Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wonderful Weekend
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Internet ups and downs
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Happy Australia Day!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Simple Woman's Daybook
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...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sweet Sabbath
Saturday, January 23, 2010
We miss you, Nana
Friday, January 22, 2010
Guest Post (from our friend, Karen)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Cleaning Up
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Flooding in Honiara
Monday, January 18, 2010
Simple Woman's Daybook
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!
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...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
the least sign of a feather
from "A Chance to Die" by Elisabeth Elliot
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Fertile Soil
Friday, January 15, 2010
And the winner is...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
What's Cooking at the Choates
Meat-Potato Quiche (from "More-With-Less" cookbook)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In 9" pie pan, stir together:
3 T vegetable oil
3 cups coarsely shredded raw potato
Press evenly into pie crust shape. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Remove from oven. Layer on:
1 cup grated Swiss or cheddar cheese
3/4 cup cooked diced chicken, ham, or browned sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
In a bowl, beat together:
1 cup evaporated or rich milk (part cream)
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Pour egg mixture onto other ingredients. Sprinkle with
1 T parsley flakes
Return to overn and bake at 425 about 30 minutes, or until lightly browned, and knife inserted 1" from edge comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New Pictures from Joy
Giveaway Time
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Finishing up in Marulaon
Eileen said that they were making mats for Foamela to take to school with her in a few weeks. The students who just finished Standard Six at Fly Harbour School will be leaving very soon to begin Form 1 at a school in Nukufero, also in the Russell Islands.
Last week, Melissa brought us a huge fish because she wanted some bandaids for her mom. The easiest way to cook it was to motu it, so on Saturday when Pogo came to help, she gave me some firewood, and I got to practice again in my kitchen. The stones are prepared in the same way no matter what you cook, then when the stones were good and hot, we just laid the fish on top. It smelled sooo good!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Honiara Simple Woman's Daybook
Please visit Peggy to peruse the other daybooks from around the globe.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sweet Sabbath
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Acts 3:19
"Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble." Proverbs 28:14
As we settle back into Honiara, we are always confronted with how exhausted we are - physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Our prayer is that we would use the next several weeks not only to restock our kitchen and supplies for the village, but that our hearts would stay soft toward the Lord so He will reveal our sins and "restock" our lives as well.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
New Year Celebrations
The rain continued throughout the day, so the games and festivities were postponed, but each night for the next week groups of people will walk around the village and sing. As they come by each house, you are supposed to spray perfume on each person. The groups of kids love to come by our house and get doused with my perfume.
Sunday, January 3
Sarah celebrating the New Year by squirting her mom