Beauty day 32- menus

I obviously can't count, since I did 25 twice, so now I am a day ahead.

I don't usually do resolutions, but I do try and have goals.

As a family, we sat down and made some goals for this next year.  They involve some trips, so we decided we are going to have to cut some money from other areas of our budget.  Food is one area that I am going to try and cut some money from.  I have been working on this for the past year and have decreased it, but I think I can do more.

Saving money this way involves less convenience foods and more cooking from scratch.  This will take planning on my part, since I work part time and run kids all over full time.:)

Here is  next months menus: 
I am just listing all of the meals that are available, not which night for which meal.

Beef stew in crock pot/ bread or rolls
Spaghetti and homemade meatballs/ garlic bread
Tacos
Beef enchiladas
Beef tips with noodles
Breakfast casserole
Chicken/turkey pot pie
Lasagna
Quiche- ham and cheese
Baked ziti with sausage
Potato soup
Beef and noodles with mashed potatoes
Kielbasa with black beans
Chicken penne pasta
Poppyseed chicken

I am trying a new recipe book out called "The Great American supper swap" by Trish Berg. I found it at half price books and it has some good, easy and kid friendly recipes. The whole supper swap is a great idea, and I have done it with other groups in the past.  My kids were not always fans of other peoples food though.  I would like to try it again.  The idea is that you find 4-5 other families(similar sized families) and swap a meal with them.  You make 4-5 of one kind of meal and bring it to the swap location.  You go home with 4-5 different meals for your freezer.  It is always nice to have food ready made in the freezer.

Saving money and having healthy food for your family on hand is a beautiful thing!

Beauty day 25-30

25. Ornaments.  I have been putting Christmas stuff away this week.  I love looking at all our ornaments.  Special memories attached to these little ornaments.
We buy an ornament on every trip we take, it is easier than you would think.  Here are a few.

26. Change of plans.  We had planned to be in Florida this week.  Issues with Joe's work kept us here.  I have been able to get a lot done and we have spent a lot of uninterrupted time together. 

27.Purging.  With the extra time at home, I have been cleaning out rooms and the basement.  A trip to Goodwill is in store for today!  I love purging.

28.  Sound sleep.  I slept through another earthquake.  Amy was the only one who felt it here at our house.  4.1, she said the house shook.  I never woke.

29.  Dishwasher.  With us all home this week, the dishwasher has been getting a work out.  Our first house didn't have a dishwasher, so I am always thankful to not have to wash so many dishes!

30.A healthy extended family.  2 Christmas's and everyone is healthy, no major health crisis this year.  Let's hope the same thing for 2011.

Beauty day 25 babysitting

Amy is babysitting for 2 little ones at our house tonight.  It is fun to see her in charge, and being a good 'mom' figure.  They are one of her teachers kids, so it is really funny to hear them talk.  Especially when they asked why our bsement was so messy! haha(in my defense, I am putting the Christmas stuff away)

Watching your kids grow and mature is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 24-one on one

We put in the movie "Letters to God" last night about 8.  It was a good movie, bring tissues if you watch it though, it is a tearjerker.

Aaron was at a sleepover, Ann was up in bed reading, and Amy went to bed early due to swim practice.

It was just Joe, Andrew and I.

This doesn't happen often enough.

We had fun snuggling, all 3 of us on our couch, talking about the movie, cancer, and anything else that popped into my 8 year olds head.

It was a thing of beauty.

Day of Beauty-day 23 A day at home

Christmas day this year was a quiet laid back day at home.

We didn't open gifts until 9am, after birthday cake and the Christmas story being read.  We have never really been a rushed early morning Christmas family.

The kids each get 3gifts and  their stockings.  Joe and I just did stockings for each other.  It didn't take long to open all of our gifts, and the rest of the day was spent enjoying them.

Watching movies, playing games, playing indoor basketball, and eating.  We had no where to go.  I didn't even get out of my PJs all day. 
It was wonderful.

We spent today at home too.  I really think our family needed this time to reconnect and just decompress.

A catch up-Beauty

I know I am behind.

A few things of beauty I have noticed this past week
1. dry clear roads-I don't like ice

2. Deer on the fresh clean snow

3.Plans that are changed- God knows the future not me!

4. a night home, alone with my husband. We have had a rough week.

5. Truth and light- where there is truth there is light.  It can be so hard to get to this point for some couples. I am glad we are there and have stayed there  for nearly 9 years.

6. Being able to say with conviction-"I have been there and God was faithful and saw me through." amen

7. God, not letting my past pain be wasted.  He is so good and merciful.

 Colleen's wedding

 You might not want to eat our cookies!

Haley and Annie- handing out cookies to our neighbors.

Beaty day 15- location

We have lived in many areas of Indiana.  There are good and bad to each, at different times of the year especially.

Christmas in Indy is fun though.  We are so close to big events, like concerts, plays, ballet.

I went on a field trip with Annie's class yesterday to the IRT's production of "A Christmas Carol".  Honestly, the story isn't one of my favorites.  I love redemption though- so that makes it OK.  I just like Gods redempting(is that even a word?) love better! 

Her class had read the book recently, and I also got to hear how much they differed.  Annie loves details.

Anyway, we took the bus downtown to the theatre.  The downtown is decorated so well, with the snow it was so pretty.

The production was fabulous, they did a superb job, very professional.

We then went to Circle Center mall for lunch and to walk around a little.  Being there with 10 year old girls was a lot of fun.

Being close to the arts is a thing of beauty for me!

Beauty day 14- 2 hour delay

I heart 2 hour delays!  They are a thing of beauty for this momma who likes to sleep.

Beauty day 13 pets

I know its crazy and my husband would so disagree with this post.

Kelsey is our 10 year old dog who brings us much joy. 
She brings me much strife sometimes, but for the most part, she is a joy.

I took her to the vet today and watching her all nervous and acting like a real kid just cracked me up.

So today having pets is a thing of beauty.

Beaty day 12-Corporate worship, personal God

As I mentioned earlier, we had a great day of worship yesterday.
Worshipping with a large group of people can seem impersonal to some. I felt God speaking to my heart as if I was the only one there!
One of my favorite songs of the morning was "Your Beautiful" by Phil Wickham.
I love it, but it brings me to tears every.single.time!

Worshipping with others is a thing of beauty, as is the God who speaks to each of our hearts independently.

Beauty day 11- family worship

We attend a large church with over 4000 members.  We usually attend on Saturday night with 800 others.  This week, though, we had to attend on Sunday morning with over 1500 other people.

The service was quite the production.

But..... what was more beautiful was worshipping with the whole family.  Seeing the kids sing and worship was great.  Nothing brings me more joy than knowing (and seeing) that my kids worship the King of Kings.

Family worship is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 10- teenagers

People like to scare me and say how BAD teenagers are or they  say "wait until they are teenagers"  like it's a bad thing.  I think the group in general gets a bad rap.  (I know that there are plenty of really bad kids out there)

I have never been a youth leader, or really wanted to be.  Joe was good with that age of kids, not me. Right?

But I am loving having a teenager.  She and her friends are full of life and love to laugh.  A group of them were going to see the new Narnia movie tonight and wanted to watch Prince Caspian at our house first. 

They know they are always welcome here. 

In they walk.  Right to the pizza, opening the fridge like its their house to get a drink.

We have a long way to go, and many more teenager to have in our house. 

I will keep the fridge stocked and the pizzas on hand.

Teenagers are a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 9-quality time

My ten year old daughter Annie loves crafts and her love language is quality time.  We combine the 2 when we do crafts and scrap booking together.  Time for just the 2 of us is hard , so I have to be intentional about it.

We made this knock off last night from an old bulletin board we had.  It is a cheap and easy way to show off those pretty Christmas cards.

                                        Quality time with my sweet daughter is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 8-the written word

It happens every year.  I start making my cookies and open up my cookbook to this page. 

And, I cry.

My late sister-in law Jane wrote this out for me 14 years ago in a letter she sent to me.  She was encouraging me to go forward with a cookie business, so I could continue to stay home with Amy.  She sent her most complimented recipe and I make it every year.  Honestly, they are not my favorite.  This recipe is though, it is in her handwriting and I can't get that anymore. 

We lost her 12 years ago to breast cancer and I still miss her.

Handwritten messages from those we love are a thing of beauty.

Beauty Day 7-chaos

I am a simple gal.  I really don't like loud noises.  I have trouble when all 4 kids are talking to me at the same time, or even just talking /yelling/singing at the same time.  This is probably due to the fact that there is usually music on too, while I am making dinner/cleaning up/doing laundry/ yelling at the dog all. at.the.same.time.
And, don't even get me started on the running around I do taking kids to lessons, games, friends etc.  Granted this chaos is by choice. ( I could always say no, and we could hole up in the house for days.)

This chaos is my life right now, a season really.  A season that will be gone all too soon.

 I know this because my firstborn is in high school and I went to a college preparation lecture last week for her.  What?  my baby going off to college?  OK it isn't for 3 more years but, still.  I digress.(and cry a little!)

Our chaos is a thing of beauty for me, and I have to remind myself of this daily.  I always wanted a big family, with lots of kids to run around and raise.  God blessed us with our brood and my mission right now is to raise them.  While it is hairy at times and I am exhausted most of the time, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The chaos of a big, active family is a thing of beauty for me!

Corkboard turned Card Holder

Corkboard turned Card Holder

This is a great idea Ann and I will be making this week.

Beauty day 6- leftovers

Lunch today was made from pasta leftover from another recipe, sauce leftover from spaghetti, sausage and cheese leftover from homemade pizza night. It was actually yummy too!

       Leftovers mean we have more than enough to eat and that is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 5- a mess of a yard

This is our neighbors pretty snow covered yard.

This is our front yard.  4 kids sledding down our front yard, really messes it up.

But  3-4 hours of play and memories made are a thing of beauty.*

*hopefully, they are good memories. The neighbors may disagree, Andrew was in crying 3 times and I was yelling at the kids to stop arguing more than once.

Beauty Day 4 - a grandparents love

I attend many youth sporting events.  Many.  As I sat watching Andrews basketball game today I sat behind a Grandma.  Her teenage grandson saw her and gave her a hug, and then sat with his arm around her for awhile.  I went to The Nutcracker later in the day and watched grandparents hugging their dancer granddaughters.

 They were so proud of them, even if they didn't dance or play well. Just being their grandparent is enough!

My parents love, loving on their grandkids.

My grandparents are all in heaven, but they sure loved me.  I knew it too.

A grandparents love is a thing of beauty.

Beauty Day 3

Joe and I went on a double date last night. We saw Sara Groves in her "O Holy Night" tour. She is a gifted musician. This video of hers is one of my favorites. I love lyrics, songs with meaningful lyrics are my favorite. A beautiful voice is a wonderful thing.
A voice used to glorify God is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 2

These won't all be about Amy, but the first 2 I thought of are.
 Beauty in an orphanage in the poor country of El Salvador?
 This picture is (blurry) of Amy at Exodo Orphanage in El Salvador.  She is playing with the infant/ toddlers during a break.  The little girl, Millie, is hiding her watermelon slice from Amy.  This was our last day at the orphanage and Amy had a very hard time leaving.  She cried as our bus drove away saying " how can we leave them here?"  The country of El Salvador does not have agreements/rights for adoptions out of the country right now.  Believe me, if they would have, we would have had a few in our suitcases for the ride home.
 Amy has decided that she wants to go into medicine and travel allover the world helping kids like these.  She can do it too!
Watching your child find their passion is a thing of Beauty.

60 Days of Beauty

Watching  a child face and overcome a fear is a thing of beauty.
Derry's 60 days of beauty. Derry is doing a series and I am going to try and get back to blogging and join along.
Hiking the gorgeous Grand Canyon was fun, but so very scary and a bit overwhelming.  Amy was very scared, and didn't want to hike down.  It was scary, no railing and at least a 300 ft straight drop down jagged rock. 
What did she do?  She prayed out load and quoted and sang scripture.  We all sang along (Steve Green's Hide em in your heart is priceless).  She walked as far as anyone, past Ooh Ahh point.(or ohh lala point as Joe kept saying)  She sat out on ledges and took risks.
Watching your child face a fear and conquer it is a beautiful thing.

a blogcation

Unintentional, but still.  Between, changes in blogspot, a harddrive crash and school(for all of us) starting, I haven't been on here in awhile.  I am going to try and get some Haiti, El Salvador and new family pictures on here.
These are all of Joe in Haiti.  The trip affected him in a profound way, just ask him about it.  I am so proud of him and oh so glad he went.

Back home again in Indiana.....

We are home and had a wonderful trip.  God is alive and working in El Salvador.  His hand of protection was on us as we travelled in the second most dangerous(violent) countries in Central America.  The children at Exodo orphanage are beautiful, full of hope and joy.

More pictures to follow...

El Salvador

http://exodo2010.wordpress.com/

there is a link to another blog which is following their work in El Salvador.

Tia is sharing devotions this morning from Matthew 25:37-40

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'



40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'


I have never loved my wife more.

 miss them but all this technology helps!

El Salvador...finally

It seems like we have been planning this trip for so long, it is finally here!

We leave in the morning from Indy airport to Dallas then on to San Salvador.  We will spend the week working at Exodo orphanage, a vbs, a local childrens hospital, touring sites and working on some construction projects.

Specific prayer requests;

safety for travel and stay in El Salvador

cohesiveness of our large group of 28

that our eyes would be opened and God would work in us

that we would be a blessing to those we come in contact with

that my kiddos specifically would be impacted and see Jesus

safety for Joe and the kids back home.

I have devotions thursday morning- not my gift- pray that God would speak through me.

Birthdays

We have had 2 birthdays since I last posted!  2 parties too.  Fun sleepovers in our newly refinished empty basement.  We had scheduled to have a new sectional couch delivered the day of the party, but it wouldn't fit through the door.  Luckily they returned it!  I don't think the kids minded though!

Amy turned 14, and will be a freshman in high school next year.  Aaron turned 12 and will be a 6th grader.

Love Talks

We had a memorable dinner last night.  Nothing really profound, but one I will always remember.  

Every once in a while I pull out the  little table top flip chart called "Love Talks for families"  by Gary Chapman.

The first question was:
#29 Tell family members about a compliment or affirmation that you've received recently from someone outside the family.

This one didn't start the conversation flowing like I wanted, so I picked a different one.

Question #52 Each person comes up with a separate answer for every family member: "I know that something that drives you nuts is...."

Well, let me tell you, we have very perceptive kids.  They were imitating each other, and laughing and then laughing at each other laughing.
I went last and Joe announced (inadvertently), "now everyone tell Mom what drives you nuts about her."

Well, happy Mothers Day , lets tell Mom what we don't like about her.  Funny.

We got it figured out, and they were spot on.  I guess I'm pretty transparent.  
Aaron said "well you don't really say it bugs you, but you keep it inside and I can tell."  WHOA.. what?  He then went on to make a face, that I guess I make, when I'm keeping it inside and they all agreed he was spot on.

These kids, always reminding me of ways that God needs to keep working on me!

What's for dinner?

We are having
Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Place 4 chicken breasts in crock pot with 1 onion diced for 4-6 hours on low.

Shred the chicken and add 2 (8 oz) bricks of cream cheese and 1 cup salsa

Mix 1 can enchilada sauce, 1 can tomato soup, and 1 can cream of mushroom soup together. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with mixture.

Spoon Chicken mixture into flour or corn tortillas, roll up ad place seam side down on sauce in pan.  When the pan is full (you may need 2 pans depending on how full you fill them) cover with the remaining sauce.

Cook for 20 minutes and then place 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, olives, green onions etc. on top.  Place back in oven for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

I am linking up to http://beautyandbedlam.com/  Tasty Tuesday.

Easy Pulled Pork recipe

Sorry the picture is so blurry, it looked good when I downloaded it!)

My family L.O.V.E.S. pulled pork.  I have a usual recipe that cooks pork tenderloins in the crock pot with coffee, beef broth , garlic etc.  I went to http://www.allrecipes.com/ to find it and stumbled across a easier, cheaper version.  It was yummy too.

Easy Pulled Pork
3-4 pound pork butt roast
1 cup root beer
1 large tablespoon mince garlic

Put all in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours, season with salt and pepper.  Drain off most of the juices, shred with 2 forks and add your favorite barbecue sauce.  Cook on low in crock pot for another hour or so.  Serve on toasted buns.

My kids were thrilled with the left over root beer too!

Becoming a more missional family

Our church is doing a 6 week series on family.  Last weekend was on "Being a Missional Family". 
I have been thinking of ways to be more "missional".
Here are 10 ways I thought of.

1. Make cards and visit nursing homes.  Just talking to the residents makes their day, they love to see kids and especially love to hear them sing and play any kind of music.

2. Bake or cook for a hurting friend.  Sometimes I just don't know what to say, but I can cook.  Who doesn't appreciate a hot meal and a heartfelt  "I care"?

3.  Intentionally participate in coat drives and food drives.  I say intentionally, because I have been known to run through the house grabbing old coats or food on the last minute of said drives.  Get the kids involved.

4. Take care of the Earth.  Pick up trash, plant a garden, recycle.

5.  Be prayerful of others. Don't just say it, do it.  Let your kids hear you, and participate. Be mindful of others needs.  Pray for the homeless to find a warm place to sleep etc.  Pray for your sponsored kids, make sure your kids know them by name.

6. Secretly adopt a family.  We do this at Christmas, but wouldn't it be fun all year?  If you know of someone in need, send them a grocery or gas gift card, or a card for a restaurant. Sometimes doing things like taking the trash cans down for an elderly couple can make a huge difference.  Do this anonymously, it will be quite fun.  Even dropping off clothes that you know will fit their kids is helpful.  Being secret about it, helps their shame, and or embarrassment and takes the focus off of you.
7. Volunteer at a local food bank or shelter.  You don't have to go on an oversees mission trip to see poverty.  It's  in our backyard.  Expose yourself and kids to it.  It is much more "real" and pressing when seen in person and not just on TV.  Seeing that these people are just like us is life changing for some.

8.Write thank you's to those who serve us.  Police, military, teachers, church workers.  The unsung heros.  Everyone loves a handwritten note, and attaching a kids drawing will make their day.  Send a long a plate of cookies, fruit, candy etc.  They will be forever grateful.

9. Ready to go packs for the homeless.  Have a large ziploc, or a paper sack filled with things like: a water bottle, gum, granola bars, McD gift certificates, raisins etc.  Have it ready for when you see someone standing on the side of the street. 

10. Send packages to soldiers, and missionaries.  Make sure you get a good address for them and that there are no restrictions.  Ask what they want if you can.  I remember asking missionaries what they missed that we could send them.   Many answered peanut butter, or their favorite candy, hot chocolate mixes etc.

These are simple things we will be implementing into our lives.  Thinking of others before yourself.

Safe

Safe by Phil Wickham
Beautiful song. Listen especially to the bridge.

Just thinking of how the hands that healed the leper, are holding my heart, does me in.
I needed this today and thought you might too.

SAFE Lyrics


Phil Wickham & Bart Millard



To the one whose dreams are falling all apart

And all you’re left with is a tired and broken heart

I can tell by your eyes you think you’re on your own

but you’re not all alone



Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas

Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet

With a love so strong and never let you go

oh you’re not alone



Chorus:

You will be safe in His arms

You will be safe in His arms

‘Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart

This is the promise He made

He will be with You always

When everything is falling apart

You will be safe in His arms



Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life

Is the very same voice that calls you to rise

So hear Him now He’s calling you home

You will never be alone



Bridge:

These are the hands that built the mountains

the hands that calm the seas

These are the arms that hold the heavens

They are holding you and me



These are hands that healed the leper

Pulled the lame up to their feet

These are the arms that were nailed to a cross

to break our chains and set us free

El Salvador update

Our money for the trip is due tomorrow. As of right this very minute, we have raised $3570. of the $4650 we need.

If you forgot and still want to give, it's OK, just make the checks out to either us or Bridges of Hope(to be tax deductible).

Thanks for all of the support, we have very generous family and friends. We thank God for each and every one.

As hard as it is to write and ask people for money, we are continually blessed by it.  The notes of encouragement bring us to tears.  I am always reminded of  advice that was given to me by a sweet older lady in our former church: "give people an opportunity to be blessed by giving. "
 Similar to what Paul writes in Acts 20:35
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to recieve'"

2 widows gave very generously to our fund.  We sent the letters to them, expecting the prayer warriors to pray.  They sent letters to us thanking us for allowing them to be a blessing.  They have known our kids since birth, but haven't seen them since we have moved, except in Christmas cards. We felt guilty taking their checks, but we know it is the right thing to do. They would be offended if we sent it back, and the blessing would be gone.

We have been truly blessed.

Psalm 147:1
"Praise the Lord.  How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!"

Do the next thing.......

I found this epsode of Gateway to Joy very relevant to me today.  I thought you might too.  I love Elisabeth Eliot, and this is classic her.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says. "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, talking with you this time about "Do the Next Thing."

When I went back to my jungle station after the death of my first husband, Jim Elliot, I was faced with many confusions and uncertainties. I had a good many new roles, besides that of being a single parent and a widow. I was alone on a jungle station that Jim and I had manned together. I had to learn to do all kinds of things, which I was not trained or prepared in any way to do. It was a great help to me simply to do the next thing.


Have you had the experience of feeling as if you've got far too many burdens to bear, far too many people to take care of, far too many things on your list to do? You just can't possibly do it, and you get in a panic and you just want to sit down and collapse in a pile and feel sorry for yourself.


Well, I've felt that way a good many times in my life, and I go back over and over again to an old Saxon legend, which I'm told is carved in an old English parson somewhere by the sea. I don't know where this is. But this is a poem which was written about that legend. The legend is "Do the next thing." And it's spelled in what I suppose is Saxon spelling. "D-O-E" for "do," "the," and then next, "N-E-X-T." "Thing"-"T-H-Y-N-G-E."


The poem says, "Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing." That is a wonderfully saving truth. Just do the next thing.


So I went back to my station, took my ten-month-old baby, tried to take each duty quietly as the will of God for the moment. One of the very first duties that faced me was what in the world I was going to do about the church. We had 50 newly baptized believers, Christians, who a year before had not been Christians. Jim Elliot had been teaching them daily and preaching on Sundays. Jim Elliot was not there anymore. There was no other male missionary.


Now I happen to be a very firm believer in men taking the leadership in church. I believe that God has clearly defined the positions of authority in both the home and the church as belonging to me. So whether you agree with me on that or not, let me just say that I get my ideas from the Scriptures and that's where I had to start when I got back to my little jungle station. I was not going to run that church. But I was literally the only person around who had the Scriptures. There was nobody else that could teach those believers. So what was I to do?


One of the last things that Jim had said to me when I said to him before he left, "What will I do if you don't come back?" was "You must teach the believers." So I took two of the young men that Jim had picked out as potential leaders in the church. I explained to them that it was not my job to be the head of the church. It was their job to take responsibility. I said, "I'm here to help you."


So on Saturday afternoon, each week after that time, I would call one or the other of these men to my house. We would sit down together, translate a few simple verses from Spanish and Greek and English and whatever else I could draw on into Quichua. Then these men would get up and preach the sermon, which I had helped them make an outline for. I would draw out of them their own understanding of the Scriptures and try to get them to give me some illustrations from their jungle experience.


They would get up and preach-not a very good sermon. I could have done a better job. But I felt that it was not my job to take over the church simply because I was competent to do it. It was my job to encourage these men so that they would become competent.


Then there was the question of a diesel motor. What did I know about diesel generators? We had one for electricity, which we used sometimes in the evenings for a couple of hours. So I had to figure out how to run the diesel motor. I had to figure out how to keep the airstrip clean. I had to pay about 40 Indians swinging machetes to do that, which made me their foreman. I'd never been anybody's foreman before.


I was teaching a women's literacy class. We had a boy's school taught by an Ecuadorian teacher that I had to sort of supervise and encourage and pay and do various things that I was not used to doing. I had the medical work. I had the translation of the Book of Luke, which Jim and I had finished only in rough draft when he was killed. I was going to carry on with that, because, as I said, there were no Scriptures in Quichua. If the church was to grow, they had to have spiritual food. So I went ahead with the translation of Luke.


The grass in the jungle grows unbelievably fast, so I always having to hire people to cut the grass, to clean out the pineapple bed, to cut the branches away from the trail between my house and the airstrip. And I tried to decide what to do about a hydroelectric system that Jim had just begun to put in. I didn't know whether I should try to finish that or forget it.


You can imagine how tempted I was to just plunk myself down and say, "There is no way I can do this." I wanted to sink into despair and helplessness. Then I remembered that old Saxon legend, "Do the next thing."


I remembered a verse that God had given to me before I went to Ecuador in Isaiah 50:7: "The Lord God will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded. Therefore, have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed."


What is the next thing for you to do? Small duties, perhaps? Jobs that nobody will notice as long as you do them? A dirty job that you would get out of if you could have your own preferences? Are you asked to take some great responsibility, which you really don't feel qualified to do? You don't have to do the whole thing right this minute, do you? I can tell you one thing that you do have to do right this minute. It's the one thing that is required of all of us every minute of every day. Trust in the living God.


Now what is the next thing? Well, perhaps it's to get yourself organized. Maybe you need to clean off your desk, if you have a desk job that needs to be done. Maybe you need to clean out your kitchen drawers, if you're going to do your kitchen work more efficiently. Maybe you need to organize the children's clothes.


I know what an enormous job that is for Valerie, my daughter. All of a sudden, the children are coming out saying, "I can't wear this. This is too short or this is too long or this doesn't fit me anymore." What do you do with those things? If you're going to save them for the next child, you've got to put them somewhere where you can find them. So you just do that one thing. Somehow or other, the peace of God descends upon us when we take things calmly, peacefully and humbly as the next thing that God has assigned us to do.


About three years ago, I think it was, my daughter and her husband were going away for a weekend and taking with them the nursing baby. The baby was just a few weeks or months old. Val and Walt decided to go off for a weekend. They asked me if I could stay with the other children. I was delighted. I live on the other side of the continent from my children and grandchildren, and I was delighted for the opportunity.


So I stayed with them. In the first day, I don't remember ever being so busy in my life. I mean, it was "Granny this" and "Granny that" and "Granny, will you read us a story?" and "Granny, can we have some more juice?" and "Granny, would you pull my pants up?" "Granny, would you pull my pants down?" "Granny, can we have some juice?" "Granny, can we go outside?" "Granny, what time is supper?" Until I really thought I would go mad.


Well, my dear sweet daughter had the good sense to call me that evening. She said, "Well, Mama, how are you doing?" I said, "Wonderfully, Val." And then I said, "But I'm not sure I can make it through the next three days." Then I assured her that her children were wonderful children. They're not disobedient. They're not unruly. Everything was going along really very well, when you think of the way some households are run. But I said, "I keep thinking, 'Valerie's got a baby to nurse. That takes about six hours a day. How does she do it?' So tell me, Val, how do you do it?"


She laughed and she said, "Well, Mama, I'll tell you how. I do what you told me years ago to do. Do the next thing. Don't sit down and think of all the things you have to do. That will kill you. It's overwhelming. It's daunting if you think of all the things that are involved in a task. Just pick up the next thing."


I find this even in the Scriptures. Tucked in the back of the Book of Mark, following the story of the Crucifixion, we read this lovely little story. Mark 15:42: "By this time, evening had come. And as it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, a man who looked forward to the kingdom of God, bravely went into Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead, so he sent for the centurion and asked him whether it was long since He died. When he heard the centurion's report, he gave Joseph leave to take the dead body. So Joseph bought a linen sheet, took Him down from the cross, wrapped Him in the sheet and laid Him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance."


Can't you imagine the disciples and Mary and Martha and the other bewildered women, sitting in absolute dejection and perplexity when their Lord and Master and King had just died? They couldn't think of one single thing to do. Here came this godly man, who looked forward to the kingdom of God, who bravely went in and asked for the body of Jesus. He could think of one thing to do. He did the next thing. That must have been a tremendous cheer and encouragement to those discouraged people.

Spring Break 2010

We started our Spring Break with Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Reakers in their new home in Bremen. The kids stayed 2 more days while mom and dad worked.  Grandpa took them to Janes Park, DQ and many tours of scenic Bremen.It's hard to believe Annie was 6 months old when this was built.  I have pictures of the kids playing here every year. Beautiful park, missed Aunt!  The kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa and I'm sure wore them out.Wednesday we headed to The Indianpolis Museum of Art.  Beautiful museum, artwork and grounds.  Aaron was less than thrilled to be there.  The museum is free and so close to home, I wanted to make sure the kids went at least once.  We will be returing to the grounds this summer for pictures though.  It was a rainy afternoon, so we headed to a movie "How to train a Dragon".  It was quite good.Friday and the weekend was spent in Cincinnati.  We went to the Creation Museum, which was way cool.  I think I learned more than the kids did.  It is very well done and affordable.  We spent the entire day there, and then headed to the hotel to swim.  We stayed at the Comfort Suites.  It was perfect for us, 6 sleep comfortably.  Breakfast and a pool too for $79.00.  It is hard finding affordable lodging for our crew, whereas someones not sleeping on the dirty hotel floor(usually Joe).This picture is of a 80 pound boa.  I chose to take the picture and miss out on the holding, thank you.We walked through the grounds and gardens, and went to the petting zoo.

Sunday found us at the Reds Vs. Cubs game.  We got there early for batting practice, and I was able to take some close ups of the players.  Too bad I didn't know who anyone was!I did know this long haired former

Irish player, Jeff Smardija.Soriano stunk it up and the Cubs dissappointed us in a loss.  The weather was HOT, but felt great. We were even able to get some sun.

Overall, the week went fast and I think the kids had fun.