Sweet Sabbath

"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are?" Matthew 6:26 NLT

Buffalo Bill Choate

Even though I've known my sweet husband for 24 years (wow!), he still surprises me from time to time. He knows I don't like change, so he tries to soften the blow whenever he can. A few days ago, he came into the living room where I was checking e-mail. Holding his shirt over his face, I heard his muffled voice warn me that he had decided it was time for a change with his facial hair. I started giggling and couldn't stop! He had gone with the Old West look, and we both laughed until I was afraid I would leave a puddle in the chair. What an amazing, handsome, thoughtful, brilliant, (need I go on?) man I have!

And the winner is...

Nana! Tell Cindy and Chelsea they can be watching for a new pair of earrings in the mail in about three weeks.

National Playdough Day

One of favorite holidays to celebrate falls on September 16 - National Playdough Day! The camera battery died just as we began to make a yummy treat, peanut butter playdough. The kids enjoyed playing with (and eating) their playdough while we listened to custom stories in Lavukaleve. This afternoon, we'll make some batches of regular playdough. It doesn't last long in this climate!

Peanut Butter Playdough

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup powdered sugar

3 cups powdered milk

Mix all ingredients and enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. If you have any leftover ;-)

Oops!

To those five of you who recently commented on the giveaway, somehow I deleted your comments! I'm so sorry, please comment again and chalk it up to my technical incapacity.

Giveaway

Enter your name in the comments by midnight (CST) Wednesday for a chance to receive a pair of these fabulous mother-of-pearl earrings hand carved in the Solomon Islands. (Of course, we would love for you to come visit and pick out your own jewelry at the market!)

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please visit Peggy and add your own day book.

For Today...September 14, 2009

Outside my window...fabulous sunrise, looks like it will be a beautiful morning, geckos finishing up their night hunting and chirping to each other on the veranda

I am thinking...about the great sermon we heard preached by a friend yesterday. He used parts of Acts 4 & 5 to teach about authenticity. Isn't technology amazing?!?

From the learning rooms...History - WWII, Science - continuing studying the micro world, Sarah - finishing her research paper, reading line graphs, Benjamin - exploring cause & effect, math review, Olivia - compound words, division (sharing & grouping), Katherine - intro to "circle time"

I am thankful for... a potential new walking buddy!

From the kitchen...waffles, watermelon, and scrambled eggs to begin the day, sweet friends to enjoy chili for lunch before they leave on furlough tomorrow, and we'll close our day with chicken & rice with some precious chocolate pudding for dessert (thanks to amazing care packages!)

I am wearing...mint green t-shirt, khaki skirt, mother-of-pearl hoop earrings

I am reading..."We Do Not Lose Heart" by Kathy Taber. She and her husband stayed with us during the first week of SITAG's Conference, and the book chronicles the ups and downs of their adventures while working on translating the New Testament.

I am hoping...that we can get good airline prices for Benjamin and Aaron to go to Brisbane

I am creating...new plans for school since it looks like we will be returning to Marulaon later than we had anticipated

I am hearing...the hum of the ceiling fan, insects outside, birds chirping

Around the house...just normal stuff this week, hungry mouths to feed, dirty clothes to wash, precious children to love, beloved husband to adore, absorbent minds to teach

A few plans for the rest of the week...some Wycliffe Associates coming for supper on Tuesday night and another couple on Thursday night, a SITAG Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday for Aaron

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

my big girls modeling their new birthday pajamas from their great-grandmother

Sweet Sabbath

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.


O, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O, how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

(pictures of flowers in our yard by Sarah E. Choate)

Why I love to Homeschool...

I adore learning together as a family! Here's a sample of the things we've been learning...

The big kids and I made a puzzle of aluminum foil underneath the punched out holes in each index card. Then we swapped cards and discovered which holes were connected by creating a complete circuit with an aluminum foil ribbon, a battery, and a light bulb.



One of Sarah's very creative Language Arts projects. It reads: "A glass of lemonade's cold and sweet, a glass of lemonade's quite a treat."

Our "to-scale" model of the solar system. Sarah is holding Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Benjamin is holding Jupiter (which is really too small, we just didn't have enough paper, so the couch cushion had to suffice). Olivia is holding Uranus. Neptune was in the back bedroom. I was really thankful that Pluto is no longer a planet because it wouldn't have fit in the house!

Katherine gets to play with clothespins and attach them to the edge of a box for practice with fine motor skills. Recently, she came in from the porch all smiles because she had attached a row of clothespins to her dress.

Kid Zone at Conference

Our kids enjoyed SITAG's Conference soooo much! They have really missed VBS and children's choir and AWANA, and Wendesday afternoon the kids performed their closing program for all of the adults.

Olivia just watched from the back cuddled up in a quilt since she was in the fever and chills stage of malaria.

We are very thankful for the amazing people who came and gave of their time, money, and energy to teach our children this week!

We need pictures!

As I was flipping through our prayer book with pictures of many of our family, friends, and churches, I noticed that most of the pictures are several years old. So, I have a request. Would you please consider mailing us a hard copy of a family picture or a picture of your church building? We would love the privilege of praying for you and your church, so please include ways we can be praying for you in the coming months. Thanks!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Please visit Peggy and add your own day book.

For Today...September 7, 2009

Outside my window...we've had lots of rain during this last week (I went to market yesterday in the rain and waded through ankle deep puddles), the scarlet lorakeets are beautiful chattering in the trees

I am thinking...about the sweet Chinese babies at Starfish Cleft Home

From the learning rooms...we have the week off because of SITAG's Conference

I am thankful for...the absolutely amazing volunteers that have come to care for our children during conference, Wycliffe Associates are the best!

From the kitchen...cinnamon rolls and fruit smoothies for breakfast, the big kids will have sack lunches while Aaron, Katherine, and I will eat tuna salad, crackers, and carrot sticks at home, and tonight we'll just have a simple pasta bake.

I am wearing...blue jean skirt, green t-shirt, rosewood bangle inlaid with shell and tortoise shell ring (both bought here in Honiara)

I am reading...SITAG bylaws, thrilling, let me tell you

I am hoping...and praying that my sweet husband continues on his steady road to recovery

I am creating...this blog post

I am hearing...everybody finishing their last minute preparations before we dash out the door

Around the house...the freezer slowly emptying, switching our bedroom back to the "master suite" since our guests have gone, just maintaining until Conference is over

A few plans for the rest of the week...conference Monday through Thursday, taking snacks for Katherine's class and the adults' morning tea break on Tuesday, company Tuesday and Wednesday nights as well as Friday morning

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

the camera has been misplaced in all of the chaos, sorry

A Table in the Desert

They spoke against God saying, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" Ps. 78:19

Can God spread a table

In the wilderness?

Is our Father able?

Praise Him, Yes!...

For His word is stable,

He who yesterday

Spread a bounteous table,

Does today.

-Amy Carmichael

Yesterday during the afternoon break, I went upstairs to the SITAG office to check our mailbox. In it, I found a yellow envelope. Excitedly, I grabbed it and was surprised to find that it had no stamp or postmark. I opened the envelope to find only three things inside, and I stood there and cried. Somebody had given us three straps to hold Benjamin's glasses in place.

He lost his other strap during a walk in the rain on Marulaon. Aaron created a new strap from some string, but it has been a battle to get Benjamin's glasses to stay on his face. We have no idea who provided this gift for us. We have asked around and nobody seems to know how the envelope appeared in our mailbox. I know that a glasses strap seems like a little thing. But it was HUGE, a reminder that God is still involved in the little details of our lives, that He can still spread a feast when we feel like we are living in a desert.