Assignment: In the memory verse Jesus tells us that He will never leave us, not even at the end of the world.  He assures us in this verse that He will be with us and that means through everything we go through in life.  I thought it would be interesting to write about the things we would never leave home without.  For some it might be baby needs, others it might be a gym bag and bottle of water, and for some  it might be your Bible and a notepad or small journal, maybe even your son or daughters favorite blankie!  I’d like for you to write about something that you would never leave home without.

I’m going to share what each family member would take with them when they leave the house. Some things are pretty typical and others are things not everyone would need where they live. We walk to many places and take small taxis everywhere so we need to travel light and compact. From experience of leaving something behind in a taxi or dropping something along the way we have adopted these habits when going out. 

Starting with the littlest and working up:

Heidi:

These days she does not leave the house without her hat and her baby (or babies). Sometimes she wants her backpack (which has been a real help to me because she can carry some of her own stuff!). Sometimes she just carries baby in her arms and sometimes in her little baby sling.

Liam:

He usually makes sure to have a hat on and once in a while a toy.

On a long trip he wants to take as many cars and stuffed animals as possible in his tiny backpack. I always have to remind him that HE has to carry that bag!

Arel:

This boy goes EVERYWHERE with his best bud Arel Puppy. Sometimes Arel Puppy’s best bud comes along too, Bagel.

If we go on a long trip he will pack his backpack up with all his colored pencils, notebook (or two) and a coat or hat just in case.

Dane:

Is a man who likes to travel light. If he can get away without a coat he takes nothing, otherwise he’ll wear the coat. If we are going on a longer trip he makes sure to have as small a bag as possible with a book and a snack.

Also...My boys all have to have some kind of "sword" with them when they go out. Or I should say they all TRY to take one with them. If we are headed to town or to visit someone I try to catch that and ask them to leave their stick behind. :) 

Here's some of them taking their own trip this morning. They stopped at my "restaurant" for lunch.

Shane:

Does not leave the house without his specially made leather pouch attached to his belt for important items of paper he does not want stolen. Also attached to his belt is his cell phone in a case. This keeps that cell phone from running off to become someone else’s. He also makes sure he has his keys and coin pouch. (Unlike the U.S. we have to use a LOT of change here.) Sunglasses and sometimes a hat would be the next things he’d be sure to take.

Me:

I usually have Heidi to carry so I want to be sure that whatever I take is as light as possible. Sometimes Heidi goes in a sling to make carrying her easier on me although as she is wanting to walk on her own more and more.

I usually take a purse or bag like this. Light and not too big. I usually make sure I have my sunglasses either on my head or in my bag and some Kleenex and baby wipes and a diaper just in case. If we are going to be gone a while I make sure to have a water bottle along too. 

My coin purse (that my sister sent me) and keys go in my pocket and cell phone around my neck with this handy strap.

If we are going out to eat I try to remember to grab a baby spoon, sippy cup and some napkins to take along. Most places serve drinks in glass cups or in a glass pop bottle so I like having a cup for Heidi. Restaurants here give you TINY thin triangles of napkins and not very many so I like to bring along the normal thick and thirsty kind as well as baby wipes to clean up all the messy faces and sanitize a little. I know that being in public anywhere can be dirty but this city is really dirty!!

It’s always good to remember to have Kleenex or toilet paper too since bathrooms here do not have T.P.

Oh yeah, and I always seem to have a list! :)

If I am headed out on my own I like to make sure I have this with me. 

A friend of ours gave me this whistle. It makes a VERY LOUD high pitch noise when you press the button. One of those things that does not look threatening but can maybe give me a second or two to get away from a situation with a human or a dog that I do not want to be in. I also like it because if my kids accidentally push it they will only hurt their ears a little unlike pepper spray that would really harm them.

Of course if I am going on a longer trip I have a lot to take with me, being the Mom. A bag with snacks or lunch and water. Extra changes of clothes for little ones who get messy, a book or some knitting in case I might have hands free to enjoy that, plastic bags for garbage or dirty clothes,etc.

One more thing that we ALL have been not leaving the house without these days is this:

Right now is the season when we have a lot of “chuspi” bugs swarming around outside during the daylight hours. They look harmless enough like a fruit fly but boy do they bite! And boy does it itch and hurt too!! We have tried all kinds of suggestions given to us to use to keep these bugs from biting us and the one that finally worked for us was this one particular Avon lotion. Arel is the only one who seems to be allergic to it so he wears some lotion with tea tree oil in it (which works for a little while) or a very mild bug spray if he feels the need. Wearing pants and long sleeves seem to help too although these bugs will go right for the face!

Here’s a verse that has been a great comfort to me wherever I am:

Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

I also really like our memory verse this week:

Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

It is easy for me (a person who struggles with fear and worry) to let even a simple thing like getting ready to walk out the front door become something to worry about. That is why I love the places in the Word that remind me that God is with me no matter where I go and he is also with my family and friends wherever they go. It doesn’t matter what happens, he is with me and will not allow a single thing to happen to us that He doesn’t know about! “…even to the end of the world.” AMEN!!