that we might get that is 9 months old and house trained and kennel trained. We just need to be selected by the breeder as a perfect fit.  The stunning dog is named Pandora and is the one with the natural ears in this picture.

Bad part:

I was so excited last night, I hardly slept. So, instead of being being anxious about whether we get her I will count my many blessings and keep looking UP:

1) an amazing home with views of both the sunrise over the mountains and the sunset

2) great friends who shoulder my concerns

3) people to pour into (discipleship and peers)

4) Friday morning breakfast with Anita Moiser that gives me an excuse for making a more elaborate meal.

5) relationship with my Savior who protects me and cares for my needs

6) understanding and encouraging husband who is a blast to do anything with

7) children who love reading and learning -spent the last hour on the couch reading together under the electric blanket.

8) a heated garage

9) wind drifts that avoid my road and driveway so that we don't have to shovel

10) family that loves my children and enjoys our company!

11) parents that still surprise me with their unending love

12) great friends for my children

13) health and exercise

14) ability to learn about God with my children through the Bible readings

15) great library

16) love for missions and what God is doing around the world

17) heart that is still in Africa thankful for the lessons learned- Yebo Africa!

18) coffee and Kindle with a fireplace 

19) seeing others enjoy taking photos from my back yard because it is soooo beautiful. 

20) Life groups and our little church

21) Heaven!

"Life works better when we know how to glance at things but gaze at God.  Seeing Him clearly will enable us to see all other things clearly."

We had an amazing time today doing our "Young Woman after God's heart" Bible study.  The girls got to dream up of their best decorated bedroom.  Share ideas about honor parents in keeping their stuff tidy. 

The crazy fun was when we got out the tie die as part of our Homeschooling project this week.

Hannah even made one for her dad.  I got one as well.  So, we will show the finished product later.

Need one another to grow!

“Many of us in the church are under the mistaken impression that the way to produce spiritually mature Christians is to enroll people in a course on spiritual maturity. We give them books on the subject. We take them to passages of Scripture. We hand out assignments and worksheets. Nothing wrong with these activities. But has it ever occurred to you that spiritual growth is rarely a product of assimilating more information?”  Howard Hendricks

Today was one of those days.  When I look around the room, I see everything out of place and highlighted ORANGE.  However, in reality only a few things are being used and out of place.  I caught myself three times to not say things harsh.  

Tonight at our Bible Study is when we will be talking about SERVICE. Every week, no matter how tired, I love the time spent encouraging and loving one another.  

I EASILY COULD BE A MARTHA TODAY: irritated, agitated, and absorbed by work. Thankfully I chose to serve out of love and was calm with my children. Thank you for others.  

Knowing Christ involves relationship, growing in Christ also involves relationships. Most of us don’t need to know more nearly as much as we need to be known more. We don’t need a set of principles to practice nearly as much as we need other people to help us. We need someone to believe in us, stand by us, guide us, model Christ for us. We need other’s encouragement, wisdom, example and accountability we need their smiles, their hugs, their frowns, their tears. by James Embree

Running Example:   I also received a call that helped today.  It is -14F below 0.  No one would run, but not Annie.  She called me up and because of her promptings, we went running.  It was fun, but once my eyelashes got a bit stuck together on my left eye.  So, I was able to run faster knowing that a warm place was waiting for us at the end.  I needed her encouragement.  Thank you Lord for the practice of building one another up for their benefit.  

Cooking Example:  Just a few weeks ago, a few friends met to exchange recipes and talk about food/meal prep and planning.  We learned so much just by having our favorite recipes out and bringing up short-cuts.  We easily all walked away with some family tested meals. I even found a recipe I had lost for over 10 years!

Hiking Example:  James and I have gone hiking with our children.  They did okay, but a lot of complaining and such.  However, when we bring a friend or two, they don't complain and enjoy the hike.  Hannah and Max both didn't make it up this hike (without friends) and easily made it the second time with others.

Lastly, ski clinics.  I can watch you tubes, read all the books, and click on every blog about skate skiing.  However, I have learned 100 X's more by hearing and watching the instructors.  Thankfully, there has been  two free clinics and a dear friend who has skied for years taught me the first time.  I am still learning. But, since they have the personally attention and can see what I am doing wrong, I am corrected to the right way.  Same way with Spiritual growth.  We need to rub shoulders with people regularly to have them get to know our hearts and motives.  We need to look for ways to love and encourage them in the best way that they are formed.  

 (the instructors are in Blue) 

Chocolate and Girls

Last year during my time with the Lord I really felt the prompting to invest in Hannah through a special Bible study/cooking.

We named it Our daily bread but we only have baked bread once. TODAY we are starting a new study just for preteens it is called "A girl after God's Own Heart." I am also glad that I am able to prioritize our relationship.

 We usually have just three or four girls. When the girls arrived, I was surprised that all four of use used an electronic book (three Kindles and one Nook).

 I am thrilled to make peppermint bark from Jess Case recipe.

 Hannah said a few months back, "Mom, you know as we are getting older into a teenager, we get closer because we are more mature and can relate with each other." Love it!

We ended our time together with some Dance Party on the Kinect.  So much fun!

Spiritual Gadgets

I googled "spiritual gadgets" with some surprising links.  I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  It zaps my time (if I let it). I love to be away from it all out in nature by hiking, skiing, etc.  However, it is the first thing I want to check.

Even there are downfalls to technology, but there are also some quite nifty benefits.

1) Ipod:
    a) first it helped me for puppets.  No longer a skipped song on a cd player.  But actually a great playlist to have dramatize scripts.
   b) songs of worship when running or anytime.
   c) podcast with challenging messages on a number of subjects
   d) I get very distracted and will play some instrumental hymns or classical music "Our Daily Bread" while studying God's Word.

2) Kindle
Before I list the many ways, I really like my Kindle.  I can show people some of the ins and outs.  I get talking about the Kindle and then I usually stop and tell them I love Jesus more.  I do get quite excited.
  a) Net Bible  It was my Bible that I learned about last year in Arizona.  I love the translator notes. You can read about the translation and their passion to be a free research tool.
      -I kept a years worth of reflections in the notes and some sermon notes right in the text where it was found.
  b) reading great books that spur on my spiritual growth.  I was visiting Grace Bible Church in Elmhurst, IL and during their Sunday school they were studying "Crazy Love" by Chan.  I just went to the online kindle store and purchased the book and was instantly part of the discussion.

  c) One book, multiple users (in the family).  Allows for us to share the books simultaneously.  So, as we are studying "A Girl after God's Own Heart" by George, we both can use the book around the table (on different devices)

3)  Apps  (used on different devices-we use ours on the Fire or you can use your home computer)
 a) YouVersion which allows a person to have a variety of reading plans, different versions of the Bible.  And it will "read to you".
b) RememberMe Bible memory apps that have a few games and memory review plans for spiritual growth.

4) Internet (too many to name, but just a few I have used)
*websites, groups
  a)  puppetresource  is a free puppet script site.
  b) gotquestions.org is for researching questions
  c) Bible.org
  d)  Facebook  - we have a bible memory group to challenge each other to learn our verses.  It was also instrumental to get the news out quickly for prayer or activities.

Personally, this year 2012 I want to limit my time in order to make the best use of my days and look forward to no computer days during my week.  

 

I HATE SHOTS

Some crazy things about me:

1) I can't stomach any details about medical procedures.

2) I couldn't even make it through the child birthing classes

      Almost about to faint/nausea I spent the rest of the time in the bathroom, while James learned how to give birth.

3) Upon entering a dentist office, I saw a IV bag (not hooked up to anyone) and I ran to the bathroom just in time to faint and knock my head on the bathroom sink.

4) My children run to Dad not Mom when they are hurt.

5) Christmas eve, when getting my eldest daughters ear pierced, I ended up laying on the cold tile floor at Walmart because I was scared I would fall down when I fainted.  Little old ladies were asking if I was okay.

There are many more but, those come to mind right now.  However,  I will get a shot because I am one of the adults going on the Youth Missions trip to Guatemala with Paradise Bound.  We are leaving in 9 weeks.  

While working alongside Paradise Bound staff as well as Guatemalans we will share the gospel with the locals. During this time we will have opportunity to hand out Bibles, food, and help with a Gospel presentation that the staff will put on. The next few days we will help put on a mobile medical clinic in a rural village, after which the staff will show the Jesus Film.

Thanks for those who have been praying for the team.  We had an encouraging meeting with the parents and students.