A Cause That's Worth Going Barefoot...

I'll admit it, I'm telling you to go and read someone else's blog ;)...but, really, it's some great information and stuff that I didn't know!

One of my homeschool friends (and her daughter) have heeded the call to go shoeless for not just a day; but, the whole summer.  They're doing this to raise awareness that there are people that have never owned a pair of shoes and end up contracting horrifying diseases like podoconiosis.  Go and take a quick read (and look at the pictures) and see if there is anything you might feel led to do.

http://www.fortheshoelessones.blogspot.com/

There is also a great website for those of us that still wear shoes, to help out.  Have you heard of Tom's shoes?  Well, here's the link to their website and for every pair of shoes you buy from them, they'll donate a new pair of shoes to a child that needs them!  Awesome news I say!  I haven't personally worn them; but, I'm considering buying the Kenya or Red Wedges, they look really cute!

http://www.toms.com/our-movement/

Praying this finds you well and enjoying this wonderful Easter season...it's Palm Sunday tomorrow, I'm very excited.  What a joyous celebration of our Lord and Savior entering Jerusalem..oh, and I get to learn, tomorrow afternoon, how to cook kosher, and make items for our Seder/Passover Meal next Friday at church.  I'm thrilled!!!

"The Crown"

Tonight was one of the performances of "The Crown."  All I can say, initially, is AMAZING!  If you haven't been, go tomorrow!!!!

My oldest and I went last year and I loved it then.  Indy and I also attended "The Thorn" (the adult version ;)) with some friends and were moved by it too.

This year was different!  Every year is a bit different...but for us, our family, it was different.

We all went together!

I knew I was pushing it, age-wise, with Sissi and will admit to being concerned that she would get scared.  Not a bit!  In fact, the end of this posting will be about her and the reactions she had that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

The performance starts off with three elementary aged children (siblings) finding a tree house in the woods behind their own home.  They meet a young Jesus and get to see Jerusalem at it's bustling, busy prime and then Jesus grows up and they follow him through his ministry.  There are several cute songs and dances that they do for the enjoyment of the children.  My boys loved when the Roman Centurions starting doing the slow motion "fighting" moves during the "oh-oh-oh-oh" part of "Kung Fu Fighting" and then all of Jerusalem erupts into the dance with them...including the Pharisees.  Gwangi also kept asking, "Mommy, when will there be another battle scene between the demon dancers and the angel dancers?"  It was visually breathtaking!

They added a bit more detail this year to the crucifixion of Jesus and you saw him after he was beaten and the crowd yelling to Pilate for his death.  They have Pilate wash his hands and Jesus is made to carry the cross through the entire auditorium and during this part, they played the Jared Anderson song "How He Loves"...I'll be honest, Indy and I were both in tears and handing each other tissues.  If you haven't heard this song yet...it's a must!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C0ZGr9afI4

At the end was a children's version of an altar call.  The lady talking told her testimony about coming to know the Lord at the age of 12 and Sissi blurts out "I'm 3!"  It was really sweet.  As she continued telling about how much Jesus loves us and how you too can have him live in your heart, she invited children who were interested to come forward.  I find that Sissi is out of her seat and walking past us to the front.  I ask her "Do you want to go up there, do you want Jesus in your heart?" and she said "Yes, I'm going mommy!"  I went up with her and probably 100 other children, and we said the prayer together.  I'm not sure she understood the whole thing; but, it was amazing and memorable and WOW, I will never forget this!

We went back to our seats and joined the boys and as we're gathering up our things to go, the family in front of us touches my arm and says "Your children were so precious tonight, the things they said, they really blessed our family."  What an awesome thing to hear!  Thank you again!

As we were leaving the auditorium, Sissi says she wants to see Jesus.  She wanted to give him a hug and tell him that she loves him.  We tried telling her that he was still inside and she was in tears.  Indy offered to take the boys and go get the car and meet me in the front.  Sissi and I went back inside and waited at the actor entrance/exit door.  We saw my friend Rowena, and all three of her children, from the show and talked a bit.  We told Sissi that "Jesus" was a man that was just in costume and pretending to be Jesus for the show.  She very matter of factly says "The real Jesus is in heaven."  We smiled at her!

After some time, we realized that he wasn't coming out and so we moved to leave.  As we turned around, there he was, by the regular entrance/exit and we walked over to him.  "Jesus" bent down and hugged her and she said "I'm Sissi" and he said "I'm Jeff.  You know that I'm just in costume, right?".  He held her as she went on and on about all the things she liked about the show, how he was the "fake Jesus" and that the real Jesus was in heaven and in her heart and she loves him so much.  He honestly took about 5 minutes with her and quite the crowd formed around them.  It was so precious.  As we said goodbye and started to leave, he said "You know Sissi, I think you're going to be a preacher some day." : - )

I just love my little girl, her heart is so huge!  Can she have a will of steel (oh yes, just like her mother ;)); but, she knows what she believes and honestly, she may not "get" it all; but, she sure knows the truth.  Praise you Lord for children that know who You are and aren't afraid to tell the world about You!

It helps me, on those "tougher" days, to remember Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it."  I thank you Lord for promises kept!!!!!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Today is a big day in our home....I have an 8 year old!!!!

Seriously, is it possible...let me take you back a bit...

Sunday, April 6th, 2003 - We were living in base housing on the AF Academy and ... oh yeah, you probably don't want all the "birth story" details ;-).  Suffice it say, it began at 0630 and he wasn't born until after 2200 that night...LONG DAY!

11 days old!

We were so thrilled to have our first child, he was a joy in every way!

April 6th, 2004 - Our baby turned 1 and we were moving to Maryland!  It was a busy time, he began walking the week of his 1st birthday and never turned back.  He was extremely verbal and I remember when we got to Maryland and were hanging out with an old girlfriend, Melanie, that he was saying his name was "Kay-bub"...he had a hard time with those "l's" early on!

Up in Ft. Kent, ME for Melanie and Jeff's wedding.
My oldest was 18 months and I was 3 months pregnant with our 2nd!

April 6th, 2005 - The big 2nd birthday and almost the birth of our 2nd...I remember having labor pains that day and we almost went to the hospital and thought, wow, wouldn't that be neat if they shared their birthday, just 2 years apart.  We were able to stop them a few hours later and then, low and behold, my 2nd was a week late.  That's a story for another day though ;-)!

Krypto was very into Buzz Lightyear this year (thanks Bannon) and all things space related.  Oh, and funny memory time, if something was wrong, or there was a problem with the baby, he would shriek for me and it would make me jump so badly...so I started calling it his "emergency voice" and we had a talk about when we use that voice...ONLY in an emergency and we reviewed what those cases might be.  I'll never forget him telling me that an emergency would be if his little brother was chopping down trees, THEN he would shriek for me because THAT was an emergency.  Yes, I suppose if a baby had an axe and was chopping down trees, that would be an emergency! 

Buzz and Woody

April 6th, 2006 - I have a 3 year old!  My favorite "funny" moment from this year was how Krypto gave himself super hero names like Captain ...... (insert his name here ;)), Captain Star Wars, etc.  We have a home video of him walking around on our bed talking to himself and raising his hands above his hands and in a big command voice saying "The Universe is MINE!"  He makes us laugh, so hard!

At Rehoboth Beach in DE

April 6th, 2007 - Four years old and ready to move again, this time back to CO...and a baby sister is on the way too!  Our interests have turned to all things Science Fiction this year and particularly Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".  We even had Uncle Tony dress up like Captain Nemo, and tell about his adventures and show treasures from the Nautilus, for his birthday!

At the park with Titi Vette after Sissi was born

April 6th, 2008 - My big 5 year old!  This year Aunt Kate had moved out to Colorado to join us.  She lived with us for a few months while she was getting situated.  I'll never forget one day when we were in the van and Krypto is acting as if he's hyperventilating.  I ask him what's wrong and he says he's missing his life force.  Me "What are you talking about?" Krypto "Aunt Kate, she's my life force and she's not with us!"  Love him!

We studied Tapestry of Grace Year 1, Units 1 and 2 this year for school.
Here are my 2 Egyptian boys!!!

April 6th, 2009 - Six years old and this year I really started seeing a boy emerge...a boy with interests in lots of things and fully engaged in family, church, and school!  He played baseball, football, and took swimming lessons through the YMCA.  He also began violin lessons and really excelled.  As I look back at funny family quotes, I found this story:  Aunt Kate had stayed for bedtime and story time.  As she turned off the light and said good night, she began to walk out of the room.  Krypto stopped her by saying "Where are you going Aunt Kate?"  Kate "Well, I'm done, I'm leaving now."  Krypto "You're leaving before Daddy does...you have so much to learn."

He started violin lessons in the sumer, this was Thanksgiving up in Granby.
Still working on our wrist position I see ;)!!!

April 6th, 2010 - This is the Krypto so many of us know and love.  He is kind, super creative, an amazing reader and story teller, and an awesome big brother and son!  There's been so much growth this year.  Physically, he has easily grown 3-4 inches taller, I barely lean down at all to kiss the top of his head now.  Spiritually, it's amazing the things that he grasps at such a young age.  Kate was again here at story time one night and she gave one of Gwangi's T-Rex animals a British accent and named him Rupert...Krypto went through the process of leading Rupert to the Lord and then thanked Kate for letting him practice...it was super cute!  Mentally, he is leaps and bounds ahead of where he should be.  He regularly reads multiple hundred page books, even non-fiction books (especially if they're about squids), has a mind like a steel trap, and is doing 4th grade math and understanding it.  He is starting to play "war games" with his Daddy and then in his free time creates his own strategy games including playing pieces that he draws and cuts out of paper.  I could go on and on; but, I am obviously a super proud mommy and I love and adore my son!

Our family...including amazing son and big brother, Krypto!

April 6th, 2011 - Excited to see what is to come!!!!  We have an amazing year ahead of us....

Review - Expedition Earth and Animals

This is my first real "review" of a curriculum on my blog.  But, if you know me at all, I "review" curriculum all the time in that I will tell all of my homeschool friends what I'm using and why I do (or don't) like it.

If you go to http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/  you'll find where I purchased (for just $15 mind you) this amazing geography curriculum that I'll be using next year with all 3 of my kiddos.

The download consists of all the files that you would need to print out and make notebooks for your children.  You can do flip books of 6 animals for each of 31 countries.  There are ornaments for you to cut out and hang on a Christmas tree so you can do "Christmas Around the World".  She gives you a template for "passports" for each child and flags for each country that you'll visit so you can mark and keep a record of your visits!  There is a list of resources for the teacher to either purchase or borrow from the library.  I think I bought about 2/3 of the ones listed and spent about $70 to supplement the curriculum.

Here you can see the "notebooks" I made with my Pro-click binder for each child.  Each notebook contains map work with associated questions, a flag coloring picture with a neat explanation of what the symbolism means and why those images were chosen to be on the flag.  There are also reports that she has created that I interspersed through Krypto and Gwangi's notebooks.  There are reports on Animals, Countries, Continents, Ecosystems, Children Like Me, etc.  For Gwangi, I want him to just read and answer the questions.  This way I'll know he's retaining the information. For Krypto (he'll be 3rd grade next year), I'm going to start teaching him about planning out your writing...so this will be a lesson in how to outline.  He'll read and answer the questions on his own and then I'm going to work with him on how to flesh out that information into a sentence or even a couple of sentences that will become a paragraph.  Over the course of the curriculum, I'll be less and less involved and he'll hopefully be learning to write 1 page reports by the end of the year.  This year, I've been amazed at how he's gone from just doing copywork to dictating to me what he wants to say, and I'm just helping him form the sentences and he writes it all down on his own.  There's been a big jump in independence this year with his writing!

I pray that you find this a neat opportunity to add a bit of fun and geography to your homeschool adventure.  This week, she's doing a giveaway of this amazing curriculum. I wrote this review so you'd know what it was all about; but, also because it will enter me to receive a refund on my purchase!  SO, even if you've already bought it, go, enter her give away...if you win, she'll give you a refund as well!

Oh yes, if you're interested in just US Geography, you can take a look at her newest addition...a USA Roadtrip curriculum.  I haven't bought it yet; but, I just might...what a neat concept to put alongside our Tapestry of Grace curriculum once we hit US History in about a year!  I'm super excited!

Life in the Fast Lane

I seriously can hardly catch my breath some days.  Between keeping up with the house, the kids, and all the things I need to get done...my 'to-do' list is never ending and almost daily bleeds over to the next day's list.  It's a constant game of re-organize and decide what needs to be done now.  As, I commented to a friend today (you know who you are ;)), I feel like I am in constant crisis management mode and quite honestly, I don't like it very much.

I have neglected to update many of you on what has been going on the past 2 weeks. SO, I'll attempt a quick run down.

1.  The House - We did have a showing last week.  I thought it went well, even though they were running fairly late.  Then they left, to meet a Realtor, and we haven't heard anything since.  I've left her an email message and I think we'll have to leave it at that.  I am certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord has a plan for the house.  We'll just need to continue being patient and wait on His plan for now.

"They that wait upon the Lord..."

2.  Our Health - It's been an "off and on" kind of game.  Nothing as bad as what hit us in January; but, as soon as I think we're all well, someone comes down with a sore throat for a day or I have Gwangi and Sissi now with congestion and coughing.  Continuing to pray for complete and total healing and health.

"shall renew their strength..."

3.  Me - I think I've been doing better.  My neck and back seem to be doing fine.  I've been pretty good about working out at least 3 times a week and that seems to help.  I'd like to do more; but some mornings, it's all I can do to get out of bed.  I do seem run down and tired more often than I should.  I'm pretty sure it's stress and all the nights I'm exhausted and yet lay there for 2 hours thinking of my 'to-do list' rather than sleeping...or the nights I get woken up by a coughing or crying child...I promise you, they used to all sleep through the night, really!!!

I went to the neurologist this past week and I think that will be my last appointment with him.  He is having me cut down on my migraine medication to one pill every three days for another few weeks, and then wean completely off of them.  He did give me a referral to a neurologist in Nairobi...not just down the street; but, in an emergency, at least I know where I can go to get some help, right?!  I also picked up some homeopathic stuff this week for migraines, I've never tried it; but I'm going to keep it on hand, just in case I get one and need to treat it!

"they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

4. Moving and Packing - With the house not selling yet, we've moved the packers back a week, so they won't be here until the first week in May.  We really can't wait much longer, the next week is finals for Indy and then the following week is his retirement and we're on the road!

Gwangi, in particular, doesn't do well with changes in his routine.  He speaks daily about how much he will miss our house, our friends, etc.  The past two days he has been describing a "radio" device that he wants to create so that Indy can teach in Tanzania; but, we won't need to leave here.  He says that anytime someone in Tanzania or anywhere else in the world needs us, they'll just call us up on our radio and we can do whatever they need and that way we can stay here!

We want to laugh and also cry when he gets so excited and describes this to us...I think that staying in the house another week is prolonging the inevitable and yet is also being sensitive to a little boy that is unsure of what is happening and try as we might to explain, until it happens, he just won't "get it."

Please keep Gwangi (and Sissi) in your prayers as they deal with this upheaval and adjustment.  Neither of them have any memory of moving (Gwangi was just barely 2 when we moved to Colorado) and so this is very abstract to them.  They see that their "stuff" is disappearing...they feel the change in routine...they see us saying goodbye to friends and melt down and cry because they think they'll never see these people again.  We try so hard to allay their fears and yet they are still there!!!

"they shall run, and not be weary..."

5.  Presenting at Church - We did that a week ago Sunday and we think it went well.  Indy did almost cry a few times; but, for the most part we were alright.  It can be hard to "tell your story" and what led you to do what you're doing, and then to present that to your own home church, people you know!  We've had several people come up and tell us that it was from the heart and they appreciated hearing it and seeing how the Lord has been working in our lives.  We are praying that people's hearts will be touched and they will feel the need to act, in both supporting missions and also in considering going.  Indy shared the verse in Luke 10:2 where Jesus says to the disciples that "the harvest is plentiful; but the workers are few."  He talked about HOPAC doubling overnight (they have a waitlist for every grade level) if they had the staff and buildings.  He also mentioned all the pages of "ads" on the AGWM website for Missionary Associates...not credentialed ministers; but, people with skills that can be used and are needed in every area of the world....construction workers, Doctors and Nurses, teachers, even a position for a barista...Indy joked about "pouring cappuccino for Christ, what a great gig!"

We're doing what we can.  We're trying to make a difference in the world and to have our hearts, our abilities, and our family available to the Lord.

"they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Menu Planning - April 2011

Funny, I just start thinking about letting you all see my meal planning process and then we're moving!  So, this will be my last "menu" for a few months, I'll pick up again once we get settled in Tanzania.  We've also had lots of "unexpected" events come up this month and so I re-used about half a dozen or so menus because the ingredients weren't used/the meal wasn't made last month.  Hope this helps you, as it helps me, God Bless!

M, 4 Apr – Baked Ham and Pineapple w/ carrots and fresh bread

T – Immunization Day…Pizza night

W – Caleb’s Birthday – by request…Chicken Pesto Pasta

R – Antelope Goulash

F – Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

S – Mommy at Scrapbooking Retreat…leftovers

Sun – Black beans, rice and chicken soup

M, 11th– Crab legs w/ steamed broccoli and cheese rice

T – BBQ Chicken

W – Groc Shop and Sushi Night

R – Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup

F – Pizza night before “The Thorn”

S – Bernadette for dinner – Pork Tenderloin with cranberry sauce, veggies and homemade stuffing

Sun – Fondue w/ Rice Balls Ala Tim

M, 18th– Salmon with quinoa and veggies

T – Buffalo chicken dip

W – Steaks w/ rosemary potatoes and veggies

R – Beef and veggie soup

F – Seder Meal at church

S – Perogies w/ homemade ragu

Sun –Easter – Ham and the fixings

M, 25th – Shrimp

T – Shepherd’s Pie

W – Spaghetti and Meatballs

R – Soup from leftovers

F – Pizza night

S – Anything else left???

Sun – Lasagna

M, May 2 – Movers are arriving, moving to Bartons'

A 'last' and a few 'firsts'

The kiddos finished up their CO swimming lessons this week.  Gwangi and Krypto have been in the big pool and  doing a wonderful job.  Krypto earned his green band which means he is an independent swimmer.  For the test, he had to tread water for a minute in the deep end, swim half the length of the pool in the front stroke, then roll over and float for a minute and then swim the rest of the length in a back stroke...  Excellent job son!  We're so proud of you.  Gwangi moved over to the big pool, even though he wasn't 6 yet, and earned his yellow band which means he can tread water for about 30 seconds in the middle of the pool and then swim half the pool in the front stroke.  He is doing an excellent job too!

The past three months were Sissi's first swimming lessons, they don't start until they're three.  She loved it and thought it was such a "big girl" thing to do and she likes being like her "boys".

 Sissi swimming to her teacher and working on her "ice cream scoops".

 The boys waiting for their water polo game to begin.

The boys during their game, their teachers were amazing!

For St. Patrick's Day, we decided to do green pancakes thanks to an idea from Laura Clapp (thanks!) and so here's a picture of our pancakes ;)

St. Patrick's Day pancakes

And our 2nd big first, I saved the best for last ;), Krypto's 8th birthday is coming up and guess what he wanted...his own "big kid" Bible!  He is always borrowing mine to read (something I don't mind of course and I mind it even less now since I have several versions of the Bible on my Kindle!)  We went to Mardel on Saturday morning and we looked in the kid section first, then went over to the adult section and he picked this one out, it's an NASB.  We even had the cover embossed with his name by our friend Alison Proenneke (thanks lady!)  What a great way to celebrate a birthday!