Thankful for God's Continued Provision!

Praising God for His provision today ...

Papa is painting a house this week, and doesn't have any more jobs lined up.  While I was at his job site this afternoon (delivering his White Chocolate Raspberry Iced Mocha from Mama's Coffee Shop), a neighbor walked over and asked Papa to give him a painting bid.

Praying that Papa can line up this job.  

Also praying for confirmation 
from a bid that Papa did last week.

And ... asking you to pray with us this week, that Papa would get final payment of the $4,000 still owed to him by a contractor that he worked for last fall.  Oh how this is hanging over our heads!  Papa thinks he got things resolved (paperwork issues) with their office last week.  Please pray that the contractor would expedite this payment and that we can close the books on this job that Papa painted oh so many months ago.


Praising Jesus today, as well, for a generous gift that arrived in the mail.  A dear one that loves us sent a short note saying, "Your summer plans may need a boost."  Oh yes!  Thankful for a little boost, as we are planning a Road Trip for August.


Mama and the Kids are planning to visit Cassie in Oregon (hopefully at Family Camp) ... Jeremiah in California ... Cousin Linda in California ... friends in Arizona ... Gregg in Texas ... bloggy friends in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma ...   So, this "little boost" for our savings account will be put away for gas money.

God has not promised us a large savings account.

God has not promised us fancy new cars or a gorgeous house.

God has not promised us "extra"money each month.

God has not promised us Hawaiian vacations.

But ... God has promised to always take care of our needs.

We have food on our table and a roof over our heads

And ... sometimes ... 

He chooses to give us a "little extra", 

just because He loves us.

Thanking the Lord for Papa's Ministry on the Island.

Thanking the Lord for Papa's Painting Jobs.

Thanking the Lord for an Unexpected Gift,

just because He loves us.

Just a Few Track Highlights

Sorry ... no pics today ... but here are a few results from last night's Summer Track Meet.


Since this is our Family Journal ... and since this is our primary means of daily life  communication with our Big Kids that are living in Argentina, Texas, California, Oregon, and across the State ... I'll be giving quick track results, even if I don't have pics to share every week.


Hosanna PR'd in both of her events, getting a 14.03 in the 100m and a 31.41 in the 200m.  Great job, Hosanna!  In the 200m, she was running against 7 boys in the 13+ age group.  (She is 13.)  So, she was running against Middle School and High School boys.  And (drum roll, please) ... she took 2nd Place.  Run, Girl, Run!!!


Josiah PR'd in the mile, with a 7.49.  This was 2 min. better than last week's time.  WooHoo!!


Last week, Rachel ran a 7.47 and Elijah ran a 7.48 in the mile.  This week, Rachel got a 7.23, with Elijah right behind at a 7.27.  That was a PR for Rachel; but Elijah is still working to beat his PR (from when he was 6) of 7.20.


In the 800m (8 and under age group), Rachel took 1st place with a 3.13; while Elijah came in 2nd with a 3.28.




In the 200m ...


Hosanna - 31.41 (2nd place)
Sarah - 33.85 (2nd place)
Rachel - 37.03 (1st place)
Elijah - 41.41 (2nd place)




In the 100m ...


Hosanna - 14.03 (2nd place)
Sarah - 16.10 (2nd place)
Rachel - 17.97 (1st place)
Elijah - 18.59 (2nd place)


Josiah also participated in the 100m and 200m, but they only give times out for the first 3 places.  


After last night's meet, we went shopping and actually bought all 4 Young Ones REAL running shoes.  (LOVE the Fred Meyer 50% off Clearance Sales.)  Seriously, they have been running in Converse Hightops, Skate Shoes, and too-small hand-me-downs.  Now .. they are all 4 out-fitted with nice and light Running Shoes.  Can't wait to see their times next week.  I seriously think it will make a big difference.  (Remember ... Josiah PR'd in the mile by 2 minutes.  Well ... he ran barefoot this week, instead of in his Skate Shoes.)

A Whole Lot of Work ... but Worth It!

102# of "U-Pick" Fresh Strawberries

50 Quarts of Jam

9 Gallons of "Flash Frozen" Whole Berries

(for Smoothies & Fruit Salads)

6 Quarts of "Flash Frozen" Sliced Berries

(for Pancakes & Waffles & Ice Cream)

Missing so many of my Big Kid helpers,

but Hosanna has been an AMAZING helper this week.

(Ben has helped, too; but he has been working 

a LOT, at a local Strawberry Processing Plant.)

Hoping for a week or two break before Raspberries.

Our New Schedule w/ Papa

Now that summer is here, we are settling into a new schedule at the Big D. House.

Since we are unable to move to the island at this time, Papa is commuting between both places.  He is on the island from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon, living in the little borrowed camping trailer.  He has time for relationship building (or riding his Harley) on Saturday afternoons and evenings.  Then, he ...

...  preaches on Sunday mornings.

...  visits church members Sunday afternoons.

...  attends a Small Group Sunday evenings.

...  works on sermon prep on Mondays.
     (and might sneak in a Harley ride)

...  schedules church mtgs. for Monday afternoon.

...  leads a Men's Small Group on Monday night.

...  catches a ferry on Tuesday, and
     heads home to his family.

Now, don't think that he takes the rest of the week off, to play with his family.  Oh no!  From Tuesday to Saturday, Papa ...

...  works on Sermon Prep.

...  works on church budget,
     and all other church paperwork.

...  answers church-related phone calls.

...  plans/prepares for the Men's
     Small Group that he leads.

...  paints houses for the 2nd

     half of our family income.

     (He's been a Painting Contractor

      for almost 30 years.)

...  does painting bids, trying to

     drum up more business.

...  tries to squeeze in a few hours
     for taking care of the house and cars.
     (Thanks for washing all the cars
      on Saturday, Papa!)

...  plays a game or two with the young ones.

...  sneaks in a conversation or two with Mama.
     (We actually went out to dinner last week,
       for the first time in almost 3 months.)

It's HARD on Papa!  I know he is TIRED.  He desperately wants to be with his family ... he wants us ministering alongside him on the island.  He's exhausted from trying to run a church and a painting business at the same time.

I want to help Papa.  I want to minister with Him.  I want to serve him when he is here.  But, guess what?  That is hard, too.  I am TIRED, as well.  While my heart's desire is to serve him ... MY expectations sometimes get in the way.  I want some Papa time.  I want Papa to have time to fix things around the house.  (The window that broke last month ... the door lock that broke in April ... )  I want Papa to take a day off ... or a week off ...  to just BE with his family.

Then ... I feel guilty.

Around and around we go ...

...  neither of us being able to fill the other's love tank.

... neither of us being able to meet the other's needs.

... neither of us being able to really understand how the other is feeling.

...  both of us just so tired (physically & emotionally) that
     we plod through each day, hoping that tomorrow will be a better day.


Please pray for us ...

...  for our marriage to be strong

...  for time to communicate, time to share

...  for this difficult living situation to be resolved

...  for strength to persevere on this journey

...  for hope to see a light at the end of the tunnel


It's been a long year ... a very long year ...

Drastic!

Oops!  Almost forgot to tell you ...

I did something DRASTIC this week ... something RADICAL and CRAZY and OUT OF THE NORM for Mama D.

I got my hair cut ... really CUT this week.  Not a trim.  Nope.  A new hairstyle.  New ... as in ... it has been 28 years since I have had my hair cut this short.  Scary?  Yes.

For the past 28 years, I have had "long hair".  Last time I got it cut "short", Papa laughed at me.  So, right then and there I declared, "I will never get my hair cut short again."

I go to my hairstylist (and awesome friend) every 4 months for a trim and a color.  (I didn't ever color my hair until I was 40, and only started then so that I could keep it the "natural" light brown ... because it was darkening.)  Over the years, I have changed things up a bit ... sometimes keeping it 1/2 way down my back ... sometimes keeping it just below my shoulders ... sometimes a blunt cut ... sometimes adding layers ...  It's not like I've "looked the exact same for 30 years".  No.  But, I have always like my long hair.

Well, a few days before the appointment, I started looking in the mirror and wondering.  Should I cut it a little shorter?  (It was quite long.)  Maybe I should go back to the "below the shoulder" length?  Maybe I should add a few more layers?

Then, when my sweet friend said, "Trim it as usual?" I responded ...

"Maybe a little more."

"Maybe 3" or 4" instead of 2"."

"I want to keep it long enough for a pony tail."

"Keep it below the shoulders."

"I like "long" hair."

"Maybe a few more layers."

"Just do whatever you want to do ..."


What did I just say?!?!

I'm sure that my sweet friend's mind was racing.  Did Laurel just give me permission to "do what I want to do"?  What fun this will be!  (Sweet Friend is very young and very beautiful.  I'm sure she has always wanted to do away with my "1970's look".)

Now, Sweet Friend and I LOVE to chat when I get my haircut.  So, I really wasn't paying too much attention to how much fun she must have been having while snipping and snipping and snipping.  I never did look down to see how big the piles of hair were on the floor.

I noticed that the front was a bit shorter than usual (as it bounced on my shoulder).  However, she usually cuts the sides a bit shorter than the back.  So, I was envisioning the back of my hair sweeping below my shoulders, with a few layers for added bounce.

Then ... I looked in the mirror and about fell over.  The back was shorter than the front.  (Does that mean that Mama D. actually has a "modern hair style"?)  It was layered quite a bit more than the sides.  And, the layers were flipped up.  Oh my!  I LOVED it!!!  So different!  So fun!

Sweet Friend obviously only heard the "do whatever you want".  She totally assumed that that one little comment negated all of the other instructions to ...  "keep it long" ... "I still want to be able to do a ponytail" ... "keep it below the shoulders" ...

As I bounced out of the hair salon (with my new bouncy hairdo), I laughed and told Sweet Friend, "Jim will definitely notice this haircut."

Then, I thought ...  Uh oh!  What will Papa say?  I think I'll keep it a secret until he comes home tomorrow!

When Papa came home the next day, I was so nervous, remembering clearly when he had laughed at my haircut 28 years ago.  He came home.  We chatted.  He didn't say anything.

Okay ... better than laughter ... but he must HATE it ...  What should I do?  What should I say?

After Papa had been home about 2 hours, he and I were sitting on the couch chatting when Josiah suddenly said, "Papa, did you notice anything about Mama?"  He brilliantly responded, "She's just as beautiful as ever."  Good job, Papa!  

But ... guess what?  Papa seriously HAD NOT NOTICED  the haircut.  Nope.  Didn't notice the "new do".   Too funny!

Oh yes ... after I got home from the salon I had a horrifying thought ... How am I going to style this?  I have no idea how to keep this cute style.  What am I going to do???  It took awhile the next day, but I did figure it out.  (Goes to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks.)

I know ... now you are all wanting to see pictures.  But, I don't have any yet.  I'll try to remember to do that this coming week (after practicing the styling techniques a bit more).

Thank you, Sweet Friend, for stepping out and helping to modernize this "old mama".  Thank you for not letting me get stuck in the 1970's rut.  Thank you for helping me to feel young, even when the calendar shows otherwise.  (When out and about with my little 8 year olds, I often wonder if people think I'm the Mama or the Grandma.)

Mama D. is sportin' a "new do" ... and lovin' it!!!

Not Another MisAdventure?!?!

Another late night phone call to Papa on the island tonight.  Not much he could do, I guess, but I needed the moral support.  Sorry Papa, for waking you up on a Sermon Night (vs. he used to have School Night's).


Papa was home for a couple of days this week.  Yippee!!!  Mama went shopping without children for the first time in 2.5 months.  Mama "power shopped" for 5 hours ... stocking up on EVERYTHING.  Mama had made menus for the next 6 weeks, and filled the refrigerators and freezers with all kinds of yummy things.


Mama went out to the old refrigerator in the garage tonight to discover that ... it wasn't working.  Oh no!!!  Mama quickly threw all of the freezer meat into our large upright freezer.  (Don't know why Papa put it in the smaller freezer after the shopping trip.)  "Lost" a 1/2 gallon of Mama's favorite Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.  Sad!  Then, surveyed the refrigerator items.  It was full of probably $50 worth of milk, cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese ... and, of course, strawberries from yesterday's 100#s.


The young ones were in bed, and Kati, Ben, & Hosanna were off watching fireworks at a little local summer festival, which left Mama all alone to deal with the situation.  Ugh!  


The inside refrig. would have been considered "full" already ... but I knew I had to make room. Pull everything out.  Rearrange.  Carry all dairy products in from the garage.  Stuff ... cram ... overload ... and pray that the door closes.  Whew!


Right when I closed the refrig. door ... the Big Kids walked in.  Perfect timing.  

Oh how Mama misses having Papa 

around for the everyday "stuff"!!!

It's just easier to deal with "stuff"

when walking through life with 

a teammate, a partner, 

a very best friend.

Seeing Red

Oh yes ... LOTS of RED at our house today.

What do we do with 100# of Strawberries?

eat them fresh & plain

cover ice cream with them

eat them fresh & plain

make them into jam

eat them fresh & plain

slice & freeze for later

(to put on/in ice cream, pancakes, 

waffles, smoothies, milkshakes, 

homemade granola, etc ...)

Hosanna & I did some of our slicing tonight,

for our "flash freezing".  We freeze them on

cookie sheets and then pop them into freezer

baggies, so that they are frozen individually.

Yummmmmy for Our Tummmmmies ...

If I'm not blog hopping 

(and leaving you encouraging comments)

for the next few days ... you'll know what I'm busy with.

A Mother's Prayer

Last year, on June 16th,  I wrote this post  ...   just after discovering our Crisis situation.  Now, a year later, I still need to pray this prayer.  There are still so very many hidden hurts and fears in the hearts of our little girls.  So, today, I ask again, "Help me, Lord."

Lord ...

Open my eyes ... to see life through the eyes of my beautiful African children. Help me to see the life that they lived before they joined our family. Help me to see what they see. Give me a clear vision of their needs, and help me to meet each of those individual needs.

Lord ...

Open my ears ... to hear what they hear. Help me to hear their fears. Help me to know the secrets that still lie deep inside. Help me to pull them close and know how to comfort them when they are afraid.

Lord ...

Open my heart ... to feel what they feel. Help me to understand what makes their little hearts tick. Help me to feel their pain, and give me wisdom in how to help heal the hurts that they still carry in their little hearts.

Lord ...

Open my mind ... help me to know them more deeply. Help me to know when to speak, and when to keep silent. Help me to know when to encourage them to speak, and when it is okay for them to just sit in silence in my arms.

Lord ...

Help me to see my children, as you see them.

Help me to hear my children, as you hear them.

Help me to understand my children, as you understand them.

Help me to know my children, as you know them.

Lord ...

Thank you for Sarah.

Thank you for Rachel.

Lord ...

You see them,

and you love them.

You hear them,

and you know their secrets,

and you love them.

You understand them,

and you know the pain in their hearts,

and you love them.

You know them.

You created them.

You love them.

Thank you Lord.

Are The "Twins" Training For The Olympics?

This week, I just had to give Rachel & Elijah their own Track post.  These two are AMAZING!  I guess Rachel decided that she was not going to let Elijah be known as the long distance runner.  (She had done better with sprints in the past.)  I think that she decided, "Anything he can do, I can do better."  And ... she set out to prove herself on the track this week.  Go, Girl, Go!!!


First of all ... not to worry ... we are so NOT the competitive parents that set super high standards for their children on the athletic field.  Oh. My. No.  We LOVE sports.  We LOVE competition.  But, most of all, we LOVE having fun.  So, if the kids are having fun and want to do well at the same time, we say, "Go For It!"  


Let me tell you a little about these two ...


Rachel was the youngest in her Ghanaian family 
for 6 years (or so) before coming to America.


Elijah was the youngest in his American family,
for 6 years before Rachel arrived from Ghana.


Rachel's birth certificate says that 
she is 5 months older than Elijah.


However, since they had both been the youngest for 6 years,
we decided just to treat them like twins.


Our family has already done the twin thing,
so we know the joys and challenges of having twins.


Rachel is a fighter and a survivor,
having survived a very difficult childhood in her village.


Elijah is a fighter and a survivor,
having survived a near-deadly case of bacterial meningitis.
(You may notice the scars on his legs from the 100+
3rd degree burns that he survived, caused by the disease.)


And ... as the youngest of a dozen children ...


Rachel & Elijah think that they can do 
anything the Big Kids can do.


Rachel & Elijah are FULL of energy.


Rachel & Elijah are NOT quitters.  Never.


Rachel & Elijah are FULL of fun.


Rachel & Elijah LOVE being "twins".


So, what did they do in track and field this week???


Let me tell you ...

They Ran the 50m Hurdles.

They High Jumped.

Don't you LOVE that style?

They Ran the 50m Dash.

(sorry, no pics of that one)

They Ran the 100m Dash.

Rachel Ran a 17.5 in the 100m.

(Don't bite your tongue, Rachel.)

They Long Jumped.

Elijah jumped 9'4".

Rachel jumped 9'3".

They Ran the 200m.

(no pics)

They Ran the 800m.

(Rachel beat Elijah by a couple of seconds.)

Funny Story ...

Rachel was in 1st place for the 1st lap of the 800m.

She moved into 2nd place for most of the 2nd lap.

As she was coming down the last stretch, 

Mama was shouting encouragement to her.

With about 50m to go, another girl was gaining on her.

Mama yelled, "There's someone right behind you."

This was supposed to motivate her to speed up a bit.

But ... she heard me ... and moved over to the next lane,

to let the girl pass.  Too funny!  I had to explain to her

after the race, what I meant by my words of encouragement.

They Ran the 1st Lap of the Mile,

Side-by-Side.

(Yes, they are running with all of the adults.)

They Ran the 2nd Lap of the Mile,

Side-by-Side.

They Ran the 3rd Lap of the Mile,

Side-by-Side.

I was wondering if Elijah had slowed down this week,

so that Rachel could keep up with him.

Or, if Rachel had really picked up her pace this week.

At the end of the 4th lap, 

Rachel moved ahead.

And ... Elijah let her.  

He didn't "kick it" like he

usually does.  So sweet!

Rachel finished the mile in 7:47.

Elijah finished the mile in 7:48.

When we got home, 

Elijah told me that his legs hurt.

That's when I realized ...

Not only had Elijah and Rachel just 

gotten a GREAT time in the mile,

but they had also competed in

nearly every event.

Elijah and Rachel both competed in ...

50m Hurdles

50m Dash

100m Dash

200m Dash

800m Run

Long Jump

High Jump

and ... FINISHED the night with the MILE.

Oh My!!!

(We didn't run the 4x100m relay this week,

because Sarah needed to get home

to go spend the night with Lindsey.)

Run, Kids, Run!!!

Real Men Make Homemade Laundry Soap

Have you ever made your own Laundry Soap?  Seriously, you would not believe how EASY and CHEAP it is to make.  I can't believe I've been buying it for so many years.


First of all, I got this recipe from my dear friend Dawn's blog.  I wasn't able to get pics today, so you might want to hop on over to Dawn's blog for pics of her HUSBAND making the laundry soap.  Yes, I did say that her HUSBAND makes the soap.  So, when I decided to try a batch, I told Papa that it was a "Man's Job", and showed him the pics of Jason.  Not to be outdone in the Manly Department, Papa is now our Official Laundry Soap Maker.  I think today's batch was the 3rd or 4th batch that he's made, with the same set of very inexpensive ingredients.  (Jason has calculated it out to be about .01 - .02 per load.  Yes. 1 penny per load.  How much do you pay for your laundry soap?)


Here's the recipe:

Homemade Laundry Soap

6 cups Water

1/3 bar of Zote soap (pink bar soap)

1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55oz box)

1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (76 oz box)

Grater

3 qt Saucepan

Spoon

Large Bucket that holds 2 gallons

Funnel

2 empty Gallon containers (milk jugs or empty laundry soap containers)

Bring 6 cups Water to a boil

Grate the 1/3 bar of Zote soap

After the water is boiling, add the grated Zote soap and stir until it is dissolved.

Then add the 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of Borax. Stir until completely dissolved.

Put in a bucket and add water until you have 2 gallons all together.

Pour with funnel into containers.

* you will have to shake it when you use it, because it is a thick gel-like fluid.

**  I use 1/4 cup for my extra-large-super-duty front loader washing machine.  That's all it needs.

Radical ... in Audio

For the next 24 hours ... until 10:00 am on Thursday ... you can get the complete audio version of the Radical book, by David Platt ... for just $2.49.  Go to THIS link, to get your audio book download.

Fun Summer Runnin'

More fun at this week's Summer Track Meet ...

Josiah's Got Some Hurdlin' Style

Look at Sarah Hurdle!

Her hurdles are higher than Josiah's were.

Josiah Tries the High Jump for the first time.

Looks like he needs to learn to kick his legs up.

Sarah's Got Some High Jumpin' Style

I love the flyin' braids and beads.

Sarah ... Out in Front in the 200m.

She may be short, but she's got 

some mighty strong legs.

Josiah Runs the 200m

Hosanna Doin' the 200m

Josiah Survives the Mile.

He may not be the fastest,

but he keeps a good attitude,

and finishes the race.

Sarah is really picking up her speed this year.  I think after watching Hosanna run her Middle School track season, that Sarah has set some goals.  Hosanna did really well this season, as a sprinter, running the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m.

Yesterday ... 

Hosanna ran the 100m in 15.4.

Sarah ran the 100m in 15.84.

Hosanna ran the 200m in 33.19.

Sarah ran the 200m in 33.37.

Oh ...

Did I miss a couple of kids ???

No ...

I didn't forget to take pictures of them.

No ...

They didn't just sit and watch this week.

No ...

They're not sick or injured.

Where are they???

The Little Ones get their own post tomorrow ...