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!"