Archive for October, 2009

Let it Rain

October 30, 2009

This experience in Central Asia was a result of what I learned from last week’s post about what makes me listen. Click here  if you haven’t had a chance to read it. 

“listen to His voice and hold fast to Him for the Lord is your life” Deut. 30:20 

One day, our family decided to go prayer walk through a tiny village not too far from our home. We liked to go to the most forgotten corners of Central Asia while we were there and pray for the salvation of people in areas where it was likely that no other Christian had ever walked. 

On this particular day, it began to rain right when we got out of our car. We were tempted to just turn around and go back home but instead we loaded the kids in the double stroller, raised their umbrellas and started walking. 

The village was so small that everyone noticed as the foreigners drove up and people were conspicuously peaking out of their windows in utter curiosity as we walked by. We prayed through the streets. We asked that this rain would be a blessing. We asked that as it fell it would sweep through the streets into every corner and cleanse them from darkness. Then, we loaded back up to leave. Usually, we meet someone who is open through a friendship through this process but on this particular day, no one spoke to us. 

As we were leaving, I noticed an old village lady squatting by the side of the road, watching us drive off. I really felt a strong prompting to get out and pray for her. I asked J to stop the car and he waited while I got out and squatted down beside her on the side of the road. 

I explained that we had been there to pray blessing over her village and her people. I let her know about praying in the name of Jesus and the power that comes with His name. I asked if there was any specific way I could pray for her before we left. 

She said, “Your God has already answered your prayer for blessing. We haven’t had rain for months in our village and our farmers need it badly. When your car drove up, it began to rain.” 

And do you know, when we drove out of the village that day, the rain stopped just as abruptly as it started. 

We serve a powerful God. We just had to ask in the name of Jesus. He longs to bless us. 

“listen to His voice and hold fast to Him for the Lord is your life.” Deut. 30:20

Swap Party – Create a new wardrobe in an evening.

October 29, 2009

I recently attended a Swap Party. There are many variations to this idea but here is what we did.

Everyone brought clothes that you would still want to wear, should they still fit.  Not garage sale type items but nice things that were either too small or too big after that wonderful diet. OK. I don’t think any of us had that problem but someone might.

We arranged everything across the room according to size and category. There were separate places for clothes, shoes, purses, accessories, home decor, books and movies.

Then, because we were a small group, we kinda just started trying things on and putting them in our pile. It was a group effort- one might ask, “how do I look in this jacket?” and someone else might say, “well, I think it looked better on so and so.” Or, I might say, “this shirt is too small for me. T, do you want it?” and one we went for the better part of the evening.

After it was over, we each shared our finds with the rest of the group and the previous owner would congratulate the new one. One thing we realized was it didn’t matter if we were the same size of not, there was something for everyone!

Give it a try and invite me :)

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Here were the things I took home. I was especially excited about the brown boots!

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Mr. Potato Head

October 28, 2009

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Like. Don’t like.

October 27, 2009

I like it when….

I’m scratching N’s back and he says, “MOM, scratch the scratchy spot!”

When J is singing loud in the back seat of the car and we ask her to sing more quietly. She responds by saying, “But, I cover my ear rings.” Then continues with her hands over her ears.

I don’t like it when…

I’m singing to J at night and she says in the sweetest sleepy voice, “Mommy, that’s makin my ears cry.”

N asks a lady in the store if she has a baby in her tummy. You can guess that NO she did not.

Our First Family Campout

October 26, 2009

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Pre-kids, we loved to camp. We have all the gear but have been hesitant to try it with little ones. We finally decided to give it a go this weekend. Our church was having a one night family campout so we decided to give it a try while we would have the support of other families. Our super expert camper friends Matt and Liz came along and cooked the meals (AMAZING ones) so, we really only had to get our tent up. Some of the kids in the church were working on Boy Scout merit badges and pitched our tent for us so when it really came down to it, we didn’t have to do much of anything!

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We went fishing. Will J be brave enough to take a fish out of the bag?

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Oh yeah….

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N and J loved the kids they met, especially N’s new ‘best friend’ James. A 12 year old who was great with kids and would make a super babysitter in a couple of years!

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It was a great first campout and we are most of all, thankful to Matt and Liz! May this be the first of many campouts together!

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This is What Makes Me Listen.

October 23, 2009

This is the story of one of the most impactful events of my life. It was a turning point of sorts. A time when I started taking the idea that God speaks to us and longs for us to obey seriously. It was the start of examining every good thought or idea that popped into my head as a possible word from God. 

I was working as a pharmaceutical sales representative. I loved my job but would soon be quitting to move to Central Asia. I had one last sales meeting to attend where I would be assigned a random room mate for the week. 

Leading up to the meeting, I began to have a sense that I should share of Christ’s love and his desire for everyone to come to know Him with my room mate. I had no idea who she would be but I had this strong sense that I was to share with her. I told my husband and a handful of friends of this prompting before I left, as a means of accountability. 

Her name was Justine. She was beautiful. A few years older than me, single and a fun bubbly personality. I was intimidated. I couldn’t bring myself to be bold enough to share with her. I justified it by the fact that most nights she came in drunk. I told myself there just wasn’t the right opportunity. The fact of the matter is, the week ended and I never acted on the prompting I had received. 

A couple of months passed by. Then, the news came. Justine had taken her own life. Never again would there be a chance to share true Hope with this beautiful girl. 

I was shocked as I began to emotionally work through the significance of the prompting I had received and my lack of action. 

I began to pray, “Lord, I’m so sorry. I’ll listen to your voice. Whatever it is. I’m ready to walk out in boldness for you.” 

Through my tears, I heard him speak. It was a small thought that popped into my head. If it hadn’t been for this experience, I would have just written it off as a good deed I could choose to or not to do. Not this time. 

I know it sounds crazy but I had just cut up a watermelon and it was sitting in a bowl on the counter. There was a prompting my heart that said, “Take the watermelon over to your new neighbor and give it as a welcome gift.”  

I was skeptical but I sure wasn’t just going to sit around at this point! I dried my tears and grabbed the watermelon before I could change my mind and ran out the door. I knocked. T answered. He invited me in. We made small talk. He invited J and I to a bar where he would be singing that night. He admitted it was a gay bar. Then, he spilled his story. 

He had been married to the pastor’s daughter of an extremely conservative denomination. He loved her dearly and did all the right things. She cheated on him and left him .He was devastated, went crazy and eventually was led into a homosexual lifestyle. He knew it was wrong and wanted out. Upon finding out that J was in seminary, he asked for our help. 

This began our friendship with T and J’s investment in his life, pointing him toward Truth and helping lead him out of this entanglement of sin. 

All because of a watermelon. All because of a ‘good idea’ that was a clear prompting from God. 

If there is something good on your mind to do today, ask the Lord if it is from Him. If the idea pops up again, learn from my mistake.

Get busy. 

“listen to His voice and hold fast to Him for the Lord is your life” Deut. 30:20

Home Made Trick-or-Treat Bags

October 22, 2009

This craft took multiple sittings to complete which added an element of anticipation to the fun. Here’s the finished product:

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Mix Elmers glue and water in a small bowl. There doesn’t have to be much glue in the mixture- cover the bottom of the bowl with glue and then fill the bowl half full with water. Stir well.

Cut strips of newspaper or magazine and dip them in the glue. Then, place them on a balloon. Cover the balloon in one layer of wet newspaper. Let it dry over night. Repeat with a second layer and let it dry.

Next, paint your soon to be Jack-O-Lanterns orange. 

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Try not to paint your face, or your clothes….

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and definitely don’t paint the dog.

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Hang the orange balloons to dry overnight again.

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Pop the balloons. Cut a circle out of the top for an opening. Use a hole punch to make holes to thread the ribbon through. Make eyes, nose and mouth with a black marker.

Glue around the upper edge and add hair. Then, use clear tape to reinforce the hair and opening. N is who thought they needed hair and it really was a great idea! 

Now, you’re ready to go trick-or-treating!

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Oh, to live on the beach!

October 21, 2009

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That Crazy Driver

October 20, 2009

images[7]We spent many a moment laughing at the crazy driving maneuvers we saw while in Central Asia. Off road stunts that  should only be performed in an SUV would be performed by a guy on a three wheeled bike type contraption with a lawn mower engine. Driving kept us laughing, when I wasn’t angry about my biggest driving pet peeve- seeing whole families on motorcycles, babies sandwiched in and kids on the back all with no helmets. Or, a husband wearing a helmet with his wife behind him in a head scarf. That would really get me going. Back to one of our funny, not so funny  driving experiences. 

We were driving our Doblo down the road (a box shaped SUV type car with a something close to a lawn mower engine) when a guy walked right out in front of us. Big swerve .We were quite annoyed as his boldness that had put both us and him in danger. 

Doesn’t he know that this road is for cars? What an idiot! He could have gotten himself killed!  

Then, he started making some type of gesture with his hands. This really got us laughing. Central Asians have their own arsenal of obscene gestures, some of which take quite a bit of effort to execute. We always got a kick out of the creativity of these gestures and the passion behind them.  It looked like this guy was making the number 10 with his hands over and over. This was a full body motion, combination rock star move and clearly some type of gesture we had never before encountered. 

Now he’s mad at us? Are you kidding? Does anyone realize this road is for cars, not people?  

After allowing the pride of our flesh to be unleashed, in judgement of the guy who jumps out in front of cars,  we realized…..

 

OUR HEADLIGHTS WEREN’T TURNED ON.

Saturday Morning Adventures

October 19, 2009

We learned about Saturday morning adventures from our dear friends and mentors, the Callisons. J couldn’t wait until N was old enough to enjoy one on one time together. We started them in Central Asia when I had almost no time away from N and J each week since there wasn’t Mother’s Day Out, Church, or other activities you would typically drop your child off for an hour or two. That hour or two can make a big difference! J started taking the kids out for an adventure each Saturday morning so that I could have a little alone time. N and J love this special time with Baba and look forward to the fun things they might do each week. This Saturday, they took Ernie to get a vaccination at a neighborhood mobile vet clinic and then went to the park. Who knows what next Saturday will bring for them but I know that for me, it will involve a cup of coffee and a very quiet house.

Ernie responded to the news of his shot much better than N and J do!

Ernie responded to the news of his shot much better than N and J do!

 
The nurse made a mistake this week and told N and J they would have to get their fingers pricked. Oh the tears that followed. She had mixed up the charts and there was no need for finger pricking. Then came the look of shock as they sat saucer eyed, trying to comprehend their good fortune.  
You just can't beat going to the park with Baba.

You just can't beat going to the park with Baba.

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