One Year

I realized that the other day, May 4, marked the one year anniversary of this little blog...I can't quite believe that. 316 posts about all sorts of random things. :) I've liked the discipline of putting my thoughts into words and being able to share many of our goings-on. This may seem a somewhat odd, but it's also added a bit of accountability to my life...I feel more committed to acting on my musings after I've written them out and seem to think about them a bit more. Piper had a good way at looking at blogs, and I hope that the time you've spent here has sometimes been nourishing amid the scattered recipes, book reviews and pictures of outings...

The usefulness of blogs, in my judgment, is that they're like a taste, just like you snack between meals on something healthy or not. And I would just like mine to be really, really healthy and nourishing.

Piper also had this interesting article on Why Pastors Should Blog...not that I'm a pastor or anything, but I appreciated and have come to understand some of his thoughts and reasons over this past year.

Sherried Pork Chops and Pears

We don't eat too much of the "other white meat" around here, but sometimes I get tired of chicken and decide to cook some pork. Here's one of our few favorites in the pork department. :)

Sherried Pork Chops and Pears
from Sunset All-Time Favorite Recipes

6-8 center cut pork chops (each 3/4 inch thick)
3 or 4 firm-ripe Anjou pears
2 T lemon juice
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 c beef broth (I just use bouillon)
1/2 t cornstarch blended with 1/2 t of water

Trim fat from chops. Place a little fat in a frying pan and fry pork chops briefly, browning on each side. Season chops with salt and arrange on one side of baking pan. Cut pears in half and hollow out seed area. Place cut side up next to chops. Sprinkle meat and pears with lemon juice. Mix sugar and cinnamon and distribute over fruit, pour broth over all. Put a dot of butter in each pear hollow.

Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes, uncover and bake about 20 minutes more till meat is no longer pink. I think I just bake uncovered for 35 minutes.

Spoon out pan juices and transfer to small pan. Blend in cornstarch mixture, bring to boil, stirring constantly. Spoon sauce over meat.

Josh organized his tools the other day in preparation to make a catapult

Overseas Missionary Fellowship

Overseas Missionary Fellowship is probably one of our favorite missions organizations. It was started by Hudson Taylor in 1865. His philosophy was one, like Mueller, that did not solicit funds...they are one of the few organizations that don't send out gobs of mail to you. On their primary website (non US) it is even hard to find out how to give.

Anyways, their ministry has equipped 300 people to spread God's word primarily in East Asia. The primary religion in those regions is Buddhism. They focus on evangelism as well as training native missionaries to proclaim God's truth to their own people. They highlight about 35 people groups and give information about who they are, what the specific needs are in that region, and how OMF has been able to impact them for Christ. Another vision of theirs is encouraging Christians to evangelize across the world.

The also have short term missions opportunities if that interests you...

Sovereignty

The Sovereignty of God is the biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception. In other words, God is not merely sovereign de jure (in principle), but sovereign de facto (in practice).
Source: Theopedia

Sometimes big things happen and we remind ourselves that God is sovereign and can rest in that, but what has challenged me over the past few years is that God is indeed sovereign even over the very smallest of things. Things like your car battery dying, your child waking up in the night, your stubbing your toe, your flight being delayed, your cashier having to send someone to check a price, etc.

It's those types of things that I struggle with remembering God is sovereign over all. I'd much rather see them as an annoyance, a frustration, something that isn't fair and shouldn't be happening to me, especially right now! But, God is so much wiser than we are, and He orchestrates even those small things to perfect us and change us more into His likeness.

When I realize that, I can more patiently respond to a change of plans while I get my car jumped, be more loving to a needy child in the night, not grumble while my toe is stinging, explain with calmness to my daughter that flight delays happen, and be understanding while waiting in line. God only gives good things to His children although from our human perspective that often doesn't seem true. But, if I never had to wait, I'd never learn patience...if I never felt pain, I'd never know compassion...if I never had someone need me, I'd never learn self-sacrificing kindness...if I always had my plans go smoothly, I'd never have to learn flexibility.

Character is much more learned through the tough times than the easy times - anyone can have a smile and a pleasant attitude when things are going well whereas God gets the glory when His people have a smile and pleasant attitude in trying circumstances.

May we take all the small things that make up our day and remember that God has specifically chosen each and every one for us personally...and thank Him for them!

The Good Master

This is the second book we've read by Kate Seredy, and we have totally enjoyed both of them. We actually read the second of the series first because it tied in with our history, but we probably enjoyed this one just a bit better. The story is about a young, fiery, city girl named Kate who comes to live on the quiet, well-ordered, country farm of Jancsi. It tells about the adventures they have as Kate changes into a capable, well-mannered young lady. Lots of fun and many good exploits found on the Hungarian farm. Recommended.

Sage Hills

PreSchool Resources

Preschool resources were brought up in a conversation the other day and, although it's not something I think about at all anymore, I thought a post about what we used may be helpful to some...

One thing we always did and still do is read, read, read. There are a number of book sets by Moncure which is how our kiddos learned their letters and more about numbers. We loved Richard Scarry books and many Golden Books. We also greatly enjoyed Frog & Toad, Amelia Bedelia, Eric Carle books, Boynton books, Dr. Seuss, and so many more that I don't remember.

As far as books that supported their spiritual growth...we had a large variety of children's bibles (maybe 5-7) that we would just read through and rotate. Some of our favorites were the Rhyme Bible (the stories are very limited, but the rhymes are so much fun), Read and Learn Bible, The Golden Bible (much higher level...I would abbreviate at points), and Word and Song Bible (there are CDs of this bible and it was one of the best things we did for our kids when they were little...the CDs were always playing in the car inputting scripture into the kids, and my, head). We always wanted bible storybooks that had realistic type pictures, not totally cartoony and were accurate to the biblical text - some lines in some bibles were crossed out. Other good bible-like resources are My ABC Bible Verses, books by Dandi Daley Mackall, Leading Little Ones to God, Pictorial Pilgrim's Progress, and the Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories. I'm seeing as I try to look these up that a number are no longer in print...so try Ebay or Amazon Used if you'd like to purchase them.

We also did very little videos with them (and no tv except on vacations)...mostly Little People (Micheal does do some magic in them, but not in a bad way), some Baby Einstein, a couple of Veggie Tales (I am generally negative about Veggie Tales except for their character specific ones like Madame Blueberry...the other ones I feel dumb down scripture), Dr. Seuss, and a few Richard Scarry.

As far as academics, we never did official preschool or much of preschool type things at our house..mostly just pointing out colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc., besides the lots of reading. The thought was just to let kids be kids and enjoy playing as well as helping around the house in whatever capacity they were able. I don't see at this point that not participating in early education has had any ill effect on my kiddos.

Those seem to be all the favorites I can think of right now. Also, just to throw this in...sleep was a priority for us in those years (and in many ways, still is)...I believe way too many kids are not getting the rest they need and it shows in their attitudes and ability to learn. Lots of rest, lots of structured and unstructured time to play, and lots of books are keys to a good early childhood in my opinion.

VAL 2011/2012

As this time each year comes around, thoughts start percolating as to what our academic plans are for the next school year. Although we've homeschooled since our kiddos began school and are thankful we've done it, it's not something that we have for sure said we will do till they graduate high school. We evaluate each year what we feel is best for our family.

So, after seeing the VAL classes available for next year and learning about their schedule changes, we decided to actually choose a different program type (Columbia Virtual Academy) in the area. However, after we made that decision, I was informed that with all the budget cutbacks that program was not likely to be the way I had planned for it to be. That meant that I went ahead and signed up for VAL classes...here's what's on the list, all on Monday:

Hannah
Physical Education 3-5
Piano
Veterinary Science
Cooking - Nutrition 4+
Sewing 3+

Josh
Physical Education 3-5
Piano
Computer Skills - Beginning 3-5
3-D Art Grades 2-4
Adventurous Kids 3-5

One thing I really liked was how they wanted to be in a number of the same classes. Much of the time they can be quite good friends; othertimes, not so much. That is one of the side benefits of homeschooling...they are each other's playmate.

I'll post again once I hear a final decision about the budget. I must say I was looking forward to mixing things up, giving us more time at home, and doing some new fun activities.

Your Pastor

I ran into a sweet friend of mine this morning while out running errands. We chatted for a bit, catching up, and then we got onto talking about pastors and churches. As we talked, as well as afterwards, it made me think about what we expect from our pastors and how we respond to them. I really can't imagine being a pastor...trying to stay true to the Word, be yourself, and meeting a couple hundred people's expectations...that's a pretty impossible task.

Last year, I was convicted about how bad a job I do of supporting my pastor. That led me to being more purposeful in praying for him. How many of us really do that on a consistent basis? Yet what an incredibly simple way we can benefit him. Being intentional about encouraging him with what you've learned from the sermon, dropping him a note/email telling something you appreciate, baking some cookies just out of the blue, or being willing to serve where needed can be a great blessing to our pastors/church leaders.

Honestly, we will never be a part of a church where things are 100% to our liking...that's just not going to happen. And, yes, there are some legitimate reasons to seek a new church family. But, what a difference could be made in our churches if we all were diligent in growing personally, lifting up our church leaders in prayer, and looking for ways to use our gifts to the betterment of the church body.

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb 3:17

Orphan's Hope

Orphan's Hope is actually a relatively local missions organization (Leavenworth). We first heard about it at our church and then realized that the founders are Master's College grads so that made us extra happy. Their focus is Asia and Eastern Europe with hopes to expand in the future. As the name suggests, the primary people type they help are orphans. You are able to support them by choosing specific items (like blankets, clothes, wells, etc.), building homes, or contributing to them on an ongoing basis. They believe that the orphan's lives can be transformed through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. What a great opportunity to support these kids while they are young so that their lives won't proceed down the common road of prostitution or crime.

On a personal note, one thing that seems to be coming up again and again in Isaiah is God's deep concern for the poor and needy. What better way can we show His love than by caring for those in need, physically, but more importantly with the truth of the gospel?

Snow Treasure

This was a book I pulled off the shelf at VAL because it looked quite exciting, and it was. It takes place around WWII in the country of Norway. The story is based on a legend, not confirmed, about the children of Norway taking their country's gold on their sleds and transporting it to safety right under the noses of the Nazis. There are many suspenseful points and times of begging to "keep reading, mom". It is a good book about the bravery and steadfastness of people joined in a cause to help their country. Due to the quick pace of the book, I'd expect most any fluent reader to persevere with reading it on their own. Greatly enjoyed around here.

The Breadwinner

We've finished up quite a few books around here lately that I haven't taken the time to review yet, so be ready...The Breadwinner was a book set in the country of Afghanistan around the time the Taliban took over the country apparently in the 1990s - that sure seems recent. It was quite an interesting read especially with all the issues you hear arising in Afghanistan and with the Taliban. The book gives a good view into the oppression of the Taliban on the people, especially women.

Here's a summary...the Father is taken away by the Taliban as he is a learned man. So the primary female character, Parvana, is thrust into the position of providing for her family. In order to accomplish that she turns herself into a boy to earn money. We see how she learns how to act and do what needs to be done in order to help her family survive. Overall, it is a sad story of how the Afghan people have been treated and a hopeful story of how one family overcame. Very insightful into a culture I really had no knowledge of...recommended for that purpose.

Easter 2008

Cindy's Hot Artichoke and Parmesan Cheese Dip

I made this yummy recipe for part of our lunch at retreat this past weekend. It always seems to be enjoyed and gone back to for seconds. You can serve it with any type of crackers...or whatever else suits your fancy.

Cindy's Hot Artichoke and Parmesan Cheese Dip

2 cups Mayo (I use light)
2 8oz cream cheese (I use low fat) - having at room temp really helps
2 c Parmesan cheese (Kraft shaker cheese in the green container works best)
1 can artichokes (not marinated)

Chop artichokes (I cut them with kitchen scissors), mix with other ingredients. Scoop into pie plate and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Serve warm.

Evening reading

Good and Angry

Good and Angry was another book I finished around Spring Break time. I'm not sure exactly how it crossed my radar, but I'm always looking for books that will help me respond rightly to my kiddos rather than with anger and frustration. It is a blessing to see how God has been working in my life over these last 9 years. Mommy being calm and instructive rather than quick to anger has helped all of us have much better days.

Anyways, my favorite idea gleaned from this book is the concept that anger in and of itself is not wrong and is often an indicator to a legitimate issue/problem. However, it is the responding in anger that is the real problem.

The book did a good job giving specific examples and practical ways to create change in both you and your child. They put forward a number of positive steps to apply to certain common problems in family life as well as giving helpful explanations to underlying causes. Here's an excerpt from Chap 1:

Anger has a specific job. It gives the message that something is wrong. That wrong can be internal or external or both. Bickering, defiance, or a bad attitude in your kids may spark your anger (external). Or the anger may come from your unrealistic expectations, demandingness, or holding on to a right that needs to be sacrificed (internal). Anger only alerts you to a problem. You must then figure out what the real issues are...The truth of the matter is that it doesn't take much character to see something wrong, but it takes wisdom to know how to respond to it...It's not enough to be right in life; parents also need to be wise. Real wisdom knows how to respond in a way that brings change, not revenge. As parents, we don't just want to punish our kids for doing something wrong; we want to help them change their hearts. Anger may reveal what's wrong, but it's rarely a good solution to a problem. Once you identify an offense, it's best to consider how to motivate change.

All in all, this book was good, but I wouldn't place it at the top of my favorite parenting books. However, if anger is a challenge in your family, this book gives some helpful ideas on how to create more helpful responses that address the heart of your kids.

I was working at the computer and saw these two suspicious characters sneak by :)

Donate Now or Depend on God?

For those of you that are astute followers of mine, you will have noticed I didn't post a Missions Monday entry yesterday. After I got back from BSF last night, I sat down and began to write about the next group on the list, but as I was getting the website to link to, I saw a big Donate Now button front and center on their webpage - quite a turn off, so I decided not to post. Instead, I decided tonight to post George Mueller's perspective on how to wait on God for needed monies...very refreshing (there are still some organizations that take this approach, OMF and Heartcry are two that come to mind)...

1. Not to receive any fixed salary, both because in the collecting of it there was often much that was at variance with the freewill offering with which God’s service is to be maintained, and in the receiving of it a danger of placing more dependence on human sources of income than in the living God Himself.

2. Never to ask any human being for help, however great the need might be, but to make his wants known to the God who has promised to care for His servants and to hear their prayer.

3. To take this command (Luke 12: 33) literally, ‘Sell that thou hast and give alms,’ and never to save up money, but to spend all God entrusted to him on God’s poor, on the work of His kingdom.

4. Also to take Romans 8: 8, ‘Owe no man anything,’ literally, and never to buy on credit, or be in debt for anything, but to trust God to provide.

If for some reason you are unaware of who George Mueller is, I highly recommend that you put reading a biography of his life at the top of your reading list...you won't be disappointed.

It's funny to look at this picture now as Josh has almost caught up in height to Hannah

Retreat

Been quiet around the blog here the last few days...I've been working on last minute things for our Women's Retreat and then being at our retreat. We all had a wonderful time feasting on God's word, fellowshipping together, enjoying lots of good food, and building relationships. The theme was Drawing Near to God and Linda, our speaker, broke that down into three parts - trust, delight, and rest. She used many sections all through the bible, but a good portion from Ps 37. Her ideas built as we trust God to work in our life how He wills, we can find delight in Him, and rest both here on earth knowing He is working for our best and our holiness as well as eternal rest in heaven where the best is yet to come.

Ps 37:3,4,7

Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

Transformed

This past Monday I taught on Isaiah 58 (and 59) to my BSF kids. It's that beautiful section on fasting and Sabbath keeping (go read it if you don't know what I'm talking about). One thing that really struck me was how much God wants us to lead a transformed life...He doesn't want us to be content with a life of mediocrity, a life of natural responses. In that section, Isaiah talks about how Israel was responding to their fasting with exploitation, quarrelling, strife, and striking each other...for any of you that have fasted, you can easily understand that response as it is very natural to be feeling cranky and short-tempered during a fast.

However, God was not content with that...isn't He always after our heart, not just our outward actions? Then the passage goes on to describe the beautiful blessings God desires us to actually glean from fasting...loose chains of injustice, set oppressed free, light break forth, healing quickly appear, the Lord answering our cries for help, guidance, satisfaction in a sun-scorched land, strengthening our frame, and making us like a well-watered garden/a spring that doesn't fail.

Which would you rather be...exploiting or setting captives free...quarreling or healing...in strife or receiving guidance...striking out at others or a well-watered garden? Don't you see how God doesn't want us to just do the easy/natural/common thing? He desires us to be transformed. Transformation brings God glory and blessing to others as well as ourselves. May we all seek to live more that way...

A couple more Jacobson Hike photos

La Mision

La Mision is particularly special to us because Dave's folks have been so involved with the man who began the organization. It is the organization that Dave, his parents, and nephew have gone down to Guatemala with over the past few years. (I actually didn't know they had a website until I just googled it, but was happy to see that they are getting information about themselves out to people.)

They focus on a couple of main ways of ministry: child sponsorship through the Palencia School and mission trips, mainly medical and construction. You are able to sponsor a child through them similar to Compassion or Gospel for Asia...you can also sponsor a day to take care of the school needs for that day. A neat thing they do is add another grade level to the school each year. So when the school reopened four of five years ago they started with less than twenty, now they have over 100 kids. Tito, the founding physician, could also use financial support for his ministry. If you are interested in participating in a mission trip, Dave and Susan (my in-laws) do a trip each June or you could contact La Mision and they could direct you.

It's wonderful to have so many great ministries to choose from...I was thinking even if you don't ever decide to support any of these ministries I mention, would you just take a moment and pray for them each Monday? I'm sure they would all covet your prayers on their behalf.

Jacobson Hike

Today was the most perfect day for a hike - beautiful, sunny, 60 degrees, little wind, clear skies, perfect. So, we decided to try a hike I hadn't been on, but the kids had, Jacobson Preserve. All the 1st graders in Wenatchee have a day long field trip there in the spring. They observe different plants and animals as well as stop at stations along the way to learn new things.

Anyways, the Jacobson trail system is pretty short and not too difficult of a climb up. The trails are well cleared and you can also connect up with Saddlerock from there. We took the jaunt halfway or more over to Saddlerock, but coming from this side, rather than by Appleatchee, it was a lot more dangerous because of loose rock.

Overall a good, quick hike with great views of Wenatchee and the surrounding areas. Quite safe and accomplishable for younger kids if you stay on the Jacobson trails. I'm sure it will be even lovelier here in a couple weeks when more flowers start blooming.

Embraced by the Cross

This book (reprinted as Born Crucified) has been one of the best general Christian books I've read. I think I appreciated it so much because it focused on the Cross; something that is of utmost importance in a Christian's life, but something so infrequently taught upon or understood. It took the concept of the Cross and applied it to all areas in a Christian's life: death to sin, the world, victory, consecration, the crucified One, self, and lots more. A primary purpose of the book is to show that Christ's work on the Cross is a completed action so we should be living differently in light of that.

Also, it is not a hard book to read...the chapters are short and he pulls in many different quotes, examples from outside sources. But, he also doesn't sugar coat the truth of the Cross and what is our right and expected response to it. Definitely one to read again. Here's an excerpt towards the end of the book:

When we first came to Christ, the Cross was our only attraction. By His blood alone could we have been reconciled to God. Later perhaps, we came to see the deeper meaning in His death, that when he died for us we also died with Him. We learned that we have been crucified together with Him, identified with Him in death and resurrection as God's way of victory over sin. Rom 6:17-18. Emancipation came through our having been handed over, or delivered up to, the Cross-form of doctrine. That truth has gripped us as in a vise - we do belong to our new Master, the Crucified One.

But it is just here that many honest believers may begin to fail. Having reckoned themselves "dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord," they almost unconsciously begin to feel that they have attained. They almost feel that for them the Cross is past and done with. They forget that their lifelong fellowship is to be with the Crucified, and that if the Crucified is to abide in them, they must know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings as the daily experience of life. How can we abide daily in the Crucified unless our lives be poured again and again into the form, or mold, of the Cross? The offense of the Cross has not ceased, except in the case of those who have refused to live crucified lives, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Tim 3:12

The moment we begin to live Christlike lives, we hear the apostle say, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil 2:5 And what was that mind? When He was in the form of God He emptied Himself; He came in the likeness of men; He took the form of a servant; He humbled Himself; He "became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross." Am I a follower of the Lamb? His was a path of self-emptying and learning of obedience by the things which He suffered. The law of the Master must be the law for the disciple.

We finally put up the bird houses we made a couple years ago in Apologia's Flying Creatures
Hopefully some birds will make their homes in them

Look Up

Just a quick note tonight as I have spent way too much of my time today creating and formatting bookmarks for our Women's Retreat next week. But, finally, they are done and I am satisfied with the result. Hooray! So, here's what I put on one side from a quote my dad sent out last week:

If we look within--it will dispirit us;
if we look around--it may distract us;
if we look back--it may awaken fears;
if we look forward--it may arouse foreboding!

But if we look UP to God--it will preserve . . .
the head from swimming,
the heart from sinking,
the feet from slipping,
and the hands from hanging down!

Beloved, let us look up!
There our loving Father is!
There our interceding Savior is!
There all our supplies are!
There our everlasting home is!

---Just FYI, if you're looking for nice clip art, it seems like the Microsoft Office had the best selection free of charge. A number of their images are kind of small in size, though, so are not always helpful.