Our 2 Campers

The boys are back. Yay! It's funny having 2 kids go to camp because they argue over who gets to tell what story! They both had and awesome time. David always come back more self-sufficient, Elijah has this time too. I sense a lot more confidence in both of them and they are so full of kindness for their sisters because they missed them. I'm glad for that. I think we have a great camp, and I am always so impressed with the way it's run. It takes a lot of hard, consistent work to keep a camp safe for all the children involved. There are so many pre-cautions to take and a lot of careful planning goes into it. Hooray for Camp Kuratli Staff!! Thank you so much for inspiring our kids to live out their faith because of the real way you present yours!

The church kids all did great and makes The Dalles Corps so proud! They were all so full of stories which they shouted over each other on the 2 hour drive home. We just love them to bunches and get excited when we are able to witness their faith take root.

Between church and nursing homes tomorrow, I need to wash up their clothes and stick them right back in their suitcases for another 5 days of camp. We're leaving Monday and will take the other church kids too.

I'm not looking forward to another week without my boys, but will make the best of it with plenty of girl time (poor Paul). I know that one day, our kids will start leaving for good, hopefully by then I'll be ready for it! (Maybe that's what the teenage years are for..ha!ha!)

My Kids Should've Been Asian

Is it legal to blog twice in one day????

I have some spare time, an early bedtime for the girls because we're up at the crack of dawn to go pick up our church kids from camp. I know they will be brimming with stories to tell us! So anyways, I thought I'd write about rice because the boys will be home tommorow and I want to make them one of their favorite meals.

My kids LOVE rice. They might as well be Asian. Left to themselves, I think they'd eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner. For years all I've cooked is Lundberg Organic Brown Rice. That's what I like and most importantly- that's what CostCo sells, so that's what the kids are used to. 12 pounds for about $13. We go through about 3-4 bags a year. I cook it at least once a week, just season it differently depending on what I'm serving it with. I also use it in casseroles, mexican dishes, etc. We hardly ever do noodles/pasta, maybe once every 5-6 weeks (if that). Rice is definately the staple in our home. I will cook up a ton once a week, eat it for dinner that night and then use it for other stuff the rest of the week. Like Mommy's Fried Rice, which the kids love to eat and we named it Mommy's because when we go to a resturaunt and order fried rice, they're like... "this doesn't taste as good as mommy's". (And boy does that make me feel good!!)

Here's how I cook it:

Ingredients (These are all estimates, tweak it to how you want it and how much you want)
4 Cups of already cooked Brown Rice. (It works better if it's already nice and cold)
1/4 Cup Peanut Oil (use any, but I don't recommend Olive for this)
1 1/2 Cups of frozen Carrot/Pea mix, thawed
1 1/2 Cups of already cooked Meat (whatever you have on hand, pork, chicken, beef)
7 Eggs, beaten (my kids like lots of egg in it)
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce

Directions:
Heat up large skillet and oil until nice and hot.
Fry up the Brown Rice until heated through
Mix in Carrot/Pea and Meat
Cook through.
Add Soy Sauce, mix up.
Push everything to one side
On the empty side, add eggs and scramble until set
Mix into rice

Serve with a smile

My "Alternative" Lifestyle

Why are all the sinful, ungodly "alternative" lifestyles accepted and celebrated? What about us Christians?

Even as Christians, united in one Holy God, we are all unique, aren't we? We all have different understandings, lifestyles and convictions don't we? Our whimsical God has created a beautiful assortment of people for His glory and purposes.

Here's my alternative lifelstyle:

• 
  
  I believe in one God who is the Creator, Preservor and Governor of all things and one Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 
  
  I believe the Holy Bible to be God's Word and I (try) live by it.
• 
  
  I have received salvation from sin and have eternal life.
• 
  
  I have one husband who I am committed to loving 'till death do us part.
• 
  
  I have 5 children, who I want, love and adore. And until further notice, I welcome any that God would send my way.
• 
  
  I love being a mother and a wife and am committed to doing it the best I know how and as much as the good Lord will equip me to do so.
• 
  
  I am an ordained full time minister of the Gospel. I preach on Sundays from a pulpit, and no, I'm not a woman's libber. Just called by God to preach His word whether it's from a wood box on a platform or on my living room couch.
• 
  
  I wear a uniform most days of the week. It identifies me with the ministry I work for. I am not my own, I was bought at a price, I belong to Christ and His calling in my life.
• 
  
  I believe in right and wrong, moral and immoral and absolute truth. I am an open-minded, understanding person, but weigh everything against the truth of God. It doesn't make me a bigot or judgemental or a hypocrite or whatever those with no truth would call it... it just gives me a place to stand in the shifty places of life. I'm glad I have that.
• 
  
  I believe in individual responsibility and accountability. You make your own life. You should take blame and the credit. The good, the bad and the ugly. We will stand before God and give a full account for it.
• 
  
  I am against welfare and I am pro charity. I believe the government should have no right to take from one man to give to another (aka- taxes). I believe we have raised generations of people who think they are entitled to the many services that the governement provides. I believe the Bible- if a man does not work, he shall not eat and you should reap what you sow. Sow not, reap not. Charity should be done by the charitable and the Church, not the government.
• 
  
  I am a true feminist. I believe a woman should be a woman, not a man. I want to look like a woman and act like a woman according to how God created me and how His Word instructs me.
• 
  
  I know that my alternative lifestyle would be more accepted and tolerated in this world if it were a sinful one. But praise God for His sanctifying work in His believers!

What's your "alternative" lifestyle? How has the Lord defined you and called you according to His purpose? What makes you unique in this world? What makes you unique in sea of Christians? Use it for the glory of God and the good of others!

Mary is 3 Months Old!

Wow, does time FLY! Mary Ruth turned 3 months old on Sunday (July 19). She is precious and such a content little baby. She still wakes up 3 times a night, but just to eat, not to fuss. She is starting to play with toys. She is always being held by someone. When I do need to put her down, she gets a look of confusion and then fear, which results in crying. She is coooing and smiling like crazy. Paul and I think she is one of our most engaging babies, always trying to get our attention, and then she'll coo and smile like crazy. She has also taken up quite a bit of slobbering, which the kids think is hilarious.



Here is her 3 month photo shoot from Sunday:

What Life Is Like This Week

We got the kids off to camp safe and sound. Paul ended up canceling his day and coming with me. He is so protective of me. It drives me nuts, due to my independant streak, but I know it's because he loves me. (I used to drive 13 hours each way to Youth Councils weekends with 15 teenagers and a baby David, where was this side of him then??) After getting everyone registerd, lice checked, medicine checked and class sign-ups, the 3 girls and us went to Super Wal-Mart on the way home. Spent about $200 stocking up on groceries, you can't beat their prices! Of course, this week and most of next week, we are a family of 5 and probably didn't need to stock up so much. But at least it will all be there when we are a family of 7 again.

Got some office work done Tuesday. Sunday Bulletins, finalized camp paperwork for next week, started our fall youth program scheduling, made some arrangements for Women's Retreat, and various other no-brainers. I also ran home real quick to get some Cinnamon Rolls started for Home Leage the next day, which was today. Then back to the Corps. I made some Cinnamon Rolls a few weeks ago for a lady in our church with 2 little kids and her husband in the Army in Kentucky. Of course... she had to mention it to someone and that someone went and told everyone else and then someone tells me "how come you didn't make me Cinnamon Rolls?" (jokingly... but I sensed some truth) SO... I said "how about I make some for Home League, that way everyone gets some and no one feels left out?" (hint, hint) She says "oh that would be wonderful" and then she proceeds to give me a list of everyone's allergies and how I should make them. Oh brother (I mean sister). So the girls and I finished them up last night, but I forgot the most important ingredient of all... Love.
I will put in extra next time.

So is it supposed to be easier with only 3 kids?? Well, it's not. With the boys gone, the big kid chores are not getting done, so that leaves it to me. And I just haven't gotten to them. Vacuuming, glass cleaning, garbage, wall washing. I'd really rather not, maybe because I'm in a lazy mood after going at it hard the last several days. Paul and I will probably watch a movie tonight.

Now, I'm down here trying to blog and catch up on emails while the girls are litterally under my feat. I left them upstairs playing with their paper dolls and they ended up making their way down here. It always happens, I shouldn't complain, but the kids (yes, all of them) are always following me from room to room. They will even wait outside the bathroom door for me. It's like I'm the planet and they are little moons orbiting around me.

Home League Field Trip

Last Wednesday, our Home League group (Women's Ministries) took a field trip to the Vista House and Bridal Veil Falls. We had a great time! Not all of our ladies could go, but those that did had a super fun time! (I can't post their pictures, but trust me, they were there). Also, you won't see Ann in the Bridal Veil Falls pics because I couldn't find one of her without a HL lady. The Chouinards at the Vista House.

Bridal Veil Falls. The hike was perfect with children and for most of our ladies. It was about a mile with some uphill. And the trail was in good shape.

We all sat on the side of a hill to eat our picnic lunches.


Mommy and Mary (my arms length photo)

I love being outside. I love hiking and camping and all that goes with it. I wish we would do it more, but you know, it's just hard to make the time for it when you think you're busy with more "important" things.

The Chouinards will definately be going back here and will be doing some of the other waterfall trails nearby.

Thank you Lord for your creation!! How did you come up with all this good stuff?! It's not only beautiful and refreshing but fully funtioning too! God, you amaze me!

I blinked... Did another week go by?

What a fast week it has been! Some things I remember from it...
Company four times(our good friends for dinner and play, one of our employees for dinner, the boys' friend spent the night, and one of Ann's church friends for the afternoon)
Finalizing camp arrangements, registrations and applications
Staff meeting. Set-up, catering arrangements, clean-up, etc.
Safe From Harm Audit (one thing I need to catch up on, but overall good!)
Parade
Field Trip with Home League
Game Room twice (crafts, food, video games, pool table, foos ball, board games, dance class and more) Thank you Lord for Zeronda, our youth pastor!
2 Sermon Sundays in a row for me ("The Anemic Christian" and "Let God Be Magnified")
5 very busy, active, loud, magnificent, amazing, helpful children!
Countless loads of laundry and packing for my 2 baby boys going to camp tommorrow.

I'm sure there must've been more, but it's been lost in my memory hard drive somewhere.

Anticipation of driving 13 children to camp tommorrow, on my own, with my own little children. I think we'll (the 3 girls and I) stop at Super Wal-Mart on the way back, if I'm still sane!