Happy Birthday Madison

Saturday afternoon we had a GREAT time celebrating our niece’s 4th birthday!  As we were singing “Happy Birthday” and she was getting ready to blow out her candles I was getting so sentimental and my eyes were totally filling up as I was watching her.  She’s such a special little gift from God to Rusty and Ginger…and all of us!! Click on the photo below and watch a slideshow of pretty princesses and handsome pirates.  They went on treasure hunts, had fun on a tire swing, played games, blew bubbles, & ate cake!  They all had a blast! 

Madison’s 4th

Syd’s artwork

Artsonia is an online museum of children’s artwork in over 100 countries.  Parents can go online and look at their children’s gallery, leave comments and even order some really cool gifts imprinted with their art.  This is Sydney’s first picture put on there by her teacher and I thought it was so cute.  I’ll have her give me a detailed explanation of what it is tomorrow. I’m thinking it could be a bowl of ice cream with a cherry on top–but I have a feeling it’s something totally different.

Small Group

Introducing…our small group! After Logan was born, we took a break from being a part of a small group–and have since then joined a different one.  It’s not always the most convenient thing to go to, but we are so thankful for this group of friends we have to share with, study the Word with and in tonight’s case, eat at Chili’s with.

 

Pajama Day

Today was Pajama Day so Syd got to wear her PJ’s to school! She looks a little sad in this picture…. We had a rough morning, but by the time her ride was here she was a lot better and had a good morning at school.

 Sorry–2 pics of the same thing is for the grandparents.

They read The Napping House at school &  made their own little Napping House to bring home…complete with the snoring granny, the dreaming child, dozing dog, snoozing cat, slumbering mouse and finally, the wakeful flea.

Prayer Update

Here is an update on the prayer request for Joanna that I mentioned here.  

She came out of surgery good and the Dr. was “pleased with the surgery.” He also said that they were able to get 90% of the tumor removed; any more and he was concerned about brain damage. She answered all the questions he asked her correctly including that Curtis was her husbands name. Curtis was happy with that answer.   The part they tested ”looked good” and they were sending the other parts to have them tested as well.  PRAISE THE LORD  !!!She is at home now. It was a long 2 1/2 hour trip with 51 staples in her head. She only had to take one pain med. this morning and came downstairs for two meals. She was also able to get a much needed nap today. The side of her face is still very swollen and she is still tired and weak especially on her right side. Which is a common side effect that should hopefully go away. Please keep praying for her as she recovers.

Saving/Giving/Spending 101

As we are just now coming to understand money and stewardship over the past few years–we totally want S & L to understand a lot earlier.  We try to make a point about talking to the kids about “our” money –and really emphasizing that it all belongs to God!  We’ve been putting off the allowance thing for a while now, and had never (up until last week really had a good ol’ 3 1/2 year old talk about finances with Sydney.  So, before bed we sat down and Rodd talked to her about the money that God gives us to use and the whole shpeal on how we first give a part of it back to God and then put some in the piggy bank to use and some in a separate place for savings but that it all all all still belongs to Him! 

Then there are the fun times of walking through Target and they’re both wanting to buy every toy and special thing that they see.  (They come by this honestly from their mom. I’m usually the one pointing the toys out to them.) Oh the joys of talking about how we don’t need everything we see “even if your friend at school has it.” A friend told me a while a go that with things like materialism, you have to plan how to protect against it just as intentionally as you immunize against measles, mumps and rubella.  She encouraged me to plan all the good things that I want to be planting in their hearts to take root and grow, from the very beginning of their lives. Rodd and I want them to see and feel most importantly that we are happy and content with eternal things: (hmmm…better trust God for help in that area) the good plans God has for us, and the price He paid for us so that we can be with Him forever. They need to keep hearing that to counteract everything they see around them.

For me, growing up in PNG, it was easier not to feel somehow “gypped’ about material things because the tribal people had so much less. We were always the rich kids in the village. If anything, we felt guilty about how much we had, rather than wanting more.   But now, raising my kids in the good ol USA–that mindset has changed and I don’t want my kids to grow up with the opposite mentality.  So we’re still figuring this all out, but I guess we have to start somewhere. While they’re still little, sitting in my lap and believing everything I say–I really want to make it a point to not just assume that they know what I believe but explain it to them over and over. Even if it seems ridiculously repetitive! (What part of motherhood isn’t repetitive?)

 

I’ve heard that it’s best to have your “piggy bank” (or whatever you use) be something clear so they can actually see the money and have a visual of what’s being saved, what’s spending money etc..  We’re using this glass jar as the tithe money– and the piggy bank will be her spending money. She’s totally getting into it! It’s awesome!

I saw someone use a small sized oatmeal  container, covered it with cute paper & slit a whole in the plastic lid and it was an adorable little bank.

 More blogging…soon to come.

 

Like father like daughter

I overheard Sydney talking to Logan yesterday…

“Do you need to get on the internet.com now?  I’m just going to design some websites and write some programs for us. I’m like working on kid stuff and adult stuff–so I’m trying to make programs for everyone. Please try to keep it quiet and maybe I’ll write something for you too!”

I’m really not big on tv and computer games for kids, but every once in a while we’ll get out Sydney’s keyboard and mouse and hook it up to our computer. There are lots of free computer “games” for preschoolers you can download that really are good. At least we think they are. They are especially good around 5:00 while I’m cooking dinner.

Prayer Request

My sister told me about this briefly yesterday, and I got more information on it today.  This is a prayer request for JOANNA and her husband Curtis with their three children, the oldest of which is 4 yrs old, who were planning on leaving this fall for Mozambique Africa to do full time missions work.

“Joanna had a CAT scan on Tuesday.  Because of severe migraine headaches, the Dr. wanted to rule out a tumor in the brain.  But unfortunately that is just what they found.  On the left side of her brain she has a tumor the size of an orange, growing. It has displaced a sixth of her brain and caused her to have great difficulty with speaking, remembering, and getting very painful.  There are a couple factors that could point to it being a less aggressive benign type, but also one thing that could point to a malignant tumor, so there is no way to know for sure what it is until they get some it out and test it.  On Friday Sept. 19, the Doctor plans to operate and once he has her skull open he will bring her to enough to have her move her hands, speak, etc., to let him know that tissue is okay.  This is one of Jo’s greatest fears right now that she is going to be awake. Please pray for her in this way.”

This news is devastating to this large and very close family. As you read this, please be in prayer for Joanna, and her whole family as they commit her to the Lord for this very difficult time of their lives. The surgery will take place in Canada since Curtis is from there and they are living there at this time before going to Mozambique. 

*Sidenote: Joanna is the sister of Jonathan Jackson (Lane and Karrie’s partners in Siar.) You can imagine how difficult this is for him to be so far away from her during this time. I know if that was my sister I’d want to get on the next flight out of there.
          

Night out

Friday night Ginger (sister in law) and I had a girls night out and it was super fun! We left as soon as our husbands got off work–gave instructions for dinner and we were outta there. We went to IKEA first, where I found this material. I’ve been wanting to make/find Sydney some curtains for her room and hadn’t seen anything up until now!  I’ve looked through the fabric section many times at IKEA and somehow I always missed this.  I thought at first it was going to be too much for her small & already bright room, but when it’s all said and done, I think it’ll be Sydney-liciously cute!

Here’s the material laying on her quilt.  

After that, we went to P.F Changs where we split an appetizer and dinner (the best lettuce wraps and mongolian beef.) We even had our waitress light our candle for us so we could experience the full ambiance that we don’t normally get to enjoy with chatty kids around.  Then we got coffee and walked around Millenia Mall til it closed. It was a fun, much needed, refreshing night.

Salmon

Logan had 3 servings of this salmon for dinner. He reluctantly ate the spinach–but could not get enough salmon and rice! Next time I will try this sauce on barbecued chicken.

Asian Barbecue Sauce  (from Epicurious)

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min   Servings: Makes about 1 cup.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons hoisin sauce*
2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup minced shallot
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/8 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/3 cup sugar

Preparation                                                                                                                     Stir together all ingredients except sugar in a bowl.Cook sugar in a dry heavy saucepan over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel. Tilt pan and carefully pour in hoisin mixture (caramel will harden and steam vigorously). Cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and sauce is thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Serve with shrimp, swordfish, pork, or chicken.