Striving to Bring Light and Truth to the World Around Me - Homeschool Blogger

Poor neglected blog!

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:34:00 -0500

still trying to figure out how to do all the things I'd like to do! my poor blog doesn't get to know about all the things going on in life and what I'd like to share!

Things are hectic. I still haven't posted pictures and info about the mission trip - though I'm almost through posting picts on facebook - I'll have to eliminate a lot for here. Hubby defends his dissertation this coming week!

Saturday is our 11 year anniversary. Anna is 18 months and is as cute as a button - quite adventurous though! She has learned how to say Jenna and they way she says it is SO cute.

Hubby is at a conference this week. Things haven't been going smoothly at all. and I've been emotional and trying to put everything into perspective. I need to update my last post on the august books - and I need to post septembers too. This year is flying by!

Well, i have to run. Just stopping by to try and not forget I actually own a blog! of course i have 2 other neglected blogs too - i like to go all out i guess! LOL

marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Books I read in August

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:48:00 -0500

Here are the books I read in August - I'll come back later to add in ratings and more synopsis - just wanted to get them out there.

34 - 50/50 by Dean Karnazes - about the man who ran 50 marathons in 50 days.
35 - Performance Nurition for Runners - EXCELLENT book - I had no idea that most oils break down into toxic free radicals when you heat them - the only one that doesn't is Extra Virgin Olive Oil!!! So many neat tips in this book.
36 - Body Clutter by Flylady - great book on overcoming negative thinking, bad habits and nutrition issues.
37 - Grace Based Parenting by ___________ - Great Book I read while on the mission trip - more about it later.
38 - The Soldiers Lady - next 3 books are all a Christian Fiction series written by Michael Phillips - set in the Carolinas during Civil war times. Fascinating books.
39 - Never Too Late
40 - Miss Katie's Rosewood
41 - Here I Stand - by Roland Bainton - Finished this while on the mission trip as well. Story of Martin Luther. Really awesome book - though complicated and hard to read in places.

ok - I'll come back soon to fill in the gaps. Looks like I won't be able to get my goal of reading 100 books this year - although if I counted the kids school books I could make it ;)

marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Unfortunate Circumstances and Life Changing Experiences!!!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:43:00 -0500

Still haven't taken the time to post about things that happened on the trip...but here I write a bit about what's happened and thoughts I've had since returning...One thing I realized pretty quickly is that life goes on normally while you are gone and when you return there are issues trying to get back into normal life. When you go away one a mission trip and do different things and acts of service you are changed but things are the same when coming home. It takes to figure out how to go forward from there.

We returned the second week of September and it was one of the hardest weeks I'd had in a while due to a race I ran that didn't go well, and some health issues and trying to figure out how the new me would relate to those around me. I was pretty emotional and feeling messed up the whole week. I pulled back from people and prayed a lot...Then this week things have been smoother and I've felt a difference in me. More willing to do what is needed and keep going regardless of how people respond. I have committed to making changes on returning from the trip - changes in the things and time I spend with my family, changes in how I view difficulties and changes in my relationships with others. I am slowly seeing those changes happen and I feel more freedom then in the past. More confident that the person I was on the trip didn't go away...I believe the enemy may have been attacking me and trying to keep me from making those changes, wanting me to fall back into the old me I was before the mission trip. The last few weeks are hard, but he is losing and God is working.

Here are some thoughts on that.

----
As I sat yesterday trying to contemplate thoughts on the trip - lessons I learned I verbalized some of them with these words:

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The past is the past. It doesn't matter anymore. It's not who I am.

I am a child of God - a child of worth - no less then those children in Honduras and around the world born into more unfortunate circumstances.

We all have unfortunate circumstances. God gives us what we need to make something of all our lives, even those unfortunate circumstances. To learn and grow, forgive and change.

When we turn to Him out of those circumstances we bring beautiful results into our lives and those around us - Hope, grace, love, peace, mercy and strength.

God loves me and cherishes me enough to die for me. I can hope and dream others will love me and care for me in the way that makes me come alive. But if they don't I can still be who God designed me to me - who I want to be. The choices I have to make, the work I do is valuable even if no one appreciates the effort. That is no reason to give up.

God has saved me from others and myself, from unfortunate circumstances, mistakes and sin. He has blessed me with gifts and strength and He waits for me to turn to Him and use them to get through life, even the hard days to come. I am confident the future will be better then the past bec ause God will guide my steps and teach me valuable lessons and truths. In return we are supposed to tell others about those truths. This is the reason I believe God gave me the desire to go to Honduras. To dedicate my time and actions to living out what I know in my heart is true.

What has followed me home is that I know these truths deeper then before. Love and faith is more real and unlike the walls we built in order to bless the families in Honduras, I find myself desiring to tear down the walls brick by brick that I've built around myself all these years to protect myself. Or as Santos would say bloque (Blah-K). I desire to remove them by trusting more, living less fearfully - not getting discouraged by others or those circumstances.

Things I knew before still were hard to live when I was hurt by others and not treated the ways I'd hoped. I let my disappointments create doubt and keep me back from goals. but my trust and confidence in God is stronger after this trip. I went and I poured my heart out unreservedly without hesitation, doing things that were asked of me - and doing things that weren't asked but I saw a need there that others might not have seen and I gave myself without fear or restraint. Probably the most genuine acts of love I'd ever shown - the real me showed up in Honduras. The person I always thought I could be someday.

And that person has followed me home! I know I've let many people down and I am sorry for that. I know I've second guessed myself and let others view of me become my own even when I've known it wasn't always true. I have learned God's plan will be fulfilled and it is always the best...and that no matter how long it takes to make changes it's never too late. He is patient and kind and understanding. His strength is everlasting and His power can do amazing things when we ask Him for His help.

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I hope if you've never considered a mission trip before that you will consider one in the future. It was an amazing journey - that I know won't actually end for a while....More pictures and posts later.

Marie
Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Dreams

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 14:09:00 -0500

I know - another post from me! Amazing isn't it. I don't have many readers for my blog anymore. That's what happens when you aren't regular I guess - people stop coming by to visit....but I still want to write about things that are going on. So here I am.

Last night I dreamed about Honduras. I was back there but I was saying bye again and as a crowd of kids were around me I wanted to remember their faces but I couldn't see them well through my tears. I was truly blessed to be able to go to Honduras. There are many changes I want to make in my life to not take things as much for granted as I do. I need to break out of bad habits and set new ones. Set new goals and do things with a more focused purpose and not just aimlessly wander near the goals I have currently.

I miss Honduras deeply. A part of me wishes we could just up and move there. My family would probably think I was crazy if they knew that. I seriously doubt that would ever happen anyways...but I know a huge part of me I left behind there. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. I know all things happen for a reason. I'm sure at some point if God wants me to understand why it took 12 years after graduation from college for me to go on a mission trip then I will come to realize it in time. Plans often don't turn out the way we wish. My desire to be a medical missionary in a third world country didn't come about - but I do know as God's children we are all missionaries every day to the people we interact with. I hope God will grow me to be a better witness for him here where are family currently is.

Who knows, maybe my daughter will end up there. She has said several times she wants to go to Honduras and play with the kids and share some of her toys and talk to them. She bounces around between want she wants to be, she's wanted to be a vet - because she loves horses. A couple years ago when reading the book Missionary Stories for the Millers she said she wanted to be a missionary. She has also said she wants to be a stay at home mom...and a Pampered Chef consultant too. I see in her a desire to be like me, but also to do different things that are in her heart. I wonder how it will turn out. Time will tell. In the meantime maybe my thoughts can help others re-evaluate their life just like I'm doing with mine and make changes if they wish.

Marie
Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Books I Read in June and July!

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:57:00 -0500

Well, I didn't realize I had not posted my list of books I'd read for the past couple months...So I'll post them all here with short little blurbs about them!

In June I read:

27 - A Quest For More - by Paul Tripp - I loved this book! I would rate it the highest I could rate it on any scale that's out there. It was a great book about living your life with eternal purpose and not trying to fit God into a smaller role of your life - but to have His kingdom be magnified - way bigger then the size of our little kingdoms we try to make and rule ourselves. Excellent!!!
28 - The Shame and the Sacrifice by Edwin Robertson - another excellent book - It's about Dietrich Bonhoeffer - it was fascinating to read about his life, the things going on in his family and with his friends and learn more about the current state of things in Germany! A very compelling biography that shows one person can make a huge difference!
29 - A Perilous Proposal by Michael Phillips - The first book in the Carolina Cousins series - a companion to the Shenendoah series that has similar events but some differences. It is a good book about a white teenager and a black teenager that God brings together and teaches them how to love ad learn from each other.

In July I read:

July
30 - When You Lie About Your Age the Terriorists Win: Reflections in the Mirror - by Carol Leifer - She's a comedian of Jewish Heritage. Not really a book I'd recommend. Some of it is funny but some of it is rude and makes fun on mainstream conservative religion. She talks about discovering she's gay and all sorts of things. It was a quick and easy read - otherwise I wouldn't have finished reading the book.
31 - A Day To Pick Your Own Cotton - by Michael Phillips - book 2 in the Shenandoah Sisters series. .
32 - The Color of Your Skin Ain't the Color of Your Heart by Michael Phillips - book 3 in the Shenandoah series - both have the struggle with the white and black girl to keep the plantation going without Katie's parents being there since they are both orphans. Other characters come into the story - love interests and other family members (uncles) that begin to help out. Real good books.
33 - What's a Christian to do With Harry Potter by Connie Neill - Excellent book that talks about some of the concerns people have with the series: witchcraft. sorcery, etc. There are many excellent passages in here about how to talk about the good qualities developing in some of the characters and bad qualities in others. The author's position is that you can read the books with discernment and pick out a lot of lessons the characters have learned that you can share with your children. Very enlightening book that I recommend.

I will come back and post August's books soon - I read way more books in August then I've done in awhile. It will take me a bit to review them :)

As always - if you've read any good books leave me a comment about them and I will add it to my list!
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

So Many Thoughts - So Little Time...

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:59:00 -0500

Since returning from Honduras so many thoughts have been swirling around in my head. Ramifications of the way I live. I am happy with who I am as a person (which is huge for me to say that). God has taught me a lot of lessons. He's working on me and helping me in my relationships and other goals and desires....Yet I see things I could do different. Usually when these thoughts hit me I'm cooking dinner or in the shower and so I don't have the opportunity to write them down - and then they start to fade.

Some of them I posted on my facebook account...feeling I haven't accomplished much at home since returning from Honduras - (Yet I think some of that was due to an allergic reaction I had to the malaria medicine. Because of that - and being so active while gone I think my body needed more rest and so I've been slower in some of my tasks since I've been back)

I also have seen more ways that I am my family are selfish. I can do things to change some of my issues but I'm not sure about what I should say to my family. I have sorted through my closet and pulled out clothes that are too big, clothes I don't wear that much or that I don't like anymore. I have a lot of clothes to donate and my closet looks neat - it's not stuffed with ridiculous amounts of clothes!

I am considering donating some of my discretionary money to the missionaries in Honduras - or maybe seeing if we can cut some categories expenses and donate more then I would be able to do otherwise. I'll continue to post thoughts that I have about my life and things I can do to make more of a difference in my local community - I know I have been blessed so much - and I take much of it for granted and am always wanting more. I hope God can change me into a more giving, selfless person.

Stay tuned for more thoughtful posts - and soon those pictures of things we did while in Honduras.
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Honduras - where to begin???

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:45:00 -0500

Our team returned from the mission trip to Honduras around midnight Sat night/Sun morning. We had a wonderful time serving the people there, working along the missionary families and getting to know each other on the team even more!

It was truly amazing. I am not even sure how to begin starting sharing about it. I have tons of pictures. I'll have to narrow down the ones I want to post here. I will post a lot more of the pictures on my facebook account, so send me your info for FB if you want to see more of the pictures then I'll share here.

I wrote some journal entries while there...I will type some of them in and share them here with you so you can know more of the things we did and the thoughts I had. Coming back to my family after a week away was wonderful. I had missed them a lot and they had missed me too. I am more aware of what I want my family to look like, our home to look like and the things we will do together. I knew that God had blessed our family, but after my trip I am way more aware of all the little things we take for granted that are huge blessings from God.

I miss the people in Honduras terribly. I have been praying for them everyday. I have even cried a couple times and wished I'd had a bit longer there. The Pettengill family and McCann family are doing amazing works there. Please pray for them! Check out their blogs too if you would like.

Pettengill’s Ministry Blog:
http://www.pettengillmissionaries.org/

Erin Pettengill’s Blog:
http://pettengillmissionaries.blogspot.com/

McCann’s Ministry Blog:
http://mccannsinhonduras.wordpress.com/

McCann’s Family Blog:
http://cosmocam.blogspot.com/
Mike
Missionary to Honduras
www.pettengillmissionaries.org

I will try to start posting stuff about the trip real soon.
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

My Summer......

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:46:00 -0500

Just writing the title makes me think of high school and those essays we used to write at the beginning of the school year on what we did over the summer.

My essays were always a struggle for me, trying to find something cool to write about. The truth was most of my summers were boring and sad. I didn't have friends wanting to play with me. My family wasn't really interested in spending time with me. I was usually alone. Sometimes we did get to go to the beach and visit my grandparents and cousins. I usually ended up writing about that.

Well I've been blessed since college and in my marriage to always seem to have interesting things going on! Sometimes those things aren't particularly fun - like a couple summers ago when I was pregnant with Anna and was a frequent visitor at the hospital. Other times I've done lots of neat things like vacations and field trips. This summer has been a great time of learning more about myself and what it means to reach out to others without fear and with confidence...2 of the big things I struggle with the most.

God is growing me, stretching me and always sustaining me, even when I don't realize it. His grace is amazing! I can't wait to tell y'all all about the things that have been going on!

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Half Marathon Training - Goals and Surprises!!!!

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:45:00 -0500

On Saturday, Aug 8th I left my home planning to do my longest run ever....10 miles. I was nervous and doubtful that I'd be able to do it. I felt a bit of pressure to accomplish it without backing down because the race was scheduled for Sept 12th (more on that later). I didn't have many more runs to attempt these longer distances before doing the suggested pre-race taper to let my body rest a bit.

It was a beautiful morning here in the desert, not too hot yet and there was a very pretty sunrise. I didn't even feel as tired as I had some times before. I ran up to the bike path intending to get off at one exit but I missed it so went a little farther. I was absolutely amazed when I looked down at my iPod and saw I'd already gone 8 miles and wasn't that tired yet! I decided to go farther instead of turning back to go home. I just kept going. I was even running on some hilly routes and it was amazing that I was keepign a consistent pace! My total distance for that day was 12.5 miles in 2 and 1/2 hours!

When I walked in the door of my home I was totally excited. I felt amazed, blessed and more confident. Events may be easy but pushing yourself to do more, or be faster or improve can be hard. That's what training is for. It's getting ready for a different level - mentally, physically and spiritually as well. It isn't just health and fitness that's improved, but confidence levels and for me even spiritual realizations about not giving up when struggling. There are a lot of lessons to be learned insetting difficult goals and working towards them bit by bit. There are surprises along the way...like breaths of fresh air given to invigorate us when we are doubting or tired or confused.

I am looking forward to more long runs that will challenge me...and the same with cycling I've started doing. I did a very challenging 8 mile route with a friend. Even though I wanted to give up I didn't! There was a long hill (about 1 mile long) that is about a 5-6% grade. I so wanted to stop but he kept encouraging me to get to the next leveled off place and then we could rest a bit if I wanted. So I pushed myself to keep going. Tackling something that is hard and succeeding helps me be more confident at home with all the projects that I'm faced with - including school (in those moments when I don't know whey I am teaching my kids!)

The half-marathon may not happen - there are some issues the group is trying to work through. If it's canceled it will be ok. There will be another one at some point and I know I can be ready for it. God is teaching me to keep moving.
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Just about time to leave the country!!!!

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:23:00 -0500

In 24 hours I'll be heading to the airport to get on a plane and go to Honduras! Please pray for safe travels, good health and that God will be glorified and the people will be drawn to Him.

I don't have much time to type any more - still packing and getting things ready for dad at home! I'll update when I can when I get back!

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Deadlines!!!

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 11:43:00 -0500

Well, I have a lot of deadlines going on right now...trying to finish up the school year...I am WAY behind of where I hoped I'd be. Probably will finish in September, then we will take a a couple weeks off and start again.

I am considering doing SL 1+2 for Thomas this coming year...He's listened to all of Jenna's core 1 and core 2...so I'm wondering if it'd be good to do the quicker world history for him. We will need to buy their stuff soon, like probably before I leave so it can be packaged and shipped before we need it.

I have 1 week before I leave on my mission trip to Honduras! Thanks mainly to my father in law who made a HUGE donation for me. I have been terrible at raising support. Only 1 donation came in - I was pretty sad about that! I was second guessing myself and wondering if maybe God didn't want me to go on the trip, even though the church had already bought the tickets.

Well, now I am less then 100 dollars away from being fully sponsored. I most likely will have to pay the money mysefl. Oh well.

I am taking some Pampered Chef products to the missionary family. She mentioned loving the products and not being able to find good quality stuff there. So we set up a wish list for her and people bought things! It will be really cool to bless her in that way. I am still trying to submit one more show with a few orders for her but it hasn't reached enough sales to qualify...so the last few products might not get here in time for me to deliver them to her - then I'll just have to mail them when I get back.

I've got to go get some vaccinations - and also get some prescriptions filled to carry on the trip.

Last deadline coming up is my half marathon on September 12th. Hopefully I'll be ready for it - longest run I've done so far is 8 miles - but I walked some of it. I'll have to go a lot longer then that for the race - 13.1 miles! I hope I can do it. Well, I've gotta run, sorry I'm so bad about blogging!

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

The end of vacation...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:20:00 -0500

The end of my vacation at home is here. Hubby came back Sunday night after being gone 10 days ago at a conference in France. And in about 12 hours I'll be leaving here to drive a couple hours to the Phoenix airport to pick up the kids!

After a little over 2 weeks Jenna and Thomas will be home! Then it will be back to normal, swim lessons and doing school again.

I've accomplished a lot. Not as much as I'd hoped but have still done decluttering, purging and cleaning. I'll continue doing so when I have time because we may end up moving in December and anything I do now to get rid of things will make it easier later. Hubby has had a hard time adjusting to the time change from being in Paris for 10 days so he's been going to bed early each night. That has helped me get more stuff done. I have stuff set aside to take to goodwill or sell to the used book store.

Now I need to start getting ready for the consignment sale coming up at the end of the month. I'll be selling lots of baby clothes and toys and hope to make a good bit of money. In March I sold some baby gear and a little clothes and made 80 dollars. This time I have 6 big boxes full of clothes, not to mention blankets, towels and baby toys! It will be nice to get rid of some of that stuff!

Well, I've got to get to bed so I can get up early and exercise tomorrow.
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Recently....

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:58:00 -0500

So I've been busy recently. I didn't mean for it to be so long since I wrote last! At the last minute we got the 2 older kids ready to go on a trip to visit their grandparents in Oregon. Grandma flew down to pick up the children and flew back up with them Monday one week ago. Then hubby left early last Thursday morning for a conference in France so I had to do a lot of laundry and stuff to help him get ready.

Then I had a Pampered Chef show on Saturday. After that there was no major event until another Pampered Chef show I'll be doing this Saturday...so I've had a break to do more things. Monday a friend watched Anna while I went for a bike ride - turned out to be over 16 miles and almost 2 hours long! I got a little burnt! I also ran a bunch of errands. It's SO nice to do shopping at stores and not have to get kids in and out of the carseat!

Today I really got down to business in the house. I got Anna's room almost completely squared away. Everything is off the floor that doesn't need to be there. Her toys are reorganized, clothes all washed and sorted through (things that don't fit will be sold in a consignment sale in a few weeks), her closet is fixed too. The only thing left to do is clean off the top of her dresser. I will do that tomorrow.

Then I moved to our bedroom - last weekend I pulled everything out of the back of the closet I'd been shoving in there to ignore. There was a lot of stuff back there! Some clothes I didn't know where it was, lots of papers - scrapbooks stuff, some mail, some junk - books, movies, etc. I am working my way through that stuff. I hope to finish that tomorrow.

I need to find the time to work on the 2 big kids rooms (it is such a mess and since the kids are gone I need to use this opportunity to make their room look better. I did some on the living room last week. The kitchen and the craft room need a lot of work but I will get to that after I've worked some on the more important areas. Then I've got to try real hard to keep it up!

The bathroom I did so well on 1 month ago is still clean and not cluttered, so maybe I'll be able to keep it up. We'll see.

Anyways, I should try to go to bed soon. Going to get up earlier tomorrow to do some cleaning before Anna wakes up. Hope all is well with y'all!!!

marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Exercising - in the past and present...

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:45:00 -0500

So two things recently remind me of long ago.

1) Yesterday I went to a local track and ran a speed workout.
2) Today I rode my very own first adult sized road bike!

Both times I was thinking of growing up. A lot of you know my childhool had some rough times in it. Running and riding was a way of escape. I was a good runner, with natural speed. I didn't win races, but I usually came in second or third. I never learned how to get over whatever was keeping me from winning. Looking back on it I think a lot of it was a lack of confidence. I knew I could run well, but I think my fears kept me from pushing myself to take first place and not being able to complete it...so I just settled for getting near the top. A lot of times I ran out of frustration due to issues with my parents. I didn't really enjoy the running like I do know.

At the track I couldn't help but remember our workouts on the track team in high school. My typical workout was to joag a few easy laps, then do a swedish mile (ran the straights and walk the curves) and then ran nonstop for 30 minutes. (That part was torture for me the first couple months of the season) Then we would work on other events like the long jump and such. My main memroies were of Mr. Spencer - the man who believed in me and pushed me to keep trying, to not give up in more ways then one. He really mentored me and I trusted him completely to teach me and help me and take care of me. I'm jogging around the track thinking of the pain and emptiness I felt after he died...the fear that no one would ever care about me the way he did ever again. So many years later I think he would be proud to know that I'm training for a half marthon right now! One day I want to do a marathon...and also cross over into triathlons. I never told anyone those dreams until recently because I always heard in my head those words that I would never be good enough. I let it keep me from trying fr so long - but not anymore! :)

So yesterday felt like a good day to me. Then later that night I went and picked up my brand new road bike! I bought it all on my own! I picked it out and started making payments on it in May. It's a really nice bike. I'll upload a picture of it sometime :) I was so excited getting it last night...see it's been about 15 years since I've ridden a bike outside! After our first child was born we bought a stationary bike so that I could exercise while she was sleeping. I LOVED riding outside though. Going down hills with the wind in my face! I would ride around for hours as a child - another way to escape the unhappiness of home! Even when I was sad and hurting when I woas out riding my bike I felt temporarily happy and free. I felt like everything was right. I always dreaded pulling my bike into the carport after being away from home. It was wonderful getting away, but always terrible coming back. I had to keep lookig forward to my next opportunity to get away. I never appreciated until recently the courage and strength God gave me to keep going every day. I am learning a lot about myself as I grow and tackle new things. I know that God is with me and He is pleased with me getting out - not as a means of escape anymore but as a means of enjoying His creation.

So there are my ramblings for today. But in a long-winded way those are the blessings I am feeling. The health and ability to get out and run (or ride)!

Marie
Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Miscellaneous Stuff

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:58:00 -0500

Thanks for commenting and telling me about your blogging tips! I appreciate them so much and have already felt a clearer reason to blog.

I defnitely want to take some time to blog regularly. I am forgetting so many of the cute things my kids are doing. I am going to work on a schedule to maximize my time better and just try to do it. I am a versatlie person in terms of wanting this blog to be a bit of everything! About music, my kids, school, my life, my job, my health, my spiritual life and on down the list! I don't know how much time I will have to comment on friend's blogs until the schedule gets going well but I hope to be able to see what is going on in your lives and to be able to pray for you!

The kids had swim lessons this morning. Jenna is doing great! Thomas had a mishap a few weeks ago at a friends pool and is afraid of the water right now. He did finally get all the way into the pool today towards the end of the lesson! Anna is loving the water! I am enjoying being in the water and walking around with her in the parent child class.

Now we are home, showered off and dressed and we need to eat lunch hand cram in some school!

I have been forgetting to add to my posts the blessings of each day so I will add them here:

1. Yesterday we attended church - it is always a wonderful time of instruction, worship and fellowship. It always gets me thinking a lot about life and my priorities.

2. We said goodbye to some friends who will be moving soon - not really a blessing for us, but it is for them - and I AM thankful for the time to get to know them.

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Update!

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:05:00 -0500

Ok everyone. I am really having a hard time trying to figure out how to blog and read friends blogs! I need your tips! I have all these neat posts that go through my head while I'm working on school with the kids, or driving around town or do a million other things. Then I forget to post them and don't remember until I am reminded of something else cool to post about!

I need to figure out how to add in blogging to my day because I miss being here! What do y'all do? Do you spend an hour a day here - or 30 minutes? What time of day is easier for you?

The kids have been having a great summer...even though we are still doing school! They have done VBS for one week and Science camp for another week. They just started swim lessons and soon they may go visit the grandparents for a week (the 2 older kids!) That will give me a chance to catch up on a lot of stuff! How cool that will be!

Lets see if I can get a picture on here.....here are 2 of our Chrismtas pictures. I know that was forever ago - oh well, better late then never!

Ok, now that I've finally posted a somewhat recent picture of us...tell me how you fit blogging into your life - please!!!

marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Mission Trip!!!!!!

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 16:52:00 -0500

By God’s grace and in partnership with Mission To the World (MTW) missionaries Mike and Erin Pettengill, Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church (RMPC) is sending a team of short-term missionaries to La Ceiba, Honduras during the week of August 15th-22nd 2009. La Ceiba is a port city on the northern coast of Honduras, on the Caribbean Sea. With a population of over 150,000, it is the third largest city in the country. Two out of every three people live in poverty. Nearly one third of the population is illiterate. La Ceiba is a friendly city, surrounded by lush jungles, breathtaking mountains, and winding rivers. The town is named for a large Ceiba tree. It was so big that the first settlers said that it was "The Ladder God used when he came down from Heaven to visit Earth."

The team will be involved in various construction activities while in Honduras and working with a local orphanage. Just last week there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake near La Ceiba. There will be even more need to help repair homes and other buildings now. We may also be working with a local boy's orphanage. (Need more info here)

The missions committee, the leadership of RMPC, and, most importantly, God himself have all confirmed this calling to serve. My family is supporting me in this trip I am excited about the opportunity to share in this experience as we minister to foreign missionaries we support.

Another exciting thing about this trip is the opportunity to be involved with a children's orphanage while visiting Honduras. Our family is prayerfully considering adopting a child from a foreign country in the future to expand our family and reach out to an underpriviledgd child with the love of God. I have always felt a desire to be able to visit the country we may adopt from and learn about the culture beforehand. I believe through this trip God may be working the possibility of us being able to adopt from Honduras in the future.

And that is where you come in. I earnestly covet your prayers. The average pastor in Honduras has a 6th grade education. The Pettengill's recently held a pastor's conference where they provided education training for 46 people! The work in Honduras is important! Please pray for us as we participate in this vital ministry. My prayer is that while we are there the team will grow and be encouraged in our faith. Pray for opportunities to plant seeds of the gospel in the hearts of the people we meet and that these seeds will grow and spread. We are each responsible to recruit 5 prayer partners. Please let me know if you will commit to pray for us daily as we serve God as part of the team traveling to Honduras.

I also know that not everyone is called to go on short-term mission trips. But you can still partner with the Pettengills, Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church, and our team as we go to Honduras. The total cost for the trip is around $1300 each! Any amount helps me closer to reaching my goal and would be very much appreciated!

If you would like to partner with us—essentially go to Honduras without leaving the country—by financially supporting us in this effort please send me a message and I will give you my full name and church's information to send your donation. As a supporter of this project you will receive updates prior to the trip, a contact during the trip (if you give your e-mail address) and a final report on what God has done on the trip. Thank you for considering this effort.

In Christ’s Service,

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

A sign from God??

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 00:19:00 -0500

Last saturday I was running in the next neighborhood over. I ran by a house where a man was outside sitting in a wheelchair with a bandaged leg. It looked like he had recently lost his leg. He was staring up at the American flag on a pole in his yard. Since memorial day was just a few days earlier I got the sense that he might have been in the military and lost his leg in service. He had the typical military haircut. A man was talking to him when I first ran by. When I came by the second time he was alone, still staring at the flag.

A part of me wanted to go up and talk to him, find out if he was in the military and thank him for his service. But I was too intimidated to do so. I came home. As I thought about it more I thought about going to his home and knocking on his door to meet him...or writing a letter and putting it in his mailbox. What would I say? I would ask if he was a military member and say after I first saw him I have prayed for him frequently....and ask to hear what had happened if he wanted to talk.

I would thank him for his service and I would tell him that I am planning to run my first half-marathon in September....it's on Set 12th and it's sponsored by the Air Force Association. I believe God gives us desires and plans to make a difference in the world and in people's lives. Often we stick to our our groups and don't do anything different. I wanted to run the race in honor of the military members who have fought and sacrificed and done what they can to make our worlds better. The day after I felt that was the day I saw him and I wonder if God was pointing me to him? Maybe I could ask him if it's ok if I ran the race in honor of him? Do you think this is too weird? Or should I do it? Is it best to write a letter or to go knock on his door?

What do you think?
Marie

ETA: I talked to hubby tonight. He thought I should use his address to try to find his name - try to find out if he is in the military and check newspapers for stories of him being injured. So I think I have his name now, but searching one newspaper came up with nothing. The other newspaper has a America at war and war at home column, but they are redoing their website and all the links are broken! ARGH> Not sure if I'll be able to find the info I want. I may have to do it the old - fashioned way and go meet him sometime!

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Books I Read in May

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 15:46:00 -0500

Well, it was better then last month but still not want I wanted it to be. Probably won't make my goal of 100 books a month this year....

21 - The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian - 4

I read the whole book in about 2 days. I have yet to pray about any of the categories though. I think I'll go back through it and take one a week and pray on the topic.

22 - The Idiot's Guide to Yoga -4

Informative, but a bit too much information for me. I don't really care much about all the reasons behind yoga and the mystic beliefs. But it was good to read about balancing poses with their opposites for complete stretching and all that.

24- The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney - 5

Excellent book about a boy who goes to West Point and eventually leads a platoon in Afghanistan. It chronicled his beginning in military school and the experiences he had, then about him going to war. He wrote honestly and openly about his fears, struggles and failures.

25 - Tortured For Christ by Richard Wurmbrand

By the guy who started Voice of the Martyrs and his experience with prison and torture. A very sad and informative book. There were a couple things he said that I thought was a bit judgemental about what people in churches are currently doing - even though most of it is probably true more often then not. Really makes me sad that the world feels so threatened by the truth that it persecutes and harms those that love them the most!

26 - The True Woman by Susan Hunt - 4

Great book! I wish she had gone into more detail in certain sections. I really liked how she provided real life and Biblical examples of how woman should look...ways we should be different from the current mindset of what women should be like. She quoted a lot from the Puritan book Female Piety by John Angell James. I have that book and have yet to make it all the way through...but it's now on my list of one's to start!

Well, that's all for now. Hope all is well in your homes!
Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma

Ambitious Goals!

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 12:55:00 -0500

My kids are going to Vacation Bible School this week at a neighboring church. Next week they will go to a Science Camp. so this morning I tore into the craft room - the first room you walk in when you enter the house. I have separated the stuff into piles categorized by whether they are craft things, wrapping paper stuff, Pampered Chef supplies, scrapbook things, etc. I have a big pile of trash, which is always `a good thing.

Now I'm going to have to find a place for all the stuff. I have taken pictures of the before...will post pictures at the end of this week of the after.

I plan tomorrow to move to the next room....Anna's room. Then I will work on the pantry/kitchen the next day. The next day I will work on our bedroom and the last day the kids bedroom. I'm going to do what I can in each room and then move on. I probably won't finish each one - but it will look better! And then next week and I can repeat it if I need to while thy are at the Science Camp!

I also woke up this morning to exercise. I was planning to run 3 miles...but I estimated the distance wrong and was still a mle away from home when I noticed I'd run 3 miles already. I walked most of the way home with a little jogging in there. I will come back later to tell you about my plans (I'm going to run a half marathon in September!)

Gotta run straighten up more of the room before I'm off to pick up the kids.

Marie

Copyright 2009PumpkinsMomma