I have a praise to share with you! As of yesterday, all of my children are now dual citizens of the USA and France. (except for Miss Callie Grace, she is a tri-citizen) They all have their American and French passports and are ready! We've been working on this process for almost 6 years and we are so excited to see prayers answered!
On the other hand, I have a prayer request that I ask you to pray for. As you know, it's more difficult for me to obtain my citizenship. I was told it's better to go ahead and get the kids done, then work on me. So, in the meantime, I applied for a Long Term Visa that is good for one year. That was approved in Miami in November. One of the requirements with obtaining this Visa is to register here in St. Barths. We did that and now have my Carte de Sejour. We were called about two months ago and told to come in and discuss the next step. Next Step? We thought we were done with the Visa stuff! When we went in, we were told I would have a series of appointments in St. Martin (the island closest to us) They have my appt. scheduled and I'm obligated to be there. So, this afternoon Patrick and I will travel to St. Martin for my Medical Examination to be done tomorrow morning. I have all the paperwork that I could obtain that I'm supposed to turn in tomorrow. Hopefully it will be a quick, easy appointment. (The next appointments are psychological examination, a class on french culture, and a signing appointment)
Since my appointment is so early, Patrick and I fly out this afternoon. We really debated about whether to take the boat or the plane. The plane is a quick 15 minute trip, but expensive. The boat is about 45 minutes, but can be quite rough. Patrick and my midwife really felt the plane would be better this far along in my pregnancy. I'm actually glad they decided this because this morning we woke up to wind and rain and rough seas! So, it's off to the friendly skies this afternoon for me and Patrick!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
"Romance in Marriage" Book Review
One of the books on my list for this month was "Romance in Marriage" by Bob and JoBeth Hooker. This is one book that I can honestly, completely recommend. It was excellent!
This is a book for married eyes only, as it gives some specifics for spicing things up! :o) But, it also has some very practical, Biblical advice. There's a section for Women, Men, and then one for both. I didn't read the men section, but I love the way Mrs. JoBeth Hooker writes. She says if your marriage is boring, then it's your fault. She's very honest and upfront. I love the chapter where she talks about our thought process. "We're not always going to have the candlight, music, flowers, or any of those things we love so much. At least, not on a daily basis. The purpose for those wonderful romantic things that create atmosphere is to trigger your thought processes and stimulate you to think about your man. You don't have to have those things to think. The key to romance for a woman is in what she chooses to think about." What an excellent point!
This book is perfect for the hurting marriage, as well as the successful one. Read it! I know you'll love it, too!
This book is available for purchase on their website, Hook Publications.
While you're at their site, I highly recommend for you to check out their patterns for Culottes. This is the pattern that my girls and I use, and we love it!
We also love their daughters Music CD's. They are one of our favorites!
This is a book for married eyes only, as it gives some specifics for spicing things up! :o) But, it also has some very practical, Biblical advice. There's a section for Women, Men, and then one for both. I didn't read the men section, but I love the way Mrs. JoBeth Hooker writes. She says if your marriage is boring, then it's your fault. She's very honest and upfront. I love the chapter where she talks about our thought process. "We're not always going to have the candlight, music, flowers, or any of those things we love so much. At least, not on a daily basis. The purpose for those wonderful romantic things that create atmosphere is to trigger your thought processes and stimulate you to think about your man. You don't have to have those things to think. The key to romance for a woman is in what she chooses to think about." What an excellent point!This book is perfect for the hurting marriage, as well as the successful one. Read it! I know you'll love it, too!
This book is available for purchase on their website, Hook Publications.
While you're at their site, I highly recommend for you to check out their patterns for Culottes. This is the pattern that my girls and I use, and we love it!
We also love their daughters Music CD's. They are one of our favorites!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A Subway in St. Barths?
Patrick and Josh claimed Family Fun Night early in the week. They wanted to plan the food and fun and the girls and I were excited about what was to come! Wednesday we received in the mail a notice about Subway opening in St. Barths and with free coupons! Wow! A shocker for here since there are no chains at all. It was a little mysterious that there was no postage. Hhhhm. After having to hideout in the bedroom for a bit on Friday, we came out to "Casper" and "Wilhelm" calling us to dinner.
We were greeted with a sign telling us of the specials of the day. Needless to say, we all ordered the Meatball sub. Yay! That's what we were hoping for!
"Casper" was full of jokes and energy and made our sandwhiches very well. (They were soooo delicious!) We had chips and soda and I even had a side salad (like I normally do at Subway)
We all had a great time eating at our Subway. I wonder if it will be open tomorrow? :o)
Then, they had planned a special activity for us. Josh and Patrick went to one of the beaches and collected 6 large coral rocks. Our job was to pick a Bible verse to paint on them. Patrick helped Silas and Callie with theirs.
They loved getting their hands painted to make a handprint!
We took our time painting and they turned out great!
IT was a great family fun night! Patrick and Josh are so creative and fun, we loved it!
We were greeted with a sign telling us of the specials of the day. Needless to say, we all ordered the Meatball sub. Yay! That's what we were hoping for!
"Casper" was full of jokes and energy and made our sandwhiches very well. (They were soooo delicious!) We had chips and soda and I even had a side salad (like I normally do at Subway)
We all had a great time eating at our Subway. I wonder if it will be open tomorrow? :o)
Then, they had planned a special activity for us. Josh and Patrick went to one of the beaches and collected 6 large coral rocks. Our job was to pick a Bible verse to paint on them. Patrick helped Silas and Callie with theirs.
They loved getting their hands painted to make a handprint!
We took our time painting and they turned out great!
IT was a great family fun night! Patrick and Josh are so creative and fun, we loved it!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Dresden Table Topper
I have had my eye on Dresdens lately. It's one of my New Years Resolutions to make something with a Dresden Plate. I love them! The only problem....I don't have a Dresden ruler and the Fabric shop here doesn't sell them. I was very excited when I saw this tutorial on making a Dresden Plate without the special ruler!http://deb-robertson.blogspot.com/2011/08/tutorial-for-dresden-plate-without.html
I love how it adds to our Living room and really ties in all of our colors. I loved making it! And I can feel a Dresden quilt coming!
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilt's Finish it up Friday!Thursday, February 23, 2012
Encouraging our Children to Seek Christ
Think for a moment about the children that God has given you. They are so precious aren’t they! The emotions a mother has for her child can sometimes be overwhelming! There are so many things I want them to know, learn and do! I have many desires for them. Of course I want them to be happy, healthy, and serve the Lord. But what is thing that I desire most for my children? I desire that they should want to seek and find Christ. It’s the most important thing that I can teach them.
Look at these verses with me in Deuteronomy chapter 6:
6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
It’s my duty to encourage my children to seek Christ. I want them to know God is a real, personal God! I want them to see my personal relationship with Him on day to day, moment to moment basis. I want to make living a Christian life so desirable that they want to have a life like that. (This is what verse 6 means by “shall be in thine heart.”) Tall task, I know! My kiddos are watching me like a hawk and one thing that Patrick and I have always told ours is that we are not perfect! But, I want them to see my heart’s desire of living for Christ. I want them to see that I truly want to seek Him with my whole heart. When I do this, and I’m real about it, they will want that kind of life, too. It makes me think of Naomi’s relationship with Ruth. What a tough time for Naomi to live through the death of her husband, then of her two sons as well. But, somehow, through all of this, Ruth saw a side of Naomi that was desirable. Naomi lived a life and had a purpose Ruth wanted. Naomi was real to Ruth, and it turn Ruth wanted to serve the God that Naomi served (Ruth 1:16 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”)
So, how can I show them an example of someone seeking and finding Christ daily?
~Have I ever shared my testimony with my kiddos? I want them to hear the details of the day I got saved. I want them to hear and feel my excitement when I talk about the greatest decision I ever made!
~Have I ever talked to my teenage kiddos about my life as a teenager? Now, I’m not saying I need to share every sin with them, but it would be okay for them to know some of the struggles I faced and how Christ helped me with victories in my life. I want them to learn from my mistakes, not make the same ones I did.
~Do my children know how the Lord is speaking to my heart through my daily devotions? I need to share with them how the Lord gave me a verse to ponder on throughout the day and what I want to do for Him.
~What about what the Lord is teaching me through the preaching of His Word? After church it’s easy to talk about who was there and who wasn’t or to talk about the cute dress Mrs. “So and So” was wearing or the new haircut she had. But, what about talking about how the Word of God spoke to your heart during the message. Tell them about the decisions you made at the altar and how excited you are to serve the Lord!
My children need to see that I’m a real person and that it’s my desire to grow closer and closer to the Lord each day. I want them to see that the Lord is involved in every area of my life and that I am seeking Him in as many ways as possible! This is what Deuteronomy 6:7 means by saying, when you’re sitting, when you’re walking, when you’re lying down, when you’re rising up….that’s pretty much all the time! I truly believe that the way I can encourage our children to seek the Lord themselves is to see a Godly example from me! They sure are watching and they’re trying to decide if they want to live this Christian life, or not. I want to point them to Christ!
That last thing to remember is that one of my responsibilities as a mother and wife is to make sure that our home if Spirit-filled. (notice verse 9 speaks of the “house”) We set the tone and atmosphere of the house while our husbands are out at work. When we do the above things, we make a “home” that Christ can have preeminence in and be able to shape and form the hearts and lives of our children. Christ should be able to be “found” throughout our home!
I encourage you, dear Mother, to encourage your children to seek Christ!
Look at these verses with me in Deuteronomy chapter 6:
6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
It’s my duty to encourage my children to seek Christ. I want them to know God is a real, personal God! I want them to see my personal relationship with Him on day to day, moment to moment basis. I want to make living a Christian life so desirable that they want to have a life like that. (This is what verse 6 means by “shall be in thine heart.”) Tall task, I know! My kiddos are watching me like a hawk and one thing that Patrick and I have always told ours is that we are not perfect! But, I want them to see my heart’s desire of living for Christ. I want them to see that I truly want to seek Him with my whole heart. When I do this, and I’m real about it, they will want that kind of life, too. It makes me think of Naomi’s relationship with Ruth. What a tough time for Naomi to live through the death of her husband, then of her two sons as well. But, somehow, through all of this, Ruth saw a side of Naomi that was desirable. Naomi lived a life and had a purpose Ruth wanted. Naomi was real to Ruth, and it turn Ruth wanted to serve the God that Naomi served (Ruth 1:16 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”)
So, how can I show them an example of someone seeking and finding Christ daily?
~Have I ever shared my testimony with my kiddos? I want them to hear the details of the day I got saved. I want them to hear and feel my excitement when I talk about the greatest decision I ever made!
~Have I ever talked to my teenage kiddos about my life as a teenager? Now, I’m not saying I need to share every sin with them, but it would be okay for them to know some of the struggles I faced and how Christ helped me with victories in my life. I want them to learn from my mistakes, not make the same ones I did.
~Do my children know how the Lord is speaking to my heart through my daily devotions? I need to share with them how the Lord gave me a verse to ponder on throughout the day and what I want to do for Him.
~What about what the Lord is teaching me through the preaching of His Word? After church it’s easy to talk about who was there and who wasn’t or to talk about the cute dress Mrs. “So and So” was wearing or the new haircut she had. But, what about talking about how the Word of God spoke to your heart during the message. Tell them about the decisions you made at the altar and how excited you are to serve the Lord!
My children need to see that I’m a real person and that it’s my desire to grow closer and closer to the Lord each day. I want them to see that the Lord is involved in every area of my life and that I am seeking Him in as many ways as possible! This is what Deuteronomy 6:7 means by saying, when you’re sitting, when you’re walking, when you’re lying down, when you’re rising up….that’s pretty much all the time! I truly believe that the way I can encourage our children to seek the Lord themselves is to see a Godly example from me! They sure are watching and they’re trying to decide if they want to live this Christian life, or not. I want to point them to Christ!
That last thing to remember is that one of my responsibilities as a mother and wife is to make sure that our home if Spirit-filled. (notice verse 9 speaks of the “house”) We set the tone and atmosphere of the house while our husbands are out at work. When we do the above things, we make a “home” that Christ can have preeminence in and be able to shape and form the hearts and lives of our children. Christ should be able to be “found” throughout our home!
I encourage you, dear Mother, to encourage your children to seek Christ!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Cake Ministry
The girls cake ministry is going strong for the month of February! We've had several birthdays and the girls cakes are turning out perfect!
Mom sent them some small cupcake/mini cake boxes that are working perfectly for a Happy Birthday Cake.
The cake recipe they use is a butter cake. It's almost like a poundcake and I can't get enough of it! I'm so proud of my girls working hard making cakes and buttercream from scratch, then designing and decorating cakes. I know it takes some effort, but I'm so thankful for their willing hearts!
Mom sent them some small cupcake/mini cake boxes that are working perfectly for a Happy Birthday Cake.
The cake recipe they use is a butter cake. It's almost like a poundcake and I can't get enough of it! I'm so proud of my girls working hard making cakes and buttercream from scratch, then designing and decorating cakes. I know it takes some effort, but I'm so thankful for their willing hearts!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A "Courageous" Family Fun Night
It's been a busy busy week. I hadn't really planned an activity for our Family Fun Night. Did I plan the food? Oh, of course! (And we have finally found the absolutely perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe!) But, I just figured we would play a family game or two and have some fun playing and talking. Well, guess what came in the mail Friday afternoon?
My sister, Keela, and her husband, William, sent us the movie Courageous! Yay! We were sooooo excited! So, we had dinner, and a movie (actually it was a late movie, I knew my two babies didn't need to see this one yet)
Thanks Keela and William for sending this to us! You're so sweet and thoughtful to remember us and make us feel so loved.
So, what did we think of the movie? We loved it! What a great movie with a great message, too.
My sister, Keela, and her husband, William, sent us the movie Courageous! Yay! We were sooooo excited! So, we had dinner, and a movie (actually it was a late movie, I knew my two babies didn't need to see this one yet) Thanks Keela and William for sending this to us! You're so sweet and thoughtful to remember us and make us feel so loved.
So, what did we think of the movie? We loved it! What a great movie with a great message, too.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
It happened....
Something that we've been trying to prevent ever since we arrived here 10 months ago happened. We ran out of water. As you know, we live off of the rain water here. It collects in the gutters around our roof (the place where our doves love to hang out!) and goes into our cistern than runs under our house. We knew we were running low, and when the water pressure wasn't strong anymore, we knew it was time to buy a truck full of water.
We called the water man and said he would bring us a truck full of water. Praise the Lord for same day delivery! He brought us 3 square meters of water which he put in our cistern using a long hose.
He was surprised we're not hooked up to the city water yet. The city now has a desalinization unit where it filters ocean water so it is suitable to use. We're hoping to have a meter installed out front soon where we can fill buckets with the water and replenish our cistern. It's not too cheap to buy city water, but it sure beats the 130 euros we paid! ($170)
After the man left Josh quickly checked to see how high our water is now. Well, the bad news is that it barely raised the water line. The great news is that the Lord gave us the oppurtunity to meet one more person from St. Barths! We gave him a gospel tract and invited him to our services Sunday. Please be praying for him!
We called the water man and said he would bring us a truck full of water. Praise the Lord for same day delivery! He brought us 3 square meters of water which he put in our cistern using a long hose.
He was surprised we're not hooked up to the city water yet. The city now has a desalinization unit where it filters ocean water so it is suitable to use. We're hoping to have a meter installed out front soon where we can fill buckets with the water and replenish our cistern. It's not too cheap to buy city water, but it sure beats the 130 euros we paid! ($170)
After the man left Josh quickly checked to see how high our water is now. Well, the bad news is that it barely raised the water line. The great news is that the Lord gave us the oppurtunity to meet one more person from St. Barths! We gave him a gospel tract and invited him to our services Sunday. Please be praying for him!So, what did we do after the water arrived? Tons and tons of laundry and nice showers for everyone! We've been trying to conserve in every way possible! Now, we're afraid to check our cistern to see where the level is at! Please pray with us, as we enter our dry season, for a good rain! (I would love some thunder to go along with it!) God is able!!!
Friday, February 17, 2012
My Heart of the Matter Reminder
I had a great time making this mini quilt/wall hanging for my sewing area. Mom bought me the Sanibel fabric by Heather Mulder Peterson and I LOVE IT! I have lots of little projects planned to do with this set so it will cover my living room! (I already made throw pillows for the couch)
My main purpose in making this, though, was to be a reminder for me of my Heart of the Matter Bible Study. I want to see and be reminded of the word I choose each month to focus on.
So, if you look even closer you can see I've embroidered the word for January (dwell) and the word for February (seek) in its' own square. There are 16 squares total, so the 4 corner squares will be left blank. But, the other 12 will each have a word. I know it's not normal to embroider after you've finished the entire quilt, but that's how it will work for this project, since I'm praying about the word for each month!
I love the colors it adds to my living room and I love how it's a reminder for me!
My main purpose in making this, though, was to be a reminder for me of my Heart of the Matter Bible Study. I want to see and be reminded of the word I choose each month to focus on.
So, if you look even closer you can see I've embroidered the word for January (dwell) and the word for February (seek) in its' own square. There are 16 squares total, so the 4 corner squares will be left blank. But, the other 12 will each have a word. I know it's not normal to embroider after you've finished the entire quilt, but that's how it will work for this project, since I'm praying about the word for each month!
I love the colors it adds to my living room and I love how it's a reminder for me!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Seeking my husband (Heart of the Matter Bible Study)
I’ve had some mixed emotions about writing this post. Part of me was excited to see what the Lord would reveal to me concerning seeking my husband. Then there’s the other part of me that feels guilty. When Patrick and I were first married, I was very romantic. I planned special things for him, wrote him lots of notes, and was very creative. He loved it! Now, fast forward 17 years. We have a wonderful marriage, but sometimes romance takes a backseat to the daily hustle and bustle of kiddos, ministry and just keeping up with the laundry! I have to admit, I feel guilty about not keeping up all the fun, creative things I used to do for my husband. Does he feel loved? Sure. But, I want him to know that after Christ, he is my everything. I want him to know he is my priority, that he has my heart, occupies my thoughts, and is in my dreams.
So, how does a “pulled-in every direction” wife let her man know this?
By seeking him.
I’ve been praying, “Lord, show me how to seek my husband, please! Give me practical ideas to make sure he knows how special he is to me.” Here are a few things He revealed to me:
1. The Lord has given me an amazing library of great books by Godly woman. I’ve read most of them…..about 15 years ago! Some I’ve never even read! I posted about my reading goals and one of them is to read the book Romance in Marriage. Well, I’m halfway through it and it is an amazing book! It’s making me to see things that I’ve forgotten and has helped me to be a little more creative, too! Proverbs 12:15 says, “He that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” So, the Lord has given some Godly counsel to me, through the authors of these books….it’s time I read them again!
2. To seek my husband means I’m going to be by his side, right there with him. Now, I know it’s not possible to be with our husbands 24/7. Times apart are necessary but absence does make the heart grow fonder! Now that we are on the mission field Patrick and I find that we are together a lot! We do like it this way but sometimes it’s easy to be in the same house yet not truly be together. We see each other all throughout the day, go on visitation together, work the ministry together but there hasn’t been that meaningful time together. Know what I mean? This is why we have to purposely make meaningful times together actually happen. You know what kind of times I mean. The times when you’re not talking about kids, or finances. Times when you laugh, giggle, flirt, and just look at one another. Make those times happen. If that means staying up a little later, then do it! If it means putting aside something you’ve been wanting to get to all day so you can have those moments, then do it! Look for opportunities to be with your husband and just flirt with him. ..and don’t forget to pray for those opportunities, too!
3. Like what your husband likes. When we first got married I wasn’t so crazy about football. I loved the excitement of going to games and the anticipation of eating the junk food, but as for the game itself, I had no clue! One year I made it a resolution to read the book Football for Dummies. I learned the basic rules of the game and what the refs were raising their hands about. I found out that I actually like football. (Well, I tend to like the story behind the player more than the game…I actually posted about it!) The main point is, I’m with Patrick. I’m liking what he likes. I’m seeking to be with him. I do have to praise the Lord that there are no deer on St. Barths, though. I’ve never really enjoyed the thought of hunting Bambi! Work your hardest to have a connection with what he likes and what interests him.
4. Remember all the creative things you did when you were dating and first married, and do them again! Write notes to him, bring him a cool drink while he’s mowing the yard, hand him the tools while he works on the car, make him his favorites. Seek to show him that you think about him….a lot! (and when you do these things throughout the day, don’t forget to “bat an eye” and make it fun!)
5. Praise him. Talk about all his good things to other people. Tell the kids what an amazing Dad they have. Whisper in his ear how cute he is. Seek for opportunities to build up your man. It’s your job and you don’t want anyone else to steal that job from you!
As I read of the Proverbs 31 woman, and of the husband-wife relationship in Song of Solomon, I can’t help but see the desire this lady had for her man. She puts forth a lot of effort to make him feel loved. In return, her husband praises her! Wow! What a benefit! What lady doesn’t want to hear sweet compliments from her man? Seeking does take effort. It takes forethought and planning. It can be tiring at times, but we will find that in seeking our husband that the Lord will gives us joy in our hearts for our man. We will have a fire for him that we’ve forgotten about. The benefits of our seeking are some that I can’t live without!
So, how does a “pulled-in every direction” wife let her man know this?
By seeking him.
I’ve been praying, “Lord, show me how to seek my husband, please! Give me practical ideas to make sure he knows how special he is to me.” Here are a few things He revealed to me:
1. The Lord has given me an amazing library of great books by Godly woman. I’ve read most of them…..about 15 years ago! Some I’ve never even read! I posted about my reading goals and one of them is to read the book Romance in Marriage. Well, I’m halfway through it and it is an amazing book! It’s making me to see things that I’ve forgotten and has helped me to be a little more creative, too! Proverbs 12:15 says, “He that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” So, the Lord has given some Godly counsel to me, through the authors of these books….it’s time I read them again!
2. To seek my husband means I’m going to be by his side, right there with him. Now, I know it’s not possible to be with our husbands 24/7. Times apart are necessary but absence does make the heart grow fonder! Now that we are on the mission field Patrick and I find that we are together a lot! We do like it this way but sometimes it’s easy to be in the same house yet not truly be together. We see each other all throughout the day, go on visitation together, work the ministry together but there hasn’t been that meaningful time together. Know what I mean? This is why we have to purposely make meaningful times together actually happen. You know what kind of times I mean. The times when you’re not talking about kids, or finances. Times when you laugh, giggle, flirt, and just look at one another. Make those times happen. If that means staying up a little later, then do it! If it means putting aside something you’ve been wanting to get to all day so you can have those moments, then do it! Look for opportunities to be with your husband and just flirt with him. ..and don’t forget to pray for those opportunities, too!
3. Like what your husband likes. When we first got married I wasn’t so crazy about football. I loved the excitement of going to games and the anticipation of eating the junk food, but as for the game itself, I had no clue! One year I made it a resolution to read the book Football for Dummies. I learned the basic rules of the game and what the refs were raising their hands about. I found out that I actually like football. (Well, I tend to like the story behind the player more than the game…I actually posted about it!) The main point is, I’m with Patrick. I’m liking what he likes. I’m seeking to be with him. I do have to praise the Lord that there are no deer on St. Barths, though. I’ve never really enjoyed the thought of hunting Bambi! Work your hardest to have a connection with what he likes and what interests him.
4. Remember all the creative things you did when you were dating and first married, and do them again! Write notes to him, bring him a cool drink while he’s mowing the yard, hand him the tools while he works on the car, make him his favorites. Seek to show him that you think about him….a lot! (and when you do these things throughout the day, don’t forget to “bat an eye” and make it fun!)
5. Praise him. Talk about all his good things to other people. Tell the kids what an amazing Dad they have. Whisper in his ear how cute he is. Seek for opportunities to build up your man. It’s your job and you don’t want anyone else to steal that job from you!
As I read of the Proverbs 31 woman, and of the husband-wife relationship in Song of Solomon, I can’t help but see the desire this lady had for her man. She puts forth a lot of effort to make him feel loved. In return, her husband praises her! Wow! What a benefit! What lady doesn’t want to hear sweet compliments from her man? Seeking does take effort. It takes forethought and planning. It can be tiring at times, but we will find that in seeking our husband that the Lord will gives us joy in our hearts for our man. We will have a fire for him that we’ve forgotten about. The benefits of our seeking are some that I can’t live without!
Our Valentine's Day
The day before Valentine's Day, I gave everyone an invitation to a Learning is Fun Academy's Class Valentine's Luncheon. (Learning is Fun Academy is the name they gave our school when we started homeschooling 8 years ago.) The requirement was to also bring a homemade Valentine for the Principal, the Monitor, and also all the high school, middle school and preschool students. (That's all of us!) Everyone worked hard cutting and pasting and making some amazing Valentines.
Then, before we ate we shared them with one another. (I helped Silas and Callie make some neat butterfly/pencil holder/ Valentines.) There were many sweet words written and some funny messages, too!
Even Callie loved looking at her cards (and eating the raisins, too!)
Then came time for Chicken Nuggets, Fries, Soda and some yummy dessert! I sure do love my family! Happy Valentines Day!
I wasn't able to find any candy hearts or any type of Valentine Candy here, so Mom, are you reading? I would really love some Candy hearts (they're my favorite!) when I come to Florida in a month! :o) hint hint
Then, before we ate we shared them with one another. (I helped Silas and Callie make some neat butterfly/pencil holder/ Valentines.) There were many sweet words written and some funny messages, too!
Even Callie loved looking at her cards (and eating the raisins, too!)
Then came time for Chicken Nuggets, Fries, Soda and some yummy dessert! I sure do love my family! Happy Valentines Day!
I wasn't able to find any candy hearts or any type of Valentine Candy here, so Mom, are you reading? I would really love some Candy hearts (they're my favorite!) when I come to Florida in a month! :o) hint hint Pray for Maria
Maria is a dear lady who was the first one to come to our Bible Studies. She has been such a blessing to us! She is faithful and growing in the Lord by leaps and bounds! (She was saved in 1980 in Michigan) About two weeks ago she went into the hospital with chest pains. She soon found out that she had had two heart attacks. Finally after almost 2 weeks she was transferred on Sunday to Martinique where she can have the surgery needed to unblock her arteries. There are two spots that are blocked.
She called this morning to say that the surgery is scheduled today for 10am. I told her we would definitely be praying for her and we're ready for her to come back home! Her spirits are doing great and she has joy in her heart. Her surroundings are a different story. I'm realizing through this that in America we are so blessed. I've taken for granted the clean conditions we have in our hospitals! Where Maria is there is no air-conditioning, only a small window with a light breeze coming through. All phones and lights are turned off by 8pm. Cold showers (no hot water) are all you can do IF you don't have an IV...otherwise you must stay in bed, with just your birthday suit and a sheet. No Tv's in the room unless you pay the 8 euros a day, then you can have it Monday through Friday. Expect some mildew in the bathroom, or as Maria put it, A LOT! After her surgery she will not be able to leave her bed for 48 hours for anything.
So, please remember Maria today. She's ready to feel better, and to come home.
If you're in a place where hospital conditions are better than what she's experiencing, then you need to be thankful. We really do take a lot for granted, don't we?
She called this morning to say that the surgery is scheduled today for 10am. I told her we would definitely be praying for her and we're ready for her to come back home! Her spirits are doing great and she has joy in her heart. Her surroundings are a different story. I'm realizing through this that in America we are so blessed. I've taken for granted the clean conditions we have in our hospitals! Where Maria is there is no air-conditioning, only a small window with a light breeze coming through. All phones and lights are turned off by 8pm. Cold showers (no hot water) are all you can do IF you don't have an IV...otherwise you must stay in bed, with just your birthday suit and a sheet. No Tv's in the room unless you pay the 8 euros a day, then you can have it Monday through Friday. Expect some mildew in the bathroom, or as Maria put it, A LOT! After her surgery she will not be able to leave her bed for 48 hours for anything.
So, please remember Maria today. She's ready to feel better, and to come home.
If you're in a place where hospital conditions are better than what she's experiencing, then you need to be thankful. We really do take a lot for granted, don't we?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
31 weeks!
We have now reached the 31 week mark in our pregnancy. Baby is growing and kicking ferociously! I definitely have an active one! Silas and Callie have started kissing my belly and talking to baby. It's soooo cute! For the most part I have lots of energy! Praise the Lord! I am able to get lots accomplished during the day and do so much fun stuff, too! But, there are days that it just hits me that I'm exhausted. Like the day my sweet hubby took this pic...
It was 10 o'clock and I was drained already. Before I knew it I was asleep on the floor and Silas and Callie assumed it was time to play doctor. Notice my blood pressure being taken? Shortly after this I went to bed and slept until 3! I'm very blessed to have a husband that will take care of the little ones and the older ones at school during times like this. I know it puts him behind in the schedule he wants to keep of working on messages, visiting and other missionary responsiblities.
I woke up to two babies napping, 3 older ones finishing up school for the day, and a clean house. Thank you Patrick! I love you!
It was 10 o'clock and I was drained already. Before I knew it I was asleep on the floor and Silas and Callie assumed it was time to play doctor. Notice my blood pressure being taken? Shortly after this I went to bed and slept until 3! I'm very blessed to have a husband that will take care of the little ones and the older ones at school during times like this. I know it puts him behind in the schedule he wants to keep of working on messages, visiting and other missionary responsiblities.I woke up to two babies napping, 3 older ones finishing up school for the day, and a clean house. Thank you Patrick! I love you!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday School/Nursery for Silas and Callie
Elisabeth and Brenna have really enjoyed being Sunday School teachers for Silas and Callie. They trade off each week and really plan a great lesson. Silas and Callie love it! Through the week they come up with a lesson (I let them choose what to teach them), visual aids, songs, and a craft or game. Brenna has been doing a series with them of the days of creation. She has some cute craft ideas! This week she used the little people animals to talk about the animals that were created.
I think their favorite time is song time! Silas and Callie have great memories for songs and their motions.
So, each Sunday they sit with us for a few of the songs and announcements, then they head off to the nursery for a great Bible lesson and fun! I love the look on their faces as they go to the nursery, AKA their bedroom! :o) They love it!
I think their favorite time is song time! Silas and Callie have great memories for songs and their motions. 
So, each Sunday they sit with us for a few of the songs and announcements, then they head off to the nursery for a great Bible lesson and fun! I love the look on their faces as they go to the nursery, AKA their bedroom! :o) They love it!Friday, February 10, 2012
Pinwheels and Petals
Baby #6 is due in about 9 weeks! yay! I love to make my quilts for my babies! But, since we love the surprise of finding out if we're having a boy or girl, I love making a girl quilt and a boy quilt to have ready. If you remember before Miss Callie Grace was born, I made this quilt entitled Sweet Dreams. So, I have the baby boy quilt ready, but I needed another girl quilt! So, introducing, Pinwheels and Petals!
While in Florida a friend of mine gave me a huge amount of yellow buttery/bright gingham. (Thanks, Mrs. Paulene!) I loved the yellowy color and to me it screamed, BABY GIRL! So, my sweet Mom let me raid her stash to find the perfect fabric to go with my gingham. She even had the perfect soft-flannel for the backing! Thanks, Mom/Grandma! When I got back to Saint Barths I rounded out the fabric with a few more pinks and yellow I had here.
I knew I wanted to have a nice big appliqued flower somewhere on it. Tay, do you recognize the fabric? I think it's leftover from Chloe's baby quilt!
Here's the back. It's sooooo soft!
I knew I wanted to do a pinwheel quilt this year. I love em'! Then, I thought about combining my two goals of ~baby girl quilt and pinwheel quilt. I love the combo!
I love how this quilt turned out! Definitely homemade, though. I want to work on my binding (it's getting better, but Mom is going to give me a "live" tutorial when we get to Florida!) and I want to work on lining up my corners and points better. I'm definitely not a perfectionist, so this isn't driving me crazy like it would some people, but I do want to get better! Well, gotta run and work on my next project! Happy Quilting!
While in Florida a friend of mine gave me a huge amount of yellow buttery/bright gingham. (Thanks, Mrs. Paulene!) I loved the yellowy color and to me it screamed, BABY GIRL! So, my sweet Mom let me raid her stash to find the perfect fabric to go with my gingham. She even had the perfect soft-flannel for the backing! Thanks, Mom/Grandma! When I got back to Saint Barths I rounded out the fabric with a few more pinks and yellow I had here.
I knew I wanted to have a nice big appliqued flower somewhere on it. Tay, do you recognize the fabric? I think it's leftover from Chloe's baby quilt!
Here's the back. It's sooooo soft!
I knew I wanted to do a pinwheel quilt this year. I love em'! Then, I thought about combining my two goals of ~baby girl quilt and pinwheel quilt. I love the combo!
I love how this quilt turned out! Definitely homemade, though. I want to work on my binding (it's getting better, but Mom is going to give me a "live" tutorial when we get to Florida!) and I want to work on lining up my corners and points better. I'm definitely not a perfectionist, so this isn't driving me crazy like it would some people, but I do want to get better! Well, gotta run and work on my next project! Happy Quilting!Thursday, February 9, 2012
Heart of the Matter-Seeking Christ Part 2
I’ve been praying and asking the Lord to show me how to seek Him in my everyday life. I want that blessing of a rejoicing heart! As I’ve prayed the Lord gave me a thought. Do remember when you first met your husband to be? I remember meeting Patrick and being fascinated with him. He was so fun and kind and caring. Each time I was with him I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to know his likes, his dislikes, what he enjoyed doing and what annoyed him. As we grew closer and closer, I wanted to be the one he enjoyed being with!
I realized this week that we are the bride of Christ and as we desire to seek Him more and more, we have the similar feelings as one seeking out their husband-to-be. We should want to know more about this kind and caring Saviour that loves us. As I thought on this, I realized how amazing Christ is. Just think of His names: Wonderful, Our Sure Foundation, The Great Shepherd... If you’re like me you tend to think of the names of Christ in the past. For instance, I remember when He was my Great Physician (when there was a time I was sick). I remember when He was my comforter (at a time I was battling difficulties). It’s so good for us to remember! But, what about today? He wants to be our God on a daily, regular basis!
So, here’s what I did. I’ll give you a couple of my examples, but it’s best to come up with your own. I wrote down the names of Christ found in the Bible. (I love our Power Bible CD program for our computer!) I picked out the ones I wanted to focus on. Then, I asked the Lord to show Himself real to me on a daily basis using these names.
Here are a couple of the names of Christ that I picked out:
He is “The Bread of Life.” (John 6:33, 35, and 48) I love to make bread! When I first got married I knew I wanted to be a baker of bread. Poor Patrick has endured many flat, non-risen, too sweet, too salty, too bland, just plain yucky loaves of bread! But, as I’ve practiced and read many cook books, I’ve learned to make a loaf that my family loves. They can smell it in the oven and are ready to butter it and dig in! It’s funny though, after all the work of bread making, we eat up the two loaves in just minutes. Then, the next day they want more! We’re never really satisfied with the bread from yesterday, we want it daily! Christ is the Bread of Life! He is a satisfying Bread and if we eat of this bread we will never hunger again! Wow! It is amazing to think that all of my needs and cares are satisfied daily when I partake of Christ, my Bread of Life!
He is ”The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) Turmoil…some days just feel like I never get started right and they just go in turmoil! Now, it’s nothing serious, but you know Mommy life! My potty training boy wakes up with an accident. So, your day is started with showering him, then a washing of his plastic sheet, and sheet set. Next it’s “hurry and get breakfast going so the older ones can start school”, but wait… we don’t have any milk? Okay, how can I make biscuits without milk…and flour? Sweet hubby runs to store for bread…not really how he wanted to start his day. Then, baby girl decides to try and make breakfast herself since she is starving and manages to pour the whole box of Apple Juice on your freshly mopped floors. You quickly wipe it up along with the chocolate milk that was spilled in the next room. As your husband walks in with the bread from the store (and sticks to the floor with each step because you missed a spot with the juice) he asks, “Why are you still in your jammies?” Ever have a morning like that? Some days can be a little rough from the get-go! But one the names that I need to remember is that Christ wants to be my Prince of Peace. Sweet peace, it’s what every Momma needs! Focusing on this name of Christ, taking a deep breath, and remembering everything He suffered for me, helps me to put my “turmoil” into perspective. Once I’ve put things into perspective, then I am able to laugh at everything that has happened in the first 10 minutes of my day. This can help me to have peace. Thank you Lord for wanting to give me that!
He is “The Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 16:22) When I see the first light of day coming over the mountain and it gets brighter and brighter and brings with it the excitement of a new day, I can remember, He is The Bright and Morning Star! Each morning is fresh and new with no mistakes!
He is “My Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6) When I need help and direction, He wants to be the one to guide me! He has even told me to “cast my cares upon Him!”
He is “The Friend of Sinners” (Matt. 11:19) When I fail Him yet again, He continues to be my friend!
Remember the promise from the Lord that if we seek Him we will find Him. Go about your daily tasks looking and seeking for Christ. We will find that He is there with us the entire day!
I realized this week that we are the bride of Christ and as we desire to seek Him more and more, we have the similar feelings as one seeking out their husband-to-be. We should want to know more about this kind and caring Saviour that loves us. As I thought on this, I realized how amazing Christ is. Just think of His names: Wonderful, Our Sure Foundation, The Great Shepherd... If you’re like me you tend to think of the names of Christ in the past. For instance, I remember when He was my Great Physician (when there was a time I was sick). I remember when He was my comforter (at a time I was battling difficulties). It’s so good for us to remember! But, what about today? He wants to be our God on a daily, regular basis!
So, here’s what I did. I’ll give you a couple of my examples, but it’s best to come up with your own. I wrote down the names of Christ found in the Bible. (I love our Power Bible CD program for our computer!) I picked out the ones I wanted to focus on. Then, I asked the Lord to show Himself real to me on a daily basis using these names.
Here are a couple of the names of Christ that I picked out:
He is “The Bread of Life.” (John 6:33, 35, and 48) I love to make bread! When I first got married I knew I wanted to be a baker of bread. Poor Patrick has endured many flat, non-risen, too sweet, too salty, too bland, just plain yucky loaves of bread! But, as I’ve practiced and read many cook books, I’ve learned to make a loaf that my family loves. They can smell it in the oven and are ready to butter it and dig in! It’s funny though, after all the work of bread making, we eat up the two loaves in just minutes. Then, the next day they want more! We’re never really satisfied with the bread from yesterday, we want it daily! Christ is the Bread of Life! He is a satisfying Bread and if we eat of this bread we will never hunger again! Wow! It is amazing to think that all of my needs and cares are satisfied daily when I partake of Christ, my Bread of Life!
He is ”The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) Turmoil…some days just feel like I never get started right and they just go in turmoil! Now, it’s nothing serious, but you know Mommy life! My potty training boy wakes up with an accident. So, your day is started with showering him, then a washing of his plastic sheet, and sheet set. Next it’s “hurry and get breakfast going so the older ones can start school”, but wait… we don’t have any milk? Okay, how can I make biscuits without milk…and flour? Sweet hubby runs to store for bread…not really how he wanted to start his day. Then, baby girl decides to try and make breakfast herself since she is starving and manages to pour the whole box of Apple Juice on your freshly mopped floors. You quickly wipe it up along with the chocolate milk that was spilled in the next room. As your husband walks in with the bread from the store (and sticks to the floor with each step because you missed a spot with the juice) he asks, “Why are you still in your jammies?” Ever have a morning like that? Some days can be a little rough from the get-go! But one the names that I need to remember is that Christ wants to be my Prince of Peace. Sweet peace, it’s what every Momma needs! Focusing on this name of Christ, taking a deep breath, and remembering everything He suffered for me, helps me to put my “turmoil” into perspective. Once I’ve put things into perspective, then I am able to laugh at everything that has happened in the first 10 minutes of my day. This can help me to have peace. Thank you Lord for wanting to give me that!
He is “The Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 16:22) When I see the first light of day coming over the mountain and it gets brighter and brighter and brings with it the excitement of a new day, I can remember, He is The Bright and Morning Star! Each morning is fresh and new with no mistakes!
He is “My Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6) When I need help and direction, He wants to be the one to guide me! He has even told me to “cast my cares upon Him!”
He is “The Friend of Sinners” (Matt. 11:19) When I fail Him yet again, He continues to be my friend!
Remember the promise from the Lord that if we seek Him we will find Him. Go about your daily tasks looking and seeking for Christ. We will find that He is there with us the entire day!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A Valentine's Idea
I have loved getting to "meet" other missionary wives through blogland. They've been such an encouragement and inspiration to this newbie!
My friend, Maria, at Raising 4 Princesses has a great blog! She has a feature called T'Time where she encourages others to take time for their children and husbands. She asked if I would be a guest blogger for her special Valentines Series. Awww! How sweet of her to ask me! I wrote about having a special Candlelight Dinner with your special man. (Something that is on our schedule for Feb. 14th!)
Check out Maria's blog, you'll love it, I promise!
My friend, Maria, at Raising 4 Princesses has a great blog! She has a feature called T'Time where she encourages others to take time for their children and husbands. She asked if I would be a guest blogger for her special Valentines Series. Awww! How sweet of her to ask me! I wrote about having a special Candlelight Dinner with your special man. (Something that is on our schedule for Feb. 14th!)
Check out Maria's blog, you'll love it, I promise!
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Delicious Family Fun Night!
When we talked about our family fun night earlier in the week, Josh mentioned he would love it if we could make corndogs! MMMM, that's one of those foods that if you haven't had in a while, it sounds sooo good! (We can't get them here) So, I looked up on allrecipes (love that site!) and found a great recipe.
They turned out great! We decided to make them as corndog bites instead of on sticks. Oh la la!
As Patrick was frying them up, he told me he wanted to play a couple of tricks on Josh. Usually when we try new foods on FFN, we all have our first taste together. So, in Josh's corndog there wasn't a dog! He took a bite, stared at his corn dog and said, "Well, it's good, but mine doesn't have a hot dog in it." Ha! Then, we filled one of his with chopped up green olives. (Not his favorite) He took one big bite, stared at his corndog again, and then made the most horrible sound while running to the trash can. Ha! Don't worry, after he recovered he ate plenty of corndogs until he was stuffed!
They turned out great! We decided to make them as corndog bites instead of on sticks. Oh la la!As Patrick was frying them up, he told me he wanted to play a couple of tricks on Josh. Usually when we try new foods on FFN, we all have our first taste together. So, in Josh's corndog there wasn't a dog! He took a bite, stared at his corn dog and said, "Well, it's good, but mine doesn't have a hot dog in it." Ha! Then, we filled one of his with chopped up green olives. (Not his favorite) He took one big bite, stared at his corndog again, and then made the most horrible sound while running to the trash can. Ha! Don't worry, after he recovered he ate plenty of corndogs until he was stuffed!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Whatcha Readin'?
My blogging/missionary friend Susan in Vancouver posted that she is joining another blogger in a challenge to read some books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was excited when I saw this! I've only read here and there of the Little House series (Love love love the shows, though!), but my Beth just finished the whole series and said that I just had to read them. So, when I saw her post I thought, I'll join, too!
I'm defnitely in the stage of my pregnancy where it's time to put my feet up a little more. My calves are starting to swell some, just like when I was expecting Callie. (not a pretty sight!) So, I thought I'd share with you exactly what I'm reading. Then, I'll do a Book Review! (this is something I've wanted to add to my blog for a while!) So, here's what's on my nightstand!
And then I want to reread Child Wise. It's been a while since I read it! I love the "On Becoming" series by the Ezzo/Bucknam team. BabyWise was given to me at my shower when I was expecting Joshua. It has so many good points. It's definitely one of those books you probably won't do all that it says, and you may not agree with every point, but there are so many excellent principles for raising your children.
So, that's what is on my nightstand for the month. How about you? I would love to know what you're reading!
I'm defnitely in the stage of my pregnancy where it's time to put my feet up a little more. My calves are starting to swell some, just like when I was expecting Callie. (not a pretty sight!) So, I thought I'd share with you exactly what I'm reading. Then, I'll do a Book Review! (this is something I've wanted to add to my blog for a while!) So, here's what's on my nightstand!
First off, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Book, Little House in the Big Woods. I'm actually wanting to read the first 3 this series this month. Here's a link to the challenge I'm joining, in case you want to join, too!
My next book is one I bought for my girls for Christmas. It's by Elizabeth George titled, A Young Woman After God's Own Heart. I read her book for woman and loved it, so when I spotted this book in St. Martin, I thought it would be a perfect book to do with my girls a chapter at a time. Our goal is to have Thursday discussion times. 
Next is Romance in Marriage, Keeping the Flame Alive by Bob and JoBeth Hooker. I've already read parts of this about 3 years ago, but I want to reread those parts and finish it. From what I've read this is an excellent book! The Hookers are the cutest couple! (I also love their daughters CD, it's one of our favorites!) As a side note, this is definitely a book for married eyes only. 
This is another book I picked up in St. Martin called Draw Close by the Harley's. He is the author of His Needs, Her Needs and I love that book! I bought this for Patrick and I to do as a devotional together...so far we've done chapter one.
And then I want to reread Child Wise. It's been a while since I read it! I love the "On Becoming" series by the Ezzo/Bucknam team. BabyWise was given to me at my shower when I was expecting Joshua. It has so many good points. It's definitely one of those books you probably won't do all that it says, and you may not agree with every point, but there are so many excellent principles for raising your children.
So, that's what is on my nightstand for the month. How about you? I would love to know what you're reading!
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