"The chief danger of the 20th century will be

religion without the Holy Ghost,

Christianity without Christ,

forgiveness without repentance,

salvation without regeneration,

politics without God,

and Heaven without Hell."

-William Booth

Chilling words that are still ringing true into the 21st century.

A Happy Valentine's Day

What a week it has been.  All good, but even good can be difficult, which is where I'm finding myself lately.  I have been worked up about an issue and trying  to be careful not to say too much.  I am relying on the Lord to give me a self-controled tongue and patience as I wait on Him.  It's hard when "hurry-up" is my middle name.  I am learning. 

Paul and I had a "Valentines" date on Friday night.  Our good friend, Stacie, babysat for us at the last minute, because we really needed to just go out alone.  We sat in the car for an hour and talked and then went out to dinner at the Baldwin's Saloon which has hands down the BEST french onion soup in the world. 

And so... on with the show...

What a wonderfully lovely Valentines Day we had today.

It started with an early morning for me (thanks a lot, Mary!) and as quiet as I intend to be, my girls always seem to hear me and wake up ready to go.  Ann pounced on me to tell me a Happy Valentine's Day.  Hannah followed.  I have big red mark on my stomach from where I got burnt from my spilled coffee.  Ouch.  Love hurts.

We did our usual Sunday morning routine and then off to the Corps (church).  In Sunday School with the children, I skipped our usual lesson and  I taught about Saint Valentine instead.  We talked about marriage, and the sanctity of it and how the world has always been against it in some form or another.   We also talked about being a martyr and being brave and courageous.   (St. Valentine used to marry people in secret because it was illegal for young men to get married.  He was also a martyr) Then the children made Valentines for the residents at the Veteran's Home that attend our monthly church service.  They did such a good job making them special.

A few of our people brought Valentines to give out.  One of our younger ladies brought little maze games and lollipops for all of the children.  They were so excited.  I was blessed to see her generosity to 25 children because I know that she doesn't have much.    Another couple of our ladies HAND WROTE 50 Valentines with John 3:16 and a Valentine word acrostic integrated into it.  That was such a special blessing that they would go through all that trouble because they love their church.   I feel like it is such a privelege to know and love these people.  I am always praying that I would be a better leader  for them.  They deserve more than I can offer.

In church, I preached a sermon on Grace and shared a short story to go along. 

After church, Paul and I did our drop-offs.  I heard Ann in the backseat telling a little boy, *A*, all about Mt. Hood and how it's a volcano and how her Grandma told her so and on and on and on.  *A* is such a darling little boy, he just sat there nodding his head with his big brown eyes in a daze.

Then we met at Denny's.  We had a coupon for 25% off.  We had a lot of giggles, did some sorting, patterns, and math problems with our rainbow goldfish, but I got SOOOO embarrassed when one of our children spilled their drink 3 times!!!  I am not an embarrassed type kind of person, but the 3rd time was too much for me!  Afterwards I ran into an acquantice (the kids love it- she has an animal name) and had a couple things I wanted to have a chat with her about.  Paul paid the bill and loaded the kids up in the car and patiently waited for me to finish.  I swear, if I was my wife, I'd kill me.  I finally got out to the car and he's just sitting there, kids buckled, and asks me kindly if I had a nice chat.  Why can't I be that patient????

Paul did church at the Veteran's home in the afternoon.  We usually switch off with the preaching and nursing homes.  I was glad to stay home and use that hour to get some of my reading done on a subject I've been studying.  The boys played dollies...errrr.. "soldier figures" and the girls harrassed poor Mary.

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story....

Receiving their Valentine from Paul and I.

This picture turned out bad, but my friend, *J*, who also teaches the church ladies crafts once a month, made this for me a couple years ago.  It is such a neat thing, a long ribbon with patchwork looking fabric hearts slid on.  I love the pretty simplicity of it.

I bought these months ago to give them for Valentines. They are little lock and key diaries with pens. The kids really seemed to like them.

The kids were upset I didn't get Mary anything.  Oopsie!

Ann began writing in her diary right away.  I wrote "Dear Diary," on our dry erase board and she must've sat there and wrote that on 10+  pages.

Elijah mostly enjoyed his lock and key.

I never realized how much everyone would want to feed the baby.  I am working on weaning her (boo, hoo)before we leave for Israel.  I took a picture of Elijah feeding her because I had overheard him singing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" to her. 

My 2 friends gave me this MOST EXCELLENT idea when I was visiting with them the other night.  They are soundproof ear muffs.  David has been quite vocal about his annoyances with lip smacking and chewing at the table, mainly at breakfast time when the younger kids are stuffing their mouth with cereal or oatmeal.  So I told him, he can either get used to it or wear these because they are still learning to eat quietly with their mouths closed every time.    I actually bought two pairs, one for me too!  LOL!!! 

I made giant chocolate cupcakes for....

DINNER!!!!

-BIG Smile-

Thank you Lord, for LOVE! 

Beautiful (Organized!) Woman

I have been reading a most excellent book lately called "The Gentle Ways of The Beautiful Woman- A Practical Guide to Spiritual Beauty"  by Anne Ortlund.  I am really loving it, and learning.
Some things I say, "Thank you Lord for developing that in me", so many other things I say- "Oopsie!  Better get to work on that!"

The book takes you through different areas of your life: attitudes, thinking, beliefs, and allowing the Lord to work in you. It also gives very practical disciplines to incorporate into your daily life for maximum effeceincy.  LOVE IT!  NEED IT!  I have found several ideas that I have begun implementing.  It helps me to accomplish the things that are most important and to do it with grace and joy.  I never want to be that crazy-busy-stressed out woman that I was 10 years ago (and that was with less children!) Not that I never "go there", but at least it is less! ha!ha!

The first area I've been working at getting a handle on is my nightstand.  That is where the author says we should start restoring beauty to physical surroundings,  and it makes so much sense to me!  It's the first place I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night.  Unfortunately, it tends to be one of the messiest physical areas of my life.  In all my years of marriage, Paul has never complained about my housekeeping, except for the occasional mentioning of my nightstand ;)  Especially when things suddenly come crashing down.  And then I just leave it where it landed until my (maybe)  once a month shoveling out. (I also blame my babies who pull everything down in an effort to bury themselves alive). What's it so full of ?  Books upon books upon books. Bibles. Some magazines like The Officer or Above Rubies or my Human Events newspapers.  Even some cookbooks and sometimes little notes  my children leave me when they feel brave enough to step over the pile (s). 

So, I've been working at it, with my end goal being NOTHING on top of my nightstand except for my alarm clock, lamp, my picture of Paul as a first year Lt., and, as the book suggests, a small glass vase with a flower inside.  I have two drawers in my nightstand and I have cleared out the top one so that I can put my 1-3 books or magazines, Bible, pen, and notebook in.  The rest of my books must make their way downstairs or  to my office which will be their permanent home.  I love waking up in the morning to a nice and neat nightstand and going to sleep at night with at least my nightstand being beautiful.

Dinner tonight- chili bake and fruit

Organizing Meals

Well, what a wonderful couple of days I've had with friends.  Last night on my way out the door to meet up with two friends that I just adore, the kids were asking me "where are you going, what are you doing?".  I told them I was going to play with my friends... I can imagine that they pictured me running around screaming my head off like they do when they're with their friends, but nope..... I sat my rear down and I think we talked for like 4 hours!  We have so much in common, a deep love for the Lord, larger than "normal" families, and just trying hard to do our best at what we do.  I even got a couple of ideas to implement.  (Ear muffs that block the sound for me was one of them! ha!ha!ha!)   Then we got to go over and visit as a family today so that the kids had their turn to play :)  Now it's even. (I'm a twin, I 'heart' even!)

I thought I'd post about meals... but like I say.. I so don't know it all!  And I sure hope I never come across that way... I just like to share ideas because I know when I get a glimpse into other's lives, I get ideas too.  The Bible says "we should be spurring each other on toward good works"  though I think I get spurrred on more than I do the spurring!

Meals are one of the major daily "chores" of life (the other is laundry), especially when you are caring for children (or others) who can't make meals for themselves, or when you are trying to maximize the nourishment for your money or when you are trying to follow a healthful diet or when you are just plain trying to feed someone some grub!

This last month, God caused Paul and I to really go to town on our budget. It seems to have been a theme for us lately, not because of financial crises or anything like that, but in an effort for us to really be aware of where every dime goes. God provides for us and we should have an account of every penney. Sometimes we let things slide and then it's time to reign in again. We decided to spend barely any money in January and it actually got fun doing it.   I know for sure that God caused that because He foresaw our need to come up with the money to fly Paul down to El Paso for his friends funeral at the last minute.

Now, what does that have to do with organizing? The biggest area that we could save money on was groceries. We do like to keep a full pantry and freezer so that we are always prepared for

great meals, company, quick meals, and worst-case scenarios.

We do this by stocking up on our most used items when they go on sale. Like chicken breasts, beans, cereals, frozen berries, canned salmon, toilet paper, soap, etc. Paul is very good at this and even better about organizing our pantry. He organizes it according to expiration dates and then tells me what I should be focused on using. When we're tight on money or just looking to be more frugal, we eat our way through it, supplementing with fresh produce and dairy. Amidst our last run through, I came accross THIS pantry recipe website that I found most useful. You enter what is currently in your pantry and it organizes your food into great recipes. A couple of them I looked at and though "wow! I didn't know I had all the ingredients for that!" It takes a little time to make your entrys (I did it on a Sunday night) , but after that, you can just update here and there.  I also follow a couple of blogs about keeping a deep pantry.  I even get ideas to implement at the Corps(church) in our Social Service pantry.

Another couple of things I do to keep the meal part of my life running smoothly is to keep a list of all the meals I can come up with that I could make right now this minute without a trip to the grocery store.  On this list, I also keep Paul's or the children's requests so that I don't forget to make their favorite meal sometimes.  I add my own too ;)  I also will keep a weekly menu because I need to plan for things like crockpot meals for Wednesday church nights or Sunday lunches or an evening activity that requires a packed sandwiches or a trip through the drive-thru.

I also try to freeze a couple of meals a few times a month.  For example, if I'm making a casserole, I will make a huge one and freeze half.  I also started doing this with goodies too, like cookie dough (a great idea from my friend Stacie).  And when I'm cleaning up from dinner I'm getting things ready for dinner the next night, however insignificant it may seem, it is so much easier to go into preparing a meal with some of the tedial stuff done first, like chopping, mixing, measuring.  A lot of that is stuff the kids can be doing too.  They want to do it, it usually means a bit more of a mess for me, but on most days, I don't mind.

I am still trying to come up with a good snack system.  It seems like I am always offering the kids the same kind of things- cheese, fruit, crackers or 2 pieces from their candy stash.     It gets pretty boring and redundant, but I don't want to fork out the money or forgo nutrition for a bunch of pre-packaged foods either.  I could really use a good snack system.

Organizing-

ORGANIZING is one of  my most favorite words ever.  I love organizing:   people, tasks, stuff, areas, anything!  

Some may say... I don't have time to organize.  I say, I don't have time NOT to organize. 

Every one of my days are brimming over with people to care for and things that need to be done. (Thank you, Lord).   I don't have the time to be looking for things or time to waste in unproductive ways.  And I want to fully utilize my time occupying planet earth.

In fact, I even look for ways to make my rest time productive (I'm sure my mother wouldn't be surprised! ha!ha!)   I like to plan and organize how I will take my rest- a Little House and the Prairie episode rewound and ready to go, a cup of tea in the clean cup w/ saucer ready to go, a workout on the treadmill where I can always find my work-out shoes waiting for me right beside it, or some time in the Word with my Bible that is always on top of the schoolwork/art drawers with my notebook and blue smooth writing ballpoint pen. 

My organized life will look quite different than yours.   For example- a person might look at my unevenly  and unalphabitized stack of spice jars, packets and shakers in my  spice cupboard and say "what's up with that?!", but I know that I can reach my hand inside without even looking and grab exactly what I want out of about 25 items.  Everything has it's place. It has the order that I want from it so that it works best for me.  How does your spice cupboard work for you?  Do you waste time and energy digging for something?  Do you buy things you already have because you couldn't find it?  Or, are your spices spread out all over your home- pepper? in the couch.  garlic powder? back porch.  gaucamole seasonings? on top of the dryer.

Here are some words I associate with organizing:

Prepared

Plan

Efficient

Streamline

Integrate

Simplify (a theme running in my life right now)

Purge

God (He is a God of order, not chaos ;) check out Genesis 1)

So, this month I will be peppering my posts with the organizing element of my life.  I am not coming with a lot of formal knowledge in this area but I do know what works for my family and tweak it often to change with our needs for the time or when I get a better idea or new inspiration. I do know what works for me in my responsibilities in the ministry, but that changes too, and I end up looking for new ways to make my tasks most effective.  Maybe you'll find something useful or absurd, who knows.  Maybe you might offer me some advice also. 

A quote from a very good book that I just can't seem to put down----

"Let all things be done decently and in order."

-Bible    (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Friday and more.

This may be a long post, but bear with me, I don't plan to post this weekend so this is it.

Fridays are pretty much designated errand day.  Typically, I try to be home for lunch, but we had another full day.      Here's what we did today.... 

To the Corps (church) so I could get a few things done in my office.  The girls and I also checked on Sally, our new Sunbeam and Moonbeam hamster.  We couldn't play with her much though.   It is advised that we let her settle in for 7 days, and it's only been 3. :(

To the Jewelers so that I could get my wedding ring repaired that I messed up REAL bad during the Christmas season.  I was carry a bunch of boxes and rammed my hand into a door.  The prongs had wood all stuck in them and everything.   The girls LOOOOVED oogling and googling over all the jewelery (me too!).  Hannah kept swinging the counter doors, even after she was told to stop twice, so she ended up with her nose against the counter.  (I don't care where we are- home or out and about-
swift punishments come and then it's done and over with-  and on with a happy day)  My kids have had their noses all over The Dalles.

Then to the bank

and Dry Cleaners. 

Then to Staples for some Corps Office supply shopping.  Hannah accidently grabbed an old woman's rear end.  She thought it was me.  Thankfully the lady laughed and made nice with Hannah once Hannah realized what she'd done.  Ann helped pick out the paper for our VBS flyers and put her opinion in on what sort of pens I should be buying our staff  and corrected me on what rubberbands we should be using to tie the shoes in the Thrift Store together with and on and on.       She will make a fine Salvation Army Officer. Smile.

Then  to McDonalds (a rare treat! $$)  because we still weren't done with our errands.  Some play time too.  Mary really got into the mirrors.

Then to David and Elijah's school for their cultural assembly.  David's class has been studying the Polynesian/Hawaiin culture.  Quite cool because both Paul and I have been to Hawaii and I've been to Marshall Islands.  Elijah's class has been studying..... ISRAEL!!  Waaay cool because that's where Paul and I are headed soon.  Elijah is learning some Hebrew and everything.   The assembly was a blast, like always.  It's free entertainment for the girls and another avenue for me to be involved in.  All of the students learned special dances to perform.   There was a bag-piper from Ireland.  Ann was impressed that he was wearing a "dress" (kilt).  I was impressed that yet again, I am hearing Christian songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, etc.  (At Christmas we did a school wide Carol sing and 75% of the songs were church christmas hymns).  I don't know where some people get "there is no God in public schools, government, society, etc."  I always thought God was everywhere...

Then we had a bit of time to kill before picking up the boys from school, so we went to the Corps, just down the hill, for a little while longer.

We picked up the boys from school so that we could take a trip to the Dollar Store.  While at the dollar store you won't even believe what happened!  I ran into a friend, who I quite respect,  and whilst I'm saying my hello and howdy-do, I look over and see my 2 little girls running down an aisle with armfuls of helium balloons.  Just as I tell my friend a quick good-bye to get to the girls, the female manager comes over the intercom in the little tiny Dollar Store to say a LONG and LOUD old spiel about the "children runnin' around loose with balloons that are for customers, not crazy children and the parent needs to pay more attention and yadda, yadda, yadda."  I almost went the other direction, straight towards her throat!  I mean COME ON!!  Well by that time Ann and Hannah are frozen in fright.  They get it.   They quickly put the balloons down and even the boys were quite schocked about the whole thing.           Okay, so I'm quickly asking the Lord to help me not to unleash the beast.  The manager really was inappropriate the way she handled it, but that doesn't mean I should be.   So I did what I would do as if I wasn't offended and I corrected the girls, and told them they needed to apologize  -which they did-   and we got out of that store as quick as lightning!    All the way home we were laughing so hard about how I  was going to go in the store and run down the aisle with balloons and see what happens!

We got home and dove into chores and dinner.  And the kiddos played and goofed around until bed.

DONE!

One of Paul's best friends suddenly died.  He married us. He leaves behind a wife and 8 year old daughter. It is so sad.  Death just comes, doesn't it?  Paul will be flying to his funeral.   God had already provided for the flight though!          We'd really appreciate prayers for the family and for Paul.

I am really enjoying my days the last few months.  I wake-up early and look forward to greeting Paul and the kids.  I always have, but now I feel more purposed about it.  I'm more chil' about the house instead of frantically cleaning and picking up all the time.  I'd rather look back and say I played Uno with the kids, gave Paul some cuddles, called a friend or prayed  hard for someone,  than "gee, wasn't my house clean"  or  "gee, didn't I do a good job fretting about things".

I am  really enjoying the ministry lately too.  It is so good to be ministering to our youth, planning lessons and programs.   Writing my sermons (I'm doing another on prayer this Sunday).  Visiting with our people. Preparing and planning Women's Ministries.    Dealing with "issues".     Even doing paperwork.  

So, did you make it through to the end?  Good for you, you're a finisher!

Women Officers- Home League Women's Ministries

We had Home League today. 

We  meet every Wednesday morning, rain or shine.  I really love our group of ladies.  We have about 8 faithful attendees, and some others that come when they can.  We sit around tables, chat it up a bit, open with a Bible Study (I've been leading one on women Jesus ministered too, in the Gospels).  Then we take a short break for snacks and things, then on to a "program" which will usually be one of our four-fold purposes: service, worship, education, and fellowship.

Typically, our ladies take turns in the preparing and leading of the program, but last week we had a cancellation so I went to plan B-   I shared a video about a family who travels around in an RV ministering to others with music. (Paul and I have a dream to travel around in the RV with the children! So naturally, I was very interested in this video!)  I got it a while ago from Franklin Springs Media.   We discussed our homes and families and I encouraged the ladies to seek out good movies that portray family and home life in a  positive way.  There are far too many television shows that portray a wimpy dad, bossy mom, and unruly children.  I also shared about Abigail who had a "surly husband" but she was a  faithful woman who sought the Lord and His way despite her terrible husband.  (And in the end she ended up with King David!!) 

This morning we prayed, took care of some business, reviewed our Projects to which we contribute too and our HL Secretary and helper did an eye-opening skit for us followed by a walk through "Our Heart, Christ's Home". 

We are really excited about a new dimension to our Women's Ministries called  Sally's Ya-Ya Sisterhood.  I am grateful that I have 2 competent and enthusiastic women who will be running this program.  I will just sit back (I hope!) and participate. Smile. 

For a long time, especially when I first became an Officer, I was to easily swayed into thinking that I should fight for my right to not be "just tied down to Women's Ministries".  I would hear of others complaining that the wives of Officer husbands in leadership were just "plugged into" a Women's Ministries position and that their skills and talents weren't being put to good use.  I was young (I still am!) and impressionable and wanted to please the loudest voices around me. 
But I've learned,
just because someone is screaming the loudest,
it doesn't mean that they know what they're talking about. 
So now, I try to tune those out and listen to the still, small, powerful whisper of God.

Home League originated in order to provide fellowship, spiritual guidance and practical skills to use in the  home.  It's intention was to build up the woman so that she could build up her home and church.  If ever women needed the Home League- it's NOW!  There are so many women who find themselves with children, husbands, boyfriends, homes, working, and various other situations, who just don't know what to do or how to do it. I mean really, we've all been there, and we're all still learning, but there are a lot of women out there that don't even know that you can cook without a microwave or a drive-thru the McDonalds.  There are women who just don't know how very impressionable children are.  There are also women who don't know how to get along with other women.   So many things....

Titus 2 tells us what we should be teaching and learning:

to love our children and husbands  (it does not always come "naturally"!),

to be reverant (deeply respectful, in awe)

not to be slanderers (that's right ladies- watch that tongue and those lyin' lips!)

or addicted to too much wine (they didn't have Meth or Crack back then, but I'm sure those type of things are included here!),

teaching what is good,

to be self-controlled

and pure,

to be busy at home (as opposed to being overly busy outside the home or being at home but being a lazy bump on the log)

to be kind,

to be subject to our husbands (GASP!)  

These are the timeless truths that every woman should know.  These things don't come naturally; they have to be learrned and practiced and developed in us by  God. 

(Naturally, the only thing I do VERY well is be a selfish-onry-twit.  Ask my mother.)

The Home League gives us the opportunity and responsibility to teach women, and learn for ourselves, how to be effective Godly women-  builders of God's kingdom, beginning with the home.

PS- Our Corps (church) also ministers to women through our Social Services, Traveling Tea, Nutrition and Craft Classes, Women's Retreat, Mother and Daughter Banqeut, Women's Ministries Annual Tea