I am so excited about having 3 more kids!!! So by the title, this will need some explaining, which I am overjoyed to tell about!
Dan and I were talking about how we have felt God leading us to be more charitable somehow. We do our traditional church tithe, and support some missionary friends in Malawi as well as support 3 Compassion children...but we want to do more. A thought in the back of my mind for a little while has been to sponsor another child. We had 3 before this evening through Compassion International. This program allows kids to get the food, water and medical attention they need as well as provide enough materials for the children to go to school and most importantly, for the kids to have opportunities to learn about Jesus.
Tonight we decided to let Zack and Owen each choose an additional child from the Compassion International website to sponsor. The child that they choose will be theirs to keep in touch with and to pray for. It will be fun to watch them "care for" their child. Owen selected his first. He chose a 6 year old boy with the same birthday as him. His name is Lazaro and he is from Brazil. Zack chose next. I explained to him that when a child had a red heart on his picture that meant he had been waiting a long time for a sponsor...at least 6 months. Zack was looking through the pictures and the first one with a red heart was the one Zack wanted. He instantly seemed to feel a sense of compassion for this child. He chose a 7 year old boy from the Dominican Republic named Diomede. He had a hard time remembering and pronouncing his name so we have nicknamed him Dio. After the kids went to bed, I selected one more. I selected a 6 year old girl named Maria from El Salvador. I am planning on creating a board to hang up with all the kids pictures on it so we can have a constant reminder to pray for all our kids. It is so exciting to know that we can make a difference in these 6 kids and I am thankful that my children are a part of the process. I hope that Zack and Owen have a growing relationship with Dio and Lazaro, as well as our other 4; Mapenzi, Maria, Hussein, and Tadelech. It feels so good to be a source of hope for these 6 Compassion kids, and to allow Owen and Zack the honor of showing God's love to them.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Americanized St Patrick's Day
I have never investigated St Patrick before this year and am doing a brief search to further my knowledge.
A brief history lesson:
St. Patrick's Day was originally a Roman Catholic feast day for Ireland’s patron saint, celebrated only in Ireland since before the 1600s. But it evolved into a secular holiday in the 1700s, when Irish immigrants in the US held some of the first St. Patrick’s Day parades.
About St Patrick
Patrick was captured around the age of 16 and was taken to Ireland as a slave. He lived there for 6 years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north and west of the island. By the seventh century, he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. On a widespread interpretation he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the 5th century. March 17th is the anniversary of St Patrick's death. In the dioceses of Ireland it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation and outside of Ireland, it can be a celebration of Ireland itself.
The Food
Ever wonder why we eat corned beef and cabbage on March 17th? I learned that only half of the meal was authentic to Ireland. Cabbage is one of the staples of Ireland, but the origins detailed bacon to be the paired meat. Corned beef was the American alteration because it was less costly. This dish is now more popular in the United States than it is in Ireland.
Wearing Green
One last interesting March 17th blarney is that if you wear green you will be invisible to the leprechauns, hence you will not be pinched by these fairy creatures. People started pinching those not wearing green as a reminder that the leprechauns could see them and pinch them too. This also was an American tradition that started in the 1700's.
So there you have it. St Patrick's Day almost sounds more American than it does Irish!
As an added bonus...
My kids had the day off from school on St Patrick's Day. Looking back I am thinking, maybe I should have done something more authentically Irish this day but I guess I will look into that for next year since I blew that idea a couple days too late! Anyway, we did enjoy a fun day off. I discovered RedBox (you know, one of those movie vending machines) and I rented Despicable Me for them. They have been waiting quite patiently for our reserved copy from the library but we are about #400 on the list right now...I thought it may be another year before it is our turn! So, I surprised them with that and to top it off, I made them pizza. That is quite the rare experience for them for lunch so it was a HUGE treat! We sat eating carrots, cheese pizza and raisins and drinking Fuze (another treat) on the living room floor during our movie. It was a fun time. But, there was nothing Irish about our day at all!
Being dominantly Irish in decent I am doing a poor job of passing down any traditions of the holiday, but then again, it has been Americanized enough that there is not much authenticity to it anyway! I guess I am safe and will not have any angry Irish relatives!
A brief history lesson:
St. Patrick's Day was originally a Roman Catholic feast day for Ireland’s patron saint, celebrated only in Ireland since before the 1600s. But it evolved into a secular holiday in the 1700s, when Irish immigrants in the US held some of the first St. Patrick’s Day parades.
About St Patrick
 |
| This is our family (and a random boy) in front of the Croagh Patrick statue in Ireland from 2009. Saint Patrick reputedly fasted on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days after walking up barefoot in the fifth century and built a church there. |
The Food
Ever wonder why we eat corned beef and cabbage on March 17th? I learned that only half of the meal was authentic to Ireland. Cabbage is one of the staples of Ireland, but the origins detailed bacon to be the paired meat. Corned beef was the American alteration because it was less costly. This dish is now more popular in the United States than it is in Ireland.
Wearing Green
One last interesting March 17th blarney is that if you wear green you will be invisible to the leprechauns, hence you will not be pinched by these fairy creatures. People started pinching those not wearing green as a reminder that the leprechauns could see them and pinch them too. This also was an American tradition that started in the 1700's.
So there you have it. St Patrick's Day almost sounds more American than it does Irish!
As an added bonus...
My kids had the day off from school on St Patrick's Day. Looking back I am thinking, maybe I should have done something more authentically Irish this day but I guess I will look into that for next year since I blew that idea a couple days too late! Anyway, we did enjoy a fun day off. I discovered RedBox (you know, one of those movie vending machines) and I rented Despicable Me for them. They have been waiting quite patiently for our reserved copy from the library but we are about #400 on the list right now...I thought it may be another year before it is our turn! So, I surprised them with that and to top it off, I made them pizza. That is quite the rare experience for them for lunch so it was a HUGE treat! We sat eating carrots, cheese pizza and raisins and drinking Fuze (another treat) on the living room floor during our movie. It was a fun time. But, there was nothing Irish about our day at all!
Being dominantly Irish in decent I am doing a poor job of passing down any traditions of the holiday, but then again, it has been Americanized enough that there is not much authenticity to it anyway! I guess I am safe and will not have any angry Irish relatives!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A lesson in Jeremiah
For my Spiritual life, I was doing pretty well much of January and I began to start my downward slide after that. I did not realize it right away, of course. So, now I'm working at getting back more Spiritual zeal and working toward more time and effort in the Bible to grow deeper in my relationship with God. I just started reading and focusing on the book of Jeremiah this week. I read chapter 3 last night which starts: 1 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?” declares the LORD. What was going on in my head was not a physical divorce but when we turn to something instead of God we are defiling our self and turning to another lover-whether it be talking about someone, or being boastful and thinking we know the best way, or if it is saying a harsh comment, those are times where we may be divorcing God. We are not engaged fully in the relationship with Him like we should be. We are letting Satan get a grasp and letting him step in front of our Goal. We are defiled when we allow Satan that foothold and we need to repent and ask forgiveness. It is so easy to let little moments of time go buy that are not used to glorify Him...and in fact defile Him and the relationship I have with Him, many times without even thinking twice. So, now with the awareness refreshed, I am working toward a deeper devotion to my Savior. The passages He gives us are interesting and well timed. I could have easily read over that verse and dismissed it for not being applicable, but God had other ideas. I'm thankful for the teaching moment and hopeful for more.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Week in Projects
This week has been an eventful week around here. With the eventfulness, much has been put off (like the bucket loads of laundry that I just almost caught up on yesterday, and every room looking like a tornado) but I am now seeing some completions! Yippee!!
Project #1
It started off last Wednesday by attempting another new recipe. This one was called Whirlie Twirlies. What kids will not like something with that name?! Below are half of the products that were left after the first serving. Apparently even the name did not entice Zack enough to like them, but Owen and I really did! It is pizza dough rolled out, sauce on top, then cheese. Roll it back up and cut the "tube" so it looks like a swirl. Place them on a pan, and bake them like a pizza. Yummo!
Project #2
I have had some fleece sitting at the bottom of the stairs for about 3 months waiting to be transformed into a fleece tied blanket. I have walked past this bag a couple times a day since I bought it and kept thinking I needed to complete it. (It was in the basement so it was not too obtrusive). It only takes about an hour (45 minutes if I am focused and not on the phone!). Just to clarify that sentence quickly, I am not on the phone all day long, but I like to multitask while I am on the phone and making the blankets is something I can do at the same time as talking so I feel productive as well. OK, so clarification done...below is a picture of the latest tied blanket that I donated to CareNet to help a needy mom and to comfort a child. Hopefully it will become much appreciated and loved by a precious little girl...and it is no longer sitting at the bottom of my stairs...BUT, I bought more fleece the next day so I have several more to make now! :)
Project #3
When we moved here almost 4 years ago the stairway to the basement was the only space carpeted downstairs. Last summer we finished the last part of our basement, including getting new carpet. (The summer before we completed a bedroom (carpeted) and bathroom and the carpet we chose for that was discontinued so we had to pick out a different one for the family room area. That means there were 3 types of carpet joining together. So, we decided that it was time to replace the mismatched carpet with the newest type we most recently placed in the basement before it was disconnected. Although I did not do this myself, it was none the less a project that I spearheaded and followed up. (And perhaps because I was the one that was bothered by 3 different types of carpet joining together!) Below are the before, during and after photos.
Yea! It is done and is so much softer and looks great! (I know the pictures don't show too much difference so I guess you will just have to come over to see for yourself!) :)
Project #4
Last, but certainly not least, is project #4 for the week. I started painting Owen's room on Saturday and FINALLY finished today-Wednesday. He is one of the biggest Packer fans there is and really wanted a green and yellow room. I am not a big fan of the color yellow and even less of a fan of the color green so this was a big deal for me. I like to pick the colors I paint myself, and up until this painting job I have. Well, I figured I can let go a bit and let Owen enjoy his passion in his room. So, 2 walls are green and 2 walls are yellow (and the yellow took 4 coats of paint and could probably use another coat but I'm tired of painting cheese color and I did not want to buy another gallon of paint so please do not look too closely!). After finishing his room I had Owen check it out. He stood on his tiptoes and was smiling about as big as he could. I asked him if he liked it and he said "good." (We just ordered a Packer's rug for his room tonight and it will be a surprise for him when it comes in the mail!) If Owen's happy, then I am happy...but rest assured there will be NO MORE green or yellow in our home! :)
So, now that those projects are completed it is time to catch up on everything I put off to get those done! Back to work, Kirsten...chop, chop!
Project #1
It started off last Wednesday by attempting another new recipe. This one was called Whirlie Twirlies. What kids will not like something with that name?! Below are half of the products that were left after the first serving. Apparently even the name did not entice Zack enough to like them, but Owen and I really did! It is pizza dough rolled out, sauce on top, then cheese. Roll it back up and cut the "tube" so it looks like a swirl. Place them on a pan, and bake them like a pizza. Yummo!
Project #2
I have had some fleece sitting at the bottom of the stairs for about 3 months waiting to be transformed into a fleece tied blanket. I have walked past this bag a couple times a day since I bought it and kept thinking I needed to complete it. (It was in the basement so it was not too obtrusive). It only takes about an hour (45 minutes if I am focused and not on the phone!). Just to clarify that sentence quickly, I am not on the phone all day long, but I like to multitask while I am on the phone and making the blankets is something I can do at the same time as talking so I feel productive as well. OK, so clarification done...below is a picture of the latest tied blanket that I donated to CareNet to help a needy mom and to comfort a child. Hopefully it will become much appreciated and loved by a precious little girl...and it is no longer sitting at the bottom of my stairs...BUT, I bought more fleece the next day so I have several more to make now! :)
Project #3
When we moved here almost 4 years ago the stairway to the basement was the only space carpeted downstairs. Last summer we finished the last part of our basement, including getting new carpet. (The summer before we completed a bedroom (carpeted) and bathroom and the carpet we chose for that was discontinued so we had to pick out a different one for the family room area. That means there were 3 types of carpet joining together. So, we decided that it was time to replace the mismatched carpet with the newest type we most recently placed in the basement before it was disconnected. Although I did not do this myself, it was none the less a project that I spearheaded and followed up. (And perhaps because I was the one that was bothered by 3 different types of carpet joining together!) Below are the before, during and after photos.
 |
| The landing at the bottom is the same carpet as the bedroom on the right. |
 |
| I snuck this picture when the installer ran out to his van to grab a tool. |
 |
| The matching carpet to the family room on the left. |
Project #4
Last, but certainly not least, is project #4 for the week. I started painting Owen's room on Saturday and FINALLY finished today-Wednesday. He is one of the biggest Packer fans there is and really wanted a green and yellow room. I am not a big fan of the color yellow and even less of a fan of the color green so this was a big deal for me. I like to pick the colors I paint myself, and up until this painting job I have. Well, I figured I can let go a bit and let Owen enjoy his passion in his room. So, 2 walls are green and 2 walls are yellow (and the yellow took 4 coats of paint and could probably use another coat but I'm tired of painting cheese color and I did not want to buy another gallon of paint so please do not look too closely!). After finishing his room I had Owen check it out. He stood on his tiptoes and was smiling about as big as he could. I asked him if he liked it and he said "good." (We just ordered a Packer's rug for his room tonight and it will be a surprise for him when it comes in the mail!) If Owen's happy, then I am happy...but rest assured there will be NO MORE green or yellow in our home! :)
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| Although I am not the greatest painter, the spots on the wall are from the camera lens. :) |
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Memories
Last night I had a dear friend come over for some prayer time. It was perfect timing and much appreciated. I have known her about 6 years and have grown closer each year. We were talking about our husbands a bit and she asked if I had any wedding pictures. I do not often pull them out (not for lack of interest but to contain bitterness toward my awful photographer). However, last night I pulled out our wedding album and spent time reminiscing the lovely day of August 17th, 2002.
As I was sharing my special day with my friend, I was noticing the radiant groom in the photos. (Quite the handsome fellow, I might add!) Then I got to thinking of how life is so different now. Life as a young married couple posed far different concerns and prayer requests than my days now. I have my children to care for, upkeep on a house, a couple of vehicles in the garage to maintain, a yard to mow, church decisions to make...the list continues... Anyway, it gets me thinking about what is important in life and what should have less focus. It is easy to allow circumstances of life to take over and forget about days of old that were so special. It is easy to wish a day away so I can get to the next one, only to do the same thing the next day.
As I am reflecting, I am realizing that each day is a gift and needs to be treated as one. How cliche', I know. But it is cliche' for a reason. It is true. Does it really matter if people come over and see that my house is not perfectly tidy? Of course not. Perhaps it makes them feel like it is OK to not be 100% tidy when others come to their house. Does it matter if the kids wake me up before my alarm goes off or if their rooms are not picked up? Again, of course not. There are people who would love to have the noise and mess from healthy kids around.
I want to have that radiant face, or at least many moments throughout the day, like my groom had in the wedding photos. I want to be thankful for each morning I wake up, and aware of each blessing in my life. After all, I am a child of the King and He has blessed me with a life I have dreamed of since I was a young child. What is there to not be radiant about!?!
As I was sharing my special day with my friend, I was noticing the radiant groom in the photos. (Quite the handsome fellow, I might add!) Then I got to thinking of how life is so different now. Life as a young married couple posed far different concerns and prayer requests than my days now. I have my children to care for, upkeep on a house, a couple of vehicles in the garage to maintain, a yard to mow, church decisions to make...the list continues... Anyway, it gets me thinking about what is important in life and what should have less focus. It is easy to allow circumstances of life to take over and forget about days of old that were so special. It is easy to wish a day away so I can get to the next one, only to do the same thing the next day.
As I am reflecting, I am realizing that each day is a gift and needs to be treated as one. How cliche', I know. But it is cliche' for a reason. It is true. Does it really matter if people come over and see that my house is not perfectly tidy? Of course not. Perhaps it makes them feel like it is OK to not be 100% tidy when others come to their house. Does it matter if the kids wake me up before my alarm goes off or if their rooms are not picked up? Again, of course not. There are people who would love to have the noise and mess from healthy kids around.
I want to have that radiant face, or at least many moments throughout the day, like my groom had in the wedding photos. I want to be thankful for each morning I wake up, and aware of each blessing in my life. After all, I am a child of the King and He has blessed me with a life I have dreamed of since I was a young child. What is there to not be radiant about!?!
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| August 17th, 2002 Showcasing one of the best decisions I have ever made! |
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