Raising Up Missionaries

After my last blog post, telling about all of my missionary-minded children, I know people will wonder, "How did she do that?"  So, I'll give you a little excerpt from a post I did last fall, "What Does the Future Look Like for Our Children?"

Recently, someone asked me how I have raised up 3 children who have chosen to live overseas in service to the Lord.  This woman went on to say that it is exciting when even one child from a family chooses such a personal journey ... but for 3 to choose a similar journey was quite unbelievable for her.

No we did not tell our children, "When you grow up, you should be a missionary."  So, what did we do?

1.  We demonstrated an active, everyday, personal walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The heart of a true missionary must come from such a daily, vibrant relationship with the Lord, that they absolutely know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are called into missions work.

2.  We trusted God for financial provision, when having 13 children and a teacher's salary don't match up.  Our kids know that the Lord will provide for their needs.  They grew up learning how to pray, and how to trust God for the outcome.

3.  We talked about and read about missionaries ... ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God.  One year, each of the children that knew how to read, read Christian biographies for their homeschool history course.

4.  We went to hear missionary speakers, and we supported missionaries on a regular basis.

5.  We took the whole family on Mission Trips.  In 2001, we took all 9 children to work in inner-city Los Angeles for 10 days.  In 2006, we took all 10 children to New Orleans for 2 weeks.

Seriously, we didn't make a plan to "raise up missionaries".  We made a plan to raise up children who joyfully love and serve Our Lord.  Whether He calls them to the military, to missions, to teaching, to the pastorate ... it doesn't matter.  Really ... ALL we have wanted for our children (career-wise) is for them to love and serve the Lord in whatever they might do.  And, that's exactly what they are doing.  While we have 3 young adults serving the Lord overseas, we also have 3 young adults serving the Lord here on the homefront.  And, we have 7 younger children, still at home, that we are raising up to follow the Lord, follow their dreams, follow their passions, and to be excited wherever it may be that the Lord leads them.

Meet the Family

With so many new readers lately (Welcome!), I thought I would take just a moment to introduce you to our wild and crazy, extra-large family.  

One new blogging friend recently commented that she'd like to find out more about my big kids ... since I often comment about them, but haven't given a lot of details recently.

Here is a quick peak into the fun bunch of people that we call family:  (and, actually, we have quite a few more young adults that also call us family ... but we'll save that for another day)

Papa D. is a school teacher.  This is his 21st year of teaching, and his 5th year at an alternative school, working with homeschool families.  And, for the past 30 years, he has painted houses in the summer, with his business, Sonshine Painting.

Mama D. spends her days homeschooling the youngest 7 children.  She also has a speaking and writing ministry, called A Journey of Faith.  Her passion (in addition to caring for her 13 children) is to support and encourage women on their own journeys of faith.

Gregg (24) spent 4.5 years serving in the U.S. Army (with 2.5 years in Iraq).  He is currently pursuing a career with the FBI.

Cassie (23) lives 9 hours away, in Oregon.  She has ministered around the world, in Haiti, The Gambia, Senegal, and India.  She also worked for 2 years in full-time children's ministry at our church.  Then, 2 years ago, she "flew the nest", and moved to Oregon to volunteer at a church there.  Here passion is ministry, but the life of Mary Poppins pays her bills.  (She LOVES the precious little 9 month old that she spends her days with.)

Jeremiah (22) is studying Arabic in Jordan, while at the same time working with a ministry that serves Iraqi refugees.  His passions?  Politics, International Relations, Ministry ... He is just taking one day at a time to see where, exactly, the Lord is leading him.  Right now, he is praying with a group of young adults about starting a long-term ministry in the Middle East.

Carissa (20) is on full-time, volunteer Youth With A Mission (YWAM) staff in Mendoza, Argentina.  She has a passion for children's ministry, and is creating a new neighborhood ministry for her YWAM base.  She has been there for a year, and has committed to at least another year and a half.

Lindsey (20) is currently in Bangladesh with a YWAM team.  She spent the past 2 months in India, and next month will be going to Germany.  We are excited to have her heading this way in April, as she takes a stop-over at home to pray about the Lord's future direction for her life.

Joshua (18) is finishing up his AA degree at the Community College, and is currently applying to several universities.  He is hoping to pursue a degree in Athletic Training, with an emphasis on Sports Medicine.

Well ... I think that's enough for tonight ... I'll post another post in a day or two to introduce you to the younger half of our family (the 7 younger children, that I get the privilege of staying home with all day).  

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I teach our children at home until they are 16.  Then, most of them have chosen to attend the local Community College in order to earn their AA degree at the same time that they are completing their homeschooled high school diploma.  So, Cassie, Carissa, and Lindsey all had 2 years of college, prior to flying off around the world to explore the mission field.  And, Jeremiah had 2 years of college, then he managed a coffee shop for a year, then he attended Liberty University in Virginia for a year, then he taught school for a year.  So, at the ripe old age of just turned 22, he has a LOT of different life experiences.  We continue to be amazed at ALL of the exciting journey's that the Lord is taking our children on.

Yes, these 6 are all biological children.  Yes, I had my first 5 children in 4 years (after being told I could NEVER have children ... read about it HERE).  And, the day after the twins turned 1, we found out we were expecting again.  So, this gave us 6 children in 6 years.  Then ... we slowed down the pace a bit, since I was only 28 years old.

Life in the Orphanage - update

We've had quite an interesting discussion in the "comments" section of my Tuesday post on "Life in the Orphanage".  I hope you'll scroll down, read the post, read the comments, and leave your thoughts.  It's a tough situation, with no easy answers.

Praying for My Blogging Friends

Last night, after going to bed at 1:30 am, I lay in bed for quite some time ... praying for my blogging friends.  I want to give you the opportunity, too, to meet my friends, and to pray for them.

Amy ... is an amazing Mama of 11, who is facing difficult challenges through a foster/adopt situation.  Please pray for wisdom for the situation, hope for the children, and healing for the family.

Melissa ... I introduced Melissa to you several months ago, as they were raising funds to adopt Misha, a boy from Russia (I think), who was here in the States for surgery.  After hosting Misha for 5 months, and raising the full $26,000 to adopt him (a HUGE miracle), the Lord has made it clear that Misha will not be staying with Melissa and her family.  Please pray for them this week, as I believe they said "Good-bye" to Misha last Friday.  Pray for healing for all of their hearts.

Lanae ... (one of my "real life friends") is in the process of adopting 3 children from Ghana, and their court date is next week.  One of the girls, Comfort, has a serious medical condition with her heart, and this past week she has been getting much worse.  Lanae has already lined up medical care for her at Children's Hospital in Seattle (donated care, provided by the hospital ... Praise God!).  Prayer requests:  

1.  That the adoption would be finalized on Tuesday.

2.  That they could travel immediately to file the I600.

3.  That the I600 and Visa be processed in record time.

4.  That God would keep Comfort healthy enough to travel,

      and that she would make it here safely to the surgeons in Seattle.

5.  For peace and wisdom for Lanae and Mark, in this critical time.

Kristin ... is walking through the challenges of adding two children from Ghana, to the five that she already had at home.  Please pray for strength to persevere through the tough stuff, wisdom to know how to face each challenge, and peace to know that God DOES have a beautiful plan for this new family.

All of these women are dear to my heart, and have become much more than just "blogging friends".  As I said, Lanae is also a "real life friend".  Lanae heard that we had adopted 3 children from Ghana, phoned me to ask about our adoption, and we invited her family to come for a visit that weekend.  While they live 2 hours away, they have become dear friends, and we look forward to meeting their new children soon.  I "met" Amy, Melissa, and Kristin through their blogs, yet the Lord has taken us beyond our blogs.  They have each become a special "email friend", in addition to reading each other's blogs.  I thank God for the privilege of being able to support and encourage each of these ladies, as they walk through their tough stuff, knowing that they, too, are praying for me and my family.

Praising God for friendships ... both far and near ... both "in person" and "online" ... through blogs, emails, and phone calls.  

Thank you for joining me in prayer, for the needs of these precious families who are trusting God as they walk the faith journey of adoption.

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.

This week's Highs:  Video chatting with Jeremiah (in Amman, Jordan) for an hour on Tuesday and video chatting with Carissa (in Mendoza, Argentina) for an hour on Wednesday. Miss, Miss, Miss my big kids,  when they're across the world or in another state (like Cassie).  Missing Lindsey, too, who is in Bangladesh this month, then back to Germany.

This week's Lows:  Processing the broken engagement with my eldest son, Gregg.  Hoping to meet with Heidi to resolve any issues between us, and she cancelled our coffee date.  Very sad!

Pray for me. Pray for others.

We participate in "Pray for Me... Pray for Others" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to add your prayer request. Join a community of friends who care about you, and hope you will care about them.

Today, we are asking for prayer for financial provision.  When I lost my job last summer, we had a savings account that we knew could hold us over for 6 months or so.  We have cut back in every area possible, and while the 6 months has now run out, we actually have about 2 months left in savings.  Praise God!

Because of the added needs of our 3 adopted children, we do not believe it would be wise for me to find a job outside the home.  So, we are praying for Speaking engagements, with my ministry, A Journey of Faith, and/or writing jobs.  I am writing regularly, and sending articles off to magazines.

We are also praying for painting jobs for Jim's business, Sonshine Painting.  After 30 years, last summer was our lowest summer ever.  Our income from painting last summer was about 1/4 of our typical summer.  With our painting loss and my job loss, our family lost half of our annual income.

I wasn't even able to collect unemployment after my job loss, because I knew that I couldn't actively look for work to replace the job I lost.  The job I lost was custom-tailored to my family, and completely flexible time-wise.  So, I could work from 9 pm until 2 am, after the kids were in bed at night.

Please pray for us, as we seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance.  We KNOW that God called us to adopt these precious children, and we KNOW that He will provide for us.  Right now ... we just don't know how we are going to put food on the table once the savings account runs out.  Jim's teaching salary does not cover our minimum bills plus food and gas.

Please also pray for financial provision for Jeremiah, who is ministering in the Middle East, and for Carissa who is ministering in Argentina.  Jeremiah's funding will run out at the end of March.  He is planning to come home for the summer, and hopes to find a job.  But, he needs money for rent and food for April and May.  Carissa has a couple of monthly supporters, but she still needs about $200 per month to pay for food, transportation, and basic living expenses.

We so appreciate your prayers and support, as we walk our daily faith journey.

Life in the Orphanage

 I read the following story on the blog of a young college student who was doing an internship in Accra.  I am saddened by what she had to share.  But, I must ask ...

#1 Is this typical?

#2  Because it is "cultural", does that make it "okay"?

#3  Shouldn't a "Christian" orphanage be expected to show the love of Christ?

"This was quite an experience to say the least.  Considering I've never been in a Ghanaian classroom I am unaware of how things are done here, or what is considered the "norm".  Since this orphanage was founded on Christian beliefs they have a Bible teaching every morning, as well as a memory verse they must learn each week.  This is the first thing that happens every morning.  This particular morning the kids were learning about forgiveness.  "For it is when you forgive that you are forgiven" ...  I felt the teacher explained this concept pretty well but what happened throughout the rest of the morning was a bit confusing to me.  What I learned that day is that it is customary for teachers in Ghana to threaten their students with a cane (or stick) if they don't "act right" or do as they are told.  Several times throughout the morning the teacher would shout at the students saying "I will beat you!" while waving her stick in the air.  I was horrified!  As a side note, I have been doing a study on the Book of James and chapter 3 talks about "taming the tongue" and how teachers have a great responsibility that should not be taken lightly.  Their actions should reflect what they teach to others.  But the verse that came to my mind immediately was verses 9-10: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing."  I now understand that it is the "norm" here in Ghana to hit, or at least threaten students with a stick, but I feel it sends mixed messages to students as they learn about God's love and forgiveness at the same time they are being hit for punishment.  It seems so contradictory.   ...  The following day I was listening to BBC on the radio and heard a story about three students who died in India because they were so severely beaten by their teacher with a stick.  My heart sank.  Now I don't believe for a second that this would ever happen at this orphanage, but it just made me realize how common this is all over the world.  I am amazed that school systems and governments would allow this to happen.  It's so heartbreaking to me."

For those of you that have brought children home from Ghana, have they spoken of these beatings?  Is this a common practice in the Ghanaian orphanages?

I would really like to hear from those of you that have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, from Ghana. Your thoughts ???  

Is there anything that we can do to make life better for the children that are still waiting to come home to their forever families?

Tough Stuff

Last week was a difficult week for the Big D. Family.  It was an emotional rollercoaster, for many of us, and I had to wait a week to write about it because life was so up in the air.  

Cassie was home, and we had fun, fun, fun ... but the primary reason she came home was tough, tough, tough.

We are still "in process", and trying to see what lessons we should learn ... as individuals, as parents, as a family.  What, oh Lord, do you want to teach us, here?

There is no gentle way to break this news ... hopes and dreams have been dashed ... hearts have been broken ... friendships have been deeply damaged ... we are no longer planning a wedding for this summer ... Heidi is moving back to Oregon ... 

There are always 2 sides to every story ... always 2 people responsible for every breakup ... always more than 2 people who get hurt in the process ...  

With this engagement, things are even more difficult because Cassie introduced her best friend to her big brother.  She thought they would be perfect for each other ... and they thought so too.  Now, in addition to the broken hearts of the young couple, you have a sister caught in the middle, feeling guilty, wondering how this could happen.  She drove the 9 hours each way, to come home last week, to try to help Gregg & Heidi walk through their tough stuff ... but it didn't matter ... it was over ...  

We are all trying to pick up the pieces.  We haven't even told all of the little ones yet.  How can we explain ... they thought that when two people were planning a wedding, it meant the two were to be married.  And, we have always told them that marriage means forever.  We are praying for the right words to say, to explain Heidi's absence.

What are we to learn?  Was there anything, as parents, that we should have done differently?  While we were in support of their relationship, we did share a few concerns.  We tried to gently point out areas that needed to be worked on.  What can we do to help our other children not have to walk this same path?

Honestly, I'm a bit concerned ... I don't think I can handle another 15+ years of young love and romance.  It's a rollercoaster.  I love the excitement of possibilities ... the wondering if this is "the one" ... the sparkle in their eyes ...  but, oh, the pain ... the heartache ... the emotions ...

In addition to walking through the tough stuff with Gregg (and with Cassie) this past week ... there were also flickers of possibilities for several of our other children.  (With 5 young adults ready to meet "the one", we can keep it vague here.)  Just in the past couple of weeks, there have been old acquaintances renewed, with new views of the friendship ... there have been new friendships made, with possibilities thought of ... there have been close friendships, where outside challenges have reared their ugly head ...

How can I possibly help all of my children navigate the rough waters of Young Love?  I just don't have the wisdom, nor the energy, for it.

It seemed so simple when Jim and I got together.  We were friends for 2 years.  We went on 3 dates.  We got engaged.  We broke up.  (Oh yea ... we had things to learn, also.)  We got back together.  We planned a wedding.  We lived happily ever after.  (With a few bumps along the road, here and there.)

My Lasagna Dilemma

In my Crazy Week post last week, I mentioned the fact that I had made 2 kinds of Lasagna for a dinner for 15.  I got several comments about the lasagna.

Comment #1  My dear son, living in the Middle East, asked me to please stop talking about Lasagna, as that is the one American dish that he is unable to make for himself in Jordan.  (He can't find the ingredients, or anything similar.)

Comments #2 & #3  A couple of ladies asked for my recipe.

So, I am having to not honor my son's request (and make him very sad), in order to honor the requests of two of my faithful readers.  Sorry Jeremiah!  I'll make you some when you get home ... in 97 days.

Laurel's Chicken Lasagna

This makes an 11 x 15 glass casserole dish ... so you'll have to cut back the quantities a bit if you are only making a 9 x 13.  Sorry!

Bowl #1

2 lb. Cottage Cheese

3       Eggs

1 cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Bowl #2

6 cups Chicken pieces - diced and boiled

2 jars Alfredo Sauce (15 oz. each) - set aside 1/3 cup

1/2     Onion - chopped

1 can  Mushroom Pieces (6.5 oz)

1/4 cup Milk - use to clean out jars and add to mix

6 pieces Bacon - cooked and crumbled

Using an 11 x 15 glass casserole dish ...

Put 1/3  cup Alfredo Sauce and 1/3 cup Water in dish.  Mix and spread.

Layer (5 times) ...

Lasagna Noodles

Bowl #1 Mix

Bowl #2 Mix

Drizzle 1/8 cup Water over top layer.

Cover with foil.  Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.  Remove foil.  Top with 1-2 cups Grated Mozzarella Cheese.  Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.

I created this dish a few years ago, and it gets rave reviews every time I serve it to company (which is often).   Let me know if your families enjoy it!

Simplify and Organize

Chalene, over at My 7 Passions, wrote a post on Simplifying and Organizing our Homes.  She "tagged" a few of us, and asked us to write posts with our tips and tricks.  Since I recently wrote another post, and tagged a few of my blogging friends, I am not going to tag anyone this time ... but would love it if you would write a post on this topic, link it back to this post, and let me know you wrote it.  That way, we can all read each other's tips and tricks for organizing our homes and/or simplifying our lives.  If you leave me a comment, telling me you've written your post and linked back to this post, then in a few days I will write another post, listing all of you who joined the fun.  This way, everyone can read everyone else's tips and tricks.

Here are a few tips from the Big D Family ...

1.  We have a monthly calendar with all breakfasts and dinners listed for each day of the month.  At the beginning of the month, I do all of the shopping necessary for each of the meals.  This saves us MUCH time each day, looking through the cupboards and wondering what we might be able to throw together.

2.  We use our extra-large crockpot several nights per week.  We LOVE our crockpot cookbook, which has added many hours to our days.  Quick and simple ... nutritious and inexpensive.  My kind of meals!

3.  We have a suction hook in each of the showers, which holds our microfiber cloths for cleaning the bathrooms.  This way, our kids don't have to look all over the house for the missing cloths, when it's their turn to clean the bathrooms.

4.  We have a shoe rack (made for closets) right next to our back door (in our dining room).  This keeps all of our shoes neat and tidy; and it keeps our carpets clean.  (No shoes allowed in the house.)

5.  We have an "over-the-closet-bar" organizer, made for storing pairs of shoes in your bedroom closet.  However, we use it in our hall closet, for hats, scarves, gloves, mittens.  It has 10 "slots", and we have 10 people living at home right now.  So, the youngest child gets the bottom slot, and it moves right up the line until Papa gets the top slot.  We have had the best winter yet, of not losing all of the winter "stuff".

6.  Mama has an "in-box" on the kitchen counter.  This is where any of my "to-do"things go ... papers to sign, bills to pay, etc...  When the box gets to overflowing, Mama knows it's time to take an evening for paperwork.

7.  We have little gold cup hooks screwed on the inside of one of our high kitchen cupboard doors.  This is where we store all of our extra car keys (we currently have 6 cars living at home), and the keys to our trailer, shed, etc...  It keeps them organized, and out of the way of little hands.  (We did, however, have a 2 year old climber once, that got big brother's car keys out of the high cupboard and went out and started his car for him.  Yikes!)

8.  Instead of trying to keep all of the children's homeschool workbooks organized on the bookshelves (with many of them using matching books), we bought each child a rubber tote that fits on the shelves.  Then, each child keeps their books and pencil boxes organized in their totes.  And, the totes can be carried to and from the dining room table (for school time), while the bookshelves are kept in the front hallway.  Works great!

9.  While I love the LOOK of a pretty shower curtain, I love the CLEANNESS (and lack of water spillage) from a glass shower door.  So, I just hang my shower curtain rod over the top of the glass door, and my shower curtains always add a bright and cheery look to my bathrooms, without getting wet, mildewy, yucky, etc...  My latest bathroom decorating project will even use a shower curtain in a bathroom without a tub or shower.  (I'll post pictures when we get to this project.  It has an African theme.)

10.  While I love the LOOK of a pretty table cloth ... I have 13 children.  For the past 20 years, I have accumulated a variety of pretty table cloths for our extra-large dining tables.  I have different ones for each season.  And, to keep them looking nice ... I cover them with a clear plastic "fabric" from Wal-Mart.  It comes on a roll.  I buy just the amount that I need for my extra-large table.  It costs about $6 (compared to very expensive table cloths for that size table).  It wipes right up after every meal.  It covers the table for all of my children's arts and crafts projects.  And ... it can be replaced very inexpensively whenever it gets ripped or stained.  I LOVE my clear plastic, and I LOVE all of my table cloths, which keep my dining room bright and colorful.  (I LOVE color ... my table cloths can match any of the 4 colors of the purple and green walls in my "L" shaped kitchen/dining/living rooms.)

I look forward to reading your tips and tricks for simplifying and organizing your lives.  Let me know when you get your post written.

Amazing Technology

I am always awed by the things we can do with technology, that weren't even possible just 5 years ago.

Today, I simultaneously chatted with both Jeremiah (in Jordan) and Carissa (in Argentina) through gmail.  We all chatted back and forth ... no problem.  Totally crazy ... but WONDERFUL.  

Just 5 years ago, Gregg headed to Iraq for the first time.  We talked and laughed about the up-and-coming technology that would allow us to actually see each other while we talked on the phone.  It sounded preposterous.  Now ... we all have computers with built-in video cameras and microphones.  I can sit in my office and chat with my children all over the world, while actually looking at them, seeing their expressions, and hearing their tone of voice.  When Gregg was in Iraq 5 years ago ... I was just thankful for the technology of email.  Crazy!

On the downside ... sometimes I just prefer the telephone.  Now, when I get a "call" from my children overseas ... I must make sure I'm not in my pjs, and I've combed my hair for the day.  Then, to make matters worse, I actually see myself on my screen the whole time I'm talking.  Talk about distracting ... it's like looking in a mirror while talking on the phone.  Yuck!

Despite the fact that I don't really like to look at myself ... I LOVE that I can see my children when they are 10,000 miles away.  Wow!!!

I feel a little old when I realize that  ...

...  I was in high school when microwaves hit the stores. 

...  I was already married when cds and personal video cameras became popular.

...  I had children before cell phones made an appearance, 

     and I was the mother of 9 before we actually had one.

...  I was already the mother of 7 when we got our own personal computer, and the mother of 8 when we got internet. 

...  I was the mother of 10, when MP3s were invented.  Who would have ever thought that people would "need" a handheld device that they could play thousands of songs on, and watch movies on?  

Now ...

...  we own 2 microwaves.

...  we own more cds than we can count, and we can take videos on our cell phones, and on our digital cameras.

...  we own 7 cell phones.

...  we own 1 pc laptop, 5 Mac laptops (we had 7, but 2 got dropped recently), 2 iMacs, 1 Power Mac

...  we own 7 iPods, 1 iPod Touch, and 1 iPhone.

Is there such thing as Technology Overload?  When will it end???

I cannot begin to imagine what daily life will be like just 10 years from now.  If we heard rumors ...  I'm sure we would laugh.

Good Enough Doesn't Exist

Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  Katie in Uganda, over at Amazima Ministries , just wrote another amazing post today (Feb. 22nd).  Here is a glimpse into what God is teaching her, but I would encourage you to pop on over to her blog to read more ...

I have shared some of Katie's story in the past, but here is a little background, for those of you that are new to my blog ...

Katie is a 20 year old American whom God has called to be a mother to the motherless in Uganda.  Not only is she providing food, medical, and schooling for MANY young children, but she has become the mother to 11 of these children.  Yes ... she is their mother ... she is raising these orphans in her home in Uganda.  

In today's post she talked about the desire that she has had to have a bigger home for her growing family ... a larger kitchen ... room for a dining table so that they wouldn't all have to sit on the floor ... but, then the Lord showed her that what she has is even more than what her neighbors have (despite the fact that it is so much less than what most Americans would even consider "essential").  So, she has shared with us today, that she had fallen into the trap of thinking, "I am doing good enough."  But, the TRUTH is:  Good Enough Does Not Exist.  We need to do better.  We may be giving ... but is there more that we need to give?

"I have MORE than enough, and God has spoken that I am ONLY to have enough.  Jesus said that the GREATEST commandment besides loving the Lord  God with all my heart, mind, and soul is to love my NEIGHBOR as myself.  Doesn't that mean, then, that I should be spending as much on my neighbor as I do on myself and my family?  Doesn't that mean that I should feed my neighbor as well as I feed myself?  It has hit me very hard this week, I DO love my neighbor, but I love myself more.  TRUTH:  that is not ok.  We have been discussing this as a family (with her 11 orphans) and, as a family we will be cutting back.  I will live in my cement house, complete with all its critters until God very clearly speaks to me that I am to go elsewhere.  I will LOVE my 10 x 15 kitchen because it is where I have the privilege of cooking for God's children.  As a family, we will use only 3 hours of electricity on days when the power is on and put the money we would have spent on the electric bill into our hospital ministry fund so that we can go more often to the hospital and feed the people there more food.  I will save my chocolate money and instead buy more biscuits and juice for the street children.  We will each keep 4 outfits (this is going to be very difficult for me as I do LOVE clothes).  In most people's standards, my little family does not have much, but we have MORE than enough.  And we know in our hearts that really, Christ is ALL we need.  (read Matthew 6:19-21)

I want to challenge you to push the envelope a little more with your faith.  I don't know what this looks like in your life, but there has got to be something.  Like I said, it is all too easy for me to fall into the trap of "I am doing good enough."  TRUTH:  good enough does not exist.  We need to do better. ...  If this day is all you are promised, what are you doing with it?  Right now, today, are you doing what you want to be doing when Christ comes back?"

I hope that you, too, will take Katie's challenge, and ask the Lord what He wants you to do.  Step out!  Take risks!  Trust God!  Have Faith!

I hope you'll pop over to Katie's blog, and read the whole story.  God is doing an amazing work, in an ordinary young lady ... because she has stepped out in faith.  

Adoption of Older Children

If you have adopted older children, and/or are in the process of adopting older children (not infants), I would encourage you to hop on over to A Life Outside the Box, and read THIS post. Dawn talks openly and honestly about the challenges she has faced in bonding with one of her children.

Another post, I found today ... sharing another honest look at the challenges of adopting older children.  Amy has a lot to share, in This post.

Entertaining the Patients

I was at  fundraiser today, "in the city", where I met a woman from our small farming community.  She asked where I lived, and when I told her the street corner, she said ...

"The blue house, across the street from the dentist."

"Yes. The blue house."

"Your children have provided much entertainment as I have spent time in the dentist chair."

"I'm sure they have."  (Not yet knowing if this is positive entertainment, or negative.)

"Yes.  Your children are so nice to each other, and helpful.  They obviously care for each other very much."  (Whew.  Must have been a "good day".)

She continued ... "I even mentioned to the dentist that I wondered if you would rent out your children, as I would like some nice little children at my house."  She was of the age that she probably doesn't have children still at home.

Too funny!

When I told the older, at home, kids tonight (ages 12, 15, 18), they didn't know quite how to take it.  Was this supposed to be a compliment?  We provide entertainment?

A Crazy, Busy Week with Cassie

Cassie and a friend happened to both get the week off from work, so they hopped in the car and took a road trip.

They arrived on Sunday evening, and met me and Papa in the City for a nice dinner at Olive Garden. It was going to be our Valentines Date, but we gladly welcomed Cassie and Ali to crash our party. We had the night off (from children), because ALL of them were at church for a kid's event. The 5 little kids were at the event from 5 pm to 10 pm, while Josh, Ben, and Hosanna were all working the overnight event. They stayed from 4:30 pm to 10:30 am.

After our yummy dinner, and visit with Cassie and Ali, it was time to pick up the kids. Cassie had a great time surprising all of them, since we hadn't told anyone that she was coming home. And, since Cassie worked for 2 years, full-time, in our church's children's ministry, she really enjoyed seeing all of the kids that were at church for the event.

We had a relaxing day at home on Monday, with Cassie and I both leaving for a couple of hours to get our hair cut and colored. (It only took Jim 3 days to say, "Hey, your hair's a different color.")

Tuesday: We packed a picnic lunch and joined 2 moms and their little ones at the beach for a few hours. Much fun!

Cassie, Ali, and Hosanna

Our kids LOVE to go to the beach, no matter the weather, no matter the season. 

We got home at 4:00, with just enough time to pull together a big lasagne dinner, as we had invited 3 of Cassie's friends to join us for the evening. One of the friends was a childhood friend that we hadn't seen in many years. (She moved to the area this year, to attend college.)  We had so much fun going through all of our old photo albums, remembering the fun times with her family.  When we met, our family had 6 kids under 7 and their family had 5 kids under 7. So, we looked at pictures of both moms and their 11 little kids going to places like Mt. Ranier for the day. Yes ... we were known as "brave mommies".

Tuesday's Menu for 15:

11 x 15 Beef Lasagne (with mushrooms and olives)

9 x 13 Chicken/Bacon Alfredo Lasagne

Buttermilk Yeast Rolls w/ homemade jam

Green Salad (w/ lots of veggies)

11 x 15 Deep Dish Apple Pie w/ ice cream

(With lots of teamwork, we put the whole meal together and were eating in less than 2 hours.)

Wednesday:  Another very fun day!  We got up early, packed another picnic lunch, and headed south to Seattle (100+ miles) for the day.  After 3 hours at the Woodland Park Zoo ...





we took the kids to Pike Place Market.  Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel hadn't been to the market yet, so they enjoyed this new experience.  

Our Kids Like Hats ...

Ben & Jacob's are from my trip to Argentina.

Josiah & Elijah are wearing hats that belong to Ali.

She says, "My hats look cuter on the boys."

Then, we headed to the Northgate Mall, so that Cassie and Ali could shop at a store they don't have in their town in Oregon.  After coming home, feeding the kids dinner, and putting them all to bed ... we 3 "girls" had a late-night movie night, as we watched "Mansfield Park", a good girlie movie.

Thursday:  A busy morning with my Bible Study Babies, followed by a nap (after last night's late night).  Up from my nap in time to throw together another big meal.  We had 4 of Cassie's friends (plus 2 of their kids) for a Chicken Enchilada dinner tonight. 

Thursday's Menu for 19:

3 pans of Chicken Sour Cream Enchiladas

White Rice

Refried Beans

Green Salad (w/ veggies)

Tortilla Chips

9 x 13 Brownies

Death by Chocolate bundt cake

3 kinds of ice cream

(Again, with lots of teamwork, we put the whole meal together and were eating in less than 2 hours.)

After everyone went home, and we put the little ones to bed, Cassie, Ali, and I visited until midnight.  I sure love it when my Big Girls come home.

Friday:  The young ladies had to get on the road by 8:30 this morning, for their 9 hour drive home (over snowy mountain passes).   The rest of us tried to get back into our homeschool routine, after a week of field trips.  I had a wonderful 1 hour video chat with Jeremiah in the Middle East, and then big brother Gregg came over to visit for the afternoon, and to join us for dinner.  Fun!  I sure love my big kids (6 young adults, ages 18-24), and miss them when they are gone.  Jeremiah told Elijah today, "Only 100 days until I come home."  Yes ... we count the days at our house.  No matter how many children our house is full of ... we always miss the ones that are gone.  (Hmmm... kind of reminds me of a Biblical parable of sheep.)

Tonight ... I haven't much time to get caught up on my blogging.  Papa, Hosanna, and Sarah are on their way home from the grocery store, where they have bought all I need to make:

Apple/Cinnamon Coffeecake 

(for Papa's Bible Study Fellowship tomorrow)

Heavenly Chocolate Cheesecake 

(for a fundraising auction I am helping with tomorrow)

Deep Dish Apple Pie 

(also for the auction, which is supporting a missionary in Ghana)

Following God

The kids have sure come up with some good ones lately ...

Here is today's Bible Time Kid Quote (while doing their Bible Study Fellowship homework):

Papa:  How do we need to follow God?

Child:  In a straight line.

The Passover

Last week's Bible Time Kid Quote ...

Papa:  What does the Passover mean?  What was passing over?

Child:  Hmmmmmm??????  (no clue)

Mama:  Does it mean the airplanes were "passing over" the houses?  (I know ... totally random ... but I try to be funny now and then.)

Child:  I do not know.

Mama:  Were there airplanes in Bible Times?

Child:  I do not know.  I have not been there.

I think this goes along with the question from a few months ago:  Are we living in Old Testament or New Testament times?   (Remember, Rachel also wanted to give Jesus a pair of shoes for Christmas.) When you have children that do not understand time and distance, I think that they just think that Jesus lives somewhere else in the world, especially since Jeremiah lives in the dessert and he saw Aaron's Grave ... maybe they think Jeremiah is wandering the dessert with Moses.  Oh dear!

This evening I realized that one of our children's favorite activities is probably adding to the confusion.  For the past 20 years, all of our children have LOVED the Adventures in Odessey stories on CD (okay, we used to own about 100 of their cassette tapes ... yes, we are old).  In this series of stories, the children can travel back in time and become a part of Bible Stories.  Since our children have a difficult time understanding make-believe, I truly think that if Donna and Karen and all of the kids in Odessey can go walk with Moses, than it must just be in another part of the world that they haven't yet traveled to.  Oh my!

Some days, we just don't know how to help them to understand concepts.  They've been home almost a year ... any suggestions on learning these most difficult concepts of time and distance.  Yes, we have maps and globes and calendars ... they have 3 siblings living around the world, so they understand that the world is very big, which make it even more plausible that Jesus must just not live in America.

What Took You So Long?

Here is a way cool story from my son in the Middle East ... 

He visited a church last week, and heard this testimony directly from the pastor in the story ...

This Arab congregation has committed itself to making 2009 a year of bold outreach and evangelism.  Last week, the pastor was with his wife at the super market, buying groceries like any other middle class Arab couple.  As they were leaving the store, his wife noticed a man who was dressed in the traditional garb of a Muslim sheik.  His wife said, "You need to go talk to that man about Jesus, and give him a Bible!"  The pastor was surprised, and protested, saying, "Why?  He is a sheik!  I don't want to make a scene or get punched!"  She replied, "If you don't, I will."  So the pastor nervously approached the man and asked if he would like to have a Bible, and if so, perhaps he would like to learn a bit about Jesus as well.  The sheik replied, "What took you so long?"  After being temporarily stunned into silence, the pastor asked, "What do you mean?!?"  "I had a dream, and in the dream Jesus Christ appeared to me and said that I should come to this supermarket, stand in the parking lot, and wait," said the sheik.  "He promised that a man would come, and teach of my Heavenly Father, give me a Bible, and show me The Way.  I have been here every day for 7 days, waiting from early morning until dark for that man to come.  And now you have come.  What took you so long?"

How many people, that we come across in our daily lives, are waiting ... 

...  waiting for someone to tell them about Jesus? 

...  waiting for someone to come along and show them how to fill the empty place in their soul?

...  waiting for someone to show them the love of Christ?

 

How many times are we afraid ... 

...  afraid to offend? 

...  afraid to make a scene? 

...  afraid to be embarrassed?

 

When we get to the gates of heaven, is the Lord going to ask us, "What took you so long?"  

...  What took you so long to share Me with your friends?  

...  What took you so long to show My love to those around you?  

...  What took you so long, to read My Word?  

...  What took you so long?

Dear Blogging Friends ... I am going to use this story as part of an article I am going to submit to Discipleship Journal magazine.  Please do not reprint this story onto your blogs.  However, if you would like to link to my blog, by saying you've read an amazing missions story, that would be just fine.  I need to be able to tell the magazine where this has been in print.  Thanks!

Playing with Friends

Yesterday, we got to play with 3 little friends all day (ages 1, 2, 4).  There are several reasons we love to do this ...

#1  My heart and passion is to bless young mommies, and I KNOW that free babysitting is truly a blessing.  When my older children were young, I promised myself that I would not forget the needs of young mommies, and that I would do all that I could to help other young mommies in the future.  

#2  Since we don't have little ones around anymore, it is GREAT for my younger ones to have "baby experience".  Elijah (my "baby") absolutely loves the two babies (ages 9 mo. and 15 mo.) I take care of every Thursday.

#3  Having these sweet little girls over helps Rachel and Sarah to learn how to lead, in play.  They are great followers, but just learning how to play has been a big thing for them this year. 

 Rachel is reading to P. & E.

Notice that E. is playing with Rachel's braids.

And, notice how P. & E. are wearing their hair today.

Since they were coming to play with Sarah and Rachel, 

they told their mommy that they wanted braids, too.

Do I work?

Another funny Kid Quote from this morning ...

Elijah:  "Mom, why don't you work?"

Mom (a bit hesitantly):  "Work?"

Elijah:  "Yes.  Why don't you build things?"

Totally random ...... 

Following in Mama's Footsteps

My Dear Daughter Cassie ... gave the  message at her church youth group this week, and they video-taped it ... so the world can see.   Yea!

As I was just watching this for the first time (I'm sure that I'll have to watch it again and again), I realized that the Lord began my speaking ministry when I was just her age ... and, sweet Cassie was born when I was just her age.  Wow ... my little girl has grown up, and it is so fun to see her following in her Mama's footsteps.  Can't wait to see where the Lord takes this passionate young Follower of Jesus, in her ministry.

This is a 24 minute video, so it's not a quick watch.  However ... it is passionate and powerful.  If you have any teens or young adults in your life ... I'd have them pull up a chair to watch, too. Cassie has quite a message for the high school / young adult crowd, and any of us that desire to really follow Christ in our everyday lives.

The Gathering February 11 2009 from Oneighty on Vimeo.

Raising Up Missionaries

I have a Feature Story published today on 

The International Faith Telegraph.  

I hope you'll pop on over to read ...

 "Raising Up Missionaries."

Orphan Ministry Video - You Are My Strength

My blogging friend, Shonni, and her husband made this powerful 4 minute video. I hope you'll take time to watch it.

Speaking of Teamwork

That last post reminded me of a "Teamwork" story that I love to share.  Sometimes the Lord places perfect situations into our lives, to show our children why we do what we do.  This ... was one of those times.

About 8 years ago, we were camping with a group of friends in Canada for a week.  Papa and the older 3 kids had had to leave a day or two early (for jobs), so I was left at camp with the younger 6 kids (Carissa 12, Lindsey 12, Josh 10, Ben 8, Hosanna 4, Josiah 1).

We were camping with 3 other families:

Family #1:  Dad, Mom, 5 kids (ages 7-14)

Family #2  Dad, Mom, 3 kids (ages 3-8)

Family #3  Mom, 2 kids (ages 2-4)  (Dad had also gone home early.)

On the last night at camp, the parents were all sitting around talking, when the topic of Family Organization came up.  I shared that sometime I felt like I was being lazy, because I was always the one "giving orders" rather than doing the work myself.  But, I explained, if I jump in and do the jobs, then the children just wander, without any guidance.  So, while I feel a little guilty just "bossing the kids around", I know that someone has to "be the boss".  The other parents just kind of nodded, understanding that they did not have 9 children and that our family works differently than theirs.

When we headed to bed ...

Family #1 and Family #2 said that they were going to "get up early, head out at 8:00, and eat breakfast at McDonalds, on the road".  Family #1 had a motor home and Family #2 had a little dome tent to pack up.

Family #3 and I were going to caravan on our 5 hour drive home, since we were both driving across Canada to get home, and since both of our husbands had headed home early.  I offered to let my big girls ride with her, so that they could help with her little ones.  I told Mama #3 that I would be ready to leave by 10:00, and that we would stop on the way home for lunch.

The next morning, the kids and I ...  got up ... made pancakes for breakfast ... washed our dishes ... took down the 10x20 tent and the little dome tent ... packed our coolers ... cleaned the campsite ... rolled up 11 sleeping bags (Papa and the big kids had left theirs')  and started packing the van.

At about 9:00, a couple of Family #1's kids came riding their bikes down the road towards our campsite (they were in another area with their R.V.).  I asked if they were leaving and they said, "Soon."  I asked if they'd eaten breakfast, and they said, "No.  We're going to McDonalds when we leave."  I asked if they should be helping their mom and dad pack, and they said, "No."

10:00 on the dot ... we put the last bag and box into the back of the van, closed the back doors, and hooked up the trailer (that we hauled all of our bikes in).  Then, we headed up to the other area of the campsite.  

There sat Family #1, Family #2, and Family #3.  Family #1's kids were all running around, playing.  Family #2's kids were complaining that they were hungry.  Family #3  was packing up her little R.V.  So, I sat down on a stump (with Josiah in my arms) to wait for Family #3 to be ready to head out.  I sat ... and I sat ... and I sat ... for 2 solid hours.

At one point, Family #1's dad asked my children if they would pick up all of the garbage around the campsite (while his kids were off riding their bikes and playing on the playground).  My kids, having the servant's hearts that they do, jumped right in to help.

At 12:00, all 4 families loaded up their vehicles and headed out for the drive home.  The children of Family #1 and Family #2 were VERY hungry by this time.  My children were just getting ready to think about lunch.

As we pulled away from the campground, I turned to my kids and said, "What did we just learn?  What did this just show you?"  In unison ... they all rang out, "TEAMWORK".  Yes ... we had trained them well.

So, when people often ask, "How do you DO it, with all of those children?"  The answer is ... teamwork.  Plain and simple ... I couldn't do it by myself.  My husband and I are a team; and our children are also a part of our team.  We ALL work together, starting at a very young age.

Yes, I still feel guilty sometimes when I am sitting, giving directions (orders?).  But ... I know that I know that I know ... that children need guidance, they need direction, and they need a Mama that will come alongside and say, "You can do it."  "I know that you are capable of working with the rest of us."  

People wonder how we can do all that we do ... how we can travel with all of our kids ... how we can go so many places and do so many things ...  The answer, again, is teamwork.  Just plain ... TEAMWORK ...

Teamwork

There's nothing like teamwork ... when there's a job to be done.

"My boys" were working on a plumbing project (sounds better than "problem") yesterday.  Papa is "training up his boys" to take care of the house.

The boys ... working together.

I think Papa needed Elijah's little hands.

Every job is important!

Jacob is holding the faucet in place.

Even the "behind the scenes" workers are important.  Josiah (my little "detail guy") is taking EVERYTHING out of Papa's tool box and organizing it.  He's even learning fractions, by organizing the drill bits.

Children in Church

Another topic that I discussed with the ladies at lunch on Saturday was, "Does the Big D. Family attend church services together, or do the children attend the children's program?"

Again ... different years, different children, different seasons ... bring different answers.  In most areas, our family has learned to be a very flexible family, desiring to meet the individual needs of each individual child, rather than to just say, "this is how our family does it".  Of course, there are times that we just say, "This is our Family Guideline.  Period."  

Babies:  we have always kept our babies in service with us until they got to the point of being disruptive to those around  us.  Of course, sometimes babies are disruptive just by their cute smiles ... but we won't kick them out of church for that.  Once our babies, however, are beginning to babble loudly, we take them out of service.

IF there is a church nursery that we are comfortable with the care provided, most of our babies have enjoyed the nursery/toddler stages in the children's program.  However, there have been many times over the years that either mommy or baby just wasn't comfortable with the nursery arrangement.  In that case, I will sit in the foyer and listen to the sermon on the speakers, while the baby plays nearby, or I will walk around, following toddling child.

Once our children are in kindergarten or first grade, we have found that they have gotten to a point that they ask to join us in "big church".  We are overjoyed to have them in service with us, worshiping with us, and studying God's Word together.  By this time, they have also been in BSF for a few years, so they have learned to sit quietly during the "Bible Time" or sermon.  

Our current church has an AMAZING children's program.  We love it ... we love the staff ... we are fully comfortable with the program that is offered.  However, our children have chosen to join us in "big service" by the time they are 5 or 6.

In December, Papa and I had the most precious conversation with our two little guys ...

After being put to bed on Saturday night, Josiah (8) came out and asked if any of the older siblings were going to church in the morning (the family had attended Saturday evening).  I asked if he wanted to go to KidsPlace with Hosanna (as she works both Sunday services), and he said, "No.  I want to go to big service again."  We had to apologize that one of us were going again in the morning (often we have several family members who choose to attend 2 or 3 services in the weekend, to hear the sermon again).  

On Sunday morning, at 8:30, Josiah came into our bedroom, woke us up, and asked if he could go to church all by himself (we walk to church) to go to "big service" again.  This led to the following discussion ...

Mama:  "So, Josiah and Elijah, what did you like about service last night?"

Josiah:  "Everything."

Mama:  "What exactly?"

Elijah (6):  "The movies."   (movie clips to give an illustration for the sermon)

Josiah:  "Yes.  The movies."

Mama:  "What did you like about the movies?"

Both Boys:  "When Jesus was on the cross."

Mama:  "How did that make you feel?"

Josiah:  "Sad."

Mama:  "What else did you like about service last night?  What did Pastor Kim talk about?"

Elijah:  "About praising God."

Mama:  "Yes.  Kim said he likes to worship God, doesn't he?"

Elijah:  "He talked about Moses ... I mean, Joseph."

Mama:  "What word did we write several times on the outline?"  (The kids all fill in the sermon outline, even before they know how to read.  It's something they WANT to do.)

Josiah:  "Still."

Mama:  "What does Jesus still do?"

Elijah:  "He still forgives us."

Josiah:  "He still loves us."

Mama:  "You're right."

Mama:  "Why do you boys like going to big service instead of KidsPlace?"

Josiah:  "Because we learn more."

Elijah:  "We learn more about God."

Mama:  "What do the kids do in KidsPlace?"

Elijah:  "They play and watch movies."  (They DO teach about God, too.)

Mama:  "We sure like having you boys in service with us.  We like to worship with our family, and learn from Pastor Kim together."

I just copied this conversation off of an email that I sent to Pastor Kim, telling him of this precious conversation, and thanking him for the great messages that he gives, that minister to each member of our family.

I can't say it enough ... we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE taking up a whole row at church, and worshiping with our children.  Nothing could be better!  It is the best day of the week for me!

Oh yea ... one of those non-negotiable Family Guidelines ... we do "require" all children/teens to sit with the family.  We do not allow them to sit all over the worship center with their friends.  Our older kids didn't always appreciate it, but our teens at home now (I think) enjoy the family worship almost as much as I do.  Ben and Hosanna (on their own initiative) for the past year have walked to church 30 minutes early, so that they can save the whole 2nd row for the family.