Captured Alive

I was minding my own business at the Fort Worth Zoo and along came a Gator or a Crocodile...I don't for sure. But, some how I fell dramatically to the ground and somehow I got my arm in his mouth. It was very surreal.

Annah on the Merry Go Round at the Zoo.  It was Homeschool day and we got in at a discounted price although the drive was really long and traffic in Fort Worth is crazy. 

Along with getting captured by alligators we got to ride turtles too!  Not sure whats wrong with my camera...it has some blur to it. 

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' Isaiah 58:9

Favorites in Writing

When we were in Costa Rica Annah would be so exhausted that she would often want to go to bed by 8 ish which meant we would go to our room rather early.  But, that gave me oodles of time to read and take notes. I had a notebook that I began to put some of my favorite quotations from the books I was reading in. Here are some of my favorites from that months time... seems so long ago but was actually only a couple months ago. Most of these do not have any author credits..as I was not paying attention to giving credit rather just jotting down what I was reading that had meaning to me:

•  The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and to have nothing more, nothing less and nothing else would set our hearts at rest and we would discover the simpler the life the greater the peace. - Elisabeth Elliott
• I'm not getting any younger. I say that with all sincerity.
• When God seems silent, make sure you are really listening. you many not hear His answer because He may not be answering the way you anticipated.  If you are confident in prayer that you are listening for God and still there is no answer, then keep on doing what He last told you to do.  God will let you know what He is doing in your life in His timing, which, is often different than ours. - Corrie ten Boom.
• When Christ ascended into Heaven, He left behind only 2 things for the fulfillment of all his aspirations for the world. His Spirit and His followers.  With the Holy Spirit we have been commissioned to demonstrate Christ's love for all the world to disciple the nations, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to heal the broken and rescue the oppressed.
• Learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widows.... Isaiah 1:15 - 17
• Here I am Send Me- Isaiah 6:8
• When you have learned who you lean on, it is not really important if there is no one to send you or receive you. God will meet all of your needs, He will not fail you.
• All great men have in them some weakness, and all weak men have in them some greatness. - Andrew Urshan
• Life is passing, youth goes, strength decays. But workd done for God imperishable. - Howard Goss.
• Prayer and Praise are the spiritual raods to the presence of God. The throne of God is hidden in the secret kingdom of God, kept safely hidden from enemy interference or intrusions, so that only the hungry, conscientious, humble spirit can find the door that leads into the secluded realm of the spirit.
• Somewhere along its length, every busy street presents an opportunity and a challenge to step out and begin presenting the Gospel.  Every city, town and suburb presents opportunities so numerous that the God called and aggressive heart is always overwhelmed by the vastness of the white harvest field. 
• Because one may not see an opportunity is no reason to become discouraged. A man, woman can always find work to do unto the Lord and do it - even though seemingly small with all his or her soul, heart and mind. God, though H is capable and able to do anything has put us here to do it and He needs us, wants us and will surely uses and bless our service when presented humbly with open hands to Him.
• It is enthusiasm that sets powers free.  - Woodrow Wilson
• God knows who His children are and will NEVER fail to find them and lead them.
• Nothing is to hard to a willing mind.
• I am willing to be cold, uncomfortable, insecure, to take beatings, misrepresentation, to suffer loss, to be thrown, tossed on a cold and unfriendly world without money and without rest, deprived of sleep or a place to lay my head. To accept joyfully any persecution or trouble the Lord allows the evil one to stir up because I believe the Bible and especially when it says "All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
• Do not be afraid of the fullness of God, nor of what He might do if we yield ourselves to Him completely.
• Ordinary people have an extraordinary call to an extraordinary God who calls each of us to total commitment.
• Humility and Honesty will always remain great spiritual safeguards.
• To believe in Jesus is not such a great thing. Even satan believes and trembles. To become like Jesus is truly great.
• What a person believes is sown in their daily life and how they live and what they become under circumstances.
• The modern church, rather than going out and defending and feeding the poor and mistreated, the sick, dying and miserable, lost and unsaved have today rather become comfortable resting places for the saved. 
• Prayer, real prayer, really does change things - often by changing us. - John Rush
• The Lord reigns, let the people tremble - Psalm 99:1
• When a burden is given from teh Lord it does not lose strength with the passage of time, but rather gains intensity.
• Anything vital for God will be tested by the enemy.
• When God is at work, none can withstand Him.
• If we do not win the Communist for Christ, they will conquer the West and uproot Christianity. - Richard Wumbrand.
• If you are a Christian you should really believe God for Great things.
• We are sons of the living God and He wants NONE to be lost.
• Faith without works is dead. Period.
• The way of faith is perseverance when God has already given word to do the task.
• When walking in faith of what God has shown you to do, when you face obstacles He will provide encouragement along the way.
• We can not walk in faith and be fatalistic at the same time.
• We must actively press in to hear God's voice and obey His promptings.
• If Christianity could promise that no one wold ever fall sick, suffer a tragedy or be killed, millions would embrace it. But Christianity cannot do that.  To embrace Christ for selfish reasons goes against God's character.  God is love and He is seeking people who will embrace Him out of a heart of pure love and obedience. JOb knew that when he said "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." Job 13:15
• "Oh Lord, purify my soul from all its stains. Warm my heart with the love of thee, animate my sluggish nature and fix my inconsistency and volatility, that I may not be weary in well doing." - William Wilberforce

 Tiff and Annah having fun!

Left Ajar

Sooooo, I left the ice cream sandwiches untouched ...mostly.   Annah had a few left over the next day but, I went to Kroger and bought the above for me.... but, sadly, I bought SO much stuff for the freezer that the freezer couldn't shut all the way and I didn't notice that it was slightly ajar. My overstuffed, unclosed freezer left me with melted ice cream in the morning. So now, when I helped myself to a Drumstick, it was melted and gooey.

 Its been.... YEARS since I have homeschooled.  We homeschooled Alan all the way to him leaving for the Mission Field with YWAM.  Tiffany until our church began a Private School in her 7th grade year. She is now at college. So to start over with Annah left me feeling anxious and excited.  There are so many different curriculums for homeschoolers now.  When Alan was little, homeschooling was SO new that I couldn't let him out of the house to be seen during school hours...people didn't understand it.  They felt kids who were homeschooled would be lacking socialization and education. But now, 20 years later, its very acceptable to homeschool and easy to get into any college as many home educated kids are more than equipped for college. I am,however, not a fan of the new movement called "Unschooling".

After pouring over as many curriculums as I could, I fell deeply in love with "Heart of  Dakota"  and it has not let me down.  It tells me everything to do and I do it.  It provides me with a full Kindergarten year for Annah.  

If you are not lost, what do you want with a Saviour? Should the shepherd go after those who never went astray? Why should the woman sweep her house for the bits of money that were never out of her purse? No, the medicine is for the diseased; the quickening is for the dead; the pardon is for the guilty; liberation is for those who are bound: the opening of eyes is for those who are blind. How can the Saviour, and His death upon the cross, and the gospel of pardon, be accounted for, unless it be upon the supposition that men are guilty and worthy of condemnation? The sinner is the gospel’s reason for existence. You, my friend, to whom this word now comes, if you are undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving, you are the sort of man for whom the gospel is ordained, and arranged, and proclaimed. God justifieth the ungodly.--- Charles Spurgeon

Me and the box

Paul bought Annah a box of ice cream sandwiches because they were out shopping and she wanted them. He knows how I am  when it comes to ice cream. If he brings home one gallon of ice cream I will eat one gallon of ice cream ..that day.I said "wheres my box"???? He said "but you say don't ever buy you ice cream."....   And here I am all alone with the two girls sound asleep already tucked in their beds and a box of ice cream sandwiches just sitting  in the freezer. What am I suppose to do?  Its rare I have an evening alone. Just me and that ice cream.  I could be totally in bliss if I could just take that box and curl up on my recliner, put on one of my favorite shows like "Its Supernatural" with Sid Roth and one by one eat those ice creams. But instead of being able to just enjoy this evening I am left with this conflict...pacing the floor... biting my nails, peeking into the freezer over and over again.  I've had 3 already. I think there are about 5 left. Maybe its 10 in a box... I don't know.  Its not right to eat a little girls box of ice cream.

'I don't believe in any religion apart from doing the will of God.' - Catherine Booth 

So much to say I can't even talk- Many many firsts

Costa Rica: Well.  Well. It was really amazing. I was shocked to realize to live like an American I needed oodles of money because American chocolate was imported and very expensive... anything in English was very expensive. I'm used to my comfort foods for sure. Something that became very apparent to me...if I truly want to go and be a missionary, I can't have any addictions.  I can't be addicted to coffee, diet coke, chocolate or chips and salsa... pizza, ice cream etc... and I was very happy that I could live without those things... although I did spend a lot of money buying imported American chocolate... a small bag of Hershey's kisses was $7.00 and it was so small I could eat that in one sitting.  The choices were very limited...Hersheys or Cadbury.  ( OH, the picture is of Annah and my grandson, Elias. He is 3. Its a wee bit ticklish having a 5 year old daughter and 3 year old grandson. :) )

There are a zillion ways to make the most amazing meals out of beans and rice to which are gleefully served at every meal. I became so dependent on my meals of rice and beans that when I got back home that is what I wanted to eat.  

Transportation... I would never ever ever drive there or own a vehicle. I would take public transportation. Absolutely no road rules followed.  And pedestrians absolutely do not have any rights. None. Cross roads at your own risk.  I kid you not. 

Even though it was July there, it was the beginning of their rainy season so it rained everyday. It was a very happy experience.  I can't say that I would be jumping up and down to live there but, if I was given that opportunity to go serve God there, I would jump up and down for that. But, to just want to pack up and go live there for the heck of it....no.  I haven't been to very many places but of all the places I've been, I've never been anywhere that I love more than Texas and more than my spot on earth here at home. But again, I'd trade it all for an opportunity to go serve God on the mission field full time. That is what I came away with.  :)  I LOVE YWAM. Love it.

This particular YWAM base in Heredia is very focused on raising their own animals, farming, training how to live in the jungle and live off the land. Most of the juice we drank was all freshly made from fresh  fruits. Annah loved helping to cook.  Very time consuming.

My amazingly handsome son, dad and of course, Annah. My parents went to Costa Rica for the first week and stayed at a really  nice Villa down the road from the YWAM base. It was so much fun having them there.

My mom and daughter in law, Karmy!!!! They are both sweeter than sugar. They are so sweet you will get a cavity just being around them. 

We did LOTS O'walking. Lots.

I loved this little house.  We passed it every day on walks...walks that felt like you were lucky to be alive when you got back home because cars do not care that you are on the road and I had to constantly be on guard.  But, isn't this just the cutest house ever. :)

  In the meantime, we got back home and even though we are homeschooling Annah, she is enrolled in an all day homeschool enrichment program where she is in a Kindergarten class,Spanish and Math class. So, this is her first day of homeschool school away from home. AND, the baby that I had to crop out is a foster baby we have had for almost a month. Not allowed to show her face. She is a dear dear dear dear baby girl. I love her oodles.

Annah's first soccer game! We have had two so far. LOST big time. Like major lost. I said I was NOT going to be one of those soccer moms but, gosh. I am just so competitive. I was basically pulling my hair out and pacing the field and trying to be nice and clap when they 'try' ... but inside I'm wanting to scream PAY ATTENTION...... GOAL IS THAT WAY, NOT THAT WAY.... and the little Pink Princesses were kicking in goal after goal after goal.

 You can't tell here but Annah lost her first tooth. You can't see it because she already has the other permanent one in. But, What was SO SO cute was she told me she had hidden the tooth under 'a pillow'...not her pillow but 'a pillow'.... she told me she wasn't going to tell us which pillow it was under because only the Tooth Fairy needs to know and can find it herself.

Lots of first... first skating rink..... Paul is the brave one going out on the rink to help her. I stayed behind the safety bricks because I had the baby. :)

AND, I read the most AMAZING book, "The Man with the Bird on His head."... you have to read it. You just have to.Its a true account of a man who was an atheist turned Christian, pastor, and then went into YWAM, went on his first outreach on a ship to an island that was partially reached but, the other part was not because they were waiting for a prophesy to be fullfilled... they were waiting for John Frum... (in National Geographic and was featured on 20/20 or something years ago).... John Frum was from America and come on a big white ship and bring them medical supplies and help them live... they completely rejected the message of Christ... and this man, John...well, you have to read it to believe it. 

So to sum it all up... First time in Costa Rica, First day of school, first lost tooth, first skate, first soccer game.... wow. :)
"The moment a man falls into sin, divine life ceases to flow, and his life becomes one of helplessness." - Smith Wigglesworth

Space bag wardrobe and other stuff

I am packed up. Ready to fly away to Costa Rica for almost a month. I leave on Friday. Hopefully I will be able to blog "buh bye" tomorrow before I go! I'll be back in late August.

The thing is, my entire wardrobe.... mostly and definitely seriously, can fit into 2 size Large Space bags-have the air sucked out of and fit into one suitcase.  Can you even imagine being able to fit almost your entire wardrobe into 2 Large Space bags????

Here is my way cool Vibram Five Finger jogging shoe tan line.   This is all from jogging from the early hours of 8:30 am to 10:00 am.  Even though the sun doesn't feel officially out I am typically drenched in sweat and go through about 3 water bottles during that time even though it is so early in the morning.

Annah had to have her hair extensions re-done so when we took the old ones out, she graciously fixed Tiffany's hair with her extensions. 

"Oh Lord, purify my soul from all its stains. Warm my heart with your love.  Animate my sluggish nature and fix my inconsistency and volatility that I may not be weary in well doing. - William Wilborforce.

A moment to chat! :-)

This is MarJane. She is our new pet. She doesn't realize she is our pet but, we now call her our pet raccoon.   We put a bowl of goodies out for her daily, call her name and then wait for her to come out from under her little home area. She seems to always respond to us calling her and ventures out.   Raccoons are part of the bear family.   They are extremely intelligent even being able to unlock things, open doors and gates etc..

 Our new home. Barbie World.  Barbies and cars and Barbie horses, animals, all over the house, every inch of it.  Annah goes in spurts of what she plays with and currently its the land of Barbies. Many of them are missing feet because she chews them off??? What???


 On our way home yesterday Annah and I picked up a one legged man named Lonnie.  I have no idea what his story is. Maybe next time I'll ask.   He doesn't seem to have teeth or a tounge either so he can't talk, he writes things down in a notebook.  He seemed more worried about getting in our car than we did picking him up. He seemed very concerned that we might not  get him home, almost afraid.  I had picked him up before in the winter time in a different car and he was all bundled up and I assumed he was maybe a Vet  but this time when he looked at me I would almost think he was early 30's.  He was walking home very slowly on his crutches in the scorching heat wearing sweat pants of all things.  I wished I had had some cold water to give him but I didn't.  Lonnie looks, appearance wise,  like he would be homeless but he does have a house we drop him off at.  I worried about him alot yesterday and still today.  I worry because are people nice to him? Why was he walking?  Didn't someone love him enough to not have him walking in over 100 degree weather with obvious pain and only one leg?  Its one thing to be limited in limbs and other things and to be surrounded by the latest greatest medical technology to help you along and to have family that loves you to help you but, what about those people who are not able to do much for themselves and they are just left to themselves and treated as burdens?  Fortunately for Lonnie it seems he does have a home to go into.  He looks very scrappy, like he isn't very well cared for but,atleast he isn't on the streets.  I believe that heaven is such a place for those like Lonnie.  When we dropped him off he said "God bless you"....granted, like I said, he can't talk because he doesn't seem to have a tounge but, I understood what he was saying and I felt completely blessed.  

"An honest man, armed with all the knowledge available to us now, could only state that in some sense, the origin of life appears at the moment to be almost a miracle" - Dr. Francis Crick, Noble Prize winning scientist credited with codiscovering DNA. By examining one cell's complexity, Crick concluded it would be impossible for that cell to have evolved, even if one assumed the earth has been around for four and a half billion year Crick's conclusion is that there is no way evolution could of ever happened.  Despite more than seventy-five years of teaching that life came into being through evolution, Crick said that it could never have happened. Never.