Friday, March 30, 2007

Paris!

Donna, Patrick, Emma and friends are enjoying Paris right now as I type. It is Friday evening in Paris and I'm sure they have had a full afternoon. Perhaps they've already seen these amazing sites!!

For those of you that don't know this is Emma's homeschool graduation gift. She has been the most amazing homeschool student! She is a very hard worker and very self motivated making Donna's job very easy. Donna and Patrick wanted to reward her for her diligence and commitment to classical education. Sooo...off to France and Italy where she can see and feel and smell and touch much of what she has only read about.









I am going to have fun with this web page. I can keep track of them a little better. I was hoping Patrick would take a lap top and get Donna blogging from France but I don't think he did. And he's a techie....he should be ashamed of himself. :) Doesn't he know how badly we are going to miss her daily posts?

Please pray for their travels, for sound sleep, for safety and most of all FUN!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

What??

Blogger is freaking out. Please excuse the mess. I'll try to fix the links later when I have time.

UPDATE: I fixed the links but the quote is still not cooperating. Anyway, I think it's readable now.

A Must Read!

I hope you'll take the time to read this incredible article about the providence and sovereignty of God written by a man named Mike Evans.


I commented to Cindy when I first read this article, that this is a great encouragement to pray for our children.


Here is JC Ryle on prayer for our children:


Without the blessing of the Lord, your best endeavours will do no good. He
has the hearts of all men in His hands, and except He touch the hearts of
your children by His Spirit, you will weary yourself to no purpose. Water,
therefore, the seed you sow on their minds with unceasing prayer. The Lord
is far more willing to hear than we to pray; far more ready to give blessings than we to ask them ; — but He loves to be entreated for them. And I set this matter of prayer before you, as the top-stone and seal of all you do. I suspect the child of many prayers is seldom cast away.



Look upon your children as Jacob did on his; he tells Esau they are "the children which God hath graciously given thy servant" (Gen. 33:5). Look on them as Joseph did on his; he told his father, "They are the sons whom God hath given me" (Gen. 48:9). Count them with the Psalmist to be "an heritage and reward from the Lord" (Ps. 127:3). And then ask the Lord, with a holy boldness, to be gracious and merciful to His own gifts. Mark how Abraham intercedes for Ishmael, because he loved him, "Oh that Ishmael might live before thee" (Gen. 17:18). See how Manoah speaks to the angel about Samson, "How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?" (Judg. 13:12). Observe how tenderly Job cared for his children’s souls, "He offered
burnt-offerings according to the number of them all, for he said, It may be
my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually" (Job 1:5). Parents, if you love your children, go and do likewise. You cannot name their names before the mercy-seat too often.



Amen!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007


Happy Birthday mom and auntie !!!! Your the BEST mom and Aunt I could EVER have!!! I am so blessed that I know you two!!! LOVE YOU TWO more than you know!!

Luv ya,
Dani

I Know

It's hard to imagine that these two babes turn 41 today.



Happy Birthday to us! :-)

(sorry about the scan)

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Sarah Hope

Here is how Sarah spent her afternoon. It was an early release day from school and rainy today. What is especailly sweet is that Sarah first had to CLEAN the big girl's room before she could set up her tea party. And trust me, that is not an easy task.






Hannah graciously accepted her invitation.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Second Chances

I'd like you to meet some very good friends of mine. You'll need a little background information first.

I met John in the Spring of 1988. We were attending the University of Arizona and shared the same major so we had several classes together. (he slept through Analytical Chemistry and got an A, I stayed awake and didn't) In the fall of 1988 I ran in to John on campus and he invited me to his college group's fall square dance (not as a date, just as friends). This is where it gets amazing and this is where the Holy Spirit worked....I showed up! By myself and very scared. I didn't know a soul except John. When I arrived John introduced me to a very cute roommate of his and the rest is history, in fact, 17 years of history as of March 24. :) Ok, back to the story. I was a baby Christian and spent my Sundays at either a Lutheran church or a charismatic church, to say the least I was very confused. The square dance was on a Saturday night, I joined John and Dave at their church on Sunday and became a 'regular'. Within a few months I made a public confession of my faith and was baptized. Karen came in to the picture shortly after that time, John and Karen shared a long distance courtship (she was at Biola) that most of us homeschool moms would envy. They got married 3 months after us in June of 1990.

All that to say that John and Karen are very precious friends of ours and we are so thankful to the Lord for blessing us with their friendship.

Now John and Karen do humanitarian work in Kunming, China. John is a pediatrician and Karen works very hard at home caring for their 4 children and spends time caring for children at an orphanage. I asked if they would mind me sharing a recent email with you.


As I look at our six years of life in China, (yes, almost 6 years!!) many memories of joy and delight come flooding into my mind. However, some memories of regret and discouragement come as well.

One of the most discouraging series of events took place in the summer of 2003 when a 19 month old boy named Wu Xiao came to see me at the clinic. Wu Xiao had bright eyes and was as sharp as could be. (see photo) His language was quite precocious in two dialects. His Mandarin was better than mine.

But Wu Xiao could not walk. Birth injury had left him with severe cerebral palsy primarily affecting his legs. A CT scan of his head clearly demonstrated where an area of his brain had essentially dissolved after his birth trauma.

We started Wu Xiao in the physical rehabilitation program at Project Grace, and his progress was remarkable. Within a week, he was able to stand by bracing himself with his arms.

Then something happened. Wu Xiao’s family took him out of rehab and had him admitted to a local hospital. There, local doctors claimed they could heal Wu Xiao by injecting fetal stem cells into the injured area of his brain. Instead of healing, Wu Xiao developed encephalitis, a severe infection of his brain. After several weeks in the hospital, he and his family just disappeared.

For almost four years, I thought he was dead . . . until this past week. There he was, sitting in the exam room with his dad. I could hardly contain myself! His language is now a bit slurred, his eyes are crossed, and he has an ugly scar across his temple. He still cannot walk. But he is alive; a precious little boy and the apple of his father’s eye.

Wu Xia is now back in rehab learning to stand. I am so thankful for a second chance to help this boy.

It would be easy to chastise Wu Xiao’s family for the damage and delay this boy has suffered. But how often do I do the same thing? The Great Physician has clearly prescribed what is best for me. Yet in unbelief or impatience, I walk away. And just like Wu Xiao, I bear the scars, the consequences of my disobedience. I too am grateful for the mercy, grace, and patience of the Master Healer.

Please remember Wu Xiao and his family. May they come to know the Great Physician who can bring true healing.





Would you pray for my friends and the amazing work they do in China?

Would you pray for little Wu Xiao?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

In A Hurry?

I sampled the most delicious pasta dish at Costco today. It's by Monterey Gourmet Foods, from their One Step Gourmet division. The one I bought is not mentioned or pictured on the website but let me tell ya, it's a keeper! It's called Cajun Style Blackened Chicken with Penne Pasta. The four children that were with me at the time loved it and begged me to buy it. So I did. The (sometimes cranky) sampler lady warned us that it was VERY spicy and to that we say BRING IT ON! We love spicy.



I challenge Kim to make her own, fresh, cheaper and healthier version. I know she can do it! :) She's amazing.

Now some of you with a gazillion children and/or a house full of boys (hehe) will have to buy two or more. It serves only four.

So, if you're in a hurry, fix this up for the family, add a fresh salad and a nice baguette and you're good to go.

I hope you can find the spicy one!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Spring has Sprung!

We have been enjoying the most beautiful Spring weather. It has been unusually hot. My children have been swimming, the air has had to be on in the house and car, flip flops are in full use and our yard looks fresh and new.

Here is what's happening out front.



A Shammel Ash



I wish you could join me for a glass of iced tea. My front door is open too, come on in!



My sweet alyssum and petunias made it through our very cold 'winter', all I had to do is add two pink geraniums (healthy and pretty from Target).

*************

And something I've never done before....a quote from Shakespeare:

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."

I agree with and understand this quote! Even if it is March. :P

Hello!

I have been encouraged this morning by two different posts and I wanted to direct you to both of them. Each post in its special way proclaims the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what is really important.

I hope you'll enjoy reading these today.

Phil Johnson at Pyromaniacs

Dave Black at daveblackonline, Monday @ 7:55 am

Have a blessed day!

Friday, March 02, 2007




I'm feeling the need for a blog break. I'll still be reading and commenting on a few blogs, I just don't want to worry about posting something here.

Don't worry, all is well.