Playing Along...

I've been tagged...here's the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.

2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (If you don’t have a blog, email me)

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


Eight Random Facts About Me

1. I do not like milk. Never have. I learned to eat it on cereal by pouring it down the side of the bowl so it doesn’t touch
the cereal much and make it too milky and soggy.
2. A big part of the “coffee” experience for me is about the cup. I like delicate cups, interesting shaped cups and proper
teacups. I can drink the delightful beverage from a plain ‘ole mug but it does decrease my enjoyment factor a tad.
3. I have to check the doors to our house to be sure they are locked and check on every kiddo, before I can lay down to
sleep.
4. I can always talk myself into buying a new pair of shoes.
5. I cannot watch scary movies at all. (To this day, I MUST lock the door on hotel room bathrooms, before taking a shower,
thanks to a dreadful viewing of Psycho when I was younger.)
6. I have always wanted to learn how to dance.
7. My absolute favorite dessert is vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.
8. I had a phobia of riding horses for most of my life.

I tag Tracey, Kim, Jennifer C, Dana, Sierra, and anyone else who wants to play!

It's a Small World After All...

Born in Tawain, raised in Guatemala, converted to Christ in Honduras, current resident of Canada and graduate student completeing practicum in Ft Portal!

This lovely jewel has awakened my awareness that God is doing EVERYTHING to bring us to Himself. He can turn the world around to make it happen.

And for this treasure, He has.

I received an email several months back, from a great friend and supporter of missions (she is an missionary kid, herself!) letting me know that she had a friend who was living in Ft Portal for the summer. Would I be willing to meet her friend and offer encouragement?
But of course! We connected and met for lunch. In the course of our conversation she said the words that won my heart, forever..."I'll help teach your kids!" Agueda has become a wonderful part of every week, guiding our brood through the joys of gymnastics...or "guh-nastics" if you are Silas.
She has worshipped with our town church, amazed us with her creativity in teaching the Bible class and generally been a super encourager for me and for Jeff.
We've needed her bright spirit and cheery disposition. What a gift.

But as this international life has taught me to expect...the moment of farewell is inevitably here.
I thought about taking her passport so we could keep her around a little longer...but I'm pretty sure a certain fiance' would have some strong words to say about that.

So, we will release her to an exciting year ahead. Praying blessings upon blessings as she goes...

Dear Agueda, as God has so faithfully brought you into fellowship with His people up to now...May He abudantly supply every need of your spirit, faith and service.

We will surely miss you! We praise God for bringing you into our lives!

Come back and see us...you are always welcome here.

Back to School

We did it! We officially started school. We have had one full day...from 10am to 5 pm of kindergarten, 2nd grade and 4th grade. With some preschool activities thrown in intermittently.

The kids are thrilled. Isaac giggled through his entire lesson. He said, "I love doing this work with you, Mom!"

What a gift to hear those words. The fun of new books. New lessons. New schedules.

"Lord, help us during this year of discovery. Open their young minds to all You would have for them to learn. And open my old mind to all You have for me to refine...patience, compassion and joy in Your calling for me, for now. Never let us stop learning or seeking. In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Ponderings and Convictions

This thought from Anne Lamont's, Plan B Further Thoughts on Faith:

(speaking about Jesus) "I don't think much surprises him: this is how we make important changes-barely, poorly, slowly. And still, he raises his fist in triumph."

I am being convicted..."..barely, poorly, slowly..." of the sin of my impatience.

Impatience with my kiddos. Impatience with those we minister among. Impatience with myself...

How can I demand (even quietly in my soul) that the changes I WANT to happen should be completed...fulfilled NOW?

How can I dare surrender my Hope, when the change is slow to come?

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40: 28-31

Redecorating

I love to redecorate. The furniture in our home never finds a permanent placement. Our chairs, tables and wall decor "visit" many areas of our home through the months. I rearrange, change colors and update whenever I have the opportunity.
Things are changing in our home this week...

And all it has involved is a paint brush, paint clothes and a tin of glossy paint.

Alex announced to the family this morning, "Mom's painting something else white!" :-)

Four, tired, messy, and scratched wood pieces of furniture have been revived with beautiful white paint!

We are all pleased with the results...and I have half a tin of paint just waiting to redeem more worn out furnishings.

If only refurbishing this blog was as simple as a can of paint!

For awhile now, I've been tired of pink. Pink is a perfectly lovely color. (shout out to Aimee Jo the queen of pink!) I loved dressing my baby girl in pink's delicate shades. But generally, I'm not a pink kind of girl.
So why did it end up on my blog?

I wasn't paying that much attention. Blogging wasn't something I thought would last long for me. I had no idea the blessing, release, and FUN I would find in Blogland.

Several months ago, I started fiddling with different templates. I cautiously perused the html codes....knowing that to someone it all makes sense....someone other than me.

I never achieved the "look" I wanted. And I grew frustrated.

So I did what any frustrated and stumped rookie decorator should do...I called a professional!

Susie at Bluebird Blogs (www.bluebirdblogs.com) is working on a design for me...and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

In the meantime, as I wait, I've revisited my current template and attempted to add some blogs to my blog roll. For some reason, (I'm sure a simple one) the titles on the headings are in a different font than I meant them to be...but since its not offensive or ugly...I've made the executive blog decision to Leave It as It is for Now. All further html changes will be left to the professionals!

So, I'm off to scrub the white paint from my hands, enjoy the gleaming white tables in my kitchen and wait to see what Susie has in store for us here....

Stay tuned!