3...2...1...

Well, the passports are secured, money procured, and waiting endured. Mom and Dad are here to play Mom and Dad for some days and we've got the last bit of packing to finish.
Brad and I are really excited- although somewhat nervous-to go on this adventure together.
We truly can feel the prayers that have been breathed on our behalf already and will certainly appreciate them every day we are gone. I cannot wait to go and I cannot wait to come back and fill in all the details.
For his own glory-

WATCH OUT!

Jaedon's latest library book selection is called Predator Attack. It has several different (fabulous) animals and facts about them. For example did you know that a Tasmanian devil is nocturnal and does not resemble the cartoon version even slightly!
So, he was reading about a spitting cobra (which, btw, a tablespoon of it's dried venom could kill 160 people- fascinating no?) and he read that they live in Africa. He slammed his book closed, looked at me in all seriousness and with WIDE eyes and said
"Mom, they live in AFRICA! WATCH OUT!"

Writing in Arabic...sort of.

I am now-and-then reading the book called Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk. It's a book about ...well, Jesus Freaks- people young and old so convinced that Scripture is truth that they are/were tortured, imprisoned, beaten and killed for their faith. It has older martyrs stories as well as modern ones- like the 12 year old I read about today. Her story took place in 1994.
Maybe reading about these persecutions that happen in my lifetime makes it more real to me.
So I went browsing on the Voice of the Marytrs website and found a really neat tool for anyone who wants God to expand their heart for our persecuted brothers and sisters:

http://www.prisoneralert.com/

This website has stories of recent arrests made of Christians in various places of persecution worldwide. After you read their story you can find a link to "send encouraging note". There are 12 phrases of encouragement that you choose from in whatever order you want and it translates it in their language. Then you print out your note and mail it to them. What a neat idea! I hope to take advantage of it a lot in the future. Thought I'd share it with you.

My "Moses" moment

I don't know how you pass your time when you're mopping, sweeping, folding or scrubbing but if I'm not reciting the ABC's with Owen or listening to Seth's next adventure as a" SuperHeyo"...I pray.
This past week in one of my cleaning sprees I had a conversation with God that went something like this.
"Ok, God, I'm just not sure what I'm feeling about this whole Young Marrieds class starting. I'm nervous! I don't have any training in speaking- I stumble on my words-what if people don't come? I just don't know about this.
Oh yeah- and the whole Zambia thing- what am I going to be doing anyway? I don't think I have what they're looking for. What if they want me to play and sing with their choirs? Or play volleyball all afternoon? I'm not a volleyball person! I just don't know about this.
Basically, God, I feel very inadequate here."

His response:
"Good. If you FELT adequate then how would I get the glory?"

Needless to say- I shut up and kept mopping but I was reminded of Moses- not in the great servant-leader role- but in his bumbling, excuse laden one. I am often awe struck how God chooses ordinary ole people to accomplish extraordinary things - because HE is great not us.

So this morning- there were 14 couples that came to the new class! Isn't that exciting?
And seeing how God works in Zambia is becoming a very soon reality too. Stay tuned....

What a kind Father we serve.

Celebrating 4

Last week I asked Seth what his favorite food that I made for him was. He thought for a bit then said "Popcorn."
Uh- Well, let's rephrase that to say what is a favorite MEAL?
"Pizza."
So- as per requested - we served pizza and popcorn for the birthday boys meal. I talked him into including a fruit salad too which he was amiable with. Fortunately, our only other dinner guest was our neighbor - my boys have broken her in quite well so she thought nothing of it as we passed around our bowl of popcorn. =)

I totally cheated on the cake this year. I bought some printed edible icing thingy which looked way cooler than any thing I was imagining.

We discovered a gem just 40 minutes away. How have we NOT found this place before? The Holland Aquatic Center- way cool place to spend an evening. Especially if you have 10 of your buddies with you! =)
We also discovered that those little candies you can buy to go on top of cupcakes (transformer decals in our case) can survive on the outside of a car going 70+ MPH!
It was a fun celebration.

Seth

"On the day that you were born the angels got together
and decided to create a dream come true.
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair
Silver starlight in your eyes of blue."

Happy 4th birthday to my sweet little Seth.

Answered and continuing prayer

One thing I enjoy about journaling (and blogging I guess) is that you can go back and see how God has worked and was working. Psalm 23 "surely and goodness and mercy will FOLLOW me..." We just have to learn to take a look backward sometime to notice God's goodness and track his mercy in our lives that otherwise we might miss out on seeing the blessing of answered prayers that we have forgotten about. Journaling for me has helped me in my backward looking.
For example- just a few weeks ago I posted about the new Young Marrieds class beginning again. I mentioned how we were praying for another couple to come along side of us to help facilitate the class. Over the last 2 weeks we had the chance to get to know a couple that we've known for awhile but not much more than just seeing them at church. Our families got together and during the course of our evening conversation I felt very prompted to ask if they would consider being that along-side-of couple. To make a long (but really neat) story shorter... they said they would pray about it and then told us the next day that they were "IN"! =)
It's so cool to experience God's appointments and his answered prayer.
Please pray for us and the Clarks as we begin this class this coming Sunday.

Pictures and Police

I am rich.
I have a great wealth of relationships that have absolutely no monetary value which makes them priceless wouldn't you think? I was reminded of some priceless-ness this weekend.
Becky and I went to Marantha Bible Campground, stayed in an apartment-style room.
Our mission: scrapbooking!
What a sweet gift to, first of all, have a friend that I not only share a hobby with but one that doesn't get sick of me after a few hours! (which is more than i can say for myself)
Secondly, the sweetness of my husband who did not even blink when I first approached him about the idea of my going away and him being "on duty" all weekend.
The only "events" of Brad's weekend were 1. sleeping in on Sunday morning and (since he had to teach 1st grade) getting all the kids up, dressed and out the door in 45 minutes. (I think they ate granola bars on the way to church and I'm fairly sure Jaedon picked out his clothes with his eyes shut BUT they made it!) and 2. the police only called once! Umm...well, it appears one of the older Gurk or Howells children decided to call them first via 9-1-1.


We can't even blame the kids for the quantity of STUFF we took!

My goal was to complete Owen's baby book. I got through month 9 - which I was thrilled with.
17 pages done- proof of my work!

So thankful for my wealth today.

Workout Blues

Seth and I have recently started doing some afternoon exercise together. I use the term "together" quite loosely because while I am following the TV instructor, Seth likes to sit on the couch and breathe deeply when the instructor says to. (you know how they always remind you to breathe....like you could forget?!) He does stand up to participate in the 'speed bag' section and in the cool down so I guess that's a start.

parties and bleeding...

Yesterday Jaedon asked me two questions:
1. Will there be birthday parties in Heaven
2. If you're climbing a tree in Heaven and fall down- will you get a scrape?

I told him I KNOW there will be parties in heaven - there already is when someone comes to accept Christ- how much more when we're all there together?
As far as falling out of the tree- we thought that maybe we'd be able to swipe our scrape and it'd disappear. Or Seth thought that Jesus would catch us from falling out of the tree in the first place!I enjoy imagining what Heaven will be like with my kids.
Have you read Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn? I'm thinking that may be an investment to make in the future.

Missing Muscles

Seth's usual response to me when I ask him to pick up something is:
"but Mommmmmyy (with as much whine as you can muster) , it's a lotta wohk."
My usual response to Seth is:
"I know. Good thing you're so strong."

Today I heard the ultimate when asking him to pick up his coat and put his boots away.

"Mommmmmmy, it a lotta wohk and I don't have any muscles."
"Oh really? Where did all your strong muscles go?"
"Satan took 'em away fwom me so now I don't got any muscles and I can't do this lotta wohk."

*stiffling a giggle unsucessfully*

"Well, then I guess you had better ask Jesus to tell Satan to give you back those muscles so you can obey or else you'll have a sore bottom AND missing muscles."

silence

After "lotta wohk" job complete:
"Mom, Yook! Jesus helped me find my muscles and now my wohk is all done!"

If putting a coat away is such a battle I can't imagine what will happen when I ask him to set the table!
=)

My cool-dude helper

We launched into some spring cleaning yesterday. It was such an awesome, sunny day! Seth thought his sunglasses helped him clean the windows better because "now I can see what I'm doin'"

quote

I heard a great quote today.
( referring to the lies we buy into:)
"Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself."