New Zealand fun

We've really enjoyed "visiting" New Zealand.

Sarah researced Maori carvings and copied one of the designs as she carved a bar of soap.

Then Sarah presided as head chef and whipped up some pavlova.

Benjamin could hardly wait for it to finish cooking...

but it was worth the wait - yummy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please visit Peggy and share your own daybook.

FOR TODAY... Monday, February 8

Outside my window...HOT & sunny, but we've got a little breeze, too; the three big kids are at a birthday party up the hill

I am thinking...about the new stove in this SITAG house. Thanks to those of you who contributed to ongoing needs of the accomodations fund. Now I no longer have to worry about flames exploding and engulfing my arm up to my elbow while I cook!

I am thankful for...God's "shepherding" and that He never leaves me or forsakes me

I am wearing...white t-shirt, green floral skirt made by Nana, barefoot, hair in a French twist

I am remembering...how much I loved to play the cello, especially with my handsome, brown eyed stand partner

I am going...to attempt to make cottage cheese

I am currently reading...Biblical Archealogy Review, January/February issue

I am hoping...to get all of my canning for the village done this week

On my mind...all of the fun and beautiful things to cook at this website. Wonder if I could take a stash out to Marulaon?

Noticing that...I've been quite scatterbrained and forgetful lately

Pondering these words..."If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea [that's me!], even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Ps. 139:9-10

From the kitchen...egg salad sandwiches and a big pot of chili

Around the house...piles of supplies for Marulaon beginning to accumulate...again

One of my favorite things~string quartets

From my picture journal...

Olivia was supposed to be dressing Katherine as we began our day. Sarah came running for the camera because she found them giggling on my bed and thought her two little sisters were just "too cute". I am so thankful that my kids love each other (most of the time) and enjoy playing together.

And the winner is...

...Abi. Hope you enjoy your new tongs!

Sweet Sabbath

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandburg

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom....Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days....May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands."

Psalm 90:12, 14, 16, 17

Snow Day!

We're making our own snow here this weekend...

Giveaway

It's time once again to say a BIG thanks to those of you who mail cards, support us financially, pray for us, send care packages, drop us an e-mail...all of the many ways you encourage our family as we go back and forth from Honiara to Marulaon. These are lovely handmade rosewood tongs inlaid with shell. We own a very similar pair and use them almost every day. Drop us a note in the comment box before midnight CST, Sunday, Febrary 7th, and the last name our kids draw will receive these in a care package from the Solomon Islands.

Twinkle, twinkle...

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please hop over and visit Peggy to share your own daybook.

FOR TODAY... February 1, 2010

Outside my window...sun painting the sky brilliant colors as it rises.

I am thinking...about snow. We don't have any here, of course, but we're enjoying our books about snow and making snowflakes.

I am thankful for...the boldness of one of the young ladies from Marulaon. She walked up to SITAG yesterday, and I invited her in to visit for a while. She is coming back tomorrow morning to help me work on my Lavukaleve!

I am wearing...my exercise clothes, going to walk up and down the hills in just a few moments.

I am remembering...that my sister's birthday is this week. Miss you, sis!

I am going...to the airport tomorrow to pick up some colleagues, to Central Market on Wednesday to try and find some ladies from Marulaon as they sell their crabs and shellfish, to have lots more company this week as we enjoy spending time with each of the SITAG families.

I am currently reading..."The Adventures of Pioneer Women in New Zealand from Their Letters, Diaries and Reminiscences" selected by Sarah Ell, a "grown-up" book to correspond with our study of New Zealand this week.

I am hoping...that Katherine continues to sleep a little bit better. We discovered that Benjamin's watch alarm was set for 2:00 a.m., and she was waking up at 2:00 every morning. Now that the alarm has been turned off, she is sleeping better.

On my mind...flour. The entire town (including the flour mill) is out of flour. Thankfully, we bought a 10 lb bag last week, but it won't last long in our baking household.

Noticing that...it's time to begin preparing to go back to Marulaon again.

Pondering these words..."Aimless living and prayerlessness go hand in hand." E.M Bounds

From the kitchen...campers' oatmeal for breakfast, Lynn's muffins (from "Laurel's Kitchen") to complement the chicken noodle soup for lunch, and bar-b-que meatballs, rice, green beans, pineapple, and coconut custard pie (Benjamin's new favorite recipe to cook - from "More With Less") tonight

Around the house...a freezer full of meals to nourish our tummies this week, ceiling fans going full speed, and the coffee pot emptying rapidly as kids wake up and reach for their mugs.

One of my favorite things~yummy new recipes, like fresh tomato salad dressing from "Laurel's Kitchen"

From my picture journal...

I know, I'm abusing the "one picture" aspect of the daybook.

But they were soooo cute showing off their muscles!

Wonderful Weekend

It all started with a nap. Friday afternoon, I lay down beside the clean clothes piled on my bed, and the next thing I knew, Sarah was waking me up and knocking on my bedroom door. "Mom, I'm home! I'm gonna jump in the shower now." I groggily asked her if it was already 4:30, and she assured me that it was. Since we had company coming at 5:00, I hopped up refreshed, and headed to the kitchen to prepare pizza with the last of the pepperoni from the States. After good food and good fellowship, our sweet company walked home, we all jumped quickly into bed.

I slept for nine hours and woke up refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Aaron drove over to help with flood cleanup east of Honiara, the kids all went outside to play, and I had several hours to ponder the silence in my house. I cooked and washed clothes and cooked some more while listening to some of Mozart's piano concerti. The silence amazed me. I had forgotten what it was like to be able to think and pray and ponder uninterrupted.

My wonderful chaos returned for lunch and continued as we welcomed more company for an afternoon of fun game playing and an evening of good food. But sleep and silence reminded me that their place in my life holds great importance.

"Do you remember the story of Elijah? He was so tired that he wanted to give up. He told the Lord that he just couldn't go on. The Lord didn't discourage him further by lecturing him on his faults and failures, but He sent an angel to fix him something to eat and then told him to get a good night's sleep! Satan would love to persuade us when we are worn-out, exhausted, or at the end of our physical resources that it is a spiritual problem when in reality it is a purely physical one."

~Ruth Bell Graham & Gigi Graham Tchivdjian

Internet ups and downs

Our internet has been up and down for the last several days, mostly down. Hopefully, we'll have the problem fixed soon!

Happy Australia Day!

The timing worked out perfectly. Here we are, studying Australia, reading about making Lamingtons, and it all falls on Australia Day. My Aussie friend, Karen, accused me of manipulating the curriculum (which I'm not above doing - the joys of being a flexible homeschooler). She also brought some kangaroo jerkey, which we all tried. According to Karen, jerkey is an American thing. She took one bite, gagged, spit it out, and reached for a mint. We followed the recipe in our book, but it only called for 3/4 cup of flour, and the cake turned out tremendously flat. But we forged ahead! I cut the cake into "fingers", and Sarah coated them with thin chocolate icing and rolled them in fresh coconut. We began to put them on plates to share with our Aussie neighbors.

Karen also brought over some Vegemite (with which we are very familiar). Suddenly, she had the bright idea to cover one of the Lamingtons with Vegemite and roll it in coconut as a practical joke. Giggling, Karen and Sarah delivered the treats to a meeting and rolled in laughter as the joke was revealed. Quickly, Sarah gave a "real" Lamington to the recipient of the joke, who was a very good sport. We laughed and laughed together! Even though the cold rain poured from the gray skies outside, inside our house it was warm and sunny.

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." Proverbs 17:22 The Message

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Monday, January 25, 2010

(to see more daybooks or to participate, please visit Peggy's)

Outside my window...dark, cool, and rainy, the sun has yet to peep its head over the horizon

I am thinking...about dishes that promote a love for God's Word

I am thankful for...things like Bath and Body Works hand soaps to help me smell good (or at least mask the smell) in a very odiferous environment

I am wearing...denim wrap around skirt, mint green t-shirt, dangly beaded earrings I bought at a craft fair in Fort Worth

I am remembering...a sweet friend whose funeral is today in Memphis.

I am going...to be a busy hostess this week as our family gets to nurture and encourage other families

I am currently reading...the January edition of National Geographic with a great article and pictures about the clownfish and the anemone (perfect for our study of the Great Barrier Reef!)

I am hoping...that Katherine will begin to sleep well again soon. We're pooped!

On my mind...Pogo and Melissa. They found us in town on Saturday and hugged my neck. Melissa brought her mom to the hospital and they all plan to stay for three months. After they left, I wondered who is watering the plants on the porch and who is looking after our garden since they had told me they would take care of the house and yard while we were in Honiara?!?

Noticing that...God's been nudging me to more discipline in my prayer life. Over and over I find encouraging thoughts like this and this. Then this morning while reading "A Chance to Die", I ran across this passage describing the prayer tower of the Dohnavur fellowship: "On its roof are two pointed shafts, wymbol of the unity of spiritual and secular in the life of holiness -- the men and women of Dohnavur lived a common life, but they lived it with God for others....Morning and evening a hymn is played on the bells, and each hour they ring for a moment of stillness for prayer and recollection." Considering borrowing Benjamin's watch until I can get my own...

Pondering these words... "To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart" ~Phyllis Theroux

From the kitchen...cranberry-orange bread for breakfast (a big thanks to the cranberries and dried orange peel that came in care packages!), bierrocks enjoyed with company for lunch, and curried chicken with the end of the fresh carrots and a splurge of frozen broccoli tonight

Around the house...drawings of homonyms in Lavukaleve complete with gender articles, paper snowflakes taped to Sarah's windows, an empty flour canister (serious tragedy in our baking household)

One of my favorite things~ beautiful nightgowns

From my picture journal...

Katherine enjoying the boomwhackers in the Educational Resource Center

Sweet Sabbath

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

-Katherine proudly showing me her page of K's, surprising me with her fine motor skills, I thought she was just coloring!

-a copy of Victoria, snuck in a care package by my mom-in-love

-yummy and nutritious food to nurture my family

-playing board games with my family

-fun towels (from a friend in Memphis) hanging together to celebrate the love of my lfe

-a new cookbook from a former student, full of quotes from great children's books

-hilarious children who give me "good medicine"

-weevils in my oatmeal, flour, and pasta, because it means I have food in the house

-a cute notebook to spur me to thankfulness as I plan and make lists (thanks, Mama)

-delicious scones with honey butter, fresh from the oven and made by my sweet Sarah

We miss you, Nana

In loving memory of Nancy Brewer, 1935-2010

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11

"The greater part of our happiness depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances." Martha Washington

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks....She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:17, 27

Guest Post (from our friend, Karen)

At 2 am this morning (Thursday, Jan. 21) I heard shouting and noise at our mission base. As I woke up I listened to the noise outside and heard extremely loud roaring water noises that sounded like the most torrential rain close by but not over my house. Also, with the shouting of the people on the base I began to think that we were being broken into. Very soon I heard them shouting my name for me to get out of the house. I took my handbag with my camera and computer and opened the front door only to find flood waters rising quickly outside. I walked through near waist deep water to the top story of the director's house and sheltered there on the verandah with everyone else watching the water rise very quickly.

I thought for sure everything in my house was now floating inside! I couldn't worry about that - I was safe and even had the bonus of my computer and camera. Many people from the timber yard next to us came for shelter with us as they had no where else to go. Many Mum's with newborn babies and young children came wanting shelter. We sat on any small piece of floor we could find on the verandah or in the house and watched and watched all morning until daylight. There was not a thing we could do to stop the water. Loud crashing noises made us question if it was a small house being washed away or a fence.

Most of our security fences and concrete walls were smashed down by the rushing water and the offices downstairs were flooded out with thick slippery mud covering everything. Our security guards ended up going around the property in a canoe! We were so thankful when we first saw that the water was no longer rising but beginning to slowly go down. There was no way in our out of our area and all the locals and those who have lived there for over ten years keep saying that it is the worst flooding they have ever had there even though they have had several big floods. The water was still rushing like rapids from the mountains to the river and then through our land. It was quite a sight!

We fed all the locals sheltering in the house with rice and soup for breakfast and then heard that we were to evacuate. After over 8 hours sitting outside on the steps or the verandah, we got to the side of the river and were taken by motorboat to an area where we could access the main road and be picked up from there. Pray for those who have stayed behind. We heard as we evacuated that two young children from a family were swept away by the water in their sleep last night and were found at daylight this morning dead. Please pray for this family who are suffering from so much loss and everyone else affected through loss of houses and food gardens and anything else.

At daylight I found out that the water did not reach inside my house thankfully but was not far off. That is a small thing though compared to everything else. All this is the effect of a cyclone and flooded river affecting an area and I am sure that the logging around here has made it worse too. I keep hearing reports of the rain continuing for some days yet and more cyclone activity so appreciate your prayers. Pray that the rain stops and that we are all able to get cleaned up and start afresh for many. Going through this has made me understand more what the Solomon Islanders experience when flooding happens here. Such a different perspective now.

Cleaning Up

Even though rain still falls on the Solomon Islands, the clean up began today as the rivers begin to recede. Our friend, Karen, called us this morning to tell us that strong arms and extra food were needed. One of my favorite things about homeschooling is the flexibility, so we loaded up the family and went grocery shopping for some of the families that have lost their homes and gardens.

After we picked up some food, we drove out to the area where our friend Karen lives. A small river had flooded, washing away this chain link fence and leaving a layer of thick mud laced with raw sewage. We dropped off the food and left Aaron to work while I drove the kids back home to work on school.

After lunch, I took the kids to the airport to welcome a new team just arriving to the Solomons and bring lunch to Aaron. Many other SITAG families came, and the men who had been working alongside Aaron all morning met us there as well. Aaron and Juston were just a little bit filthy and stinky, so they sat on the edge of our group. After we met the new team, the guys headed back out to continue the cleanup. We're under the infulence of a tropical depression, so the rain isn't expected let up anytime soon. Please keep praying for the families who have lost their homes and gardens.

Flooding in Honiara

We've had rain for the last four days in Honiara, and last night the eastern portion of the city began to flood. One of our colleagues, Karen, just posted this note:

"Pray for us here in the Solomons. Massive flooding in my area all night from a cyclone and flooded river that just continues to rush through our base. Evacuated after spending 8 hours on top level of a 2 storey house watching the water rise. 2 young children washed away and died. Not a good situation at all so please pray for all affected. "

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please visit Peggy who encourages us to journal in our Daybook each week.

FOR TODAY... Monday, January 18

I am thinking...about making each word a gift. "...say only what helps, each word a gift." Eph. 4:29 The Message

Outside my window...dark, quiet, wet from the rain that fell all afternoon as it filled up the rain tank, it's been a very full day

I am thankful for...my sweet husband and the cup of coffee he brings me each morning

I am wearing...faded cotton pajamas, damp hair, bare feet

I am remembering...Martin Luther King, Jr. and his peace-loving, life-changing ways

I am going...to enjoy lots of company this week!

I am currently reading..."The New Laurel's Kitchen" by Laurel Robertson, Carol Flinders, and Brian Ruppenthal (I know it's a cookbook, but as Sarah says, "Mom, there's a lecture with every recipe!")

I am hoping...to make the time to catch up on e-mail soon.

On my mind...how much I need need insight and understanding. "...if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God . For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:3-6

Noticing that...there are several ways to put "hands" to our prayers for Haiti

Pondering these words... "...it has become clear...that nurturant work is not only for mothers, not only for parents even; it is the birthright of every man, woman, and child. Without it, we never grow to our full stature. This is an easy truth to discover when you start living it out. The only reason it is obscured from view in today's world is that supporting life is not a value on which our culture is based." from The New Laurel's Kitchen (emphasis mine)

From the kitchen...tomorrow we will enjoy camper's oatmeal in the morning, clean up leftovers for lunch, and share curried lentils & rice, fresh greens, pineapple, and scotch bars with a SITAG family

One of my favorite things...cooking with my kids

From my picture journal...

Katherine helping roll out tortillas

the least sign of a feather

[Amy Carmichael] was finding at firsthand that missionaries are not set apart from the rest of the human race, not purer, nobler, higher. "Wings are an illusive fallacy," she wrote. "Some people may possess them, but they are not very visible, and as for me, there isn't the least sign of a feather. Don't imagine that by crossing the sea and landing on a foreign shore and learning a foreign lingo you 'burst the bonds of outer sin and hatch yourself a cherubim.' "

from "A Chance to Die" by Elisabeth Elliot

Fertile Soil

This morning, Aaron and I went on our proposal-versary date followed by a trip to Honiara's Central Market. I hoped not only to pick up food for my family but also to find some Lavukal who had come to sell food in Honiara. We began by walking through the fish section, and as we approached the first cooler, we heard "Lalomomeahobea!" (good morning). Somebody recognized us immediately and called out in Lavukaleve! The man and his wife were from the Eastern part of the Russells (we live in the West), and they had just come in last night with a cooler full of beautiful fish. Somehow, he knew that we had just come back on the Bikoi last week, and he asked how our New Year celebrations (complete with "singroll") had been in Marulaon. I guess word gets around. We bought an almost 4 pound fish for a great price, and continued to walk around toward the shellfish.

I saw some "haleav" (not my favorite), and then I spied piles of "kalimeto" something I actually knew how to prepare! Just for fun, I asked where the young ladies had gathered the kalimeto, which were still crawling crawling around the bag laid on the ground. Their response? "The Russells"! I felt like God had led us straight to them. I was able to buy the shellfish using Lavukaleve (my limited vocabulary consists almost entirely of market phrases), and I discovered that the ladies were from Louna, the village in the East Russells that Aaron and Benjamin had visited last summer. On our way home, Aaron teased me that he couldn't take me to market without coming home with lots of extra food. But we think that going to market may be a great connection with the Eastern Russells and a way for me to continue language learning while staying in Honiara. What an exciting gift the Lord handed us this morning!

I called my friend from SITAG who had been asking how to prepare some local food, and she sat down with us to visit while we pulled the little critters out of their shells for two hours (the bowl on the left is the edible fruit of our labor). Karen works in literacy, especially in using God's Word to teach people to read. One of my burdens is that our friends in Marulaon aren't interested in the Pijin Bible. The entire Pijin Bible was dedicated in July 2008, and parts of it have been available for 30 years. I always thought that the Bible was just too expensive (about $10 US), but Karen suggested that the people just didn't know how to read in Pijin.

Whatever the reason, ever since we began to live among the Lavukal last April, I've been impressed that they are the soil in Jesus' parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). Their hearts are so ready to receive God's truth and to apply it to their lives, but Satan uses so many things to steal away that Truth, especially since God's Word isn't written in their heart language - YET. Our road to facilitating translated scripture is a very long one. But, there are things we can do now to begin literacy and scripture use in the Russells. Will you please pray that God will continue to prepare fertile soil among the hearts of the Lavukal?

And the winner is...

Holly! (who beads beautiful silverware to raise funds to bring home a daughter from China)