Living for Jesus

Once Upon a Courtship (part 2)

2012-01-26T09:05:00.001-06:00

In August of 2010, I packed my bags and headed down to the Rio Grande Bible Institute for a year of intensive Spanish studies at the missionary language school. Those of you who follow my blog may remember that my year at RGBI was one of the best of of my life. However, what many of you probably don't know is that it was also a season of testing in an area of life in which I had never been tested before: relationships with young men.

I had exhorted teenage girls in areas of purity, how to deal with premature attractions/crushes, the importance of waiting for the right guy, and many such similar topics. But as I was about to find out, I was really quite naïve and untried when it came to actually living out these principles.

For a girl who's never had anyone "like" her in a special way before (at least, that she knew about) it's a very powerful and flattering feeling to have a handsome, Godly young man come along and sweep her off her feet with attention, compliments, and the obvious desire to marry her as soon as possible. But just because this happens, doesn't mean that it's God's will.

I can say with all honesty that I wanted God's will and sought for it carefully. Nevertheless, infatuation can have many blind spots. Such was the case in my life when a fellow student at school made his interests known.

He was a seminary student from South America, saved from a troublesome past and walking closely with the Lord in a bright present, with future plans to be a pastor back in his home country. His kindness caught my eye and his immediate attentions made me dizzy with hope at the possibility that maybe this was the man I had been waiting for!

To keep the story somewhat brief, it wasn't long before we entered the beginning stages of a get-to-know-you relationship with serious intentions. My parents had come down to meet him, and while they gave me their approval to continue forward, they had legitimate concerns in a number of areas. I valued their counsel, but after a week of prayer and fasting and feeling like God had given a green light to proceed forward, I blissfully assumed all would work itself out in time.

However, as he and I engaged in more discussions (all in Spanish mind you, so sometimes the help of a translator was necessary for my faltering language abilities) it became evident that we were very different in several key areas of belief. At the beginning, it had seemed we were similar enough to make things work, but as time passed and I asked more specific questions, I grew more and more uncomfortable with what I was learning about him. It became obvious that if I were to marry this guy one day, I would have to compromise convictions in areas of theology, worship, and family life.

Around the time I began to notice the growing discomfort and unrest in my soul over this relationship, counsel was given by a number of trusted advisors, including my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and close friends. Some of this counsel I sought out and some of it was voluntarily given to me at their own initiation. All of it was the same and included major red flags.

Despite everything, I still wrestled. A battle raged between my emotions and my logic. Questions flooded my mind all the time. What are convictions vs. preferences? What are factors that are unreconcilable and what are differences that can be worked through? Am I being too close-minded about various issues? Would he be willing to change his mind on certain things? Wasn't it God who had led into this relationship? Why would He now be leading out of it? What if we do call things off and nobody ever wants to marry me again? Is it better to go forward with this guy and make things work or stay single forever?

On and on the whirlwind continued. I barely slept for a week and ate very little. The knots in my stomach increased in intensity and the unrest in my soul mounted.

Finally, at the end of that miserable week, after a lot of time spent talking to the Lord and to my parents and thinking about the multitude of counsel I had received, I knew what I had to do. I had to surrender this man and this relationship and all the hopes and dreams attached to it. Even though I didn't know what the future would hold, it was a matter of trusting God. He was undoubtedly leading this relationship to an end and testing my willingness to make a sacrifice out of obedience. The story of Abraham and Isaac was on my mind a lot that week.

Calling things off with this young man was one of the hardest decisions I ever made, yet I knew it was the right one. And afterward, the peace and relief that flooded my soul was indescribable!

One of my worries when things started to get rocky in our relationship was the pain that was sure to come if we broke things off. I had developed this idea that pain and hurt was to be avoided at all costs and that guarding your heart and waiting for the right guy was the way to live pain-free in the relationship department. What I failed to understand is that even while getting to know someone with the purpose of discovering if he is the right guy, one's heart/emotions inevitably become involved to a certain degree, and that pain is not an evil to run from.

Yes, there was pain. But there was also much, much growth. And wisdom gleaned. And a need to be healed that drove me closer to the Lord. So in this case, pain produced good things.

As for my heart, it was sad but not broken. It had been touched by a kind man but not trampled.

And so life moved on. My studies continued. Friendships abounded. Wonderful memories were made. And I learned a new degree of contentment as a single girl continuing to trust the Lord with my future.

However, the tests were not over.

Throughout the year 2011, I crossed paths with a number of fine young men who came forward expressing *interest.* While I did not enter into relationships with any of them beyond friendship, and while my dad was involved as much as possible in every situation, it was still emotionally taxing to go through the excitement-because-he-likes-me/now-I-need-to-evaluate-him/never-mind-this-is-not-the-guy-for-me process.

After several closed doors, I was growing discouraged and even a bit disillusioned with the whole relationship department of life. It was much more complicated than I had envisioned as an idealistic teenager! I really started to doubt if there was anyone out there who shared my passion for Jesus Christ, who was likeminded in beliefs and convictions, who had a testimony of moral uprightness, and who was committed to the same family dreams I held dear.

In the wake of another closed door and dashed hope this past September, I knew the Lord was once again asking me to surrender to His plan for my life. I didn't know if it included marriage or not, but I had reached the point like never before where I just wanted what He wanted and nothing else. I let go of my dreams for a Godly husband and children of my own. I told the Lord I was willing to never get married. I just wanted to love Him and live for Him and walk with Him in single-hearted devotion.

If only I could have seen the Divine smile that must have lit up heaven in that moment. Because what I didn't know is that the Author of Romance was busy at work in ways I never could have imagined scripting a story that would take my breath away with its beauty.

(To be continued...)

Once Upon a Courtship (part 1)

2012-01-23T18:46:00.011-06:00

As I sit here at my computer to compose for you the story of what God has been writing for years, I close my eyes and pray. Where to start? What to say? How to convey into words the beauty of the Author of Romance? Is it even possible?

I so desperately long to do justice to His amazing grace, His undeserved favor, His mercy outpoured, His protection, His leading and guidance every step of the way. Yet...I flounder in knowing what to say. Perhaps it is because I remain so overwhelmed by the goodness and love of God right now. Truly, it is underneath me and all around me. How does a tiny little fish describe the majestic ocean in which she swims?

Perhaps it is best to begin with words from the Author's mouth Himself:

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him." Lamentations 3:22-25

As I sit here in awe of the Lord's faithfulness, my one desire is to share this unfolding story in such a way that it will be a testimony to His goodness and an encouragement to all who read it to keep seeking HIM!

And now, to the very beginning...

It was my 16th birthday. My parents and sister made every effort to prepare a special dinner complete with scrumptious food, a white tablecloth, and background music. We laughed. We talked. They shared special words as is our custom around a birthday meal table. And then, it was time for gifts. That night, my parents presented me with a beautiful, dainty silver ring. In the center was a heart and in the center of the heart was a cross. "This ring is to represent two things," my dad said. "Your love relationship with the Lord Jesus and your commitment to purity. As your father, I have covenanted with you to guard you and watch over you, to help evaluate any young man who might come along who is interested in you in a special way, and to give you my blessing when it is time to enter into marriage with the right fellow. Now I am asking you to give me your heart, to trust my wisdom, and to walk in purity as you wait on God's best in a life partner."

This isn't the exact ring, but it's close!

With tears in my eyes, I could only nod and smile. How many girls were so blessed as I to have such a father? Someone who loved their daughter so much they would desire to be involved in this way? He slipped the ring onto my finger and we finished the evening with prayer. I went to bed that night a very happy 16-year-old.

Time passed. I continued to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ and to serve in a variety of ministries as He opened doors. Young men were not even on my radar screen for a number of years. Every now and then, I would notice a kind fellow or a Godly guy, but the Lord taught me to yield such passing attractions to Him and continue forward undistracted. I loved the verse in Proverbs 31 that says, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...She doeth her husband good all the days of her life." That was my desire, even as an unmarried woman!

When I reached my early twenties, the desire to be married and have a family was stirred in a new way. I was older now, and many of my close friends had already gotten married. I had joyfully watched God write beautiful love stories for them, and I wondered with eagerness when it would be my turn, but I rarely fretted over the matter. There just wasn't time to pine, as Kingdom business filled my life with purpose and took me on a global adventure serving the Lord!

Let me pause a moment here and say that while contentment as a single girl came rather easily for me (by God's grace!) I was by no means perfect. I had my share of struggles with discontentment and impatience, and even wrestled with the willingness to surrender to God's will if marriage was never in His plan for me. But I am grateful to say that these struggles were not constant and the Lord was always faithful to encourage my heart when they did come, such that they did not weigh me down nor rob me of the joy I experienced serving Christ as an unmarried woman! I personally believe that while it is important for girls to value and desire the noble calling of wife and mother, that should not be the all-consuming focus of their lives. Jesus Christ should be. But now, back to the story.

I prayed often for my future husband-to-be, assuming it was God's will for me to one day get married. I prayed for his protection, for the strength to walk in moral uprightness, for his relationship with Christ. I also prayed for the Lord to build in him many qualities that I desired in a future life partner. Eventually, this list was summed up as:

- A man of God

- A man of character

- A man whom I could respect and follow

Throughout this time, I also prayed that the Lord would form and fashion me to be the helpmeet I would need to be one day for this man.

Despite the fact that I traveled the world doing ministry, including various ministries right in my own hometown, and met many wonderful people along the way, there were no potential husbands on the horizon in any direction! I knew Godly young men who loved the Lord and walked with Him had to exist somewhere - after all, a number of my friends had married some! And granted, I had met a few guys here and there whose upright character impressed me, but for one reason or another, they were not marriage partner possibilities.

So there I was, 25 years old, never having had a "significant other" (or even a significant interest!), waiting on the Lord, and wondering about the future. Was marriage part of God's plan for me? If so, with whom? When? Where were the Godly guys? Would I meet someone at language school? On the mission field? When I was 30? or 40? Or was it God's plan for me to stay single and start an orphanage like Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, and Lillian Trasher?

So many questions. So few answers. Yet, I knew God's plan was best...whatever it was...and I remain surrendered to His leading one step at a time.

Little did I know that this surrender was about to be tested in a big way...

To be continued...

The Bolivian Adventure

2012-01-23T18:40:00.002-06:00

This is a little video presentation I put together for my church family of my experiences in Bolivia. Hope you enjoy! :)

How do you spell BLISS?

2012-01-22T16:18:00.010-06:00

Two words:

N-A-T-H-A-N

B-R-I-T-T-O-N

(story coming soon!)

Christmas in January

2012-01-20T16:39:00.006-06:00

Since Katelin and I were both gone from home for Christmas this past December, we decided to have a belated celebration with all the family in January when we would all be together. It was a sweet time with everyone!

Melissa meets Zoe the Zebra

Papa all decked out in red

A belated birthday for Melissa, too! (Her birthday is only five days before Christmas)

She LOVES books!

(I think she takes after her Aunt Katrina)

A new baby doll too! How perfect!

Aunt Nora demonstrates how to rock the baby.

Time for presents!

Katelin and Nathan are very excited with their new Food Saver machine. It will allow them to preserve fresh produce for long periods of time...a big help in Ukraine where produce does not have a long life span and certain foods can only be purchased at certain times of year.

Love in the winter years....priceless!

My sweet grandparents

Nathan liked the finger puppets I brought back from Bolivia for Melissa!

He also liked his new alpaca socks!

And his Nebraska hoodie from Mom and Dad!

(I think he's set!)

Mom and Aunt Nora model their alpaca ponchos for us. Don't they look smashing!

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of my wonderful family!

The Happy Auntie

2012-01-16T22:17:00.002-06:00

Our Little Cutie Pie

2012-01-11T23:02:00.003-06:00

Jewels from Jeremiah part 3

2012-01-10T12:59:00.004-06:00

"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord...

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is."

(Jeremiah 17:5, 7)

I love this contrast. We have a choice. We can either choose to trust in ourselves or to trust in the Lord. One person is cursed; the other blessed. O may it not ever be said that our hearts depart from the Lord by trusting in ourselves! Only God alone is worthy of our trust!

~~~~~

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise." (Jeremiah 17:14)

God is the Healer. God is the Savior. God is my Praise!

~~~~~

"Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of the evildoers." (Jeremiah 20:13)

There are many similar verses to this one all throughout Scripture and every time I read one, I am blessed by God's heart for the poor. Especially after being in Bolivia and seeing so many poor and oppressed people, and hearing so many sad stories about our little children's backgrounds and the evil they experienced, verses like these give me great hope that God still knows and still cares. Shall the Judge of all the earth not do right?

~~~~~

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

What a powerful description of our Lord Jesus Christ!

~~~~~

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:4)

Yes, He does fill heaven and earth! In fact, the universe cannot contain Him! How great is our God! We would do well to remember that His eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good. Be sure your sin will find you out. We cannot hide from God!

~~~~~

"Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land...and I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord..." (Jeremiah 24:5-7)

I love the reminder in this prophetic verse about Judah that God's chastening is always for the good of His people. The Israelites were taken into captivity as the consequence for their sin against God, but this consequence was for their good in order to bring them to a point of repentance and restoration with the Lord. So it is with chastening and correction in our lives. I also love to always see God's longing for His people to know Him. He is such a personal, relationship-oriented God! How privileged we are to know Him because of His grace!

~~~~~

"And ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

Even though this promise was written specifically for the Jews following their period of captivity in Babylon, I believe that the principle behind it applies today as well. Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts! He is worthy.

Look Who's Here!

2012-01-06T11:47:00.004-06:00

We praise the Lord for the safe arrival of Katelin, Nathan, and Melissa last night and are having a wonderful time with them!

Melissa getting re-aquainted with the family.

Grandmommy loves to sing to her baby!

So big!

Such a cutie!

Playing with a napkin from Grandmommy

Kisses, kisses...

...and more kisses!

Big smiles

We are going to have fun this month!

Home At Last!

2012-01-06T11:46:00.000-06:00

With my mom at the Houston airport on Tuesday.

Thank You Lord For...

2012-01-04T23:16:00.002-06:00

401. Safe travels home to the United States

402. The waiving of my penalty fees for overstaying my Bolivian visa by 3 months (a $300 savings!)

403. That my luggage was not over the allotted weight limits and that I made it home with all bags in tow - nothing lost along the way!

404. Protection on the escalator in the Miami airport as I took a backwards tumble and fell down a number of moving stairs unharmed besides a few minor bruises

405. My parents' big smiles and warm hugs at the airport in Houston

406. The clean, fresh smells of America!

407. The beauty of our home

408. A hot bath/shower

409. Delicious chicken pot pie

410. Pink gerber daisies

411. The joy of playing the piano once again

Final Post from Bolivia - A Few of My Favorite Faces

2012-01-02T14:59:00.007-06:00

Farewell Bolivia. I will always carry your children in my heart.

Photos courtesy of Alexis Rix.

New Year's Eve Bash

2012-01-02T13:16:00.004-06:00

My Bolivia buddy, Elena

New friend from Canada - Chelsey!

Jennifer - salad maker extraordinaire!

A couple of goofballs

Alexis the gangster

Alexis the sweet friend

Casa de Amor volunteers - a scary group at midnight!

Yeah...um...no comment.

A Skittles cake! Yum, yum!

Watching fireworks from the roof.

Bowling - The Last Hurrah!

2011-12-31T12:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday it was great fun (read: wild, crazy, chaotic fun) to take the children bowling as our final hurrah together before I depart for home on Monday. They have only been bowling one other time last year, so getting to do something like this was a special treat for them. Thanks to the generosity of the owner of the bowling alley (a fellow American and director of another local orphanage) our first round of games were completely free of charge and a second game was sponsored by a monetary gift from dear friends far away. God is so good!

Teaching Mr. E how to bowl.

Getting the hang of it...

My buddy! I'm going to miss this guy.

Alexis and Savannah adding life to the party!

Mr. E - our drama king

Love this kid!

Happy smiles

Chelsey gets in some snuggles with B

The bowling line-up

Will it be a strike?

Little spectators waiting their turn...

"Okay, B, now it's your turn!"

Pausing from his karate dance moves to strike an angelic pose.

(I told you he was our drama king!)

The flying helicopter.

Little D on the attack!

Love 'n hugs.

Hurray for bowling fun!

Jewels from Jeremiah (part 2)

2011-12-31T10:24:00.003-06:00

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." Jeremiah 6:10

No delight in the Word of God? The words of the Living Almighty a reproach?

The Spanish translation puts it a little differently: His Word is an embarrassing thing and they do not love it.

I wince inwardly when I read these words. No wonder Jeremiah wanted to pour out the fulness of his fury on such a people (verse 11)!

Yet, how often have I been guilty of the same thing? Of uncircumcised ears that didn't want to hear my God's instructions? Of treating His Word reproachfully? Of choosing not to read it because "I was too busy" or just not interested?

I know this has happened more than once. And I hang my head in sorrow and shame, for I see the piercing sorrow it creates in the heart of my Creator.

May God grant me the strength and resolve to always delight in His Word; to always approach Holy Scripture with an ear to hear; to never be ashamed or embarrassed to say, "Thus saith the Lord!"

~~~

"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24

These are some of my favorite words in all of Scripture! I love the fact that God is so personal. That He longs to be known and understood! This is the deepest desire of my heart: to know Him and love Him more each day.

~~~

"Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations?...forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto Thee...The Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation.

He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion. When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures." Jeremiah 10:6-12

~~~

"For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered." Jeremiah 10:21

The recipe for success and prosperity in God's definition of the terms?

Seek the Lord.

Jesus confirms this principle in Matthew 6:33 - "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

~~~

"But Thou, O Lord, knowest me: Thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee..." Jeremiah 12:3

When I first read this verse the other morning, it seemed to leap off the page at me! What a wonderful comfort to know that the trials God allows in my life are to pull my heart toward Him!

I feel like these last six months in Bolivia have contained a lot of trials. Yet, I can truly see how each one of them has turned my heart more and more toward my God and drawn me closer to Him. What a blessing that He knows me, sees me, and uses the trials to deepen our relationship.

~~~

"This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the Lord; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear." Jeremiah 13:10-11

This truly is tragedy defined.

~~~

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16

Nothing feeds and nourishes the heart like the Word of God! O taste and see that the Lord is good!

A Popsicle-Kind-of-Day

2011-12-30T08:46:00.003-06:00

Jewels from Jeremiah (part 1)

2011-12-29T09:39:00.006-06:00

Throughout the month of December, I have been reading the book of Jeremiah and finding many wonderful jewels tucked in its pages! I thought I would share a few here today.

"Then the Word of the Lord came unto me saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

This verse reminds me of God's omniscience, knowing all before it happens, and of His sovereignty, planning all the details of our lives before we're even born. It's incredibly awe-inspiring to think on these things...

~~~

"Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 1:8

How often we look to a person's face for approval! So much is communicated in the face. A good reminder to be a God-pleaser rather than a people-pleaser.

~~~

"For behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city,

and an iron pillar,

and brazen walls against the whole land...

and they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee;

for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee."

Jeremiah 1:18-19

A good reminder that when God is for us, none can prevail against us. God always makes for a majority! There is great security in His will.

~~~

"They that handle the law knew me not...they walked after things that do not profit....wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord...my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit." Jeremiah 2:8, 9, 11

This passage shows me how very much God wants to be known by His people. It is paramount in His heart. Also, I am reminded of the importance of walking after things that profit.

~~~

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the Fountain of Living Waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13

This verse really captivated my attention. God considers it an evil to forsake Him (see also verse 19). He does not want to be forsaken but rather sought after, pursued, believed in! This verse reminds me so much of the majority of people today. Rather than trust in the Lord God , and drink satisfied from His living waters, they are trusting in their own broken merits and trying to seek satisfaction from the wrong sources. Such sadness to the heart of God.

~~~

"But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith the Lord...Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, Thou art the Guide of my youth?...Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord and I will not keep anger forever." Jeremiah 3:1, 4, 12

As I read these verses and I see God's heart for His people, despite her unfaithfulness, I am overwhelmed by the incredible depths of God's mercy for me! His goodness is indescribable!

~~~

"The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory." Jeremiah 4:2

I love this description of the Lord as well as the reminder that there is nothing else worth glorying in besides Him!

Honoring the Tías

2011-12-28T09:49:00.007-06:00

The tías I have had the privilege of working with here at House 2 for the majority of my time in Bolivia are truly a special group of ladies. They are dedicated, hard-working, compassionate women with a love for the children in their care. Their work is certainly not easy but they embrace the grace God makes available and depend on His wisdom for each challenge. Their example and friendship has been a tremendous blessing to me.

Thanks to the kind generosity of a friend back in the States, I was able to take these women out for an elegant dinner to honor them and let them know how appreciated they are.

We had a wonderful time enjoying good food, fellowship, and lots of laughs!

One of the tías brought her toddler along, which added extra liveliness to the evening!

Studying the menu took quite awhile as each and every item was carefully inspected and considered.

This particular restaurant serves some unique and delicious drinks!

I ordered a tropical drink that is a mix of various fruit juices such as strawberry, pineapple, orange, and peach (I think).

It was so refreshing!

The ladies seemed to enjoy being pampered!

Food, glorious food!

Tía Ely - thoughtful, kind, sweetness defined!

Tía Sarin - enthusiastic, energetic, the life of the party type of person!

Tía Ana Maria - gentle, wise, Godly

Tía Yola - diligent, thorough, servant-hearted

Tía Luz - cheerful, effervescent, a shining light like her name

The only one missing from our dinner party was Tía Benita, the tía who blesses our household with her cooking and cleaning skills. She was planning on joining us but ended up having transportation problems on the way back from Santa Cruz.

As I plan to return to the United States next week, it is these ladies who will continue the work here. They are truly missionaries on the front lines in their own cities, ministering to the physical, spiritual, and educational needs of the children here at Casa de Amor. They take their work seriously and recognize the responsibility with which they are charged before God. As such, they covet our prayers for wisdom, patience, and love overflowing!

Christmas Day in Bolivia

2011-12-28T09:48:00.001-06:00

Dressed up and ready for a party!

Little Miss D laden with stocking stuffers

Coffee Cake

A feast for breakfast!

Joy to the World!

All ready to go singin' in the rain!

Rainy season - we are ready for you!

Oh the fun of opening gifts!

And wearing gift tags...?

Our puzzle queen tries out a new one.

Play time with the new toys!

Feliz Navidad de Bolivia!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-28T07:49:00.004-06:00

The house is decorated in anticipation of the birthday of the King.

Gifts and stockings await eager little children in celebration of that birthday.

The Christmas story is relived on film while popcorn and wassail are enjoyed during intermission.

Great joy fills my heart and tears prick my eyes as I share with these young ones the greatest message ever told.

Is this not what Christmas is all about?!

Staff Christmas Party

2011-12-22T20:10:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, all of the staff and volunteers from Casa de Amor gathered together for a delicious lunch at a beautiful hotel to celebrate Christmas and honor the hard work of these dedicated people. It was a most fun affair!

I didn't even know a cottage-style hotel with such charm and rustic, country beauty existed in Cochabamba, but it was only a short drive from our homes.

Here are a number of us as we waited for the rest of our party to arrive.

There were several little cozy nooks tucked throughout the first and second floor.

Here we are all together enjoying a scrumptious lunch buffet!

These are all the precious Bolivian women who serve as tías (aunties) to the children in our homes.

Jennifer Thompson, the founder and director, is pictured in the middle.

House 1 Staff

House 2 Staff (whom I am privileged to work with on a regular basis)

House 3 Staff (they insisted I join the picture considering that I lived at House 3 for a month caring for the children there!)

The Volunteers (look, it's not just me anymore!)

Hardships and Blessings

2011-12-21T09:14:00.003-06:00

"To him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon...because he hath wholly followed the Lord." (Deut. 1:36)

Every hard duty that lies in your path, that you would rather not do, that will cost you pain and struggle or sore effort to do, has a blessing in it. Not to do it, at whatever cost, is to miss the blessing.

Every hard piece of road on which you see the Master's shoe-prints and along which He bids you follow Him, surely leads to blessing, which you cannot get if you cannot go over the steep, thorny path.

Every point of battle to which you come, where you must draw your sword and fight the enemy, has a possibly victory which will prove a rich blessing to your life. Every heavy load that you are called to lift hides in itself some strange secret of strength. - J.R. Miller

- Today's reading from Streams in the Desert.

This passage really spoke to me today because I have found its words so true in my six month sojourn here in Bolivia. There have been hard duties, struggles, and sacrifices, yet many, many blessings and lessons learned along the way that I know I never would have experienced otherwise. Praising God today for His sovereign working in my life and His all-sufficient grace that is enough. No matter what.

Happy Birthday Melissa!

2011-12-20T20:09:00.002-06:00

Today, my adorable niece turned 1!

I so wish I could have been there to give her a hug!

The last time I hugged her was when she was three weeks old.

But the waiting won't last long!

I leave Bolivia for Houston in just two weeks and the Days will arrive a few days later.

Here is Little Miss Cutie-Pie listening to Grandmommy and Granddaddy sing!

A Picnic At the Park

2011-12-17T20:52:00.006-06:00

Last week, during my time with just the two girls whom I was caring for, we took advantage of one of the only sunny days for a delightful picnic at the park!

With the warm sun shining so brightly, the fountain splashing cheerfully in the background, delicious tuna sandwiches, chips, and fruit, it was a picnic to savor!

How 'bout that view from our eating spot?

Oh the wonder of grass!

And they're off to play!

A little after-lunch recreation.

Whee!

The park sweeper-man using a traditional Bolivian broom.

How many expressions can one girl have going down a slide?

This is my favorite. :)

Sweetness

Love those mountains.

Can you spot the love birds?

When I turned around and saw them rolling down the grassy hill, it so reminded me of my own childhood memories doing the same!

A spot of brilliant beauty in an otherwise not-so-pretty street. This tree reminded me of the Lord's workings. He is so faithful to put spots of beauty in our lives even in the hard times, the suffering, the trials that we might continue forward encouraged.

Sunshine and Smiles

2011-12-16T20:49:00.003-06:00

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2011-12-14T11:46:00.004-06:00

This week, the children at House 2 were split up amongst all the tías who work here for a week of "summer vacation" at that tía's house. As part of the tía team, I too, am getting to participate! I have two girls staying here with me. It's been such fun to have so few and get to do various activities with them both at home and out and about! Despite the fact that we have had constant rain, we are keeping busy. Yesterday, J and I set up the Christmas tree (after sloshing through the market downtown to find lights!) while A.M. slept the whole afternoon. It was a lovely activity for a quiet, rainy day.

A bit of tinsel to make the holidays bright! :)

Ta-Da! It's done!

Now all that's missing is a crackling fire place!

Two little elves.

2011-12-12T20:38:00.001-06:00

Just hand over the mashed carrots, and nobody gets hurt!

Oil Along the Way

2011-12-10T08:35:00.002-06:00

"Put on as the elect of God, kindness." (Colossians 3:12)

There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.

People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.

There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil of good cheer to the downhearted one - Oh, how much it may mean! The word of courage to the desparing. Speak it.

Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, mayhap, our ways diverge, never to meet again. The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Savior.

A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart. Therefore, "Give others the sunshine, tell Jesus the rest."

"We cannot know the grief

That men borrow;

We cannot see the souls

Storm-swept by sorrow;

But love can shine upon the way

Today, tomorrow;

Let us be kind.

Upon the wheel of pain so many weary lives are broken,

We live in vain who give no tender token.

Let us be kind."

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." (Romans 12:10)

- Streams in the Desert

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #7

2011-12-09T10:55:00.006-06:00

Final Installment

Well, my month at Casa de Amor House 3 officially came to an end on Wednesday with the arrival of the Mitchell family from their furlough in the States. It was such a special time spent with five precious children, and definitely the highlight of my time in Bolivia so far!

One of the things I enjoyed so much about being a mommy for a month was the better understanding it gave me of the heart God has for us as Father. As I went about my days mothering little ones, I learned:

- Just as voluntary gratefulness expressed by the children pleased me and brought a smile to my face, a thankful spirit and expressions of gratefulness pleases our Father greatly.

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy Name, O Most High." (Psalm 92:1)

- Just as it thrilled me to see growth in the lives of the children as they reached milestones, conquered fears, and learned new skills, it thrills the heart of our Father God to see spiritual growth in His children's lives.

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)

- Just as I constantly tried to teach the children not to whine or complain, God doesn't want us as His children to whine or complain.

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." (Philippians 2:14)

- Patience is so very key when training children, and although I often failed in this area and demonstrated impatience with my little charges, God is never that way with us. He is oh-so-very-patient and longsuffering always.

"But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86:15)

- Just as I tried to instill in the children the importance of immediate obedience the first time they received an instruction, first-time obedience pleases our Father greatly. When His promptings come from the Holy Spirit nudging our hearts, whispering to our consciences, or shouting to us from the pages of Scripture, we would do well to obey instantly, for this demonstrates our love for the Lord.

"If ye love Me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

What a privilege to know this God as Father and to be His very own child!

Continuing Thankful

2011-12-09T10:48:00.002-06:00

December 4, 2011

382. Good books to read

383. A washing machine for doing laundry

384. Butterfly kisses

385. Hearing Little A´s "de nada" parroted

386. Little K´s wrinkle nose facial expressions when swinging at the park

387. J.K.´s desire for three helpings of "China rice" (fried rice)

388. Turkey placemats

389. Healing from my eye infection

390. An accident-free potty-training day

391. Answered prayer about Papa´s surgery

December 9, 2011

392. J.K.´s ability to overcome his fears of the dark and put dirty laundry in the hamper in a dark bathroom by himself

393. J.K.´s volunteery bear hug and declaration of love for me

394. Little K´s parroted phrase "wuv oo" when I left on Wednesday night

395. A wonderful month spent at House 3

396. Enthusiastic greetings from the children back at House 2 when I arrived "home"

397. That the blue bag robbed from me by the taxi driver didn´t have anything terribly valuable or irreplaceable in it

398. A good night´s sleep in my bed again

399. Much needed quiet time spent with the Lord

400. Packages received from home and the yumminess of Cheeze Its!

Of Crayons and Shoes

2011-12-07T12:59:00.004-06:00

The other morning, as the children were doing various table time activities, I quietly snuck my camera in front of Little K to catch her hilarious actions on record for your enjoyment! This is what she found amusing after coloring had grown old!

She never ceases to make me laugh!

Meanwhile Miss C found it interesting to group all her crayons by color. She has only recently learned most of her colors and loves to ask or tell me all day long what color various obejects are. Here she is sharing her knowledge with the world!

Look at me! I am such a big girl! I can color in my highchair now!

But sometimes playing with the crayon bag is much more interesting.

Could I please play with your computer instead?

The pile of shoes by the front door was discovered a short time later and Miss C enjoyed putting her shoes and Little J's shoes on the twins, which they too found very fun!

Here, this one is for you.

Going for a a little stroll...

Such Expressions!

2011-12-06T14:07:00.004-06:00

While at the park the other evening, I snapped several pictures of the twins that merited a blog post all of their own. I can't help but smile myself when I see these precious faces! Some of their expressions crack me up!

A Walk In the Park

2011-12-06T12:00:00.009-06:00

On Sunday night, I finally remembered to bring my camera along when I took the children to one of the nearby parks that is so enjoyable to visit - especially on the weekends when it is so full of people and activity! This movie clip and the following pictures provide a little taste of Bolivian culture that is unique and fun.

Big slides the boys enjoy.

Whee! Here comes J.K.!

Crowded as usual.

A cotton-candy vendor.

Miss C's classic "smile for the picture" face. :)

Fascinated by all that's going on.

Pretty flowers.

Yes, that would be a tent set up...maybe for an afternoon break from the sun?

No, it's not the Bolivian version of Disney-Land. Just a couple of guys wanting to make some money by offering to snap your picture with the tiger.

Jumping on a moonwalk is an option (as well as jumping on a big trampoline, riding a train, riding a horse, and painting pictures - all for a handful of change).

The boys enjoyed the moonwalk experience!

Lots of food vendors all around, making for lots of delicious smells!

My "triplets" as so many think they are!

Trying for a photo-shoot!

Love that expression!

And that one!

Beautiful sunset and a very neat looking cloud.

Onward to the other side of the park!

Free of the stroller at last!

Another classic Miss C photo face. Gotta love it!

So happy to be on the slide!

Cutie-pie.

She took a spill and needed some lovin'. This special moment called for a photo!

With the boys at sunset.

More Delicious Recipes from Katrina's Kitchen

2011-12-06T11:33:00.002-06:00

Last night, I tried making quiche (I think for the first time ever..?) and the children absolutely loved it! They devoured it and begged for more. Too bad I didn't make more than one! Served with a scrumptious fruit salad and healthy chocolate mousse for dessert, we had quite a feast!

Here are the recipes we used:

Quiche:

Prepare:

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust (see recipe below)

Layer any combination of the following in the pie crust:

1/2-1 cup sliced mushrooms, cooked (I did not use these)

1/2 cup green peppers diced

1/2 cup green onions chopped (I used a regular onion and doubled the amount)

1 cup chopped spinach

1 cup chopped chicken (you could use bacon, ham, or sausage in place of chicken)

1 cup cheese, grated

Beat together and pour into crust:

2-3 eggs

1 1/2-2 cups light cream, evaporated milk, or milk (wouldn't you know, I used soy milk!)

half teaspoon salt

dash of pepper

Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes, until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

*Substitute for light cream: yogurt, sour cream, whipping cream, or 1 1/4 cups cream of mushroom or chicken soup.

Single Pie Crust:

Combine:

1 1/3 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cut in until fairly course:

1/2 cup shortening

Add a tablespoon at a time and toss with fork:

3 tablespoons water (I had to add a little extra)

Roll out dough to fit pie pan. (I had to knead it a little first.) For crust baked without filling, prick it first with fork. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes. For uncooked crust follow the recipe for baking time and temperature.

Incredibly Rich and Healthy Chocolate Mousse

(Don't freak out when you see avocados on the ingredients list. This is the secret ingredient and is simply there for creamy-ness purposes. You can't taste it at all, as it absorbs the chocolate flavor! )

2-3 small, ripe avocados (or in my case, 1 big one)

3/4 cup honey or agave nectar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

dash of cinnamon (optional)

Place all ingredients in a high powered blender or food processor and blend until creamy and smooth. You may have to use a spoon or temper to keep it moving. Once blended, chill in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Apple Coffee Cake

This recipe was made for breakfast this morning and everyone seemed to enjoy it - me especially! :)

Combine:

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1 T. baking powder

2/3-1 cup sugar or honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup powdered milk

1/4 cup melted butter or shortening

Stir in:

1 egg

2/3 cup water

1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples

Pour batter into greased 9x13 baking pan. Combine topping ingredients:

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon oil

Sprinkle topping over the batter. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Delicious hot or room temperature!

Mischief Makers

2011-12-05T09:31:00.003-06:00

Looks like there's mischief afoot in the kitchen!

The new favorite toys: Ramen noodle soup packages and canned goods.

Now there's two of them!

Isn't this fun?

A Very Cool Looking Watermelon

2011-12-05T09:22:00.002-06:00

What a surprise to cut open a watermelon the other day and find this lovely design! I've never seen one quite like it!

Here's What's Cooking!

2011-12-04T19:44:00.004-06:00

Just thought I'd post some tasty recipes I've encountered and made lately. Such yumminess was meant to be shared!

Gingerbread

Combine:

1/2 cup sour milk or water

1/3-1/2 cup oil

1 egg

Combine separately, add and beat thoroughly:

1 cup brown sugar or molasses (I used molasses)

1 1/2 teaspoons soda

2 teaspoons ginger

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons oil

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon each of cloves and nutmeg (I used allspice in place of cloves)

Place in a greased and floured 9X13 pan. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (I served with ice cream).

This was delicious gingerbread! The children loved it!

Healthy Banana Pudding

I found this recipe online and made some modifications to it to make it healthy. I could have eaten the whole pan myself, but I was nice and shared with the children. :) Here's my modified version:

2 eggs beaten

2 1/2 cups milk (I used soy milk)

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon butter

vanilla wafers or a similar type cookie (original recipe calls for 32; depends on the size of your dish)

4 bananas sliced (again, you might have to change this amount as it depends on the size of your dish)

In a saucepan, combine eggs, milk, honey, cornstarch and salt. Cook until thick, stirring constantly; about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter. Cover the bottom of your glass dish with a layer of cookies. Top with bananas, then top with pudding. Repeat this step. (Or do as I did, and place bananas on top of the pudding, followed by cookies, so cookies are on the very top.) Chill thoroughly before serving.

Quick and Simple Corn Bread

For years, we have used a corn bread recipe my mom came up with that leans on the sweet side (using honey, of course). I love it! However, when making homemade stuffing for Thanksgiving, I needed a corn bread recipe that was not sweet. After quite a bit of searching, I found this one and it was perfect! I have made it several times since as a side to many a meal, and the children gobble it up (not to mention the cook herself)!

1 cup flour (I use whole wheat, but white flour works too!)

1 cup corn meal (or corn flour if you use the finely-milled variety)

1/4 cup sugar (I use brown sugar)

4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil or butter

Combine all the wet ingredients; add the dry. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bread tests done.

Wha-laa! So simple and healthy and yummy!

Rice and Bread Stuffing

Since I had volunteered to make stuffing for our Thanksgiving celebration, I experimented with a couple different recipes beforehand, to see which one was tastiest! (I also whipped up some imported Stovetop stuffing simply because I like it so much! But just serving Stovetop seemed to be cheating, so I was determined to make some actual homemade stuffing as well.)

This recipe has a number of unique ingredients like rice and orange juice, but it really is quite delicious! I made a number of changes to the recipe which I will note at the bottom, but here it is in its original form:

7 slices day old bread, torn (I used wheat bread)

1 cup torn corn bread (I used the above recipe)

2/3 cup hot water

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sliced, fresh mushrooms (I did not use these as they are hard to find here and very expensive if you do find them!)

1 cup firmly packed sliced, fresh spinach

1 cup cooked rice

1/2 cup cooked wild rice

1/2 cup orange juice

1 egg beaten

2 teaspoons rubbed sage

1/2 teaspoon thyme (I used Italian seasoning)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon pepper

In a skillet, saute celery, onions, and mushrooms until tender. (I also added garlic.) In a large bowl, lightly toss bread and water. Stir in sauteed vegetables. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Place in a greased 2-quart baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I chose to double the onion and celery for added flavor. I also increased the amount of corn bread and decreased the regular bread, since I happen to like more corn bread in my stuffing. It was a little on the dry side the first time I made it, so the next time, I increased the water and orange juice to 1 cup each, and added an extra egg. I think the next time, I'll add even more water, simply because I like my stuffing a bit more moist. A very flavorful dish to be sure!

Green Bean Stir Fry

Last night, I wanted to make Fried Rice for a little variety added to our menu. However, I needed a good side dish to go with it that was still Oriental-ish. We have tons of green beans in the freezer right now, so I typed green beans into the search browser on allrecipes.com, and found this delicious recipe!

I really have no idea what 3/4 pound of green beans is, so I started out making one batch of the sauce, but found I needed to double it. I don't know if that is because I had way more than 3/4 pound of green beans, or if I just wanted them more flavorful.

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 garlic cloves minced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon peanut butter (or in my case, almond butter)

3/4 pound fresh green beans, trimmed (mine were fresh then frozen, so I had to boil them first to soften)

4 1/2 teaspoons oil

Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Stir-fry the green beans in the oil until crisp-tender. Add the sauce and stir to coat. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies

A couple of weeks ago, the tía with whom I work here at House 3 told me she needed to take chewy molasses ginger cookies (as opposed to crisp ginger snaps) to a baby shower. I did an online search for a workable recipe and found this one. It was so tasty, I made these cookies again to give away at to our Thanksgiving guests as a take-home party favor.

3/4 cup butter or margarine melted

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (or all spice)

1/4 cup white sugar for rolling dough

In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar, butter, and egg until smooth. Stir in the molasses. Combine the dry ingredients and add to the wet. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into walnut sized balls and then roll them in the remaining white sugar. Place cookies two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until tops are cracked. Cool on wire racks.

This recipe yields between 30-40 cookies on average, depending on how big you make them. I found they were nice and chewy the first day, but on day 2, they do harden and become more crisp. A quick re-heating in oven or microwave returns them to being chewy once more! Definitely a winning recipe!

To Live In A Rainbow

2011-12-02T20:30:00.004-06:00

I love rainbows. And rainbow-colored things. Always have. When I was a little girl, I used to draw pictures of rainbows all the time. When my mom asked me what we should name our homeschool, I naturally piped up, "Rainbow Academy." And it stuck. (Until high school graduation, that is, when I needed a slightly more dignified sounding name to go on my diploma!)

Tonight, as I was doing some blog reading, I followed a link from Ann Voskamp's blog to this one. Now I have an idea of what it must be like to live in a rainbow. The pictures made me smile. I really like this lady's decorating touch; her bright colors, homey style, and vintage accessories. I'll admit I'm not too crazy about all the clusters of wall hangings that seem to adorn every wall in the house. Seems a little too busy and border-line cluttered for my taste. But life in a rainbow...now that's something I could go for.

Enjoy the home tour and be inspired!

A Time for Sprinkles

2011-12-02T18:36:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, we decorated cookies.

Those delicious, soft sugar cookies that I only bake on rare occasions throughout the year.

For my artsy children, it was pure delight to spread colored icing and sprinkle rainbows.

I wanted to give them not only a productive activity on a cloudy afternoon, but also teach them about serving others. So, we decorated cookies with a purpose; to give as a gift to the children of House 2 where our visitor, M, lives with a dozen other energetic little people. We also made up a small platter for the office staff of Casa de Amor.

After they decorated all the cookies, I let them decorate their own from the broken pieces we had collected. While it was hard for them to wait to sample the yumminess, they did a great job staying faithful to the task at hand for the joy of giving to others first.

After an afternoon's work, we enjoyed an evening of play.

The happy tía and her boys.

Oh the Fun of Noodle Necklaces!

2011-12-01T20:27:00.002-06:00

Keeping Up With the Days

2011-12-01T20:25:00.001-06:00

A new blog post from my sister's keyboard and camera just hit cyber waves yesterday! Check it out here! You don't want to miss the latest adorable pictures of my niece and fun stories of their surprise trip to Houston!

2011-11-29T19:50:00.002-06:00

The other night, as I was reading the November 26 passage from Streams in the Desert, these words seemed to leap off the page and grab my heart!

*****

"And Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, give me a blessing; for thou has given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs." (Joshua 15:18, 19)

There are both upper and nether springs. They are springs, not stagnant pools. There are joys and blessings that flow from above through the hottest summer and the most desert land of sorrow and trial. The land of Achsah were "south lands," lying under a burning sun and often parched with burning heat. But from the hills came the unfailing springs, that cooled, refreshed, and fertilized all the land.

There are springs that flow in the low places of life, in the hard places, in the desert places, in the lone places, in the common places, and no matter what my be our situation, we can always find these upper springs.

Abraham found them amid the hills of Canaan. Moses found them among the rocks of Midian. David found them among the ashes of Ziklag when his property was gone, his family captives and his people talked of stoning him, but "David encouraged himself in the Lord."

Habakkuk found them when the fig tree was withered and the fields were brown, but as he drank from them he could sing: "Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of my salvation."

Isaiah found them in the awful days of Sennacherib's invasion, when the mountains seemed hurled into the midst of the sea, but faith could sing: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved."

The martyrs found them amid the flames, and reformers amid their foes and conflicts, and we can find them all the year if we have the Comforter in our hearts and have learned to say with David: "All my springs are in Thee."

How many and how precious these springs, and how much more there is to be possessed of God's own fulness!

- A.B. Simpson

I could add to that.

Katrina found them in the mountains of Cochabamba.

Passionate About God's Passion

2011-11-29T19:39:00.003-06:00

"It was becoming clearer and clearer that if I wanted to come to the end of my life and not say, "I've wasted it!" then I would need to press all the way in, and all the way up, to the ultimate purpose of God and join Him in it. If my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God's passion. And...God's passion was the display of His own glory and the delight of my heart.

It has become clearer that God being glorified and God being enjoyed are not separate categories. They relate to each other not like fruit and animals, but like fruit and apples. Apples are one kind of fruit. Enjoying God supremely is one way to glorify Him. Enjoying God makes Him look supremely valuable."

- John Piper in Don't Waste Your Life

Once Upon a Sunday Morning...

2011-11-29T19:15:00.005-06:00

...this tía tried to snap a few pictures of her adorable little girls all dressed up and ready for church. Alas! They just like to wiggle too much (or give cheesy grins) to capture the real 'sugar and spice and all that's nice' that she gets to see on their beautiful faces every day!

The Mommy for a Month Chronicles #6

2011-11-29T18:32:00.003-06:00

Fleeing to the Rock

Last week, for the first time since beginning my mommy-ing adventures here at Casa de Amor House 3, it happened.

I just wanted to scream, to cry, to pull my hair out.

It was one of those days...and then some.

For starters, I was suffering from an acute eye infection that had attacked my eye the night before and caused my whole body to feel achy and sick. Not a good way to start the day, let me assure you. Additionally, the day was gray and rainy. Going outside was not an option, which meant the children seemed to be bouncing off the walls. Little A, who is (supposed to be) potty training, had four accidents in two hours. Each one was literally five minutes after she got up from trying to go in the potty. On top of everything, everyone seemed extra cranky and clingy and loud and....yeah. I was about to go crazy.

My patience slipped away faster and faster with each accident I wiped up off the floor until finally, I threw my hands in the hair and declared surrender to the potty war. Little A wore a diaper the rest of the day. My sanctification was at stake.

Seriously, I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep the day away with the rain pattering on the roof.

But I couldn't. Five little lives needed me. Thanksgiving preparations had to be attended to.

I knew I needed a sanity check. A few moments of peace and quiet before I really did scream. Or melt into a pile of tears.

And I knew there was only one place to find it.

Declaring a morning rest time for all my whiney little people, I tucked the girls into their beds (despite their crying protests to this sudden idea) and settled the boys quietly with books. Almost desperately, I grabbed my Bible from off my nightstand and raced down the stairs to the living room where I could be farthest from the noise.

To the Rock I fled, seeking refuge, seeking peace, seeking strength. And as He promises to do when we seek Him and cry out to Him, He met me in my time of need. His Word spoke life into my weary soul and His Spirit calmed my frazzled nerves.

My Daily Light passage assured me:

"The Spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

The Book of Psalms, a constant source of comfort, reminded me:

"Be not far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste to help me." (Psalm 22:19)

The Lord is not far from me in this place. He is right here. He is my strength. He will haste to help me make it through the day with love and cheerfulness.

"Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him...For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His face from Him; but when he cried unto Him, He heard." (Psalm 22:24)

The secret is in the praising. God has not neglected me though I feel afflicted by this sickness and these circumstances. I have cried to Him and He has heard!

"I will praise Thee forever because Thou hast done it! (Psalm 52:9)

I will praise the Lord, because He will be the One to do it today!

"Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy." (Psalm 82:3)

This is why I am here, after all.

"His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord." (Psalm 112:7)

So is my heart; fixed upon the Lord, trusting in Him to be my strength and song today.

It was only fifteen, maybe twenty minutes that I spent communing with the Lord and receiving from His life-giving Word. But, oh, how this fifteen minute respite in the Haven of Rest ministered to my spirit and gave me the strength to go on!

The rest of the day didn't get any easier. The rain still poured. Every little task was an effort, and prayers for patience were a moment-by-moment occurrence. But I rejoice to say that God was faithful to His Word. He was with me. He heard my cries. And it comforted me greatly to know His Holy Spirit was interceding for me in ways I couldn't even imagine as I tried to mother my little brood in the ways they needed.

Fleeing to the Rock is truly the best answer to a day that seems to be falling apart.

The Hat Girls

2011-11-28T13:21:00.001-06:00

The New Rapunzel

2011-11-28T12:41:00.002-06:00

"Look, Tía! I have long hair!"

Mommy-For-The-Month Chronicles #5

2011-11-25T15:21:00.003-06:00

I'm sitting here at the dining room table watching my little charges play while listening to Christmas music and catching up on blog reading. And it brings a smile to my face to see in living color what my mom has always told me: children usually prefer everyday life things to play with rather than plastic toys.

It's so true. Right now, they are having a ball with a stack of blankets and pillows. These few simple items have kept them busy for nearly an hour...and counting!

Of course, there are a few favorite toys that nearly always spark interest for various ones: a baby doll for Miss C, a Batman action figure for Little J, a tea set for Little A, a musical piano toy for J.K. But for the most part, the children find little interest in the plastic toys they've grown bored of. They much prefer playing with kitchen towels, tupperware, spoons, plastic measuring cups, and yes, even clothes. Little K will sit for long stretches of time trying to put shirts and pants and hats on in all different creative ways. :)

I just love to see how the everyday life things spark their imaginations, encourage fun times together, and keep my busy energizer-bunnies occupied in productive play!

Happy Thanksgiving from Bolivia!

2011-11-24T20:43:00.004-06:00

The children and I have had a lot of fun devoting this week to the Thanksgiving holiday. We have studied about Indians and Pilgrims, made decorations for our festivities tonight, and sampled various trial dishes of homemade stuffing. It was a wonderful blessing to have the Casa de Amor American family over to share in food and fellowship as we celebrated the importance of gratefulness. God has truly enriched our lives with so much!

Thanking the Lord for the privilege of being HIS tonight,

and all the blessings that one gift brings with it.

Happy Thanksgiving from Bolivia!

Today's Dose of Daily Cuteness

2011-11-21T19:19:00.001-06:00

Indian Day

2011-11-21T18:39:00.004-06:00

Since we are hosting a Thanksgiving feast here on Thursday for the Americans who work with Casa de Amor, I decided it would be good to teach my older children about this holiday, its history and significance. So, today we began by studying a little bit about Native American Indians. We looked at pictures/videos of them on the computer, discussed their lifestyle, and made Indian feather bands. These children love to express their creativity through craft projects, so the headbands were a hit! They wore them the rest of the day (except for during nap time).

Eating an "Indian" snack while coloring feathers.

Raisins and soy nuts. (Hey - it was the best I could come up with!)

My little Indian Princess.

Señor Indian

The Junior Warrior

The three little Indians that could.

They wore their feather bands while they worked...

...and played!

(This, I was informed, was their boat and I was standing in the water!)

Yes, it was a fun day.

Rainbows - A Reminder of God's Faithfulness

2011-11-21T18:36:00.001-06:00

They come in all different forms.

*smile*

Dinner Guests

2011-11-20T19:25:00.004-06:00

It was such fun to have a family from church over for dinner tonight! We enjoyed Tex-Mex cooking, chocolate chip cookie bars, fellowship, and play time with the children. Here are a few pictures I snapped after dinner as kitchen cleanup and living room giggles were in full swing! (Please excuse the strange lighting in some of the photos...don't know what was up with my flash tonight!)

J.K. loves to be read to! Way to go Zach!

Jael is super good with little ones! The twins adore her.

Smiles all around.

Ben, the big buddy!

A blanket train.

Zach's audience has grown. :)

Choo-choo!

The White Tornado (a.k.a. Sarah) giving me a break from dishes!

Beddy-by time.

Straight From the Comb

2011-11-19T19:44:00.002-06:00

You know your honey is raw and natural when you open the lid to find this.

Saturday Morning Pancakes

2011-11-19T19:26:00.002-06:00

Just for the record, I love gingerbread.

And ginger snaps.

And molasses cookies.

And spice cake.

And pretty much anything within this general family of autumn-ish spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice.

So, when I read on Facebook about a friend making gingerbread pancakes, it sounded like a recipe I would love to try!

And try them we did.

This morning.

Because Saturday is pancake-breakfast-day.

The verdict?

They were delicious.

Make that DELICIOUS.

And it's not just because I'm biased to anything with autumn spices.

Seriously.

Try them.

You'll see what I mean!

Gingerbread Pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons each of:

baking soda

cinnamon

ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cloves

(I used nutmeg since I didn't have ground cloves on hand)

1 1/2 cups apple juice

(original recipe calls for a 12 oz. can of frozen apple juice concentrate, but since I don't have access to that, the apple juice worked just fine)

1/4 cup oil or melted butter

2 eggs

I like thick pancakes so this is how I made the batter and it came out beautifully. However, if you prefer thinner pancakes, the original recipe calls for 1/2 cup water as well.

We topped our pancakes with a combination of butter and honey melted together. I also added a splash of molasses on top and it added an extra punch that was scrumptious.

Enjoy this amazing and healthy taste of fall!

The Day We Baked a Cake

2011-11-19T19:05:00.002-06:00

We have a book in Spanish about a pig who baked a cake for his bear-friend's birthday. Other animals come over in the cake-baking process who help sample the cake - complete with a cream topping and strawberries. By the time Mr. Bear makes it, most of the cake is gone, but he is still thrilled with the thoughtfulness of his friends and declares it the best birthday ever.

J.K. just loves this book and asks to read it all the time! So, the other day, we decided to bake the same recipe that Mr. Pig baked since it was conveniently shared at the back of the book. J.K. declared himself the bear who was having the birthday, but I assured him that we didn't have to be celebrating a birthday in order to have chocolate cake. :) J.K. and Miss C helped in the actual baking of the cake, while Little J and J.K. assisted me with the decorating. They had a blast, and we got a lot of mileage out of that cake (3 meals worth). It wasn't the best chocolate cake I've ever had, but seeing the children's delight in making story-book cake was a ton of fun!

As you can see, we didn't have fresh strawberries on hand, but chopped-up-chocolate-bar-and-banana decorations still brought smiles!

All Tuckered Out

2011-11-19T18:55:00.001-06:00

An Update from the Days

2011-11-17T12:35:00.002-06:00

My sister and brother-in-law and adorable niece, Melissa, recently returned to the United States for a furlough visit after two years in Ukraine. They are currently stationed in Colorado spending time with Nathan's family (although Katelin happens to be with my family in Houston at the moment due to a surprise birthday celebration she traveled in for). She recently posted pictures of their travels to America and time there so far. I had a wonderful time viewing them and thought you would too! Of course, Melissa is the star of the show. :) Check out her album here!

Learning to Be a Lion Chaser

2011-11-16T14:01:00.002-06:00

I had a wonderful time writing my November article for the InsideOut Girl's blog as it helped me define in black and white some of the things God has been doing in my heart and life as a result of reading a life-impacting book. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Hope it's a blessing!

Thankful Today

2011-11-15T14:14:00.003-06:00

Today has been one of those days. A toddler in potty training who seems to wait to go the bathroom until the minute she's off the little potty seat. A three-year-old who threw several temper tantrums - the kicking and screaming kind - because she simply did not want to obey. Little ones who seemed a bit more whiney than usual.

Yet, in the midst of the patience-testing moments that have seemed to fill my day today, I am reminded by the One who lives within me to give thanks. Always. For everything. To look for the beauty in every moment.

So today, I am thankful for the toddler who, despite her many accidents while in potty training, is full of hugs and love for this mama-in-training. I am thankful that after a frustrating morning of unsuccessfully getting anything worthwhile in the potty, we finally experienced a victory around lunch time! I am thankful for the three-year-old, who, after the storms passed with the help of a few discipline sessions, returned to being her sunny little self full of smiles and submission once again. And I am thankful for the whiney little ones who are usually so happy that a few extra whines seems very out of place! I am thankful for the amazing amount of joy they fill my life with.

And just for the record, the list in my journal has been growing lately:

November 10, 2011

341. Little K's precious, heart-melting mile and adorable wrinkle-nose face

342. Miss C singing "Happy Birthday" in English - the same line over and over again

343. Snuggles and cuddles with the three most adorable girls in Cochabamba

344. Purple api all over Little A

345. The sun on the mountains in the morning giving them a reddish hue

346. A bright and cheery fruit salad

347. Little J's hugs and smiles

348. J.K.'s excitement to show me his latest trick at the park

349. Quiet evenings

350. Answered prayer that J.K. did not have any nightmares last night

351. Strength to push the double stroller and thus enjoy daily morning walks.

352. Tía Ana's friendship

353. Gratefulness expressed by little people

354. Seeing their delight to do chores

355. Sunlight filtering through a tree on a nearby road creating an amazing display of light rays all around

November 11, 2011

356. Little A's bravery to try the swings at the park today; her enjoyment of the experience gave my heart such a thrill!

357. The affection of precious little ones

358. The warm, homey smell of molasses ginger cookies filling the house as they baked in the oven

359. All the training on child-training from which I've benefitted over the years

360. Fresh salad on a daily basis

361. A park close to home for my energetic little brood

362. How Spanish is rolling off my tongue so naturally these days

363. Puzzles, crayons, and play-dough

364. Book reading times with the boys

365. Their precious, heart-felt prayers at bedtime and how J.K. wants to thank God every day for the life of His Son, Jesus

366. The children's eagerness for Bible stories at breakfast

367. The significance of the cross

368. The patience God has with me

369. The joy of serving Him

370. The gift of eternal life with Him

November 15, 2011

371. The life of my grandmother, Joanne Knowles, and the many things she has taught me

372. A quiet evening rain storm

373. The delightful aroma of cinnamon

374. Sunshine every morning in the faces of the children

375. An incredibly soft and comfortable bed in which to sleep

376. The joy of seeing the twins reach little milestones (feeding themselves better, drinking out of regular cups, adding to their vocabulary, allowing water in the face, swinging at the park, going potty, following instructions so well, repeating prayers at lunch, etc.)

377. Hearing Little A and C lisp the words "wuv oo" when I tuck them in bed at night and tell them, "I love you"

378. Making banana bread with J.K. and seeing his delight at mashing the bananas!

379. Tupperware all over the kitchen floor

380. Sink baths

381. Flowers by the wayside

Of Forts and Tupperware

2011-11-14T19:26:00.003-06:00

Some of today's activities:

Building forts

Playing "cats" under the fort...or is it a castle now?

(The building kept changing throughout the afternoon.)

Smiling for the camera

Having a ball with tupperware

The twins tried to help clean up after pulling out almost every piece of tupperware during chore time this evening, but I told them just to leave the mess and I would take care of it after they were in bed. I can only imagine the greater mess I would have found waiting in the cabinet if they had done the putting away! I'm just glad they had such a marvelous time keeping themselves occupied with so many fascinating shapes of plastic while the big kids and I did kitchen clean-up!

Got Smoothies?

2011-11-14T19:19:00.001-06:00

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #4

2011-11-13T19:39:00.004-06:00

Missionary Mama

How many of you wonder if you will have hot water when you go to take a shower tonight? Or tomorrow morning?

I know. It probably doesn't even cross your mind.

It never used to cross mine; at least not when I lived in the United States.

But in Ukraine and Peru, it was always a possibility that there might not be hot water.

And in Haiti, it was a definite fact that there would not be any whatsoever. (But that was okay since I was so incredibly hot and sweaty every moment of every day, the cold water felt refreshing.)

Here in Bolivia, there's certainly no guarantee that one's shower will be hot. Or that there will be running water at all.

But I've learned to accept this trait of my current home-away-from-home and live with it. To go with the flow...even if there is no flow (of water that is). :)

When I lived at House 2, getting a hot shower in the winter months was a very rare occurrence, even though we had an electric-flip object that was supposed to heat the water. It just didn't work too well. So I learned to boil a big pot of water on the stove every time I needed to bathe. Combined with the cold running water in the bathtub, I could at least take a decently warm bath. Once summer arrived, all of a sudden, we had warm-ish or even hot showers again. Maybe because the hot sun was heating the pipes?

Here at House 3, I was so very blessed to learn that hot water is the norm. Showers, sinks, you name it. Where there is water, it can be hot!

If there is gas, that is.

When the Mitchells were going over instructions and household nuances with me before leaving for the States, they warned me that eventually I would run out of gas in the containers used for heating water, operating the stove/oven, and running the dryer. But all I had to do was simply go to the corner store and buy another container. Simple enough.

The other night, I discovered that our kitchen gas tank was empty, meaning I couldn't cook. Thankfully, the director of Casa de Amor was expected for a quick visit so I enlisted her help to switch out the gas container from the dryer to the kitchen. She also ran to the corner store for me to inquire about purchasing more gas. They were out. Okay. No problem. We'll just get more gas on a different day. At least I could cook for the time being!

Last night, when it was time for the children's baths, I discovered that there was no hot water upstairs. A second gas tank out!

Thankfully, because I was used to not having hot water at House 2, I knew what to do! It's called a pot on the stove and it works wonderfully. A little more time and effort involved, but certainly no hill for a stepper, as my mom would say. As I was down in the kitchen getting set up for operation-bath-water, I saw a bottle of baby shampoo sitting next to the kitchen sink and I was reminded of the fact that little tiny girlies could be bathed in the sink! If there was hot water in the sink, I could abandon the pots and pans.

Alas, there was not. I guess the kitchen water is heated by the same gas source as the upstairs bathtub. Back to operation-bath-water boiled on the stove. But at least with the kitchen sink idea firmly planted in my mind, I would not have to lug heavy pots up the stairs to the bathtub. Not until it was my turn for a bath later that night, that is. And the boys' turn the following morning.

I have to admit, I had a delightful time giving baths to the three little girls in the kitchen sink. They had a ball too! Little A even allowed for water in her face without crying which is a huge milestone! It was so fun to spend this one-on-one time with my tiny tots washing them and drying them off and getting them ready for bed. We practiced sounds and words and sang songs and made time for snuggles. Yes, it took three times as long as usual to get them ready for bed, but precious memories were made in the process.

While I'm certainly looking forward to re-stocking our gas supply tomorrow, hopefully, and returning to the luxury of having hot, running water again, there is something to be said for the old fashioned way of giving baths.

Gotta love the mission field. You just never know what challenge will crop up next!

Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient for every trial, His creativity plenteous for every challenge.

Deeply Moved

2011-11-13T19:37:00.001-06:00

How can you read this and not be moved? Deeply, profoundly, unequivocally moved?

Oh God, give us more compassion!

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #3

2011-11-11T12:50:00.004-06:00

Midnight Escapade

It was sometime around 2:30 in the morning that I was abruptly awakened out of sleep by a cry of distress. I immediately identified the cry as being from one of the twins, and guessed it to be Little K.

Sure enough, upon walking into the girls' room to check on the situation, I saw by the light of the moon filtering through their window, my poor little baby face-down on her belly with her legs and half her torso dangling out of the wooden slats of her crib, wondering what in the world had happened to her! She must have somehow wedged her body out the slats during sleep, but was prevented from actually falling on the floor by the width of her upper body. It was actually quite funny to see her stuck like that in the middle of the night! It must have taken some kind of rolling to get into such a position! Of course, though, I could only imagine her fright at waking up and finding herself hanging so precariously, so I immediately freed her of her little prison and cuddled her for a few minutes in my arms. She immediately fell back asleep and all was well once again.

Oh, the adventures of motherhood!

The Wonder of Wonder-Dough

2011-11-11T12:23:00.004-06:00

Yesterday afternoon, I taught the children how to play with Wonder-Dough (a.k.a. play-dough) and they thought it was truly wonderful!

This is one of J.K.'s creations. He showed it to me proudly, and then asked me what it was since he didn't know. :)

A characteristic Little J "look."

Miss C loved her pink Wonder-Dough!

Oh, look! I can make my truck go over the snake!

Even the babies got in on the fun!

Little K only tried to put the stuff in her mouth one time. I caught her at it and reprimanded her. No more problems after that!

Now she's got the hang of it!

A necklace in the works.

An Api Face is a Happy Face!

2011-11-11T12:17:00.001-06:00

Blanket Time

2011-11-11T12:13:00.001-06:00

A new element of training that has begun!

Just a quick note...

2011-11-11T12:04:00.002-06:00

This is a quick note simply to say thank you to all of you who have been leaving encouraging comments lately and letting me know of your prayers for us during this time! I am sorry I don't respond to each and every comment individually; my time is just so limited these days for much computer correspondence. But I want you to know how very much I appreciate hearing so regularly from many of you! It means a whole lot.

God has definitely been answering your prayers. I am having the time of my life caring for these five, precious children and getting to play "House" with real little lives in which to invest! The blogging will continue as I'm able to sneak in a few posts during nap times and evening quiet. And please keep the comments coming! It's such a blessing to know people out there are reading and praying!

A Morning of Play

2011-11-11T11:51:00.003-06:00

The other morning, while playing with the girls in their room, we discovered that their rolling pink toy bucket makes a fabulous car!

Little K and Miss C enjoyed the rides I gave them and did well taking turns.

Meanwhile, Little A, who didn't want anything to do with the rolling pink car, sat there looking cute as a button.

Pretty in pink!

A two-seater convertible. :)

After several months of being the only volunteer serving with Casa de Amor, it was very exciting to welcome new, fellow-volunteer, Alexis, to Bolivia!

Now it's Little K's turn to do the pushing.

Hammin' in up!

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #2

2011-11-10T08:35:00.007-06:00

Meet the Children!

Since I'm with the girls all morning long while the boys are at school, it's natural that I have a lot more pictures of them! So, the other night while we were eating dinner, I made an effort to snap some photos of everyone, the boys included! Let me introduce you to my newly adopted little family:

This is Big Boy J.K. He is six years old and a great big brother to the clan. He is very capable of helping with chores and with his little brother. He is still learning how to listen to and follow instructions well, but when he gets that down, I think he will be quite the responsible young man! J.K. loves to play with cars and action figures, to impress me with his latest tricks at the park, and to watch movies (which we are limiting right now). :) He has gotten very good at thanking the tía who cooked for the meal and asking permission to be excused from the table. Now, I am working with him to tell the truth at all times and to obey immediately without arguing. He loves to run and climb trees, and chatter on about all sorts of interesting subjects.

This is Little Boy J, biological brother to J.K. Little J is a very affectionate and sensitive four year old. When he listens to instructions well, he is quite obedient and compliant. He loves to do whatever his big brother is doing and also plays very well with the twins. Little J has had trouble throughout his young life eating well, but the whole time I have been here, he has done exceptionally well eating all his food (and many times seconds as well). He thrives on praise and affirmation and shows me how well he is eating several times throughout every meal so I can admire his progress. :) Little J is learning how to say, "Please may I have..." instead of "I want...." He is also learning how to tell the truth all the time. He is a great dish rinser and sweeper! I love the hugs he gives and his smile could melt any heart.

This is sweet, stubborn, and sensitive Miss C. At three years old, she is the one who is learning the most about obedience in our household as well as eating all her breakfast and sharing with the little girls. Miss C is very helpful about getting clothes out for everyone and can even dress herself. She is also a great dish rinser and cleans the table better than children twice her age! She is absolutely in love with her shoes and will wear them any chance she gets. She also dearly loves her baby doll and is quite possessive of her. Miss C is learning how to use words rather than cries/screams to communicate what she wants. She is also learning how to speak multi-syllable words and how to recognize her colors. She loves hugs and kisses!

This is Little A, 20 months old and our most sensitive soul. She cries easily: loud noises, the bathtub, being punished, falling down, etc. Not a tough bone in her body! Yet, at the same time, when someone is sad or hurt, she will be the first one there to comfort and give love. Little A is full of smiles and giggles and affection for those she knows well. She doesn't like to swing at the park or be swung in the air in my arms, but she adores the slide and will climb to any height permitted. She loves to eat, to play, to read books, to do puzzles, and to dance to music. Little A is learning how to go potty and speak words. She is a very smart little girl full of life and love.

This is Little K, twin sister to Little A and as different a personality as could be found! Unlike her sister, Little K is a rough and tumble wiggle worm with lots of tough bones in her body! She has the absolute cutest smile on the planet and a way of wrinkling her nose when she does that makes me laugh every time! Little K is a Snuggle Bug with a capital S and will want to be held or hugged every opportunity possible. She doesn't say too many words yet, but she is working on it. She is a little ham who squints up her eyes every time I try to take a picture, making it hard to capture her true facial expressions that are so adorable. Little K seems to be slower than her twin developmentally and is physically smaller, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in toughness. She is overall very compliant and easy for everyone to play with because she is not easily offended. She is learning how not to touch her dirty foot while eating at the table, a habit she has that we are working to correct. She is also learning to say "please" instead of only "more". She loves to swing, slide, be thrown in the air, take baths, read books, do puzzles, and play happily with everyone. Little K is definitely my sidekick and buddy, never wanting to be too far away. Her snuggles make my day everyday.

A Way with Words

2011-11-09T19:15:00.002-06:00

Ann Voskamp never ceases to amaze me with her unique ability to craft words so beautifully...so artistically...so captivatingly. Today, I clicked on her blog to read the latest of real grace and discovered that she is currently in Ecuador again, this time with her husband. This post is a true testimony to the goodness of God; He who knows us so intimately and cares for us even more than the sparrows He watches with a tender eye. Please read it. You'll be blessed as you mediate on the Lord who cares. So. Very. Much.

¡Buenos Dias!

2011-11-09T08:34:00.005-06:00

Check out the twins' morning look.

They make me start the day with a smile (and a chuckle)!

Falling In Love

2011-11-09T08:26:00.002-06:00

Look who I get to play with all morning long!

Precious? Yep. You better believe it.

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #1

2011-11-08T18:42:00.004-06:00

Well, the adventure has officially begun!

After five days here observing the household routine and spending plenty of time with the children, it came time to fly solo today.

Although, it wasn't exactly solo the whole time. Tía Ana arrived at 7:30 to help take the boys to school and do her usual cooking/cleaning duties until 3:30. And Alexis, our new volunteer freshly arrived from the United States as of yesterday, spent part of the day with us as well getting to know the adorable children of this household.

So yes, we had company throughout the day and plenty of help.

But there were also quite a few hours of actually flying solo.

I am very pleased to report that there were no major mishaps, no accidents, no diaper explosions, no burnt food, and no moments where I just wanted to pull my hair out. Not even close. There were, however, plenty of kisses given, hugs shared, books read, a trip to the park slipped in, yumminess eaten, smiles, giggles, and lots of love lavished.

It was a good day. I. Love. These. Children.

And can I also mention, just for the record, that I am also loving the little luxuries that come with the job? Things like hot running water even in the kitchen (!), a microwave, a dryer, clean-ish bathrooms nearly all the time, and (gasp!) wireless internet. Don't get me wrong. It's very possible to live without these extra little items, as I've well learned during my time here in Bolivia. But it's also such a blessing to have them again. Just sayin'...

Pictures will hopefully get posted tomorrow. The blogger in me would love to post them tonight for your enjoyment, but the mommy in me knows that my time for a shower and quiet moments with the Lord are extremely limited. Seeing as how the little ones are asleep and the house is deliciously quiet, I am opting for the shower and quiet time and then it's off to bed! 6:00 a.m. seems to come especially early here!

Therefore, without further ado, this is one tired-but-happy mommy signing off for the night. See you tomorrow blog world!

A New Adventure

2011-11-02T18:48:00.004-05:00

Starting next week, my life is about to change.

In a drastic way.

I'm going to become a mommy.

For a month.

To these five children.

Yes, the thought overwhelms me.

And excites me!

But God overwhelms the overwhelming.

Because He's bigger.

And He led me to do this...

To offer myself for the care of these precious little ones while their foster parents are in the States for a month.

To be a stable force in their lives.

And so I know He will be with me.

He will give me grace for the challenges.

Joy multiplied in the act of living for others.

Training starts tomorrow.

Tomorrow I pack my bags and leave House 2 for the new adventures that await at House 3.

Please pray.

For wisdom in being a mommy.

For patience.

For love overflowing.

"Whoseover shall receive this child in my name receiveth me..."

Recipe By Reader Request

2011-11-02T18:36:00.005-05:00

As a follow-up to my post "A Long Walk for Apples," here is the recipe for the apple crisp to which I referred:

Autumn Crisp

Taken from the cookbook A Satisfying New Approach to Slimness, Vitality, and Health

Ingredients

8 large apples—peeled, cored, and sliced (Grannysmith work the best!)

¾ c. maple syrup (I didn't have any, so I used 3/4 c. honey and 1/4 c. molasses)

¼ c. honey

¼ c. whole wheat pastry flour

2 t. cinnamon

Topping

2 cups rolled oats

1 c. whole wheat flour

¾ c. cold unsalted butter

½ c. honey

2 t. cinnamon

Instructions

Grease 9x13 pan

Mix the ingredients together and turn into greased pan

Combine first 2 topping ingredients, working in butter with hands or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add honey and cinnamon, mix well

Spread over apple mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1—1 ½ hours

Disclaimer: I did not take the photo at the top of this post, so it is not actually a picture of this recipe of apple crisp. It does however look almost identical!

Remembering the Gifts...

2011-11-02T18:28:00.003-05:00

October 24, 2011

316. Adoption into my Father's family

317. Communion with God in the garden

318. The intricate depths of color in every hibiscus

319. Tall shade trees

320. A story about persecuted believers in China that reminds me to be grateful for religious freedom

321. Easy access to God's Word

322. Mom's pancake recipe

323. Rich worship in song at church

324. New insights from God's Word

325. New library books

326. Salad

327. Roses in full bloom

328. Rest

329. Little girl smiles and giggles

330. A morning walk-jog in the cool air

331. Nutritious smoothie

332. New polka-dot prayer journal

October 26, 2011

333. A loving family

334. Security, trust, confidence in my Heavenly Father, that He will never leave me

335. A happy childhood

336. My mother as one of my best friends

337. The beauty of holiness and purity

338. Satisfaction in Jesus

339. God's love that fills all the holes in one's heart

340. A beautiful baby - beauty from the ashes of something so horrible as rape

A Long Walk for Apples

2011-10-28T15:31:00.004-05:00

Last night, the tía I was working my shift with informed me that the children would not have school today due to there being a halt on public transportation in our area of town. Every now and then, the people here decide to protest something and due so by setting up blockades that prevent traffic from getting through. Thus, anyone who needs to go anywhere has to walk...unless they're lucky enough to own a motorcycle or bicycle.

When she told me this news, my heart sank. I had plans today, being my day off, for going and doing various things around town. A halt on public transportation in our area was going to make that rather inconvenient. Sigh. Oh well. Such is life in Bolivia.

I cancelled my plans for the day, except for a trip to the grocery store. I had to go to the grocery if for no other reason than to buy apples. You see, I've been invited to a fall festival party tomorrow night and asked to bring something with a fall-ish flavor. So I decided to make a delicious, healthy apple crisp recipe that is a family favorite. Nothing else would do - blockade or no blockade - meaning it was absolutely essential that I get to the store...somehow!

Here's the tricky part. The store I needed to go to is located at kilometer 2 off the main highway that runs right by our neighborhood. Our house is down on kilometer 8 1/2. That is a loooong way to walk! But I was willing to set out and just see how far we could get before public transportation was made available again. Worse case scenario: I could buy apples at the fruit stand at the medical clinic at kilometer 5.

With 8-year-old Jhosie as my traveling companion for the day, we set off to see what the situation was. Sure enough, as we neared the end of our shady neighborhood lane, we could see that the usual traffic was non-existent....well, except for the bajillions of people who were walking the highway. No buses, no trufis, no taxis. Just lots and lots of people and a few motorcycles every now and then. Oh, and of course the stray dogs that are always out and about.

As we joined the crowds on the highway, I must admit it was really kind of adventurous! Despite the fact that we didn't go well prepared for a long walk in the hot sun (no water, no hats, no sunglasses), we enjoyed the stroll down Blanco Galindo hand in hand, Jhosie chattering away like a little magpie and me keeping my eyes peeled for fruit stands along the roadside...just in case.

We walked and walked. And Jhosie talked and talked. :) It was amusing to me to observe the people around us. So many different styles! A lot carried umbrellas as Bolivians have a dislike of the sun on their skin. Several wore hats or pieces of cloth on their heads to shade their faces. (Smart people.) A number of ladies dressed in traditional Bolivian attire carried huge burdens on their backs wrapped in the characteristic bright striped cloth so common to their culture. I got a kick out of how many vendors took advantage of the hot and weary travelers having no option but to walk. There were people selling popsicles, milk pops, ice cream, juice, fried food, empanadas, and more! They seemed to be getting plenty of business.

Finally, we reached kilometer 6 1/2 where we jumped onto a trufi willing to take us until the next blockade. Fine with me. Any distance on wheels was appreciated! The driver let us off a bit ahead of the clinic where I was expecting the fruit stand. So we walked some more. Finally, we made it to the fruit stand which just so happened to be selling apples as I had hoped! They seemed a bit pricy to me, though, so I decided it was worth it to still try to make it to the grocery store where I could buy the apples I needed as well as a few more items on my list. At the clinic location, public transportation was flowing freely again. So Jhosie and I hopped onto another trufi and rode the rest of the distance to the grocery store.

We quickly did our shopping (which included some much needed water bottles and bag of corn chips!) and then caught another trufi to another grocery store around the corner where I needed a few specialty items. At last, with my shoulder bag heavy with groceries and Jhosie bearing a small bag herself, it was time to make the return trip.

Once again, we rode part of the way and walked the rest (read 2 kilometers!). With the time being close to noon, the sun high and very hot, a couple of bags of heavy groceries, and tired feet, I can assure you that the return trip was quite a bit slower and less chatty than the way to the store had been! But my traveling partner was a trooper! She didn't complain once.

We arrived home in one piece and felt quite accomplished to have experienced the adventure and exercise of a Bolivia blockade! I got on the computer after putting groceries away to figure out exactly how many miles we had covered (since I don't compute kilometers very well in my American brain). According to what I found online, it would seem we walked a total of close to 3 miles all said and done. And that was AFTER having already gone jogging this morning with two of the boys! It's a good thing I like to exercise... :)

Amazing what some people will do for a handful of apples...

Casa de Amor Picture Day!

2011-10-27T08:31:00.006-05:00

The Precious Kiddos of House 2

The Mitchells and their Adorable Brood from House 3

Sweetness

Tía Katrina and the Birthday Girls

More sweetness

Litte Miss K being goofy

Pow-wow Time

Working off some energy while waiting for the babies from House 1 to arrive

Litte Miss A

Once again, going up the slide proves so much more interesting than going down it!

Tía Elena and a "Nikon Moment"

The babies are here! All the children together at last!

My little "daughter" as everyone refers to her now. They think she looks like me, minus the blue eyes.

Love this little girl!

And this one too!

Happy Birthday A and D!

Until next time...

A Love Affair with Oats

2011-10-26T08:42:00.009-05:00

Oats, oats, oats! They're so healthy and yummy and a wonderful addition to many baked goods! It seems nowadays everything I make has oats in it! Just passing along a few of my favorite recipes that I make regularly here...

Healthy-ish Oatmeal Cookies

3 T. butter (room temp.)

1 egg

1 T. water

1/4 c. honey

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. wheat flour

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

chocolate chips or raisins to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Grease cookie sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Best Ever Granola Bars

4 1/2 c. oats

1 c. chopped nuts

1 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. honey

1 c. butter

1-2 c. chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar

(can add shredded coconut, seeds, raisins, etc. I also like to put in wheat germ or wheat bran for added nutrition!)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients and place in a greased 9X13 pan. Press with a metal spatula or back of a wooden spoon. Bake 30-35 minutes until edges are light golden brown. Remove from oven press again to condense. Allow to cool. At this point, you can cut into bars and eat them and they will be sort of like cookie bars. But I prefer to chill them in the fridge until they're hard, then cut into bars and wrap individually with plastic. They're much harder to cut once they're chilled but they hold together well. I store them in the fridge and grab one for a snack or when I am on the go. Delicious!!!

Baked Oatmeal

3 c. oats

2 tsp. baking powder

1 c. milk

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. brown sugar or honey

1 tsp. salt.

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a pan so batter is 2-4 inches deep. Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown. This is a big hit with the children of the household!

Katrina's Power Smoothie

Soy milk

Spinach (washed)

Frozen bananas

Wheat germ/bran

Oats

Honey

Flax seeds (sometimes)

Put into a blender whatever amounts of ingredients you like to get the taste and consistency you desire. Blend on high speed until the texture is creamy. Oh so delicious and super-duper healthy! A great way to start the day!

Chocolate Granola

(I make the half batch size for me and it usually lasts me about 2 weeks. If you have a big family, you can double these ingredients.)

6 c. rolled oats

1/2 c. cocoa

1/2 c. sunflower or flax seeds

1/2 c. honey

1/2 c. oil

2 T. cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt honey and oil in a saucepan and pour over mixture. Stir well. (I sometimes have to add a bit extra of the liquids to get the oats coated.) Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Stir well. Bake another 10 minutes. Let sit to crunchify. (I made that word up.) :)

Modifications: I often add shredded coconut and wheat germ/bran. You can add whatever ingredients you are interested in including. Just make sure to compensate with more liquid and possibly more cocoa!

Voeller Family Granola

(Taken from the cookbok A Satisfying New Approach to Slimness, Vitality, and Health. This is the full version recipe but I only make a half batch.)

1 c. honey

3/4 c. oil

3/4 c. butter

3 T. molasses

4 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

11 c. oats

2 c. coconut

1 c. wheat germ

3/4 c. sunflower seeds

3/4 c. chopped nuts

1/2 c. sesame seeds (I omit these since I don't have them here in Bolivia)

(Just a note: I added chopped nuts to my granola for added protein. I highly recommend doing so!)

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients and pour over dry. (Again I cooked mine on the stove, but you don't have to!) Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Stir. Bake another 10 minutes. Let sit. Store in an airtight container. Delicious with milk!

Leftover Cooked Oatmeal

We recently had a big batch of leftover cooked oatmeal (thanks to yours truly making way too much!), so I got online and looked up ways to use it. I tried a muffin recipe that was super yummy but way too crumbly. What ended up working best was to fry patties of the oatmeal like polenta in a greased skillet and eat with honey! It is super easy, VERY tasty, and had my kiddos coming back asking for more!

Living for Jesus

Once Upon a Courtship (part 2)

Once Upon a Courtship (part 1)

The Bolivian Adventure

How do you spell *BLISS*?

Christmas in January

The Happy Auntie

Our Little Cutie Pie

Jewels from Jeremiah part 3

Look Who's Here!

Home At Last!

Thank You Lord For...

Final Post from Bolivia - A Few of My Favorite Faces

New Year's Eve Bash

Bowling - The Last Hurrah!

Jewels from Jeremiah (part 2)

A Popsicle-Kind-of-Day

Jewels from Jeremiah (part 1)

Honoring the Tías

Christmas Day in Bolivia

Christmas Eve

Staff Christmas Party

Hardships and Blessings

Happy Birthday Melissa!

A Picnic At the Park

Sunshine and Smiles

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Oil Along the Way

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #7

Continuing Thankful

Of Crayons and Shoes

Such Expressions!

A Walk In the Park

More Delicious Recipes from Katrina's Kitchen

Mischief Makers

A Very Cool Looking Watermelon

Here's What's Cooking!

To Live In A Rainbow

A Time for Sprinkles

Oh the Fun of Noodle Necklaces!

Keeping Up With the Days

Passionate About God's Passion

Once Upon a Sunday Morning...

The Mommy for a Month Chronicles #6

The Hat Girls

The New Rapunzel

Mommy-For-The-Month Chronicles #5

Happy Thanksgiving from Bolivia!

Today's Dose of Daily Cuteness

Indian Day

Rainbows - A Reminder of God's Faithfulness

Dinner Guests

Straight From the Comb

Saturday Morning Pancakes

The Day We Baked a Cake

All Tuckered Out

An Update from the Days

Learning to Be a Lion Chaser

Thankful Today

Of Forts and Tupperware

Got Smoothies?

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #4

Deeply Moved

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #3

The Wonder of Wonder-Dough

An Api Face is a Happy Face!

Blanket Time

Just a quick note...

A Morning of Play

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #2

A Way with Words

¡Buenos Dias!

Falling In Love

The Mommy-For-A-Month Chronicles #1

A New Adventure

Recipe By Reader Request

Remembering the Gifts...

A Long Walk for Apples

Casa de Amor Picture Day!

A Love Affair with Oats

How do you spell BLISS?