Rhythmic Gymnastics

Well, today's Gymnastics made a hit with Anna. She loved the drama and the swirly things. She and Sarah made sticks with streamers (strings) and have been jumping around the house twirling. Here are 2 of Anna's dramatic poses!

Off To A Great Start!

We finished our first 2 days of school and we are off to a great start. The girls are loving their desks, and it seems that they have retained all that they learned last year.

I was worried about taking 5 weeks off, but you know what? I needed that 5 weeks, and so did they. They swam, and swam and played and pretended and went shopping and went to the zoo, and played some more. It was a great rest time.

Then, when it was time to start, they were really ready. It seems that we have turned a corner in reading for everybody and they are reading for enjoyment.

We are off to a good start in History, taking our virtual "Trip Around The World". :)

I'm so glad we are able to do what we do, and I pray that the year continues to go well for them.

I also found these really cool math cubes that explain fractions and decimals. They are kind of like the addition blocks, but they are written in fractions and decimals.
The one thing our oldest son had trouble with was fractions. He couldn't understand how a bigger number was a smaller amount. These cubes help you to SEE that.

Now I gotta go clean house...... :)

How Do I Say No To the Limbless?

On a good note, this was an article about a Prosthetist who makes limbs for those who don't have them, in Mexico.

What a wonderful ministry.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/22/heroes.puckett/index.html

I often think of where our girls would be were it not for the caring people who make their legs, and have changed their lives. I give glory and praise to the Lord for moving on the hearts of people who care so very much.

THANK YOU LORD, for changing our lives, giving Erika independence more than we had ever dreamed, and for letting us get to know some very special people, whom we would have never met, had there not been hardship in our lives.

Organic Foods Article

There is an article this a.m. at CNN.Com about a study that concluded that "organic foods are not more nutritional, than non organic."
As if a person would think that if they ate an organic apple it might contain more vitamins than a non organic one?

That has NEVER been the issue for me in buying organic foods. The issue for me is the pesticides and poisoning of the environment. The foods that are raised conventionally contain dangerous pesticides. I remember in the 1980's one of the studies on childhood leukemia linked the disease to polished apples. In organics, you don't polish apples.

HERE: is the kicker of the study:

This study -- published in the latest edition of the Society of Chemical Industry's (SCI) "Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture" -- is the first to assess the nutritional value of organic fruit and vegetables. It should be noted that the study does not make conclusions about the comparative levels of pesticides or chemicals in conventionally and organically grown food or the health effects of consuming such chemicals.

NOTE: The study is done by the "CHEMICAL INDUSTRY". LOL


So, if a person is to skim this article, they might MISS the log floating in the stream of bologana! The chemical industry didn't say anything about how chemicals remain in the food and are harmful to your body. Oops, we were only speaking of the nutritional value of a carrot vs. a carrot. duh......

Not to mention the poisoning of the water, soil, etc.

Organic farming is good for the environment, good for the soil, causing it to help the environment.... (this shows up later in the rebuttal section of th article.

But really, how does anything like this make the news other than for a teaser to make a person mad?
It is also so harmful, because many people will read a headline and then think conventionally grown foods are just as SAFE as organics. That is not the case. Organic food farmers go through rigorous regulation to get excellent, non poisonous foods to our tables and we need to support their efforts.

The First Day of School

Well, we had a great start to a great year. We covered all of our subjects today, except for art, unless you count making an Israeli Flag for History "Art". :)

For history this year, we are taking a virtual, "Trip Around The World". We actually started at the end of last school year, and plan to continue until we cover every continent and important country.

So here are the girlies doing Spelling.... guess which girlie was abit overwhelemed with doing "Just cursive????". Yep, from now on..... :)

The Girls Have Their OWN BLOG

The Girls have a new blog. We will be using this to teach typing skills, computer skills, and creative writing skills. I will leave the mistakes as they are, unless they ask for help in spelling. :)

Their address is:

http://thenoelles.blogspot.com/

Here It Is

The Lonesome Pine Ranch School Room:

God Cares About The Little Things

I have written before about the requests the girls had for a great start to a great school year. They wanted a desk, a bell and a chalk board.

Well, we have a bell. I checked around on Craig's List to see about Chalk Boards and desks. I found a great deal from a nursing school going out of business. When I got there, they had just 2 desks and a chalk board. I was able to get them for 25.00 for all.

Anna didn't care for the desks and asked if she could get one that looked a little different. We still needed one, so she started looking on the computer and found the color and style she liked. The problem is, it was over 100.00 if you purchased it new!

I was ready to settle on another desk that looked like her sisters, but the drive was too far and it would have cost more in gas than for the desk itself.

Daddy said, "Let's wait and see what God provides, give HIM a chance to work!"

So we waited a day or two and went back onto Craig's list. There was a description of the exact desk that Anna wanted for 15.00! We thought, ok, this is His provision and the desk was located close by our church. I called the number and it turns out, it was a long time aquaintence from our home school group that was selling the desk. I told her I'd call at a certain time, but when I did, she didn't answer. So we went ahead and started home from church. When we were almost home, she called and said her phone was on silent and she forgot to change it, but they were home and we could come.

So after we got home, I headed out to get the desk. About 3 minutes after I left, Mike called and said, WAIT! Another friend called and said she had a desk she was giving away. He said, go ahead and go look at it. They just live 5 doors down! So I turned around and drove over to her house. And guess what? It was the EXACT desk, even EXACT COLOR Anna had wanted. And it was FREE. :) My friend and I had a good laugh at the way God works in our lives. I called the other lady back to share the story, and it turns out she knows my neighbor! Isn't that funny? :)

Anna is so pleased with her new desk. And now, after I decorate the wall with a map or two, and some pin ups, we will be set for school to start on Thursday! :)

What a great lesson for the girls.

More Understanding .....

Erika has been speaking English now for almost 2 years. I have to be really careful to remember that she doesn't always understand the things she has heard. She might understand the individual word, but our words can have many meanings.

So, we were watching the Olympics. Everybody was busy and Erika was watching alone. She came in and said, "Somebody smashed Michael Phelp's goggles, and he came in 2nd place because of it!" I was shocked! Who could do something like that!???? So I'm looking all over for news about the event and there is nothing.

Then I sit down with her and they use the word, "smash" and "leaky goggles" again.
She said, SEE! They SMASHED his goggles and now they are leaky and he came in 2nd!"

I said, NO, his goggles were "leaky" and he SMASHED the World Record anyway! He came in second in a different "practice race". She was so confused. What is a "World Record" that can be SMASHED? SMASHED means broken, crushed, but it is tangeable, breaking something you can touch and feel. She didn't understand until now that that green line across the swimming pool wasn't really there but was showing us where a swimmer from another race swam before, and now the swimmers swimming now are ahead of that and they are now the fastest! They are the fastest in the world, and when that time is written down, it is a "record". It is recorded, or written down so everybody knows what the fastest time is.

I'm exhausted just typing that. :)

BUT.... now she understands and is very happy that Micahel Phelps was not the victim of "bad worldly goggle smashers!

Gymnastics Craze

Watching Olympic Gymnastics has got Sarah going Topsy Turvy!

Play List is gone now

I took the play list feature off the blog because it takes too long to load. I like the feature, and I liked the music, but it was a little too "busy" and bogged down the blog.

The Back to School Countdown

Sarah was asking for "olives". Now those olives are VERY green!


Anna discovered how to make some rather uncomfortable shoes with tin cans and string.
She loves them.



This is Anna resting after a busy Sunday afternoon!



Katie and Erika really enjoyed braiding hair. Erika especially loved the end frizzy results. :0



This a Sarah kicking back and relaxing. :)


We start school 1 week from tomorrow. We are all looking forward to starting back up to a full school year of learning and discovery.
Now I need to go and finish our schedule.

Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded

I never knew there were so many verses to this Hymn.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osacredh.htm




OH SACRED HEAD NOW WOUNDED


O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Animal Disaster 102

101 happened last year when Coyotes ate our sheep and turkeys.

We learned from that experience that they must be locked up at night to protect them, and the girls have faithfully without question for over a year, kept all animals protected at night.

However, the shelter we have for our turkeys as about a 2 inch space around the bottom for cleaning and air ventilation. Apparently that was enough for some creature in the middle of the night last night to eat several sleeping turkeys. They lean against the walls when they sleep sometimes and what every it was was able to get to them from the outside.

The disaster wasn't as bad as last year, as only 5 turkeys were eaten or killed, one we will have to put down and the bigger ones are fine, and the goats are ok, however, I am finished with farm animals.

That is how I feel right now. The cost to raise them, and care for them, and then kill them and store them is just outweighed by the end result.

While I find it great experience for the girls, I'm not sure if farm animals are the answer.

Searching for wisdom, and not looking forward to todays slaughter to protect our food.

How Is Jesus Christ Honored?

Yesterday we were talking to our 4th grade Sunday School class for one of the last times, as they will all be promoted to the 5th grade soon.

The discussion was on "How Is Jesus Christ Honored In Your Life?"

It wasn't what we had planned to teach for the day, but it was important enough to put the planned lesson aside.

You see, during snack time, several of the boys were talking about how "cool" detention was. You get detention and you don't have to do your work, you can take a nap etc.

This class is a challenging class. The children have been "churched", many since their births, and one particular boy is always "bored", "Oh I already know that story".

So yesterday when the conversation came up, I closed the lesson and asked the simple question. "How do you honor Jesus Christ in detention, or when you get a detention?"

There was silence followed by frowns and I don't knows. Mike said, well, one way Christ is honored is "justice is served" when you do something wrong, there are consequences. Christ will be honored one way or another. :)

More frowns and thoughts and I don't knows.

So I posed another question: "How do you stand out for Jesus Christ in your school?
In your home? In your neighborhood? With your friends? In your church? In your clubs?
On your teams? Do you? If not, why not? Do you KNOW Christ or do you just know all about him?
One kid said, you really can't stand out at my school because all the kids are Christians, I go to a Christian school.

We then asked "How can we KNOW CHRIST?"
There were several answers. Believe he died on the Cross for your sins.

What does it mean to "believe"?

That got a little more direct.
One little girl said, "trust". It means to trust. As she went further in her description, I got a strong sense that she knew the Lord. She attends a local public school and is a real sweet child in class.
She stands out from the others, not because she is quiet, but her spirit is obedient.
I have known her since she was a baby, and she is definitely a different child than when she was younger. :)

I guess I wanted to challenge the children that Life in Christ IS LIFE NOW! Life in Christ is exciting. Life in Christ is REAL and as believing Children, IF indeed you know Him, you will honor Him in your life. Both at school and at home. You will put Jesus Christ first in what you do, which will effect others. You will effect them in how you relate on the play ground, how you speak to others, how you help others and how you respect others.

I truly hope the lesson got them to thinking about their own relationship with Jesus and how HE can change their lives. If HE IS WHO HE SAID HE IS, then why wouldn't we want to devote our lives to Him? If HE knows what is absoloutly best for us and only intends both trial and triumph for our good, then why wouldn't we put our trust in Him?

If there is eternal life and eternal damnation, why wouldn't we trust the ONLY one who can give us life eternal?

I hope they ponder these things in their hearts and come to know the ONE who can change them from dead to living.

Lillian the Pouting Princess

5 Girls and I went shopping today. We hit the 2nd hand store and scored BIG TIME!

Lillian insisted on this Ballerina Outfit with Ballet Shoes. What are gramma's for?

She COULD have given me a smile, but NOOOOO! She was in full pout mode after her first big swim in a real swimming pool proved too much for her and we had to go home. :)

So here she is in all her glory, pomp and circumstance. :)

Things I Have Learned About Lilly This Week

Lillian just turned 4. She is very contemplative. She has deep thoughts and watches everything.

I took her to the store with me and she was so funny. In the car I asked her,
"Lilly, what is your favorite color?"

There was a pause..... "Purple, I like purple."

We played the stop and go game with the lights on the way to the store. She told me to stop on red and go on green and be careful on yellow. (She only got to practice that once)

When we got into the store she helped me push the basket. It was so funny. Every single gesture I made, how I stood, if I put my finger on my chin to think, she did.
(I think I put my finger on my chin ALOT)

If I picked up a can to read the ingredients, she did it too. It was such an honor for her to want to be like gramma. :)

The biggest honor of all was the Ponytail. She didn't like having her hair done last week, but this week the first thing she asks for in the morning is the pink heart hair thingy. "Here gramma, put my hearts in."
OK..... :)

Katie The Farm Girl ?

This a.m. when the girls woke up, they were ready to be snuggle bunnies. Katie came in and asked if she could go let out the goats. SURE! You can also change the water and clean out the barrel before putting fresh water in.... This look of shock came over her face. "I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"That is haarrdddd, gramma!"

"What is hard about it?"

"Ummm. you have to clean it?"

Yes. Would you like to go and do it?

ok gramma....

A little later she came in and said, "I did it!, It was EASY!"

She seemed pretty satisfied with herself. Notice the hard working smile on her face and the water on her shirt? She was already sweating at it was only 8:00. :)

Katie you are a rockin' FARM GIRL!

Busy Girls

The girls got busy today with ART. We had a few thank you cards to make, and Lillian wanted to help. She really LOVES Art. She spent the morning using water colors and the afternoon drawing and using glitter paint. She was really focused on drawing flowers.
She is starting Pre K this year and I think she will do really well as she can really concentrate when she wants to.

Here are a few pictures of creation at work.

Bananas or Watermelons

How about bananas cut like watermelons. :)

Hugs

When you are a mommy and a gramma you just can't get too many hugs. :)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Yesterday, August 6, was my birthday. I had a wonderful 50th Birthday, complete with a show put on by the girls, and watching the movie Nim' s Island.

So why the title Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Well, My entire life, on my birthday when we watched the news, there was the infamous laying of the wreath in Japan to recognize those who perished by the first and last atom bombs ever dropped on human beings during a time of war. August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was attacked. On August 9, 1945, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

I have noticed over the last few years there has been less and less coverage of the event. As a child, I would have welcomed not being born on that day, as every birthday was the somber reminder of Nuclear War. But now, as an adult, I was a little sad that there wasn't more media coverage, especially in the times in which we now live. We are on the verge, if not already there, of another cold war. Pakistan has Nuclear capabilites and the political picture in the Middle East is not good. Iran either does or is close to having nuclear weapons.

One of the problems with history, is if we forget how terrible it was, it will repeat itself.
Some of us are old enough to remember the cold war. Russia was supposed to bomb us at any time, and we were supposed to bomb them at any time. Thus, at school we had bomb drills where we got under our desks and covered our eyes, as if that would help. When we were in Ukraine, our translators told us they did the exact same thing!

I fear that the realities of war are so far removed from us that many younger people see it almost as entertainment. Movies are so realistic and violent and the instant reports of war news on the internet both video and photo numb us from the true horrors of war.

The Nuclear attack on Japan ended the war, but the atrocities continued for decades, with children being born with deformities, and people continuing to die from radiation and radiation related cancers.

Just the accident in Chernobyl, Belarus, caused many cancers and birth defects and deaths, and many don't know that the radiation and fire is still buring today 2 decades later. There are teams that go in for short periods of time and are working on covering the area to keep it from leaking radiation.

So, let's remember to pray for those effected by war, by Nuclear Fallout, and for those who might hastily enter into Nuclear Engagement without thinking through the results.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm

Grandaughter's and Junior High

I can't believe it! My grand daughter is about to embark on Jr. High School! She is playing in the band, and it seems like just yesterday she was starting Kindergarten!

Here she is on our latest Zoo Adventure. I don't think she cared too much for touching a sting ray. :)

Conversations With a Four Year Old

Lilly:Can I help bake the cake?

Gramma:Yes you can.....

Lilly :Ummmmm..... after she has licked her hands from all the batter.....

Lilly: I'm clean now, I don't have diahrrea any more!

Gramma: That's good. I'm glad you don't~ :?/

Lilly: Yea.....

Lilly : Gramma, Can I go see Grampa's "toodles"?

Gramma: Do you mean his "tools"?
Lilly: Yea.....

Gramma: I love you Lillian!


Pause......

Lilly: You have pretty eyes gramma!

Gramma: Thank you.

Gramma: You have pretty eyes too.

Lilly: No, I have dark eyes.

Lilly:Mama has dark eyes.

Gramma: What kind of eyes does daddy have?

Lilly : Daddy has Guitar Eyes. :)

Lilly: I have to go see what the girls are doin'...........

Bye Lilly......
Bye Gramma......

Feeding the Sting Rays

Anna was really excited about feeding sting rays. They were very slimy and really neat. Glad their barbs were removed. Some of the bigger ones would splash us when they swam by. Pretty funny.

Lilly and the Carousel

I took all the girls to the zoo today. This cracked me up.....

Reflections of a Sinner Saved by Grace

When we were at camp last week, a young man began to play the piano and sing.
"Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, that Saved a Wretch Like Me!"

This young man, is Autistic, blind, and has multiple limb loss. Both lower legs and both arms are effected. How can he play the piano? I don't know, but he can, and played it beautifully.

I looked at him and thought..... I don't see a wretch. I see such a pure individual.
Yet, God has revealed to him his true nature, and he has received salvation.

I am a wretch. NOT HIM! The truth is, we are all blind, and naked, and we are all wretched individuals, apart from Christ.

I am so thankful that in my wretched state, God saw fit to reveal himself and opened my deaf ears and caused my blind eyes to see.

He continues to prune me, break me, and throw the bundles of chaff that my life produces into the fire in order to be refined.
Oh how patient He is........

Would I be singing amazing grace if I were physically blind? How about if I didn't have my arms or legs? How about if I were crippled? What about if I were destitute? What if I lived in a war torn country?

I have not had these experiences,(besides being destitute for a while) but I have had plenty of experience God has chosen to bring my way. He causes the rain to fall upon each individual to bring about his specific purpose in each person's life.

I pray that the rest of my life will reflect that Amazing Grace that he has so abundantly poured into me.

I put a link to a very special web site of a young man who has come to know the Amazing Grace of our Lord Jesus. http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

What's A Kid To Do?

If you have just 2 hands and you need to use those to eat breakfast, but you don't want your ball to roll away, you get creative and use other body parts to make things work! This is our 4 year old grand daughter Lillian making things work! :)
We get to have the grand girls for a week!

Baptism Delayed

Erika had a meeting with the elders and didn't answer the questions to satisfaction. I think part of her expressive language is a problem. To articulate in English, complex ideas is hard for her. So, we are going to work with her a little more and help her understand.

We had a great talk with one of our elders tonight. He said they did not question her faith at all, they just want her to be able to express it verbally.

I have many questions about the baptism process and probably fall more along covanental lines regarding baptism.

This same elder plans to talk with Erika Sunday to make sure she understands that they are not questioning her faith. She thought they had said, "Think about it a little longer if you really want to follow Jesus."

So the August 31 date is null and void. I'll let ya'll know when it happens.
I wouldn't have posted it WAS going to happen until after the elders visited her.
There was abit of confusion. 2 elders approved the week before, but then there were some more that wanted to meet. The 2nd meeting is the one that took place today, and they have asked her to wait.

So, we'll wait some more and maybe learn abit about patience and study up some on doctrine.

The Turning 50 Hair Cut

I said I would cut my hair when I turn 50. I did it 4 days early. :)

To Zip or Not to Zip

Erika and her friend Brittany, watching Jerroth go up the zip line.....




THE MANY FACES OF ERIKA IN THE MIDST OF DECISION ON WEATHER OR NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP THAT ZIP LINE AND SLING HER BODY OFF INTO OBLIVION.........







She went up 1/2 way, touched the wood and then chose to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground! There is NEXT YEAR! :)

Camp Out On A Limb

We always joke that it should be called Camp Out OF A Limb.... Erika and I had a wonderful time once again at Peaceable Kingdom Camp for Children. As for me, I waited an entire year just to go down that Zip Line once again! Erika was looking so forward to horse back riding. On the way home, I asked her, "What was your favorite thing about Camp this year?" There was a thoughtful pause, and she said, "Horses, Golf, Swimming,Scuba diving, Movies, Games, eating in the cafeteria, talking with Shawn late at night in the bathroom, and making friends with Brittany.

Shawn had a pow-wow meeting with the girls late on the last night we were there. She was so funny teaching them a special signal to use if they wanted to talk. This time it was the "blink your eyes if you want to speak signal". It was comical watching a bunch of little girls blinking frantically to be called on. Erika enjoyed the talk in the bathroom after they finished scaring the boys. Shawn asked about what they do if others make fun or tease them. Erika listened to the answers, and then poetically, when we got home, we played the DVD handed out at camp called, "No Arms, No Legs, No Problem". He covered some really great answers to that issue, and talked about who we are on the INSIDE is what matters.

What our children look like on the outside is not what defines them, but who they are on the inside. This is really what Peaceable Kingdom Camp brings out in our kids.

Imagine a young man 14 years old with no arms and no legs, dancing his heart out, and everybody just loves it. How about an arm wrestling match between a guy with 1/2 an arm against a guy with no legs? How about a little girl doing ballet taking her legs off to perform? How about a little boy with one arm doing hand stands, hurling his body into the air to balance? How about a child who is blind, autistic, missing lower legs, has just one finger on one hand and a nub on the other, playing the piano beautifully and singing Amazing Grace? Let me tell you, I don't know if there were any dry eyes.

There were the typical pranks and kids play, or was that the adults pulling off those pranks? There were Bugs and snakes, saran wrap on the toilet seat, sneaking over and knocking on the window late at night, and the typical, "I don't know WHO used all that toilet paper!" "Silly String?" "Isn't that a thing of the past???" The swim basket ball games and just great fun hanging out together.

The children were drawn together for a wonderful week of friendship and partnership. I saw children help each other, build each other up and just have an all around great time. It didn't matter that the cabin was strewn with extra legs, prosthetic socks, little kids looking for their own....."Mom, do you know where my leg is?" "Take your legs off sweetie." "Do you need to put your legs back on?"
It was all pretty normal.

There were also the important friendships developed among the parents. Other than going to the hospital and camp, we have never, ever, seen another child who has limb loss or limb differences. It is refreshing to be with other parents who live similar lives with their children, who hurt for their children's losses, yet cheer them on to do wonderful things in life. These parents have the patience of Job. They have deep abiding love, they are proud of their children, and they are brave enough to let their children fall, try and try again, which will result in them blossoming and growing in both personal strength and creative independence.

Thank you so very much Peaceable Kingdom Camp for Children and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and your awesome dedicated staff. Had it not been for you, Erika would not know that she can do so very many things like SCUBA DIVING and I STILL would have never gone down a zip line. And that zip line is WAY COOL!

Miracles

You know, there is a time to talk about Miracles. REAL Miracles. For me, the time is now, as it is on my heart.

Just a little over 4 years ago, Mike and I were near empty nesters. Our last son was in college and had moved home to save for marriage.

Then came our Anna. A little girl who had been in the foster care system. She brightened our lives and through her simple little prayer of wanting a sister, drew us into a whole new world of girls, adoption, private adoption because of disruption, international adoption, early childhood trauma, attachement disorder, reactive attachment disorder, post traumatic stress, restrictive band syndrome, arthrogryposis, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, bilateral foot amputation, hip surgery, boney overgrowth surgery, hand surgery,knee surgery, therapy, Ukraine ministry, the plight of orphans in the world, Russian, Home education again, Out on a Limb Camp, and much, much, much more.

IN ALL OF THAT..... numerous miracles took place in our lives. Engergy for one. :)

But seriously, introducing the gospel of Jesus Christ, the fact that we are born "dead", but are only truly alive in Christ Jesus, to an international child is an amazing experience.
I remember the first time that Erika watched The Gospel of John on DVD (the word for word put to video) she had just been speaking english a few months so her understanding was limited. But we were able to communicate with her the basics. She saw that they were putting Jesus Christ on Trial, being mean to him, and then crucifying the one she knew we loved. This look of perplexed, mournful sadness overcame her and she began to weep.

"Why did they do that to him? WHY?"

We began to explain that God KNEW His son would be crucified for our sins. That BECAUSE of what He did for us, we can now live. A little light turned on in her heart.
She had been exposed to the gospel with Papa Dima in Ukraine, but there were parts she didn't yet understand. Some of these things are hard to grasp even for adults.

Yet, she DID grasp it, and about a week later, trusted Jesus Christ, with full understanding for her salvation.

It is a miracle. It is THE miracle, of going from Death to life.

Why do I post a picture of her standing at the table without feet?

Because some would see that a real miracle would be for God to give her new feet.
Indeed, that would be an amazing miracle, and I truly believe GOD COULD, if he so chose.
BUT what many of us fail to see, is the real miracle of being RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
Erika is ALIVE in Christ. New feet wouldn't make her alive in Christ, but a renewed SPIRIT does.

Each of our girlies have gone through the same process of understanding, and each have received Jesus Christ as their savior. And we truly praise the Lord for that.
Because with HIM, all those beginning things I wrote about above, would be the things that took over their lives.
Instead, the LORD has taken over, and those things are fading, faded, and many times just gone.
Their old lives are just a shadow of their new lives. Their new lives are exciting!
They are full of life. They are ALIVE.

Oh, rejoice with me, as I have witnessed so many miracles in their little lives. The miracles of forgiveness; forgiveness of those who hurt them, abandoned them, harmed them, rejected them; just as we had rejected Christ, hurt Him, abandoned HIM.
For THOUGH WE WERE YET SINNER'S, CHRIST DIED FOR US.....

On August 31,2008, Erika will be baptized. She will make a public profession that Jesus Christ is her Lord, Her Savior, Her King, Her All!

And, I am so very HAPPY, that we get to be a part her life.

Soakin' Up Love

Daddy caught Anna and I in a love soakin' moment. :)

School or School? Part 2

Well,
Mike and I have had some talks, and come to the conclusion that we are already doing the right thing. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" came to mind, after a friend mentioned it to me.

I really like that phrase. It makes so much sense.

The girls are not cookie cutter children. If I were to put them into school, I don't know that I'd get much rest anyway. I'm already exhausted just from the few conversations I have had about what it will require to get the right services and placements. Then, the politics, and then of course I'd want to volunteer etc.

I'm having dejavu' flash backs of when the boys went to school.

Thanks too Melissa for making me look at what I was saying. I don't have time to be tired. If I'm tired, I need to take my iron like I'm supposed to be doing. :)

So, it is time to get lesson plan's going for next year. Erika and I go to camp next week and then it will be time to buckle down and finish our plans.

Thanks so much for all of you who have prayed and made me think.

Sarah's Story

This is Sarah, reading to us her latest words from her heart:




She has started a diary. Right now she is writing about her life. so far.......

UNCLE BOB IS HERE!

SURPRISE!

Pretty and Clean

Today we were scrubbing furniture and chairs with Murphy's Oil soap. The girls were doing a great job. Then Anna wanted to get a new cloth to go under the lamp. The one there was rather dusty. She found a floral napkin and said, "How about this?" "It is pretty and clean and that is all that matters!"

I said, "Oh, that is pretty and clean, just like you!"

She said, "Oh mama, I'm not clean, I touched Turtle poop today!" :)