Real Love

My dad sent me an 'Irish Blessing' this week. He got it off of e-news.net. Maybe some of you know about it.
Not only were the pictures and music beautiful, so was the message. The message expressed that a perfect life is not what he wished for me, but strength and hope. He wished for me good friends...Well, just check it out for yourself.
I would have posted it but it was to big, I think.
Have a great week!

Pictures of the Week

Bakers, bake me a 'brownies' as fast as you can - Athan made a baker's hat and apron at school and then comes home and makes his brother the same.
Aaahhh, how cute are they?!

First loose tooth! He is so excited that he is telling EVERYONE. I'm sure I'll post more about this later :)
Some horrible side pics of the birds that we are enjoying outside the kitchen window.
Does your neck hurt yet?? Do your eyes hurt??
What is left of the King Cake that my dad sent us for Fat Tuesday. It WAS really good. Thanks, Dad!!

Well, there was a peek of some of our week.

Positives outweighing the Negatives

Some of my favorite things about this weekend. Not that this is some "special" weekend, I just happen to be pondering some things I liked about it. . . .

Watching my boys hug each other and telling the other 'I love you,'

Enjoying all the birds who have discovered my new bird feeder that is suctioned to my kitchen window,

Watching my boys enjoy the birds and feeding them with the - pine cone, peanut butter, bird seed thingy,

Seeing Athan try to remember the verse - 'Trust in the Lord...,'

Being able to leave my boys with a babysitter both friday and saturday and them really having a good time,

Alf and I going out to two diff. events and having a good time:)

Listening to Athan READ!

Playing the memory game with Aiden - ALOT!

Being able to avoid many traffic lights by taking back roads which shortened my errand run,

Enjoying some really good food this weekend

Really enjoying church today and looking forward to that day with Him!



For humor sake, things I did not like about this weekend. . . .

The mess my boys make of this house (they turned the couch into a pirate ship),

Feeling like a PIG for eating so much good food,

OK - I can't think of any more.

I will go now.

Good-bye

So Cool Dude!

Check out http://myspace.com/impactawards

My space chose to award an organization that helps to reach those in poverty. Compassion International was nominated in the top three and eventually won! Yipee! If you click on the address I showed you then there is a quick video you can watch with Rebecca St. James.

I believe in this organization. Alf and I joined Compassion only about a year after we were married. We thought it would not only be a way to impact a life of a child, but to also 'keep in check.' Poor us...we were seminary students with only one car, in a one bedroom apt. and would barely eat out. The fact was, we still had more then most people in the world. To play a part in someones lives miles away, to tell them in a letter how much I am proud of them and that they are loved has been an awesome privilige. These children need HOPE and JESUS.

Several years ago our church chose to partner with Compassion (after researching other organizations, C just fit our doctrine and our goals - engaging the body in missions more) and I was asked to help facilitate it. I've always wanted to do more with Compassion and here was my opportunity. I was able to go to Ecuador and see first hand some C projects. It was my first experience in a third world country.

Alf and I felt really strong about wanting to go visit our child that we have been sponsoring now for about nine years. He will be graduating soon and didn't want to miss the opportunity. Thanks to my brother and sister-n-law (who will be watching the boys), and diligence in saving our money - we will be going to the Dominican Republic in early March.

Another blessing has been to sponsor a little girl in Peru that is the same age as Athan. He is actually the one that corresponds with her. It has been neat to see how much they have in common. They both love to draw, both have little brothers, both love hide and seek, etc.

Anyway, if you are still reading this I hope that you have enjoyed it and maybe even feel compelled to sponsor a child :)

Peace out-

Body Scrub, anyone?

For those that have nasty, dry skin like I do (especially in the winter time,) and for those that are'nt afraid of trying something new...

Gingerbread Body Scrub

3/4 cup brown sugar

1tsp ground ginger

1tsp cocoa powder

1T olive oil

Mix all the ingredients really well. Put in a sealed container (mason jars.)

Use in the shower. You know what to do -

Feel free to add or take away ingredients to your liking. It also go's great with Bath and Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig lotion.

Enjoy!

Passionate or Indifferent

I often think how there are times that I can be so passionate about life and at times I feel so indifferent.
The passionate side does her best to be the best wife, mom, sister, daughter and friend.
I love being a part of fulfilling the needs of children around the world (Compassion International.) To think outside the little world I live in. My passionate side wants to live off of rice and beans and own only five outfits so that I can give more.
When I run into a mom that talks about the last few months being rough b/c of the new baby, I feel her pain. The passionate side senses an obligation to that person to check on her, pray for her, and encourager her. It is a privilege to have the people that I have in my life, that they may bless me and I them.
The passionate side of me feels when I hear of all the dark things in the world.
The passionate side of me wants to spends hours kneeling and praying to the one who gives us life and breath. And I raise my hands to Him and say 'Use me for YOUR glory'


The times I feel indifferent are usually b/c the passionate side is exhausted - and wanting to be selfish. Or is it selfish?
I want to block out the feelings that come when I think of all that is going on in the world. To be indifferent, I don't even get cynical towards others who choose not to do anything for the needs of the world.
Sometimes I can't find any energy to care for those around me. I just want to take care of what I have to care for.
Being indifferent, gets me thinking of how fun it would be to shop and not even think of the word 'sale' or 'budget'.
The feeling of indifference is sord of numbing. There are times I feel so exhausted that I can barely find energy to care for myself.

It is certainly not that I feel diconnected to God when I feel indifferent, please don't get me wrong. Lets see...We all make choices - all the time - through out our day - choices for the present and for the future. Depending on the choices we make can determine how much joy and fulfillment we will recieve, right?

I find that I resort to indifference when I need rest. But I am a passionate person, it is how God made me, it is how he made US! I can only be indifferent for so long. It has dawned on me that I recieve the most joy and see God working the most when I choose the passionate side of me to come out. To be indifferent is sort of a safe bet. I rather gamble:)

Go Sabers!

Alf found out that our Alma mater basketball team was going to be in OUR town. They were here to play another small private college. Soooo, we loaded up the boys and went to cheer them on! (the team looks a little diff. then what it looked like when Alf played on the team)
No, they did not win (which was NOT diff. from the days Alf played.) But they played hard and we were proud of them.
The highlight for Athan and Aiden was to get to share a bag of m&m's during break.
GO Sabers!