Memory Verse: Genesis 20:13 and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.’”"

Introduction: Trusted Everywhere (Duracell Batteries) Easy Week. It was supposed to be Nancy’s week, she had planned on posting a simple assignment, but she’s gone, and her assignment isn’t here. So.. Because Nancy is traveling, I thought we’d talk about Everywhere, or Anywhere.

Assignment: Where have you been? Where have you traveled? What was the purpose of your trip?

I am combining two things here today and doing this assignment with the "Things about me"  twist.
So here is my list of   Places I've been:

1. When I was 4 I went on a month long trip with my Grandparents in the southern United States. At one point we were all the way down by the Florida Keys. It was a just for fun trip I believe and to visit my Aunt too. I remember much of it and loved it, except when Grandpa made me try Grits. "Do I have to eat it Grandpa?"

2. I went to Bolivia two summers in a row when I was a teenager for a missions work trip. The first one I helped re-do a brick building, the second I helped make a crowned airstrip...digging all day long.

From Travel

3. When Dane was 9 months old, he, Shane and I and a good friend of mine along with another good friend of ours went to Indonesia to visit Shane's family and Shane's friend's family who lived and worked there as missionaries. It was my chance to get to see and experience where Shane grew up and meet the people from the tribe that now has Believers! We got to stay 4 months and it was amazing!

4. When Arel was 11 months old we traveled together to Papua New Guinea to go to my sister's wedding.(See Arel with the very white head?)

From Travel

5. 6 1/2 years ago Shane and I first traveled together with our kids to Peru. It's hard to believe it's been almost 7 years since we first arrived! (this is me and my first Spanish teacher during my first month of Spanish study)

From Travel

Memory verse:
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

Introduction:
This is a spin-off of last week as we went searching for what “Hear” means. This is a hunt for the Truth about who we are as believers, how God views us and how we can rest in that Truth.

As before, use any Bible or Bible study tools to help you in your search. Sometimes it can be intimidating to do these kinds of studies. I was a little nervous about the last two assignments. But these assignments can be a way to learn how to do this kind of Bible study. Don’t feel you have to know it all in order to do this. We aren’t Bible professors here, but we are all in need of learning and understanding God’s message to us. God, our Abba, our Daddy, wrote this Book, the Bible, to us! Let’s see what He wants to share with us about all the wealth that is ours as His children.

Assignment: Dig around in the Word and share what you find about any or all of the following:
Who is Jesus Christ? (Yes, the obvious, but dig around, what are some of His names?) What God has given us in Christ, what benefits are ours right now?  Because of Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf, what can we count on from Him in our daily lives?

If you need some ideas of where to get started check out these chapters in the New Testament and see where they take you:
John 15, Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8, Galatians chapters 2 and 5, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Corinthians and 1 Peter are also great. I can’t wait to see what everyone finds!
Happy Digging.

1. Jesus Christ is:

Messiah – “Then he asked them, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:15-16

Lamb of God – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!’ “ – John 1:29

The Word – “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make.” – John 1:1-3

2. Benefits that are mine right now:

I have been freed from sin’s power over me. – Romans 6:7 – “For we died with Christ and we were set free from the power of sin.”

I am forever free from condemnation – Romans 8:1 – “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

I have been placed in Christ by God’s doing; Christ is now my wisdom from God, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption. – 1 Corinthians 1:30 – “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit god made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to gof. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.”

I am blessed with every spiritual blessing. – “How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.” - Ephesians 1:3

I have been brought near to God. – “But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13

Christ Himself is in me. – “For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.” - Colossians 1:27

Because I am made holy, and am one with Christ, He is not ashamed to call me His. – “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” – Hebrews 2:11

3. Because of Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf, what can we count on from Him in our daily lives?

Able to live for the glory of God - “So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” – Romans 6:11

Live and Peace -“If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6

Overwhelming victory and nothing can keep us from His love –

“No, despite all these thing, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39

Memory Verse: Mark 12:28-34

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Intro: When Jesus starts his response with “Hear O Israel”, he’s referencing back to the Shema - from Deuteronomy 6-4 - Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One and Only, Blessed Be his Glorious Sovereign Name for ever and ever. Jesus says this is His greatest commandment.  Like.. if you asked your child(ren) to clean a room.. and it wasn’t done.. they responded to you and said.. I heard you. What good is it if they heard you.. but didn’t DO it. So for us to say, we heard God.. but ignored his instructions.. that’s not good enough.

Assignment: What does God mean when he says HEAR.. he says it often.. if we don’t have an auditory reception of His voice. why is he saying HEAR.. what does it mean, what are we losing in translation? The word Shema doesn’t just mean Hear.. like what your ear receives.. it means more. Tell in your assignment what you think Shema means whether it’s active hearing or auditory hearing.  I’m very anxious to read your thoughts on this.  I hope you will all enjoy doing this assignment, as we are trying to dig deeper into the Word and have a better understanding of what the Bible really is about.

Wow! Interesting assignment.

I clicked right away to the handy Blue Letter Bible site and looked up Deuteronomy 6:4 in the Strong’s. The actual word from Deut.6:4 – “hear” is “shama” (strong’s number 8085) and the next one is “shema” (Strong’s number 8086)

It seems like they go together.

So here’s some of what I found from their definitions: (Bear with me, I just want to share all of this because it’s cool to see all together like this.

shama –

1) to hear, listen to, obey

a) (Qal)

1) to hear (perceive by ear)

2) to hear of or concerning

3) to hear (have power to hear)

4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

5) to understand (language)

6) to hear (of judicial cases)

7) to listen, give heed

a) to consent, agree

b) to grant request

8) to listen to, yield to

9) to obey, be obedient

shema –

1) to hear

a) (P'al) to hear, have a sense of hearing

b) (Ithpael) to show oneself obedient

So both really focus on obedience. I could go into a whole word study on obedience too but I want to just stick to “hear” and since I get what is meant by obedience just from these definitions above I want to focus on that.

The Mark verses here are quoting from Deut.6:4 but it’s not just “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.” Jesus quotes the whole thing. It is the beginning of:

30” And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” “

Luke 10:27 also is a similar account and then Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan.

Ok, so I have all these things swirling around in my head, let me get it out here. I was thinking about how all this connects with the main question in this assignment “Is Shema active hearing or auditory hearing?”

I believe based on what I have seen from the Hebrew definition of the word that it is active hearing. It’s connected with obedience. And I believe that is what Jesus showed the questioners in both Mark and Luke too. Really he showed it in his life, in everything he did and said. He hears and obeys his Father and loves him with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and loves his neighbor as he loves himself.

Now, here’s the cool thing for us as believers…when we trusted Christ as Savior He came to live in us and He changed us. We are new creations and no longer disobedient ones. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our life is totally in Christ. Because of this, HE can do all things in us. Not because we are great, but because of what Christ has done we are now made perfect IN HIM.

Because we are still tied to the earth in our body satan, through the power of sin tries to lie to us and get us to sin. He tries to get us to believe the opposite of what God thinks of us because of Jesus (His child, holy, blameless, etc.). But really because of Christ in us we can let go of trying to do everything on our own, believing whatever lie satan throws our way, beliving we are scum and don’t deserve anything…we can let go of all that and instead let Christ live through us and do what we are incapable of doing. He does it all! (Please note that I am talking about believers)

So where does “hear” and “obey” come in? I can HEAR God’s truth and OBEY by doing what he asked me to do and letting HIM live through me. I am then hearing, listening, obeying him and then he also is actively at work in me obeying the Father perfectly; loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and perfectly loving others. And if it’s true of Jesus it’s true of me. If I am resting in Him and have stopped trying to do all this on my own then He’s doing it and He never does anything wrong.

I challenge you to think about this in reference to these verses below and see what God might want to show you.

John 15 – “I am the True Vine”

Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8 – We died in Christ, we are dead to sin (6), I sin but Jesus is the answer (7), There is no condemnation for those in Christ, the Spirit leads and lives in me (8).

Galatians 2 – I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me

 chapter 5 – Christ has really set us free, don’t do things to make God pleased with you, live by the Spirit’s power.

Ephesians – Who we are in Christ

Colossians 3 – you died when Christ died and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Our brand new nature is continually being renewed as we learn more about Christ.

 These are just a few but there are so many more. Happy digging in the Word!

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6: 10-18 10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.

Introduction: Let Your Fingers Do the Walking (Yellow Pages) I have deviated from the traditional Memory Verse.. in that usually we take one of the words in the slogan and seek a scripture that uses that word, but today I’m using the concept of what Yellow Pages is all about.. seeking and finding. I used the word Walking.. which made me think of shoes.. and this set of verses is exactly what I want to share. This assignment will be tougher than those of the last few weeks.. take your time, you can always do it late. Put on that full armor and study God’s word, so that you can more fully understand what He wants you to learn from it. This scripture from Ephesians is exhorting us to be armed - fully armed - to stand against HaSatan - the Adversary. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. I want us to dig deeper into God’s Word, and to really let our fingers do the walking through the resources we have available to us - books, internet - and really seek to find the true meaning of His Word. Don’t worry, I’m no expert, I’ll be learning to do this along with you all.

Assignment: I’d like you to choose a word, find the Hebrew or Greek original word, and then dig into it’s full meaning. Use things like the Strong’s Concordance or the Gesenius and find the root of the word. What is the first occurance of that word in scripture? What did that word mean in that first occurance? Did the meaning of the word change as God used it in scripture? Now find some verses in scripture that use that word, and like The Message Bible does, re-write that scripture using the full meaning that you now understand to illuminate that scripture verse. What kinds of words should you look up? I’m going to do fire.. but you could look up water, altar, sacrifice, prayer, washing, or any word that you feel God is asking you to understand better. If you feel challenged to, when you find the Hebrew word, look up the meaning of the letters in the root word. The Hebrew letters themselves have meaning, and give meaning to the word.

I picked the word Morning Star as found in Revelation 22:16.

Star, Morning:

Greek

ἀστήρ  (Strong’s 792)

aster – a star

a name figuratively given to Christ (Rev 22:16; 2Pe 1:19). When Christ promises that he will give the "morning star" to his faithful ones, he "promises that he will give to them himself, that he will give to them himself, that he will impart to them his own glory and a share in his own royal dominion; for the star is evermore the symbol of royalty (Mat 2:2), being therefore linked with the sceptre (Num 24:17). All the glory of the world shall end in being the glory of the Church." Trench's Comm.

Matt.2:2 – “we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

Rev. 2:28 – “I will give him the morning star”

Root word: strōnnyō - 1) to spread

2) furnish

3) to spread with couches or divans

 Also in the Old Testament I found Star in Numbers 24:17

Hebrew

כוכב – Kaph, Vav, Kaph, Beyt =

Kaph= bend, open, allow, tame

Vav=  Add, secure, hook

Kaph = bend, open, allow, tame

Beyt= Family, house, in

Kowkab- 1) star

a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God's omniscience (fig.)

Numbers 24:17- “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

From the English Dictionary: Morning Star- a bright planet, especially Venus, seen in the east immediately before sunrise.

This name of Christ Jesus has become more real to me this past month. He has shown me that He is indeed the Bright Morning Star who’s light and truth pierces through the darkest of places to shine and guide me. When the enemy is lying in my ear and I begin to fall into the dark pit of despair Morning Star bursts forth with the truth to hold on to and it destroys the lies.

I love this verse in Revelation 22:16 – “I Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

To follow the assignment I’ll pick out a few words from the Hebrew definition of Star that really stuck out to me. So comforting:

“I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I, Jesus, am Open, Secure, Family, Royalty, Messiah, God Omniscient, The Brightest Star just before dawn.”

Memory Verse - Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:14-16

Introduction - I thought that I would hit the “easy button” this week and not only make the assignment light, but also give us a chance to get to know each other better through prayer.

Assignment - This week I would like you to post any prayer requests you have. What is going on in your life that you need prayer warriors for? Feel free to post an unspoken request if you feel it is too personal. Then if you would just take the time to visit as many other BFS buddies as possible, pray for them and then leave them a little note letting them know that you have prayed or will be praying.

This past year the laws changed for our resident visas and we are now trying to puzzle through how to plan our next furlough. It looks like we are going to have to do it in chunks and this year's "chunk" is looking smaller and smaller all the time because of times we have to be in the country to renew things,etc. There is one man we heard about that we might be able to talk with and seek his advise about our family's particular situation. That would maybe be sometime in the next month. Pray with us that we can get some helpful answers so that we can plan our home assignment time for later this year.

We are now in the downstairs of the new house, but we still have some walls to get up around the perimeter upstairs to make it more secure and to close up our stairwell. Pray with us that the bricklayer can begin again working on that yet this month and that the money will be there for the materials and labor.

A young Quechua friend of ours just had her baby boy today and they are very concerned about him since he was born at 36 weeks. I do not know many details, just that the Mom gets to leave the hospital tomorrow but the baby needs to stay for a while yet. Pray that this little guy will be ok and that the doctors and nurses will be kind and helpful to the parents and not scare them unnecessarily. (that tends to happen a lot here)

And lastly I'd ask that you pray for me personally for a sort of unspoken request. Unspoken in that I am not sharing all the details. My Abba has been teaching me a lot of things in recent weeks and I am excited about the changes that are taking place in my heart, but at the same time with it comes struggles as old habits and patterns of thinking still want to hang on and drag me down. Pray that I would continue to focus on the Truth and rest in God's strength and power in all things.

Thanks for praying!

Col 1:9 So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.

Introduction: This is a steal, literally, because I found it on Facebook and decided to use it this week.  This is an expression of Praises to God- using the ABC’s.  I thought this would be a good way to be able to Praise God and use every letter of the alphabet!

Assignment: Try to think of one thing you can say to the glory of God- one thing to thank Him for, a positive thing you can say about Him, or one of His Names-using each letter of the alphabet.  You are allowed to make up words- if you can justify them by making it clear what you mean- and you may also use any foreign language (but please explain what it means) - and you can also use a thesaurus or dictionary if you get stumped. I’m putting my list below so you’ll have to copy and paste this then remove my answers.  It’s a bit of a challenge but I think you’ll enjoy it.  Have fun with it!

A - Abba

B - Brother

C - Caring

D - Deliverer

E - Everlasting

F - Faithful

G - Glorious

H - Holy One

I - Immanuel

J - Jehovah

K - Kind

L - Love

M - Maravioso (Spanish: Marvelous)

N - Near

O - Overcomer

P - Patient

Q - Quick to hear us

R - Redeemer

S - Spirit

T - True Vine (John 15:1,5)

U - Unico (Spanish: The one and only)

V - Victorious

W - Wise

X - eXtends mercy

Y - Yanapag (Quechua: Helper)

Z - Zion's King

Memory Verse - II Corinthians 4:18 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Introduction - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; isn’t that what we’ve always been told.  I find beauty in many things and in most people.  There’s beauty in a flower, according to FTD as well, there’s beauty in trees,  animals, people, and I’d have to say, as I’m sure that most people agree that there’s beauty in watching a child grow.

Assignment - Look around your space, look into your heart and share the beauty you see or feel with the rest of us.

This  assignment has me thinking of so many different things.

There is the beauty in nature right around me. Even if we are in the city I can look up and see this:

Lately I've been seeing beauty in my kids too and how they are learning and growing.

Heidi trying to count just like she's heard her brothers do:

Liam learning to ride his bike in TWO DAYS! His determination and his GRIN over learning to do something new and just peddling away with all his might. 

Arel and Dane's good attitudes of working together at chores rubbing off on Liam and Heidi who now want in on the fun.

Comments from my kids like, "Dad made that for you?" and from that I realize they are learning by a great example (THEIR Dad) what a Dad and Husband is.

So beautiful.

And so many things I have been thinking about, and I am BEGINNING to see about God.

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children.  He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others."

- A.W. Tozer

God is there for me more than I realize or allow him to be. He is there for me in every way.

Psalm 8:1 - "Oh LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens."

Memory Verse: Psalm 69:21 They put poison in my food; in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Introduction: Obey Your Thirst (Sprite) In this Psalm, terrible things are plaguing David. He’s seeking the Lord, as he has that sinking feeling, that desperate thing of alienation and abandonment… and they try to poison him and give him vinegar - GROSS! How Vile! Sometimes when we’re sick, we have that sinking desperate feeling, we call out to God, we call out for healing.

Assignment: Tell us the most vile “remedy” you’ve ever had to consume in order to be rid of that “plague”.  Was it something prescribed by a Medical Doctor? or was it an herbal remedy? We all know that Buckley’s commercial, it tastes awful, but it works.  Would you take this remedy again?  Did it work? Can you get your children to take it?

Too funny that this week's assignment would be about home remedies.

I just got done doing a gallbladder/liver flush.

My gallbladder has been giving me pain for a couple of months now and I have been doing my best to avoid those yummy BIG Peruvian french fries and other greasy foods but I knew that I'd better not ignore this too long or I'd end up needing surgery and that is the last thing we need to deal with around here.

So I did the old flush. This is how you do it:

Drink about 2 liters of apple juice a day for 3 days. I am a smaller adult so I only drank 1 1/2 liters a day. You can eat normally during those three days, no need to totally fast, but I am sure staying away from junk food is a good idea. Here apple juice isn't always easy to find but there were three liters at the grocery store a couple weeks ago so I grabbed them while I could get them. I mixed some of the boxed juice with freshly juiced apples...1. To help it all stretch and 2.Because some of the apples we found to juice were a little sour. Oh and look for a post soon on how to make apple butter with the lovely pulp left over from juicing the apples. :)

So at the end of the third day of drinking apple juice when you are ready to go to bed. It's also a good idea to eat light for supper if you can and not drink the last of your apple juice RIGHT before this next step.
When you are ready for bed, mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of olive oil and drink it down. It's basically like drinking salad dressing without the seasonings. Bleh! Then lay on your right side for at least 2-3 hours if not more.

Some people have no trouble doing this and some people like me lay there (propped up a little too) trying not to lose my supper. For me usually after a few hours, (this time I made it all the way til 4 am) I have to run to the bathroom and empty everything. (I have to be honest, but I am trying not to give any more details, sorry) Then I can finally sleep and rest. Usually the next day I feel pretty horrid but tend to get rid of a nice bunch of green "stones" and then feel much better. Especially after eating and drinking things that don't taste anything like lemon juice or olive oil! (note: last night I ate salad without dressing.

And now I have more energy and my gallbladder and liver feel much better. So even though it IS one of the hardest remedies to take and going through the process is NO FUN, it is all worth it when I don't have to go to the Dr. with gallbladder pain and unnecessary surgeries. Yippee!

I don't make kids do this remedy. I don't know of a kid who'd need this.

I do however make my kids take liquid Lobelia herb for coughs. But it DOES help even if it tastes bad and smells bad on the chest. Anyone with an annoying cough can rub liquid Lobelia on their chest, feet and back (sometimes I use olive oil with it or even Vick's vapor rub) for fast relief and helps one feel more calm. Also take about 10-15 drops in a glass of water to help calm the coughing fits from the inside. Contrary to what some herbal books say, Lobelia is safe to take in small quantities like this.

I have a friend who also used it on her kids who had asthma and it helped keep it under control and even stopped attacks without medicines.

Lobelia can be applied directly to a tired, screaming baby's feet...you'd be amazed how fast they calm down and even fall asleep sometimes. It also works in the ears for ear infections combined with garlic or olive oils.

My disclaimer: Use these remedies at your own discretion, I am NOT an expert but these are things that I have been doing for years now, some my Mom used on me so I learned from her.

Oh Ladies, I’d love to see you in a photograph making that sourest of faces,  - remember that remedy and remake that face.. or get your kids to make that face with you.. can you do it without laughing?  Laughter makes the best medicine.

These are just for his Mom and Sister who I know will read this. :)

This really is what Arel does when I make him take something he can't stand.

Shane had to take mine a couple times because I was laughing too much over his faces

Introduction: You Deserve a Break Today (McDonalds) –After all this crazy weather, the economy ups and downs and now a new President for the United States you all do deserve a break today.  I want to give everyone a ‘break today’ and have the ANNUAL SHOPPING SPREE!!!

Assignment: I’d like to stick with a theme for the spree though.  The marriage bedroom!  I’m also being a little selfish on this one because my husband and I are getting ready to demolish our room, my office, and our ‘guest’ room and make ourselves a master suite.  I need some great ideas on linen, wall colors, curtains, pictures…anything that would help me to decorate our new room.  I do want a soft and sanctuary type theme.   Are you willing to help me?  Your budget is $1500!  I gave you a raise from last year…since the economy is so bad right now…LOL.  Make sure you use the banner and code on the right side of this page to show us your assignments!

This is a fun assignment since we just moved into our house and now I am thinking of what colors to paint things. We won't be able to paint for a while yet but it's fun to dream!

I am not going for deal so much in this "shopping spree". Instead, I am just roaming around the net linking to what strikes my fancy. Hope these links all work.

Memory Verse: Genesis 1:14 (King James Version)

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

Intro: This week the other Teachers and I want to shake things up a bit!  We wanted for everyone to have some fun and have an assignment that would be easy and enjoyable too.  This is a creative blogging assignment but hopefully it will offer help to some newer bloggers still trying to learn “how” to add pictures to their blogs and also help learn your classmates names to easily identify them…and it’s just FUN!

Assignment: This week you are to use your Blog Name (or your own pen/real name) and create signs. There are two ways to do this and you can do one or both ways.
Here are my banners and signs that I’ve made to share with everyone. I have my two of my favorite verses within the signs! They should be easy to spot!  Go to this location and use the Create tab at the top of the page to select All Templates or go to the bottom  of the page and on the left choose Banners to make your project.  Then follow the directions to copy the code and post it on your blog.  Have Fun!!!  Warning:  This is NOT a christian site!

Memory Verse:

Genesis 7:24 The water held power over the earth for 150 days.

Introduction: The only witnesses to the Flood are Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives - 8 people.   And then there’s the animals, 2 of every unclean animal and 7 pairs of every clean animal. When Noah and his family emerged from the ark, they offered sacrifices and praised the Lord for preserving them.

Assignment: What kind of catastrophe have you lived through? Weather? Fire? Car crash? Did you feel the oppression of the power of the disaster, or the protection of the Power of the Lord?  Tell us the story of how you rejoiced and praised Him through it and after it.

These Blogger Friend School assignments have been challenging for me lately! I just haven’t had the time to put into thinking and writing them for a while but I want to get back to them again so I am going to tackle this one. J

I have not gone through any kind of terrible storm, fire or car crash but my son Liam and I have each been through a scary sickness during our first 6 years here in Peru. I had Typhoid and Liam had Dysentery. I/we have never experienced anything like these before. Strange that this would be the assignment this week because I was just thinking about having typhoid last night and Liam and I were just talking about when he was sick a couple of days ago. It definitely left a mark on us, but I think now that time has past we are able to see the good things that God did for us while we were sick.

Both of us were gravely ill with these sicknesses. Oh, and when I was sick with typhoid, I was 9 months pregnant with Liam! So I guess you could say we’ve really been through it together.

There were moments as the one sick when we felt so overwhelmed with it all…like we’d never be well again, etc. And there were moments as I watched Liam sick that I felt so helpless in the power of this thing happening to him. But it was during these times that we came close to the Lord as we poured out our hearts to Him. Liam and I both experienced God’s loving care in the form of a human. The Body of Christ at work really.  For me it was my husband Shane who daily talked me through things, made sure I ate, drank, and because I was so weak and sick he would do everything for me. Carrying me (even big and pregnant), bathing me, everything! Liam told me just two days ago that when he was sick he just liked me taking care of him and being with him. I asked him why and he said “Because you’re comfterble” J But I totally related to what he meant. I really experienced God’s loving gentle care in Shane and came to understand a little more clearly just HOW God loves me.  I would never chose to go through that again but I am so thankful for what God taught me during that time and like the Israelites often did they would look back on all the amazing events when God saved them or did wonders no man could ever do and remember what God did and praise Him for his Power and Might. And it provided a reminder that if He could do that back there, then this thing they are dealing with right now…well, He’s certainly Big enough and Powerful enough and Faithful to handle this thing too!

That is what God has been doing with events like Liam’s and my sickness in my life, is helping me look back not to feel pride that “I made it through this!” or to dwell on the horrible, but to look back and say “Look what God did!”. All Glory to HIM for HIS work!

Nebuchadnezzar expressed this very well after God turned him back to normal after he spent that time eating grass like a cow.

“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.

His rule is everlasting,

And his kingdom is eternal.

All the people of the earth

Are nothing compared to him.

He has the power to do as he pleases

Among the angels of heaven

And with those who live on earth.

No one can stop him or challenge him,

Saying, ‘what do you mean by doing these things?’

When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud.”

-Daniel 4:34-37

David also stated it was for God’s glory when he faced Goliath:

“David shouted in reply, ‘You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty – the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!’” -1 Samuel 17:45-47

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40: 1- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Assignment: Tell us all about how your have “your” relaxing time, more especially how during the cooler months you take time to curl up with your favorite movie, book, Bible study, and what your favorite warm drink would be.

This has been something I am still learning how to do. :) Sounds funny but even when our family designates a day or time to relax I tend to just keep going and Shane has to tell me to just stop and only do something if it is relaxing but otherwise NOT to do anything. :) Over the past few months I have become increasingly aware that I need to rest and find ways every day and for sure every week to relax in some way. Like I say, I am still learning and I do have to still feed my family, homeschool, help my potty training two year old and the older boys with various things all day long, but I am learning how to "get away" even when I can't actually get away.

When Heidi takes a nap in the afternoon and the boys are working on chores I will either sit or lay down and read a book, listen to some quiet music or an audio book and write in my journal or work on some knitting or crocheting or a sewing project. On my bedside table right now besides my bible and journal are "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit" by Teri Maxwell (EXCELLENT BOOK!! I highly recommend it!) and "Fourth Dawn" from the A.D. Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene. In my MP3 player I have been listening to "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte....downloaded from Librivox.org (Great place to download free audio books to listen to!)

Sometimes I'll make a cup of tea or decaf coffee to drink. My favorite cup:

Sometimes I only get in 20 minutes and sometimes I have up to an 1 to spend resting in this way.There are days when Shane will take some or all of the kids out of the house for a little while so I can enjoy the quiet. (like now, they all went to the airport to take a friend who is leaving) And sometimes Dane or Shane will just keep the little kids ocupied so I can be alone for a little bit somewhere, but there are many times too when they find me and want to be with me. I have been trying to help them be respectful of me wanting some quiet and have them sit or play nearby and keep things on the quiet side. Of course they are little so that doesn't always work but they are learning. Sometimes we all kind of sit in the same around and the kids will all color or draw pictures while I am reading or something.

We try to take a day off every week usually Sat. or Sun. to just rest and not do anything. Sometimes we go out to eat, or we try to have lots of finger foods or easy to heat up leftovers around to give me a break from cooking. Many times I will find a time during that day to watch a home improvement show or two for ideas or watch a favorite movie.

Since we are just starting Spring/Summer weather around here it's hard to imagine cold, snow, frost, leaves changing colors and falling and all that we think of with Fall and Winter but I like to watch movies like "Little Women" and others that put me in the Fall and Winter mood. Thankfully the weather is not so hot that I enjoy curling up on a cool cloudy day with some hot cocoa or snuggling in warm blankets with the kids and a movie or book to read. I find myself hoping for a few of those cool days sometimes to feel connected to the weather or holidays my family and friends are experiencing back home.

Ps 46:10 -

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

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!!

Memory Verse: Psalms 26:2 NIV
Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.

Assignment: This week I want you to do something for someone else. Do you have a neighbor that needs you? Do you know an elderly person or single mom that could use you? What about the homeless? Pack even one single sack lunch and give it to someone in need. Do you know someone in blogland that is struggling right now and could use a note from you about how much you care? Pray about this. Let God put on your heart the perfect thing for you to do for another. Now, here is the kicker…I DO NOT want you to post about what you do. Whatever you choose to do is between you and God. Our rewards are in heaven, not here on earth, Mathew 6:1. I want you to post about how doing this “act” made you feel. Was stepping out of your comfort zone in this area as hard as you thought it might be? Could you see the gratefulness in their eyes? Hear it in their voice? Tell it from their typing? Do you think you might make doing things like this a more regular part of your time?  If this is an area that you are already active in, tell us how you feel this has impacted your life.

I’ve been thinking all week on this assignment and the Lord keeps directing me to a particular thing. Like the assignment says, it’s between me and God and I pray that it doesn’t stop with the one thing. J  It is a thing that takes me out of my comfort zone and has really got me thinking! I think for me this assignment has been good for me to learn to take the time to think about helping someone and not just jump into doing as many things as come my way just because they are good things to do. I know in some ways that sounds backwards but there have been times over the past couple of years that I have been overwhelmed with good things to do for others. Even though I do not regret doing those things….it blessed me to see God give the strength and ability needed to serve how he had me serve! And I give all the credit to him! But I have also come to realize the need to slow down and think about those things that come up that are not just a simple “What do you think, Lord?” “Yes, do it, daughter.” There are so many needs here! I could literally run myself to death trying to meet the needs of people I see everyday in need. But is that what God wants me to do? I have had to really pray about this alone and with Shane to know what it is God has for me.

And there’s a balance too. I never want to use thinking and praying about serving others as an excuse to ignore God’s nudge to help someone at any time. But I realized I interpret guilt as a nudge from God and it’s not! This is definitely a learning process that I am sure I will be learning my whole life.

Matthew 6:3-4 – “But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.”

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling.  Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back.  Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

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Homeschooling. Where did it all start for me?

2^nd Grade.

I am not sure exactly where my parents first heard of  homeschooling but I know that by the time I had finished 1^st Grade in public school they were ready to try it. Mom did the research about what the laws were for our state and what curriculum to buy and where. At the time the recommendation she was given was Abeka and Bob Jones. From there she went to a more eclectic and almost unschooling style. My sister and I loved it, even if we gave Mom fits at times.She is still homeschooling my brother who is now in high school. She's my hero and I'm so thankful to her for all her hard work with us kids! Thank you, Mom!!

I enjoyed attending homeschool support group meetings with Mom. Most of the time we kids had our own activities or I would sit and man the table where we sold things that my Mom and sister and I had made. Sometimes I even sat in on the meetings with Mom. For me, it was these meetings and the hundreds of conversations my Mom let me listen in on as she discussed what she was learning about teaching children at home with her friends and my Dad.

I knew that if I ever had children that I would teach them at home if at all possible. I praise the Lord for the husband God gave me and that we are able to work together and support each other in this journey of homeschooling. I am also so thankful for the option of homeschooling here on the mission field. It is something that works so well for us no matter where we go.

I have been trying to remember any specific thing about starting school at home with my oldest, Dane. He was such a sharp little thing from day one so really, homeschooling began much sooner than kindergarten. I remember him loving puzzles and talking! It seems like I spent a LOT of time researching what curriculums were out there. So much  had changed since I was Dane’s age and there was MUCH more to choose from than Abeka and Bob Jones.

I remember finding the homeschool want ads section on VegSource.com and spending a lot of time finding just the right deal on the books I wanted. My Mom was also a huge help to me as I started preparing to teach Dane. Since my brother is several years ahead of Dane she was able to hand down some books for us to use.

My Aunt also was able to give me some good recommendations and loaned books to us as well. We started using AlphaPhonics at first. Dane latched onto learning to read. That was one of the funnest parts for us I think.

When we moved to Peru and began language study I quickly realized that we all needed to just focus our schooling on learning Spanish and the Peruvian culture. Since we first moved to Peru I have gone through times when all the work of settling in and learning a new language and culture has made me feel guilty for the time it sometimes takes away from schooling. But I have been learning that God had things for my kids to learn that could not be learning in books during those times and have realized that no matter what others' opinions around me may be on education, God has shown Shane and I what he wants US to do at any given time with our kids and I don't ever need to feel bad about that!

These past 6 years since we moved here have been such a learning experience for me not only in my personal life but also in regards to homeschooling. Through struggles and triumphs I have come to discover just how each of my kids learn best. Which curriculums or methods work and which ones don’t, and a lot about how God teaches them in spite of me!

There are some things that we do differently than when I was homeschooled. But mainly because my kids are not me and my sister and brother and we are our own family with different tastes and styles. I continue to find encouragement from my Mom, my sister (who now homeschools her kids) and others in our family and circle of friends who homeschool. I have also found many encouraging websites and from those,  new friends online whom God has used to help me along the way. We are one of the only missionary families homeschooling in this area and it has been so encouraging to be able to connect with other Moms around the world and know that I am not the only one who struggles or finds joy in something relating to teaching my children at home.

We have also been blessed by several homeschool families who have sent us books to expand our library (no libraries around here with books in English! We have to make grow our own! . One dear friend in particular sent us several boxes full of used books on subjects she knew we were studying or would be studying. She went home to heaven a few months ago and I will always be reminded of her every time we open one of the books she sent and the years she invested in the lives of her children and many others. She was such an encouragement to me in our first years of homeschooling.

Here’s an idea of how our library has grown because of the generosity of our friends. We are happy to be able to share them with other English speaking families who live here sometimes.

For most of this month we will be focusing mainly on reading and doing activities as a family. Really that will carry over some into next month as well since it will be our vacation time too. So I have been reading aloud to the kids or they spend time reading to each other and that usually leads to creative playtime every morning.

I am slowly preparing books and a plan for school. I say SLOWLY because I have been needing to get some rest this month. The kids have been enjoying the more relaxed pace these days and I have seen more of their creative side because of it. We are all learning a lot about what it means to be kind to one another and be good examples to those who are younger than us.