... you know the ones.
Our little community has a plethora of public pools. We pool hop all summer! It’s a hard life, but someone has got to give the lifeguards something to do.
We keep our pool bag in the entry closet, next to the laundry room. An easy tip: We fold warm, fluffy beach towels and pull dried swimsuits directly from the laundry and store them in the pool bag.
We like to be prepared.
It works for us!
When I crouched my head and entered her small home, I had two thoughts: 1. I have too much 2. My kids need to see this.
I watched as the young mom made charcoal bricks from mud and crumbles of coal, laying them in the sun to dry. Later she would leave her 8 year old son to watch her 1 year old baby, so she could go and sell the the roasted corn she’d made over the charcoal to passers-by walking home from work.
I’ve always loved missions. I sat rapt as an elementary girl, listening to missionaries tell stories at the annual Missions Convention our church hosted. My favorite memory: dressing up in clothes from different countries and tasting foods like baklava and curry. I remember driving home one evening telling my parents I wanted to be a missionary. My mom worried. My dad thrilled.
[I didn't understand my mom's reaction until I had kids of my own, now I completely get it].
As a teen I took trips with my youth group and then later with my youth pastor husband. I sort of lost my missions heart in the quest of the American Dream for a few years, finding it again when I began following the Compassion blogger trips several years ago.
I want my kids to love missions. I want them to have mental images of kids their age who live on the other side of the world. I want them to put God first, others second, themselves last.
We have spent the last year preparing our children’s hearts for global missions. And tomorrow when we leave for Africa, we prepare to expose them physically to a different culture. Even if you don’t plan to take your kids overseas immediately, you can begin to prepare them:
- Incorporate Window On The World into your dinner-time routine. This book is suitable for families and gives a glimpse into different cultures.
- Put a world map or globe in a heavy traffic area and talk about different parts of the world.
- Pray for different countries when you pray together as a family.
- Sponsor a child-hang their picture up, pray for them, write letters, make them a part of your family.
- Share stories from books like Voices of Martyrs and Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks
. Often in an attempt to protect our kids, we shelter them too much. We can raise compassionate children by exposing them to a bit of grief in our world, while still protecting them from too much knowledge.
- Try different foods from different countries: my kids love Ethiopian and Mediterranean food and will “try” just about anything (still working on the 4 year old)
- Check out books from the library and teach them about different cultures.
- Pray for God to prepare your heart and your feet as you contemplate visiting another country as a family. Pray together about this, often.
- Be realistic: some kids (ages) do better than others. Don’t force things upon them.
- Explain to your kids that time and plans in other countries is much slower than our own fast-paced American culture. Talk about spiritual warfare and God’s will, protection, safety and trust (this was huge when we recently weren’t able to travel to Africa).
And lastly: Prepare your own parent heart: you might be raising a future missionary.
- Babysit for a single mom
- Teach compassion with a Family Giving Box
- Write a Family Mission Statement
- Bake cookies for your local fire dept.
- Pick up trash at local park as a family field trip
- Create snack packs for Ronald McDonald residents
- Welcome a new family to the neighborhood with a dessert and introduction
- Pray for the poor of the world
- Color a Smile-print coloring page to be given to lift someone in need up
- Make a baby care kit for a baby in need
- Take time each week to unplug as a family
- Donate your time or treasure to the Make a Wish Foundation
- Appreciate your church staff in some small, tangible way
- Do yard work for an elderly neighbor
- Make a Life Book for a child in Foster Care
- Read You Were Made to Make A Difference as a family
- Volunteer to cuddle babies at the hospital (older kids/teens are often allowed also)
- Read Christmas Jars as family
- Save loose change in a jar and give to a needy family at Christmas
- Take a family volunteering vacation
- Stop and say thank you to grocery clerks, waitresses. Ask them how they are doing.
- Become a monthly sponsor to help pregnant girls in Kenya
- Make a birthday cake for an underpriviledged child
- Serve at home: make each other’s beds, clean up someone else’s mess
- Write thank you notes to people who serve you: postman, yard guy, doctor, etc
- Sponsor a child monthly (cannot recommend enough)
- Make relief kits for disaster relief victims
- Sew a sleeping bag for someone in need (easy pattern)
- Volunteer at a non-profit
- Make up some Hygiene Bags to pass out to local homeless people
- Take your family on a tour of Red Cross
- Put a monthly date on the calendar for a Family Service Night
- Take a meal to a new family
- Create a card for Habitat for Humanity new home owner
- Encourage your older children to be a Mother’s Helper to a mom with young kids
- Fill a backpack to help give a homeless person a lift up
- Make birthday cards and deliver them to a local nursing home monthly
- Donate books to Africa
- Take your kids to a local Food Pantry with canned goods to donate
- Deliver food for Meals on Wheels
- Pray as a family on a regular basis for the people in your life.
- Donate your hair to Locks of Love.
- Give blood. (Take your kids with you and explain the importance).
- Donate nice toys to cancer ward at a Children’s Hospital
- Buy a mosquito net and help prevent malaria
- Randomly celebrate each other with a special treat, meal, time
- Donate school supplies to a classroom in need
- Compliment and thank the teachers in your life
- Buy a soccer ball for a child in poverty
- Give a used bike to a homeless person
- Donate coloring books/crayons to hospital emergency rooms
- Host a 40 hour famine in your home (fast something!)
- Give clothes to a family in need (call your church/school to find one)
- Read to a special needs child
- Only drink water for 2 weeks, give proceeds for clean water
- Buy a goat for a family in extreme poverty
- Give a donation in someone’s name to an organization you believe in
- Send your used shoes to Reuse-a-Shoe
- Become Certified Respite Caregivers to give Foster Family’s a babysitting
- Decorate a Christmas tree at an elderly person’s house
- Hold a collection drive: makeup, lotions, etc for women at a shelter
- Find a Food Bank near you to volunteer
- Deliver popcicles to children at a homeless shelter
- Offer your pet for therapy to the elderly
- Decorate nursing home rooms of residents with homemade art
- Have regular “family nights” with games, ice cream, time together
- Visit the NICU with treats for the doctors and anxious parents
- Write to unsponsored children
- Read to patients at a local hospital
- Plan a family missions trip
- Bake cookies, host a bake sale and donate money to the poor or a cause
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter
- Plant a garden and share the produce
- Hold a drive for lightly-used stuffed animals for police stations SAFE program
- Write letters to servicemen
- Give a micro loan and change a family in a third world country
- Smile. At everyone.
- Make care packages for children in the hospital
- Instead of a birthday gifts, ask for donations for a charity or food for a food pantry
- Shop fair trade
- Offer to decorate hospital hallways during the holidays
- Ask your city about volunteering to remove graffiti
- Host a Lemon-AID stand and donate proceeds Blood Water
- Make no-sew fleece blankets for Hospice
- Collect pencils for African children
- Send a care package to our military
- Read the Bible together as a family every day
- Collect shoes for Shoes for Kids (started by an 11 year old girl)
- Let kids choose a charity to donate to for one of their Christmas gifts
- Become a foster family
- Pay for someone’s drink in Starbuck’s drive-thru. Make sure your kids enjoy the act of kindness.
- Help your kids starts a neighborhood or school Bible Study with their peers
- Volunteer to plant flowers for your school/church flowerbeds
- Make a Care Bag for a child in need
- Adopt a child
- Welcome home a hero at the airport
- Complain less
- Start a Kindness Club with your family
- Let your light shine!
- Look for opportunities to be the difference in someone’s life
- Host a virtual food drive
- Start a KidzRap on your street!
- Purchase gifts through families fundraising for adoption.
- Make a quilt for NICU familes
- Pay the toll for the car behind you
- Invite friends to Vacation Bible School
- Help keep families together
- Take someone flowers from your garden
- Participate in Operation Christmas Child
What did I miss? Leave your ideas in the comments and I’ll add them!
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Because sometimes life is-heavy and hard to take.
It can be rock heavy like a diagnosis or feather heavy like a willful child displaying their, um, will in public (okay, VBS this week. Ahem).
But heavy is heavy and it’s hard to take.
I have good news: Lamentations Chapter 3. Yes, the book of the Bible I usually don’t seek out for devotional reading, unless I’m lamenting. For the win.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayers. Don’t ask questions.
Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The “worst” is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly. He takes no pleasure in making life hard.
It’s like a 5-step program. Sign me up!
So I’ve been practicing this 5-step program this week and I got very encouraging news from test results that my kidney function has returned to normal and even better, stayed at normal the last week. (Yes, we are hoping to reschedule our trip soon!)
Meanwhile some beautiful, truly amazing things are happening at Mercy House Kenya. Basically, I’m learning that by NOT being there, nothing has really changed: God is still building a house of mercy and girls lives are being changed. Please, take a minute to Meet Our Girls (we have 3 residents now!). And read about their amazing first week in the Sustainable Skills Program! Would you take a minute to pray for them?
Because our worst doesn’t touch their worst.
And sometimes that perspective is all we need.
I don’t know about y’all, but by the time dinner rolls around at my house in my part of Texas, it is hot outside. Like a million degrees, give or take one or two. The last thing I want to do, is bake at 350 (no offense, Bridget).
Here’s what we’ve been doing: bulk grilling.
I marinated a couple of pounds, seasoned another pound and put barbeque sauce on a couple of pounds. I grilled them (or my hubby did to be exact) and we just used the grilled meat in different recipes all week.
*Only this is a reprint from last summer, and while I love the tip, we eat vegan/vegetarian dinners now to help my hubby with his diabetes. So, basically, I cook brown rice in bulk and heat up veggie patties. Or smeat, as some like to call it. Sorry if I killed your appetite.
Hope it works for you!
View WFMW guidelines here.
I’m just going to say it: Sometimes I don’t get God.
Oh, I try. I line up my limited understanding and my perfectly planned to-do list next to His revealed path and sometimes, it’s a terrible matching game.
So, spending this past week in a hospital bed for five days, hooked up to continuous iv fluids, working round the clock to revive my shutdown kidneys (WHAT!?@), I whispered it. “God, this doesn’t make sense.”
I don’t understand why the day before we were to leave for Africa to do work at Mercy House, I went into acute renal failure, as a perfectly healthy young woman. This doesn’t make sense.
As a last-minute precaution, knowing I had a long flight the next day, I made an unplanned visit to Urgent Care to have my lower back pain and nagging nausea checked out. Nothing could have prepared me for a “You will end up on dialysis or worse if you go to Africa tomorrow” speech from an ER doctor.
I knew I should be overwhelmed with thankfulness that I didn’t have this unexpected health crisis in a third-world country. I was, I am–thankful. But it’s all layered with a bunch of confusion and anger as to why it had to happen and the terrible timing.
When my Pastor sat at the end of my bed, I asked him, chin trembling, faith-weakened. Is this satan attacking or is this God’s plan?
He quoted, “The enemy can take no advantage but what the Lord permits him; and He will permit him none but what He designs to overrule for your greater advantage in the end.” – John Newton… His timing was perfect, Kristen.”
Ultimately, the how and why still don’t make sense to me, but I trust Him. I don’t want my plan-it’s one-sided and error-filled.
I want His plan, even if it’s hard. Because in the end, it’s better.
When God doesn’t make sense, He is still God.
[Insert painful dose of honesty] I’M AN EMOTIONAL MESS, Y’ALL….trying to find my bearings and figure out what’s next. I’m waiting on further test results to try and figure out this medical mystery while ironically, feeling very good. I’m also hoping to be cleared to re-schedule our trip. Trying to get needed supplies over, Skyping meetings I thought I’d have in person….
I’ve cried and whined and reminded myself to trust. I’ve felt bitter and angry and relieved and anxious. And finally, just a night or two ago, I whispered it, ”What do I need to learn from this, God? What are you trying to teach me?”
I’m leaning into the answer. He is revealing my need for ultimate trust, my desire to control the uncontrollable, my dependency on too much of me, not enough of Him. And the simple fact that I haven’t truly rested in a year.
He is still the One I trust.
Even when I don’t understand.
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A month ago, I wrote a post for (in)courage about darkness and finding my way around in it. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence.
Thanks for all your prayers, comments and love! I have some follow up appointments this week since my illness is still somewhat of a mystery.
I’m just so happy to be home.
P.S. I forgot I had WFMW auto-scheduled since we were supposed to be in Africa…feel free to link up.
Hi friends,
I’m still in the hospital–currently riding my bed with my 4 year old at the controls. I’m pretty sure the nurses are going to kick us out soon.
My kidney function is steadily improving after 20 bags of continuous iv fluid-seriously. I’m so thankful that God is healing me. Yesterday was awful and today has been SO much better, with just lower back pain. I’m praying that the kidney damage is temporary. I’m also hopeful they will release me sooner rather than later.
We still have more questions than answers-latest tests show the kidney shutdown was not a reaction to antibiotics. Turns out I do have a congenital kidney condition that could have contributed, but bottom line is–we don’t know, and may never.
I’m okay with that because I’m convinced of who holds me. Thank you for the many, many prayers and comments and love. I cannot tell you how your support has carried me thru this confusing, disappointing and emotional time.
I’m so thankful I have your support! I’ll keep you posted.
We won’t be going to Africa today.
I was admitted to the hospital last night thru the ER with the beginning of kidney failure. Which. of course, was a total shock and something we were completely unprepared for.
Long story short, doctors believe the antibiotic I was on for a bladdar/kidney infection for the last week, coupled with dehydration caused my kidneys to stop functioning right (a rare side effect of some antibiotics).
Please pray that my creatine (kidney function) levels start going down with the iv therapy and that my kidneys start working properly again. About 10% of people’s kidneys don’t recover from this. Believing I’m in the 90%
I’m so mad at satan (and really heartbroken).
But he will not win.
Thankfully, we had travel insurance and were able to postpone our trip.
Thanks so much for your prayers and love. I feel them.
I stood in the kitchen a few night ago, the reality of what we are about to do, settling in. It wasn’t a heaviness really, more like an O MY WORD slapping me upside the head.
I asked my hubby: “Why don’t you think God asked someone else to do this? Ya know, like someone with a lot of money, someone who wouldn’t have to believe for every dollar.”
“Or someone who had global experience, older kids, an extrovert with a love for adventure (everything I’m not).”
My hubby hugged me. The O GOOD GRAVY feeling eased.
He didn’t say a word. Because bottom line: God asked and we said yes.
And I do feel a lot of peace, especially when I remind myself He used a donkey once…..
I’m not bold. If you know me in real life, it’s probably because you approached me. But from the very beginning when we shared this vision with you-still new and unfolding each day–we knew we could never do this alone. We knew we needed you.
Will you pray for us?
I don’t like to over-spiritualize stuff, but in the last week, I’ve had a kidney infection, my mother-in-law had emergency gall-bladdar surgery, and today, my mom slipped on water and had to have 5 staples in her head (which I will be removing in Africa)-plus, my hubby’s been out of town with his job (but on the way home now). Seriously? I don’t think it’s a coincidence Maureen brought in our first girl today with two more needy, pregnant girls pending.
Please consider printing out this calendar/itinerary and ask God to use our simple family to encourage and equip the staff, to love on Maureen and the residents, to be Jesus’ hands and feet….
You can download and print the prayer calendar here: Prayer Calendar
Thank you.
We are taking 20+ suitcases with us to Africa on Saturday.
Two of those are for our family of 5 for three weeks…clothes and comfort food.
Have you ever tried those space-saving vacuum bags?
I thought it might help.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Turns out that the bags really do save on space! (but not weight. Why did I think air weighed something??)
They work for me!
P.S. For the next 3 weeks of WFMW, I have scheduled posts. Things should run smoothly for you to continue to link up…if not, I’ll blame it on Africa!
*UPDATED WITH WINNERS* Congrats to the winner of the CD SET: got2havefaith, and the random winners of the worship CD of their choice: Holly (no blog), Anna, and Tori
Our lives have many seasons. Some seasons bring us great joy! In other seasons we cling to hope. And then there are seasons where we take a step back to reflect. This is not just another CD collection. It’s a celebration of joy. It’s a source of hope. It’s an invitation to listen.
Seasons of Joy
Joyful, upbeat and celebratory, Seasons of Joy features uplifting music from artists like David Crowder Band, tobyMac, Hawk Nelson and Britt Nicole.
List of songs: Joy, Live Out Loud, Only the World, You Are Everything, Beautiful One, You, Everything About You, Hosanna, Happy Day, Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing), Testify To Love.
Seasons of Reflection
Contemplative and peaceful, Seasons of Reflection features meditative songs that artists such as Steven Curtis Chapmen, Nicole Nordeman, Bebo Norman and Robbie Seay Band.
List of songs: How Deep the Father’s Love For Us, Only Grace (Acoustic Version), God Speaking, Be Still and Know, Shine Your Light On Us, Lead Me To The Cross, One Bright Hour, If These Walls Could Speak, Sweet Sweet Sound, From The Inside Out, Every Season
Seasons of Hope
Focused on change, forward thinking and overcoming, Seasons of Hope offers inspirational tracts from favorites like Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant, Sanctus Real and Jeremy Camp.
One lucky winner will receive the entire collection of CDS and three winners will win their pick of the above CD.
Leave a comment as your entry.
This giveaway will close on Thursday.
We leave for Kenya, Africa in 5 days. FIVE.
[gulp]
Our bags are packed, okay stuffed. Neighbors will house/pet/yard sit. We are thisclose to being ready.
Since you will be coming with us, I thought I’d answer some of the questions I’ve been getting via email and twitter.
FAQS
Any more burning questions? Leave them in the comments. Thank you so much for your support!!
She is only four.
But don’t let her youth fool you: she knows exactly what she wants.
And it happens to be my husband.
In her precocious manner my little girl stated: “I’ve decided to marry Daddy.”
“You will have to share.”
The random statement caught me off guard, but didn’t surprise me. She’s a Daddy’s Girl and strong-willed: a force to be reckoned with most days. But she was completely serious. She started talking about a wedding and instead of calling him Daddy, she started calling him Husband, referring to herself as Wife.
It was hysterical.
My husband was smitten and beaming. I was the Other Woman.
I watched her closely and what I saw moved me. My little girl was role playing me. Other than sounding a bit too bossy (I get it naturally), she was mimicking the way I love my man.
He was wooing his little girl and teaching her what to wait for in a husband.
Our kids our watching our marriages. They are learning from us, whether or not we realize we’re teaching them.
What I want my kids to learn from us:
Your kids are watching your marriage, too. Show them what you want, even if you haven’t attained it.
1. S p e n d T i m e W i t h Y o u r S p o u s e
We often plan and plan and plan for our kids during the summer days. Take time to plan a couple of special moments with your significant other. In late July, all three of my kids (for the first time ever) are spending a week at the farm with grandparents. You can bet there will be sushi for dinner, late movies and nudity. [don't look at me that way. I can say the N word. I've been married for nearly 17 years]
2. M a k e F l e x i b l e P l a n s
I like to jot down fun ideas on the calendar…Groupon for black light golf, the $1 movies, pool days. But if summer is too rigid, it’s not fun for anyone. We don’t fill up every day-just one or two a week. We put the L in Lazy and it’s fun that way!
3. M a k e T i m e F o r D a t e s
Daddy-daughter, mother-son, big sister-little sister, mommy-daughter…you get the picture. While family fun is awesome, one-on-one time can’t be beat! Nothing excites my kids more than time alone with me or my hubby. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. It’s time they want, not things.
5. B e S p o n t a n e o u s
Some of our very best summer memories are unplanned. Here’s a few ideas: Store kites in the back of your car for windy days and impromptu fun, eat a picnic dinner at your local pool, create a giant VAT of bubble water and collect everyday things to see who can make the biggest bubbles.
6. D o S o m e t h i n g F o r O t h e r s
Don’t just make summer about you and yours. Pick a charity or cause and work together as a family to raise money and support. Host a lemonade stand, car wash, garage sale and donate the proceeds. Your kids want to give, they just need you to lead them!
7. R e c o r d Y o u r S u m m e r
Save movie stubs, collect items from nature walks, a flag from 4th of July, take fun pictures…place momentos from your summer into a special box with the SUMMER 2011 written on the outside. This is such a great way to store memories and cherish summer. Or wear matching shirts and have a friend or photographer follow your family around for an impromptu photo shoot!
8. T a k e T i m e F o r Y o u r s e l f
For the last several summers, I’ve scheduled a couple of days of month for a babysitter. It’s been the best way for me to write in bulk for my blog/book, run errands quickly, or attend appointments. You’d be surprised how much you can get done in 1 or 2 days a month. And you need it!
9. G r o w S p i r i t u a l l y
Take the time to read a family devotion together, pray together, lead your family into a deeper walk with Christ. You will never be sorry for looking after your family’s spiritual growth!
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Don’t you just LOVE our shirts???
We do! They were a gift from Union 28 in exchange for a family modeling shoot! It was so fun. We are BIG, GIANT, HUGE fans of this Christ-centered company who loves growing solid marriages.
You can see more fun pictures and shop here.
