Update on Aaron

As some of the SITAG ladies were setting up tables for Conference, one of them mentioned that Aaron's symptoms sounded like glandular fever. When I got back to the house, I got online to research glandular fever. To be honest, it sounded kinda scary! It turned out to be another name for mono, and Aaron exhibited every symptom. So, I told him that, until he proved to me otherwise, I was treating him like he had mono.

This will most likely alter our time table for traveling back to Marulaon. Please continue to pray for Aaron as his body fights the virus and for his wisdom to discern a proper level of activity as he begins to feel better.

Under the weather

Ever since we got back from Marulaon, Aaron has been a little under the weather. But this weekend, his "under the weather" turned into full blown sick. He dragged himself to the doctor yesterday, and now he is on antibiotics to treat his very swollen glands. Aaron is a good patient, he is staying in bed and drinking lots of water. Will you please pray for him as we begin a really hectic period here at SITAG?

Simple Woman's Daybook

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For Today...Monday, August 31

Outside my window...looks like it's gonna be another hot and sunny day in the Solomons!

I am thinking...about 2 Cor. 2:10-11, "...I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." What a difference it would make if I always chose to forgive (and not hang on to personal retribution) but always let the final result be in God's capable hands. What a blow to Satan's crafty schemes if we each chose to live that way!

From the learning rooms...History - Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin, Dwight Eisenhower, beginning WWII, Sarah - revising her research paper, continuing word problems with rate, Benjamin - using details to create his dream room & write a paragraph about it, review of capacity & beginning bar graphs in math, Olivia - writing a friendly letter, sharing & grouping for division, Katherine - continuing with the same activities just bumping the difficulty level up a notch, Science - exploring the micro world, Language learning - charting masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns

I am thankful for...friends and family who continue to communicate and encourage even though we've been gone just over a year

From the kitchen...cheesy brunch roll ups & pineapple this morning, a quick PBJ (except with homemade papaya butter, yum) for lunch, and with company tonight we're enjoying bar-b-cue meatballs, coconut rice, watermelon, green beans with slippery cabbage, spiced pumpkin, and jello poke cake for dessert

I am wearing...comfy cotton pajamas that used to be to be pink and white striped before they were hung out in the sun to dry many, many times

I am reading...nothing new this week, a little too much on my plate

I am hoping...to hear back from Benjamin's eye doctor in Brisbane soon

I am creating...not much! Just enjoying the daily rhythm of taking care of my family.

I am hearing...the lovely sound of a coffee pot finishing up the pot

Around the house...Benjamin's very nice cursive handwriting exercise hung up next to coloring sheets of Marian Anderson, a basket of new WWII picture books to explore, a gift basket waiting for our company tomorrow, the small but full freezer waiting to divulge its contents (the kids can hardly wait to eat waffles)

A few plans for the rest of the week...company comes to stay in our home tomorrow, Aaron helping shuttle all of the visitors from the airport this week, conference starts Thursday so the kids will have a break from school, one more big run to market to stock up on produce

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Aaron's mom sent this beautiful tablecloth from the 1940's. It belonged to Aaron's great-grandmother, who I only met once in the nursing home before she died. (And, no, I don't iron anything here!)

Come Thirsty

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters..."

Isaiah 55:1a

our rain tank spigot where we fill our drinking water containers each day

"...Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'" John 7:37-38

More language learning

When I study language with the kids in school, we sing a song with our videorecording, then we listen and read along with a short story. Here is the first story in the Lavukaleve Primer with a very rough English gloss underneath:

Ngai vovou tula nun nganu logologo.
When I was a small child, my hair was smooth.

Aka ini rugiaril siare, nganu ga oitaua.
Then my hair was different.

Hano gnanu go ele hobea sia.
Now my hair looks good.

Aka ini tuaneare lore nganu ga fufulu tin osia.
Then when I am all grown up, my hair will be gray.

Jisas ngana laketei part 2

Ok, here is the best I can do for the translation of "Jisas Ngana Laketei". We're still working on figuring out what it means, but the first line means "Jesus gives me life". This stanza is the first of five, and each stanza sings of something else that Jesus gives me:

Jisas ngana mifouae ngone ra - Jesus gives me love

Jisas ngana namulae ngone ra - Jesus gives me kindness

Jisas ngana lalo ngone ra - Jesus gives me peace

Jisas ngana logologoe ngone ra - Jesus gives me joy

The other lines praise Jesus, but we don't have a working translation yet :-) However, our kids have every word memorized, so I think once we get back to the village a translation will come quickly!

Jisas ngana laketei

Every morning as we begin school, I take the kids over the Educational Resource Center to practice piano. Yesterday, Katherine wanted to have a turn in between Sarah and Benjamin, so she hopped up and began to play very gently. Then, she surprised me by singing one of the songs we've been practicing in language! She matched pitch beautifully, and I could actually understand a few of the words she was singing.

Jisas ngana laketei ngone ga

Foiga ena ngone haifoiare ngoa lame

Ngokiae laura go ena esevorima

Lod inu fin laketei hi.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please drop by and visit Peggy who hosts this fun journal!

For Today...Monday, August 24

Outside my window...yesterday morning we were awakened in the dark to hear the thwack of coconuts being opened. I fell back to sleep, but when I woke up, I could see that our neighbors were moving the hot rocks from a motu (an outside oven that steams the food with hot stones). I didn't realize anybody in town still cooked this way since the houses near ours all have modern kitchens. Made me miss the village! I just bought a pair of tongs at the market to help me move the rocks when I go back to Marulaon in early October.

I am thinking...that I am excited and a little bit apprehensive that I just signed up to host three different families for supper each week for the next five weeks!

From the learning rooms...History - Great Depression, Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt, Marion Anderson, Sarah - word problems involving rate, writing the first draft of her research paper, Benjamin - gallons, quarts, pints, and cups for math, homonyms, Olivia - continuing simple multiplication, alphabetizing, Katherine - sorting colors & shapes, Science - beginning to explore the micro world, Language learning - listening to the recordings of our neighbors reading short custom stories and reading along

I am thankful for...conversations with other SITAG women about grace and authenticity

From the kitchen...muffins & papaya for breakfast, leftovers (my personal favorite) for lunch, and baked potatoes with cheese and BROCCOLI for supper

I am wearing...I just dumped my Tevas on the porch, but I still have on my stinky, sweaty walking clothes

I am reading...through resources in the Educational Resource Center as I prepare to start Sonlight Cores 5 & K

I am hoping...that we get our washing machine back soon. Every time I head up the hill to use another family's machine, I am reminded to be thankful that I'm not headed to the river to wash clothes by hand

I am creating...a welcoming home for my family and all of the travelers who will be passing through in the next few weeks

I am hearing...kids getting out the vitamins for breakfast, praise and worship music coming from the CD player, Benjamin finishing off the coffee in the pot

Around the house...switching our bedroom so that our house guests can have the "Master Suite" for more privacy

One of my favorite things...finding broccoli and carrots in the store!

A few plans for the rest of the week...lots of company, cooking and freezing to prepare for Conference

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

pure Olivia!

Busy Saturday

Today, we stayed busy, but it was a good kind of busy! Another SITAG family held an open house this morning, and we enjoyed seeing the place that God had provided for them. Their new home sits right next to SITAG property, and it perches on top of a ridge with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

When we got home, we began cooking to prepare for the busy month ahead. I'm hoping to use this weekend and next to fill up the freezer so my extra busy days will be smoother. The kids helped me cook (one of their favorite things).

We made bread dough, which eventually turned into bierrocks (kinda like "Hot Pockets") and cinnamon rolls, mixed up two different kinds of cookie dough, and prepared supper for another family that was coming to visit. What a great day!

And the winner is...

Due to some sporadic internet connections, we are just now posting the winner of the foot decoration made by some new friends of ours at the market. And the one who will get to show off her new pedicure is...Ashley! Hope you enjoy, friend :-)

School Pictures

This started out as a school picture photo shoot, but just turned into some family pictures. The mosquitos kept us company even though it was mid-morning, so I'm hoping to get some more "school pictures" soon. I just love my family!

Giveaway

You could be the first in your town to wear this lovely hand-crafted shell decoration on your foot. Just enter a comment by midnight CST, Wednesday, August 19, and the kids will draw until one name is left in the bowl.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please drop by and visit Peggy who hosts this fun journal!

For Today...Monday, August 17

Outside my window...I miss the view of the ocean that we had in the last house, but I love all of the foliage that surrounds this house!

I am thinking...about the blessing of the band-aids with the antibiotic ointment that came in care packages. We gave away so many band-aids to our friends in the village, and every time we put one on a sore, we were able to say that people in America sent these, and they pray for you.

From the learning rooms...History - Great Depression, Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt, Sarah - learning how to take notes for her research paper about Florida, learning how to find an average in math, Benjamin - eliminating "being" verbs, adding & subtracting liters and milliliters, Olivia - using the article A or An, beginning multiplication, Katherine - practicing counting 1-5 with some cute cards my mom made and some tiny cars to park on them, Science - finishing up studying our solar system, Language learning - continued singing along with the videos of songs from our village & learning the words and motions

I am thankful for...my incredible husband who recognizes and values our differences.

From the kitchen...pumpkin bread and hardboiled eggs this morning, broccoli and cheese strata for lunch, papaya chicken & coconut rice tonight

I am wearing...sage green t-shirt, a pink and green floral skirt that I bought at a second hand store last week, jade earrings that belonged to my grandmother

I am reading..."The Complete Father Brown" by G.K Chesterson

I am hoping...that we figure out why the water pump keeps quitting on us.

I am creating...a new waistband on a burgundy floral skirt that I bought at a second hand store last week

I am hearing...kids banging on wood scraps underneath the house

Around the house...rearranged furniture to make the house feel more like ours for the next six weeks

One of my favorite things...the results of self-discipline

A few plans for the rest of the week...continuing to work in the Educational Resource Center in the afternoons carding new books, organizing and cleaning; enjoying the company of some SITAG families two different evenings, start Christmas shopping (it has to be done by the beginning of October before we leave for Marulaon)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...