tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67192491981748952392024-03-12T17:48:45.614-07:00Go Therefore And Be LightThis is my place to share my thoughts, dreams and faith in Jesus Christ!!Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-26045025995421060882011-12-02T22:06:00.000-08:002011-12-02T22:33:03.227-08:00HomecomingHola! Sorry to have left you all in such a state of suspense (… at least my vanity would hope that you were left just a wee bit in suspense ;) ), but now that I am back in the world of internet from the age of the dinosaurs my opportunities for writing have been quite infrequent. This reason, and also the fact that upon my arrival in Mexico – as you probably have realized by now, I did get here – I was swept up into the flurry of construction and ministry. <br /><br />But I digress. Let me tell you about my trip... when last I wrote I was leaving Oregon “rumbo a Mexico” (on course for Mexico). That bus ride was looonnnngggg. I left Roseburg at 12pm on Friday and arrived in Tucson at 9pm on Saturday... what's that, 30 hours? Somewhere thereabouts. Interestingly enough, I had traveled that particular route (down the West coast) so many times with my family, that I was actually able to recognize landmarks as the bus traveled down to Arizona. It's a strange feeling of deja vu when you can wake up from a doze, look out the bus widow and know where you are without having to ask :) . <br />I do not recommend bus travel for the faint-hearted, but other than a few incidents of exceptionally bad smells emanating from the bathroom at the rear of the bus (… yeah, that was not pleasant), rather uncomfortable seats, a few travel companions with rather filthy language (really though, God has been working on my heart, teaching me to see past outward appearances. This trip was a bug step towards that) and far too many hours in the same position, it wasn't half bad :) . That is to say that, if needs be, I would do it again.<br /><br />About halfway through this part of my trip, all of my emotions seemingly caught up with me. All of the things that I had been too busy to feel over the last week came crashing over me like waves. I had known that it was bound to happen some time or other, but I am rarely ever prepared for the heaviness and despair. BUT as I looked to the Lord for comfort, He, being as always faithful and true, lead my heart to Psalm 23 and gave me this prayer, which I thought to share with you...<br /><blockquote>Lord, you are my shepherd, and my gentle guide, my vigilant protector; I will not want for anything. For you make me rest peacefully in your blessing; you comfort me and bring my to a place where I can close my eyes and bask in your presence. When I am weak and despairing, you restore hope to my soul. With your firm hand you lead me into the paths of truth and righteous living, for the sake of the glory of your name. Even if I should come to walk through valleys of doubt, despair and death, I will fear not, because you are greater than any evil which would ever beset me. You are with me. Seeing your might and knowing of your love brings me comfort, even in the darkest of times. No matter what this life brings, I know that you promises are true. You will render to each their due. You will not allow my persecutors to prevail forever, but will raise me up before them in the end, anointed and chosen daughter by your grace. In that day, I will rejoice before you, even as I do now, because of your goodness and mercy; and in your presence I will dwell forevermore.</blockquote><br />When the bus finally pulled in to the Tucson station, I was utterly glad that the trip was over. The idea of sleeping in a real bed was so alluring that I didn't even really feel like eating. Of course, once I was off the bus and driving back through downtown Tucson in the car with some of my dear friends, I seemed to get a second wind. Regardless, I didn't last too long after that. From Saturday evening I stayed about 4 days in Arizona. It was great to visit with friends and I was especially blessed by the brother and sister I stayed with. What a priceless gift to have such a loving and caring family in Christ!<br /><br />On Wednesday evening my friends saw me off at the Mexican bus station. I was finally homeward bound! About this leg of the trip there is not much to tell. I traveled through the night, sleeping most of the way. The bus was comfortable and peaceful and we made very few stops. By 9am the next morning we were pulling in to Guasave, Sinaloa. Home! My family arrived shortly thereafter, and I am sure you can imagine our exuberance! We were all quite content.<br /><br />Since then, as I said, we have all been running full-tilt, working furiously to get the construction done and the house ready for our mission teams coming in December. Quite an undertaking; but praise God for the large family we have and for His strength as we strive to be faithful to our King and to accomplish the work He has given us. <br /><br />I must apologize to those of you who like pictures. Unfortunately, at this moment all of the pictures that I might post are on my mom's laptop... and presently I am the only one still awake in the house (the things we do to find a moment to use the internet. Sigh. ;) ). With that said, I will try my utmost to post pictures either tomorrow or the day following. <br /><br />Blessings to you! Thanks for sparing a moment to read through my meanderings!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-24891256959261440182011-11-11T08:40:00.000-08:002011-11-11T09:21:07.929-08:003... 2... 1... blast off!My life, all condensed into two suitcases and a backpack... <br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November112011011.jpg" width="350"/></div><br />hmmm. It's interesting to realize that I don't really even need this much. After all, as long as I have my Bible and a set of clothes I should be good, right? Well, God hasn't asked me to go that radical quite yet; perhaps at some future date ;) .<br /><br />Just three more hours. Three more hours until I will be on the bus driving away from this last chapter of my life. It's hard to leave... almost as hard as it was to come. But we do what we must, and this is my next step. I can only wait for whatever will come!<br /><br />I am taking a lot away from this time that I spent in Oregon. But I would say that the biggest blessing that I have received during my stay here was the friendship of Emily. Yeah, she's a pretty amazing girl, and such an encouragement. <span style="font-style:italic;">[I am going to miss you, Em!]</span><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/Emily.jpg" width="350"/></div><br />And I will miss the trees and the foggy mornings... who wouldn't miss this?<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November112011002.jpg" width="400"/></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November112011004.jpg" width="420"/></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November112011003.jpg" width="400"/></div><br />So, I am off! Happy and sad, excited and apprehensive, but trusting in the Lord!<br /><blockquote>Psalm 34:7-9<br />The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.</blockquote> <br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-85774412903491470962011-11-09T09:57:00.000-08:002011-11-09T10:56:46.297-08:00Dinner Theater and Auction FundraiserI am utterly pleased to announce that our recent fundraising event was a total success! It was awesome to see all of our planning and preparing come to fruition. <br />We worked hard all day Friday setting up, and by the time we were finished it looked absolutely lovely :) .<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011008.jpg" width="350"/></div><br /><div align="right"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011014.jpg" width="350"/></div> (We set out the soups on tables against the walls around the room and then later on in the evening we set the goodies out on the center tables. Everything was DELICIOUS!)<br /><br />I really did try to take more pictures, but I was so busy with every else that had to be looked after that I didn't get much of a chance. The ones I do have were taken at the very beginning of the night.<br /><br />One of the portions of the Auction was akin to Raffle. People were able to buy tickets and place them into the paper bags located next to the items. It's always fun to win something that way. I might even have put a ticket or two in but that I was too busy :D. <div align="right"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011012.jpg" width="350"/></div><br />And here is one of our dear ticket salespeople ;)!<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011011.jpg" width="350"/></div><br />The second portion was a silent auction for the smaller value items. I thought that I had taken pictures of them, but I guess I missed that part... oops! Anyway, we had things like gift certificates that had been donated by businesses from around town, several very beautiful glass chess sets, and a good number of themed baskets (eg. a "baby shower" themed basket, an "ice cream" themed basket, a "pizza" themed basket, etc.). Everything sold but one small wall hanging (it was bright red and looked something like a candy-can doll wearing a fluffy scarf), and I don't blame anyone for not having bid on it... you would have to have a very unique taste in order to want something like that.<br /><br />These items were for the live auction portion of the event. We set them out during the evening so that people could get a good look at them beforehand. It must have worked, because everything sold! I even bought something. Do you see that blue, three-piece luggage set? Yeah, that's mine now :D . I really needed a new suitcase, and they're especially handy since I will be traveling on Friday.<br /><div align="left"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011013.jpg" width="350"/></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011010.jpg" width="350"/></div><br />The strange costumes were for our play (I was the villain MWAHAHahaha). We presented our version of a live radio drama. Though I didn't get any pictures of the play, we were able to record it. If you would like to listen to it, it is posted on our church website <a href="http://newhopefamilyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/Just-Desserts.mp3">HERE</a>. Hopefully you enjoy it!<div align="left"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011006.jpg" width="350"/></div><div align="right"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/November%202011/November92011016.jpg" width="200"/></div><br />All in all, I am pretty sure that the event was a hit. Everyone I talked to said that they had a good time, and as an added bonus we were also able to raise $1,700 toward our goal! God was so good to us. I was astounded to see how everything came together. What a blessed assurance to know that the Lord never fails, and how grateful I am that He chose to bless our event!<br />I want to thank everyone who helped with and prayed for us leading up to this fundraiser; it was much appreciated. Please continue to pray that the Lord would provide abundantly as the team traveling to Mexico in December works to raise the rest of the money needed.<blockquote><br />Psalm 27:13-14<br />I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.</blockquote> <br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-68851663324465606292011-11-04T14:42:00.000-07:002011-11-04T14:44:10.360-07:00On a Friday in NovemberToday is Friday the 4th of November. Now, for you this might be a Friday like any other, but for myself and the many others who have labored so hard with me this is THE Friday :). Tonight is the Dinner Theater and Auction Fundraiser for the missions trip we are planning this December. Days and days of hard work all culminating in this one night...<br /> <br />Last night we held our final dress-rehearsal for the play and began to set out our auction items. This morning I baked 100+ rolls, and spent the rest of the day up till now working with others to prep food stuff. I am back at the house for a short respite until 4:30pm rolls around, then I'll be back at it again!<br /><br />Am I excited? Very. I am nervous? Actually I am not. I feel perfectly calm and completely at peace about it. God is good. His hand has been in every part of the planning for this event, and I do not believe that He will abandon us now.<br /><br />So, if you get a chance, pray for us. It's going to be quite a night! I will attempt to take pictures, and we might even be able to record the play!<br />Until I type again,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-78184494706303299422011-10-31T11:43:00.000-07:002011-11-02T15:02:40.149-07:00Yet another chapter in lifeWell now. I don't really even want to think about how much time has passed since I last updated. I suppose that by now most of you probably know me well enough to just assume that I had forgotten... or just wasn't in the mood to write. Both are true in part :). I think that I will agree with my mom in saying that the biggest blow to my blogging has been Facebook. Facebook is such an easy, fast way to post updates that I never feel the need to sit down and type out a whole post for my blog. <br />That said, I have now given my blog a face-lift, and I am hoping that the change will give me more incentive to write. Time will tell.<br /><br />So, last time I put my fingers to the keys I was, to coin a phrase, "on the path to self-discovery"... well, I am still on that path, but fortunately I have made a little bit of progress in my journey. I am out of the mire of self-pity and gloom and now I am on my way up a new hill, the other side of which is, as yet, unseen. <br /><br />Anyway, enough with metaphorical analogies, let me tell you a little bit about these last months.<br />Recounting all the details would be impossible, so I'll just hit some highlights from each month :) ! Quite unfortunately I have discovered that on my own I am not much of a picture-taker. I took a camera along with me on the last trip that I took and I didn't even use it once... I don't know why. It's not that I don't like taking pictures. Maybe it's that I am a little perfectionistic, so if I can't get an awesome picture, I'd just rather not take any... either that or carrying around a camera with me all the time isn't high on my list of things that I really like doing. All this to say that I am sorry that this post doesn't contain any pictures. I will try to be descriptive in my words ;) .<br /><br />JULY -- The month of waiting and expectation...<br /><br />Emily, my roommate, left for Mongolia at the beginning of July, so I was quite on my own for a lot of the time. The Ewerts' daughter and her husband and children came to visit for a week or so toward the middle of the month. It was nice to have kids in the house after a couple weeks of almost complete silence ;) .<br />Since I had so much time on my hands, many of my thoughts were directed toward my planned trip to the mid-west in August. I couldn't wait... but, of course, I did.<br /><br />AUGUST -- The month of travels and new experiences...<br /><br />The beginning of August found me on a plane to Nebraska. I won't bore you with all the details of what I did there, but I will tell you what I thought were the best parts of it.<br /><br />I got to...<br />Help stack 300 bales of hay into a barn (YAY!)<br />Chase a cow through the cornrows<br />Make tons of awesome new friends<br />Road trip with aforesaid friends <br />Attend a Do Hard Things conference (which was even better than I had expected)<br />Participate in a barn dance (that was SO much fun)<br /><br />But when I think of Nebraska, the memory that rises above all the rest is of the wind playing with the tops of the cornstalks and making the bean plants dance, almost as if it were a huge ocean of green, the waves rising and falling. It gave me so much joy to see the beauty of God's creation!<br /><br />After Nebraska came Kansas. I rode down with some of my new-found friends to Wichita, where my grandparents met up with me. I got to spend two wonderful weeks with them. It was very peaceful and quiet. I was even able to get into the habit of going for a run every evening. Truly it was quite enjoyable!<br />But all good things come to an end... or so the saying goes. August 28th saw me deposited nicely back at home in Oregon.<br /><br />SEPTEMBER -- The month of surprises and decisions...<br /><br />September brought with it many good things. The first of which was the end of summer, and the second a visit from my family! I was overjoyed to see them again, especially since I had not expected to see them until December. My brothers were all considerably taller (well, Andrew was only slightly taller, but he's getting there) and quite as rambunctious and mischievous as ever. And Evie has quite grown into a young lady, and without my permission too! <br /><br />Oh, and I mentioned decisions. Well, I'll tell y'all (that's the mid-west rubbing off) that I have been praying and taking steps and praying all the more over the past 7 months. The funny thing is that it often seemed like I had figured out what I was going to be doing next year and then, right when I was almost certain, something crucial would change and everything would be up in the air again. The last thing that I wanted to do was make a decision that I would later regret, or make a decision that I honestly couldn't feel a peace about. There are so many things that one "can" do at this point in life, but how many of them "should" one do? This question swirled round and round in my mind. <br /><br />But, as with all decisions, there comes a time when the time has come, and one way or another something has to be done. <br />After a lot of talking with my parents and friends and with my Father, I have made the decision to go back to Mexico. I don't really know how "permanent" this is. From where I am standing now I am not seeing God calling me away again any time soon, but I guess I have learned from experience that God's ways and plans are not my ways and plans. I am content to take this next step that He's shown me and then wait actively until something changes.<br /><br />And this bring us to OCTOBER -- the month of planning and busyness...<br /><br />So, plans for my trip began. And plans for the short-term missions trip traveling to Mexico in December from my church continued. And plans for the gigantic Dinner Theater/Auction fundraiser for said trip progressed. As October draws to a close, I feel like heaving a sigh of relief as I look back on all the things that have been accomplished toward all of these goals. There have been times in the preparation, especially for the fundraiser, when I honestly did not see how we would be able to pull it off. But, God is faithful. Once I realized that there was only so much that I could do and that the results had to be left up to Him, things began to fall into place.<br /><br />And here I am. The fundraiser is this Friday; and I leave next Friday for Mexico. Wow. Where has the time gone? I am torn in my feelings. Glad? Yes, most definitely. Sad? Yes, that too. As I leave Oregon, so closes another chapter of my life. But I am leaving behind more than just the life I have lived during this past year. I am leaving behind my childhood and all the memories that I have held on to so tightly throughout these past 7 years. <br /><br />I am going to Mexico, but this time it's my choice.<br /> <br /><blockquote>Isaiah 40:28-31<br />Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD<br />Will gain new strength; <br />They will mount up with wings like eagles,<br />They will run and not get tired,<br />They will walk and not become weary. </blockquote><br /><br />Blessings, friends!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-10533323649713573372011-06-21T16:20:00.000-07:002011-06-21T21:51:55.836-07:00Confessions of a Hurting HeartI have been found out. The verdict: guilty. And I cannot plead my innocence, because it's true. <br />How often have I repeated to myself that my joy is only in God, only in His will, only in His presence, only in doing His work? And it is... or should be.<br />It's funny, so often I feel as though I am constantly re-learning things that I already know. A couple of years ago when I was in Mexico with my family I went through a time in my life when I wanted to be anywhere but where I was. I wasn't content. I felt like I wasn't serving any purpose where I was; what purpose could highschool serve anyway? God took me to task on this, and I came out of it much the better for having gone through it. Perhaps it's the very fact that I have already gone through this once which made me blind to the fact that I was going through it again.<br />But praise the Lord for friends who love me enough to speak the truth, even when it's not what I want to hear!<br /><br />There have been many changes in my life in the past year. I look back on the things I did with my family in January and feel that it can't be real. Sometimes as I sit in my room with my eyes closed I almost feel that when I open my eyes I will find out that everything since then has been a dream; that I never really left Mexico. But I open my eyes and I see the carpeted floor and green walls and know that it's real.<br /><br />I have come back to the place where I grew up. The people I left behind are the same, the scenery is the same, the church is the same... I even feel at times that I must be the same. I'm not. The person I am today is not the person I was 7 years ago... even aside from the fact that I was much younger then. I didn't realize how hard it would be to come back after so much time had passed. Mexico isn't Asia or Africa, but it isn't the US either. And my family isn't here. <br /><br />Finding my identity without them has been the most difficult thing I have ever faced. What happens when the realization comes that no matter what you do things are never going to be the same? What do I do when I realize that the life that I left behind in Mexico was left behind forever? Regardless of what the future will be, it can never be the past.<br /><br />I have avoided facing this up till now, but it's time that I stopped dodging the truth and acknowledged it for what it is, Lord give me strength. My heart aches for love and security that I had with my family. I have tried to fill up the gap with prayer, with reading my Bible, with keeping busy, with friends, with plans, with excuses... they didn't work. Everything that I have done here has been good, and I can say with certainty that my prayer life has never been better, but I have been prevented from sharing in the joy of the blessings of God because I have been too focused on the blessings I did not have. <br /><br />It has been a harsh awakening for me. How is it that I could have missed something so vital, so important. It's true. I have been living without joy. Oh, there have been moments in which I have been joyful, but I haven't lived it, and more often than not my eyes are clouded by tears of sadness, not of thanksgiving.<br /><br />But the fight is not over! The first step is taken. Time will heal the wound in my heart, and until then I will fight for God's peace and joy in my life!! <br /><br />In my mind, my future is crowded with plans and hopes and dreams, but I don't live in the future, and I never will. I am HERE and I live NOW! Regardless of what may come, I will cling to the promises of the the Lord knowing that in His joy I can find strength!<br /><br /><blockquote>Psalm 95:1-8a<br />O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,<br />Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.<br />Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,<br />Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.<br />For the LORD is a great God<br />And a great King above all gods,<br />In whose hand are the depths of the earth,<br />The peaks of the mountains are His also.<br />The sea is His, for it was He who made it,<br />And His hands formed the dry land.<br /><br />Come, let us worship and bow down,<br />Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.<br />For He is our God,<br />And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.<br />Today, if you would hear His voice,<br />Do not harden your hearts</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-26293918088548312612011-06-11T13:05:00.000-07:002011-06-11T15:04:01.128-07:00La Di Dah and life in generalGood afternoon (or morning or evening, depending on when you're reading this ;) ) to you all! Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks for me. I suppose that when I first came here I really had to work to fill my time, now it seems like there isn't enough time to do everything that I want (and need) to do! Funny how that works.<br /><br />My adult Spanish class has begun. I had a smaller turnout than I had expected, but I am satisfied in knowing that God brought exactly the people who needed to come. I truly enjoy being able to move at a little faster pace and to know that my students are studying at home. I suppose that this really is the greatest struggle I have faced with the younger class; I can't know that they will all study at home. I know that they do to some extent, but because they don't always, we have to spend a lot of class time reviewing. Granted, reviewing is good, so I can't complain too much. I do know they are learning, even if we're not moving as quickly as I would like!<br /><br />I still don't have an actual job, but I have been offered a part-time babysitting job once a week at the church for Financial Peace University (a class that they are hosting at our church). I am not sure how long this will last, but I have something for at least a month! In addition to this I also have been doing yard-work and weeding for our neighbors. What with these things and my Spanish classes, I manage to keep my week rather full!<br /><br />As to school, I am still hoping to enroll come Fall. I went to the college a few days ago and got some information regarding some different classes that I want to take this term. Unfortunately, when I took the placement test a few weeks ago it seems that I placed in a rather low math class. If I start in the class that I placed in, I will have to take two classes before it will actually count for college credit. I didn't like that idea at all, so I am burying myself in Algebra for the foreseeable future.... not a pleasant prospect, but it must be done! My plan to re-take the Algebra test so that I can place in a higher math class. I know that I can move up at least one class; I am hoping that I might even be able to make it two. We'll see.<br /><br />Last Sunday was the graduation of the public and Christian high schools here in Roseburg. I didn't make it the the public high school's graduation, but I did attend the graduation of Umpqua Valley Christian School. A bunch of my friends graduated. It seems like such a short time from when we all started high school together... granted, I was homeschooled, but we were still all in the same grade technically. Anyway, it was great to see them starting off into new adventures. Most of them are going to be attending college come Fall. It's a little surreal. I will have you know that I didn't actually cry at the graduation. I was quite proud of myself! *gives herself a pat on the back*<br />Well, now that's over. The next thing you know I will be attending college graduations... or even weddings! I think that I am in denial... ;D<br /><br />Alright, well I did take a bunch of pictures from the top of the mountain and down by the river, but I put them on my old desktop... and I forgot to take them off before I put it away. Now that it is completely taken apart I really don't feel like getting it all put back together and set up just to pull a few pictures off. So, until I get back up and over the mountain (shouldn't be too long :) ) you will have to be satisfied with these pictures that I took this past<br /><br />Here's a picture of the front of the house from the yard. It's a little hard to really see the house because of the tent trailer out front... but I wasn't about to try to move it to take the picture ;) . Hopefully we will get it moved soon.<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011020.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Okay, these are pictures from behind the house, looking up the hill.<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011021.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011022.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Here are some pictures of my "garden". It isn't exactly one garden, more like several little pieces of garden...<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011024.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011016.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Okay, if you look closely, you will be able to see the pea plants in two rows...<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011023.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I love all the colors!!<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011017.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This is my roomie ;) ! Meet Emily.<br /><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/sjcoult/June112011001.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Okay, I am now going to make it a habit to carry my camera around with me so that I can get some pictures which actually contain people instead of just plants...<br /><br />Now I must close and move on with all the other things that I need to accomplish today. Today these verses really stood out to me when I was reading. I am caught up in the moment. What would it have felt like to have been shut in your house, fearing that at any moment soldiers might come through the door to arrest you. Suddenly, you turn and see the One who you had thought dead standing right in front of you. Doubts are swept away. <br />We say, "Seeing is believing" Jesus says "Blessed are you if you believe without having to see"<br /><blockquote>John 20:26-29<br />After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”</blockquote><br /><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;" />Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-82783061432845229152011-05-30T19:34:00.000-07:002011-06-01T10:14:15.465-07:00Continued musingsWhat a week... or two. When so much time passes between my posts I forget what I have done. This is about the time when I would look back in my journal, that is if I actually kept one. But I don't, so you will have to rely solely upon my ability to recall all that I have done. Hey now, it's not that scary of a prospect! ;)<br /><br />My Spanish classes have continued marvelously. I really feel like my students are starting to learn! We aren't progressing as rapidly as I hoped to in the beginning, but I think that, realistically, we are moving at a good pace. This Wednesday will be my first adult class. Again, it isn't as big as I had first hoped that it might be, but I know that God has it all in His hands; I did as much as I could, and the results must be left up to Him! <br />I don't have an "official" job other than teaching Spanish. I have done some odd jobs and have made myself available for babysitting as well. Though some have questioned my decisions up till now I can only say that I believe that I am where God has placed me. It's enough... sometimes it's hard to trust and be patient, but it's enough.<br /><br />I made a trip out to the college last week with Emily. I managed to accomplish quite a bit in one morning I think! I registered as a student (got the nifty little "student ID" number) and took my placement test. I placed quite well in English, but not so well in Math. It's to be expected; Math has never been my strong suit. Anyway, I still need to sign up for classes, but I really have done all that I can until I decide how I am going to pay for the semester. Money is usually the issue, isn't it? I am praying and watching for the answer. <br />Honestly, I still am not sure what it is that God has for me. I want to attend school, yet a huge part of my heart was left in Mexico and that part of me (sometimes it feels like all of me) would like nothing more than to return there (... or maybe France. I have always wanted to go to Europe ;) ). Whatever I end up doing, I know that the choices I make in this next year are probably going to shape the rest of my life. It's a rather intimidating thought, but I know that I serve a faithful Master, and an expert Potter whose plans I can trust.<br /><br />Well, the time has come. All of my friends (alright, not all but most of my friends) are graduating this week. Just this last Sunday I went to the graduation of a friend who I have know since we were... my goodness... like 6? So much time has passed in between, but it was rather nice to be able to see her finish school and take the next big step in her life. I was just reflecting the other day how strange it is that everyone grows up. I know it's a part of life and all, but it's so hard to understand how the little baby of what seems like merely yesterday could be the spunky ten-year-old who just ran by. How is it that the same roles that my friends and I used to fill could now be filled by the younger generation... and when did I become part of an older generation??!! But, the strangeness of it all aside, I really am excited to watch all of my friends take big steps forward, and even more excited to see some of them who are truly chasing after God with all their heart! <br /><br />Oh, on a cheerful note, I have a new laptop! I am actually at this very moment typing this very post on its very keyboard. Is that cool or what?! It's a refurbished Compaq HP. So far I really like it... we'll see whether I still do after a couple of months, but I have high hopes ;) ! So, now that I do have the laptop I am going to upload pictures... next time I get on. For now I'll just end by posting a short poem that I wrote last Summer. I have kept it in my Bible for the longest time, but I think that it's time that it saw light. If it sounds familiar and you have a facebook account, you probably read it there ;). <br /><blockquote>ENDURE<br />All of us grow weary, and all of us complain.<br />We grow offended in the face of unfair accusation<br />And we are jealous of those who, through dishonesty, seem to gain.<br />In waiting we grow impatient, and in difficulty we are burdened with stress.<br />We flee so quickly from persecution and are even less willing to suffer physical pain.<br />Is this right? Have we not been called to something more?<br />For we haven’t suffered affliction and bodily torment as did Isaiah;<br />Nor have we been rejected by country and kinsmen as was the prophet Jeremiah.<br />We have not been wrongly accused and killed mercilessly by those we most love, but Jesus was.<br />Brethren, we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in our striving against sin.<br />Perhaps it’s time that we did.</blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-12666361293959894022011-05-17T13:41:00.001-07:002011-05-19T13:03:20.318-07:00In You is full joyAlright. Now it comes time for me to write about what I have been doing... and I can't remember anything!! Isn't that always the case?! Well, I have been doing things, though in retrospect I don't think that I have been doing as much as it feels like I have... hmmmm.<br /><br />Well, a little bit ago now I went out to the college to audition for the Umpqua Singers Music Scholarship. I did not get accepted, but the man for whom I was auditioning said that he liked my voice, I just needed more practice sight-reading. Not a big surprise, since I am not very good at it. He recommended that I participate in the Chamber Choir out at the college this year and then apply again next year. I am interested, but we'll see if that's in God's plans for me! It was a good experience even if nothing came of it ;).<br /><br />One of the responsibilities I have taken up in my new family (not replacing the old one, mind you :^) just in case any of my family back home is reading this) is a Summer garden. Of course, it isn't Summer yet, but I guess that the name refers more to the season in which you reap the harvest, not when you actually plant the seeds. I have planted squash and tomatoes and peas and bell peppers and parsley and some other potted plants that were given to me and I really have no idea what they are... yet! I guess that I will find out when they start giving fruit! I enjoy being able to work outside and having the garden gives me something that I can enjoy and reap the benefits of.<br /><br />As Spring advances I am constantly amazed by all of the green that surrounds me! Just as I think that nothing could possibly be any more colorful than it is, something new comes up. I have been supremely blessed by the location of my home. We live halfway up a hill (well, it's a bigish hill/smallish mountain, I don't know what it's technical term is) on the other side of which is a river. It's pleasant to be able to take a short walk over the hill and down to the water where you can just sit and listen and pray and be still. When I stand up on top I can look out in all directions. I can see people walking below, cars driving by, cattle grazing, the river rushing, the birds flying by at my eye level... it's rather nice in a weird way knowing that you could yell at the top of your lungs and nobody would hear. God is good!<br />This time of year there are wildflowers everywhere. Perhaps when I get my computer set up (should be tomorrow, Lord willing) I will post some pictures so that you guys can picture the view with me. <br /><br />Emily and I have begun taking regular classes and the YMCA. We have tried a couple, but I think that we have both decided that we like Zumba best. It's a great way to meet new people, be a witness and get a good workout all in one! I know that I must be making a fool of myself what with my feable attempts to keep up with the instructor and follow all of the moves... I have found that I can control my arms fairly well and my feet moderately well, but when I put them both together it becomes... awkward ;) But I am getting better! <br /><br />Since I have been here in the US I have had the priviledge of of being able to participate in a girls' Bible study that meets on Monday nights (I think that I mentioned this before). It's been great getting to know all of the girls and seeing God work in and through us. We meet in a different person's house each week and this week it was our (Emily's and mine) turn to host the study. Emily was leading and I was providing snacks. This week the book we are going through was focusing on the final week of Jesus' life. It's interesting to note that, while the gospel do give us a good picture of the three years of Jesus' ministry, more than a third of the gospels are centered on Jesus' last week before His death and resurrection. Must have been important, no? There's far more emphasis placed on this than on the 40 days He spent with His disciples and followers after His resurrection. One of the events that the book focused on was Jesus' washing of His disciples feet. I have always loved this story, but Phillip Yancey (Author of "The Jesus I Never Knew") brought it even more clearly into light. <br />Did you know that footwashing is something that, according to Jewish law, a master could not force a Jewish slave to do? It was one of the most disgraceful and lowly jobs there was. No wonder Peter exclaims, "Lord, do you wash my feet?!" when Jesus comes to him. Jesus humbles Himself in this action, saying to his disciples, "The servant is not greater than the master; therefore, if you see me doing this, do the same for one another."<br />Last night we had the opportunity to wash one another's feet. It was neat to remember Jesus' sacrifice and, just for a moment, to stop and meditate on what it cost Him... and how willing He was to pay that price.<br /><br /><blockquote>John 13:12-17<br />After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. (New Living Translation)</blockquote><br />Be blessed; serve God in what you know to be right. Commit your ways to Him and He will guide your steps. Be strong, friends!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-78320760789543427232011-05-11T09:35:00.000-07:002011-05-17T17:00:09.853-07:00A little trust goes a long wayTrust.<br />Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.<br /><br />Trust.<br />This word has come to mean so much to me. It's the shortest and best summary of everything that God has been teaching me over the past couple of months, maybe over my entire life. The lesson has been a hard one in learning. Sure, I believe that God is sovereign. I believe that God's Word is truth. I know that He will give me strength when I'm weak. But He still asks me again, "Do you trust Me?"<br /><br />When I take away your support and remove from you all that you hold dear, do you trust Me?<br />When I place you in a situation where all you can do is sit still and wait, do you trust Me?<br />When everything that you thought was to be your future crumbles down, do you trust Me?<br />When your heart aches and you cry out to me and hear nothing in response, do you trust Me?<br />When you reach the end of what you are able to bear and fall down under your burden, do you trust Me?<br /><br />I haven't yet learned to answer all of these questions. I know what my answers should be. I can quote you scripture after scripture in support of what I "know" to be true. But can I answer these questions in deed? I don't know. Life has changed drastically for me. At times my heart longs so for life as it was that I feel I could burst. God asks me again, "Do you trust Me?"<br />Do I? Lord, help me! I must!<br />I surrender my rights.<br />I surrender my dreams.<br />Break my heart for what breaks Yours.<br />Teach me to see with Your eyes.<br />I trust You.<br />You, who loved me enough to die for me.<br />You, who loves me enough to live in me.<br />You, who promises that I will never walk this life alone.<br />I trust You.<br /><br /><strong>"Do you trust Me?"</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-55538586959300456182011-04-24T15:55:00.000-07:002011-04-26T11:59:12.130-07:00Easter ThoughtsHappy Easter!! Albeit a little late!<br />Normally this would have been one of the busiest weeks of the year for me, but it seems that Easter really isn't as big a thing here in the States. Of course, I already knew that, but often you don't really "realize" things until you experience them first-hand. My family, on the other hand, has been very busy. I am sure that they will post about it all soon and I'll link to the post ;). Anyway, this has been my very first Easter on my own. We had a sunrise service out at the Wildlife Safari and then we had a wonderful breakfast at the church. I also had the priviledge of being able to participate on the worship team. The people of this church have been such an encouragement to me as I have been adjusting to life here. It's so great to know that I have so many brothers and sisters here who love me and who support me in what I am doing!<br /><br />As for the people I am staying with, they are amazing!! I don't know what I would do without their love and encouragement. I thank God constantly for His love and care. It is wonderful that I serve a God who not only saves me, but who watches out for me even in the little things. My family isn't here anymore, but God has blessed me with a wonderful sister who has helped me in so many ways!<br />I think that the Ewerts are finally getting to know me, quirks and all! I have known them since I was 8 or so, but it's different getting know someone as an adult than it was knowing them as a child. We have fallen into more of a pattern of life, I believe, and I am finding my own little corner in the household :) :D. Last night I introduced them to our enchiladas. They were pronounced delicious, so I know that it isn't just us who like them. My mom will appreciate that! <em>(btw, Mom, I added veggies to the ones I made as well. It tasted really good. I think that the only thing I was really missing is chilis *winks)</em><br /><br />Plans for the coming year are still a little bit foggy. I have been praying that God would give me wisdom as I decide what I am going to do. I am looking into the option of enrolling in Umpqua Community College come Fall. I won't be able to complete my degree there, but I should be able to get a solid start on it and be able to transfer to Oregon State (or some other college) at the end of the two years. Pray for me in this. One concern is finances. I have applied for financial aid and am praying that, if it's God's will, everything works out. My God is big, and I'm confident that everything will work out according to His plan!<br /><br />I have started my French up again. Now I am studying on my own. It's a little bit more difficult than when I had a teacher to push me on, but I am making headway! I'd forgotten how much I loved the language until I was finally able to jump back into it. What with the move and all I haven't had much chance to do any studying for the past few months. But all that's going to change!<br /><br />Come June I am going to be starting up adult Spanish classes. I will be giving two different classes -- one advanced and the other beginner -- and I am going to offer private tutoring for highschool students as well. I have begun putting up flyers in various places in hopes that I will get some feedback. I love teaching Spanish, so I hope that I get enough people interested to be able to have at least one class.<br /><br />I have also been able to get involved in a girls' Bible study that meets on Wednesday evenings. It's been great getting to know the girls in the group and I have really enjoyed the studies. Right now we are working our way through the book "The Jesus I Never Knew" by Phillip Yancey. It's a very well thought out and well-written book. He has an interesting way of writing. Rather than stating his conclusions outright, he walks you through his thought process, leading you to the conclusion that he came to gradually. I have found it very intriguing and thought-provoking. A good read, if anyone is interested :) .<br /><br />Oh, and an intersting fact. I now have my own room! Funny though, I had to move out before it happened ;). I have actually missed my little sis' quite terribly. After more than 10 years of sharing the same room you kind of get used to it. I don't think that I would even mind her leaving her stuff on the floor anymore... well, maybe only a little bit :)... love you and miss you lil' sis'!<br /><br />Alright, I should be getting on with my day. Let me just end with this little poem I wrote. I actually wrote it to be my facebook status on Sunday, so if you recognize it, that's why. This is what Easter means to me.<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Resolved</span></strong><br />Unbending<br />Unwavering<br />Resolved<br />For I have resolved to know none but Christ and Him crucified<br />My sins to bear<br />My shame to remove<br />My life to buy<br />Jesus came to be the guiltless sacrifice for the guilty<br />He, having no sin, became sin for me<br />Confident<br />Assured<br />Resolved<br />Set apart to serve my Lord and Savior</p></blockquote><br />May you all have an amazing week and a blessed day.<br />God is good!! Let that fact change the way you live this day!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-53419006565371351042011-04-20T10:13:00.000-07:002011-04-20T11:27:27.937-07:00The Changes Life BringsWell, here I am again! It's been a long while. I didn't write for some time because I didn't have time, and then I didn't write because I still didn't have time, and then I didn't write because I didn't know how to pick things up where I'd left off. These past months have been months of great change. I have been struggling to find my footing in it all, still haven't gotten there, but my God is a big God and He's helping me to persevere.<br /><br />In February we left Mexico on our Spring furlough. We had a great trip. God proved Himself faithful time and time again through everything that happened. As of right now my family is back in Mexico gearing up for Semana Santa (Holy Week) and I am in Oregon.<br /><br />Some of you might be thinking "what???? When did this happen?" The decision was made in December, right after my birthday. I still can't believe that it actually happened, but it did! I have now been here a month. I have two jobs. I work weekends at the Wildlife Safari selling tickets (just for this month) :) and I am also teaching Spanish classes.<br /><br />It's been such a drastic change for me. I am saddened by so many things that have changed, but excited by what is yet to come. This is a poem that I wrote one morning as I meditated on everything that had been happening. God's been doing some hard things in my heart, but I'm so in love with Him!<br /><br /><blockquote>STEPS<br /><br />Take a step, take a leap<br />As the years go by the steps seem to become more and more like leaps.<br />Life is like a dark road;<br />Sometimes you can barely make out what's right in front of you.<br />The road draws you forward into the unknown.<br />Going back is impossible, but what is hidden in the darkness ahead?<br />Take a step, take a leap<br />Staying put is ever so much easier than moving on.<br />Most prefer known hardships to stepping forward into unknown possiblilities.<br />But just imagine those possibilities!<br />Take the steps and see what they bring.<br />The girl becomes a woman<br />The boy becomes a man<br />The steps we take make us who we are.<br />Take a step and trust God for the rest.<br />Who knows, this next step could be the first step of a new adventure.</blockquote><br />So, I am going to pick things up here. My mission hasn't changed, just the country :) . As I undertake this new challenge I could really use all of your prayers!<br />This has been my passage for the month. I hope that it encourages you as much as it has me!!<br /><blockquote>Romans 8:26-39<br />In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.<br />What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?<br />Just as it is written,<br />"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;<br />WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."<br />But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-90467410785994995102010-12-09T13:51:00.000-08:002010-12-09T15:05:11.475-08:00In Everything give thanksWell now, it seems as though I missed a few weeks there.... oh, bother! I did intend on writing such a lovely post on Thanksgiving. When that didn't happen I figured that I would still write the post only I would do it the Thursday after Thanksgiving (makes sense, right?)... obviously, that didn't happen either. Now I can't really undo what I didn't do to begin with, but I am thankful, and even though I missed the holiday, I can still express it!<br /><br />It would take more of your time than you have to give me to tell you all I am thankful for. My God is SO BIG that to write down everything that He has done in my life and in the life of my family would be next to impossible! That said, know that the following is merely the overflow of a grateful heart:<br /><br />God built our house this year! I will never forget the amazing way God caused everything to fall into place. I praise the Lord for the lives of everyone who was involved in completing the project. It has been such a blessing to us!<br /><br />Praise God for changes. It's been a year full of them. Lots of shifting of focus ministry-wise and in our weekly schedule has caused some interesting results. Though at times changes can cause pain, like building muscles, in the end we come out stronger and more complete. For this reason, I am confident that, "He who has begun the good work will perfect it." (Phil 1:6)<br /><br />Praise God for languages! I have loved and continue to love the intricacy and beauty of written and spoken language. The French lessons I was able to continue during part of this year were an unhoped-for blessing. It's so amazing how God knows all of our deepest wishes and desires!<br /><br />Praise God for friends. There is no greater joy than to worship the Lord in unity with your brothers and sisters! Aren't you so glad that God didn't create us to walk life's road alone? <br />For all you, my friends: You guys are awesome and amazing sons and daughters of God! You have all been such an encouragement to me over the years. May the Lord return to you tenfold the blessing you have given to me!<br /><br />Praise God for family! I love my family to pieces, and I am so glad that God saw fit to lend them to me for awhile ;) ! <br /><br />God has been so very faithful in everything over the past year that I couldn't express it adequately with words. I am truly so joyful in the knowledge of my God. Day by day my Heavenly Father has been teaching me to find my everything in Him, to take joy in the simple things and "be content with such things as I have". I have fallen more and more in love with my Creator each and every day. The joy I have inside just makes me want to jump and yell and cry and then go hug someone! It's at these moments that I realize that this world really is rapidly fading, and I ask myself, "Why are you so caught up?" I am reminded of the words of Paul the apostle writing to Timothy and admonishing him to run with endurance the course/challenge/life that had been set before him. "Don't get entangled in the affairs of this world," said Paul, "Run like an athlete. Discipline yourself and run so as to win!" (2 Tim. 2)<br /><br />So, as we go into the Christmas season and the new year remember this.<br /><blockquote>Life is a journey and no matter which road you take you'll end up in front of God in the end. Every one of us will give an account of his travels. The Bible says that many are called and few are chosen. Rest assured in the forgiveness of God, but RUN SO AS TO WIN! (1 Cor. 9) </blockquote>May all the glory be to God forevermore!!!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-52153651412723907542010-11-23T10:27:00.000-08:002010-11-23T12:07:40.601-08:00Another week in lifeBusy busy busy! That's been the theme of our lives during the past week. So much to do and so little time! I was just thinking how nice it would be if we could change our week so that there were 8 days every week instead of 7. I think that it might help solve some of my problems, don't you? But seriously, it's been a great couple of weeks, even if they have been a little busy.<br />We are continuing to go to Los Mochis every Friday for the baseball and cooking classes. I have now officially been put in charge of the little boys while my Dad works with the older ones. The first couple of classes were a little disorganized, but now that I have gotten a little more settled in I feel like the kids might actually be learning something! ;) It's especially nicer now that it's cooled down a little. The first couple of weeks were a little trying in that respect!<br /><br />As far as anything new goes... *takes a moment to think* ... let's see, I've started reading to my little sis every night. We are halfway through "Anne of Green Gables" and are both enjoying it immensely. Of course, I have read the book several times, but since she hadn't and wanted to I was more than happy to read it over again. There is something special about reading a book aloud. It makes me appreciate the book more somehow.<br /><br />In the Spanish class that I am giving the boys we are finally into the Preterite Tense (that being one of the simple past tenses). It's one thing to understand how it works, and it's something entirely different when you have to explain it to a class. Still, they must understand what I say, because they seem to be making progress! I can't wait until we get into the Subjunctive! I know, I know, my Mom always tells me that she can't understand why grammar excites me so, but call me strange, I can't help it! ;)<br /><br />Well anyway, I should be going. Before I do, though, I want to let you see some pictures of the kids in Los Mochis!<br /><br />This is Alex. He's the littlest one of the bunch that I work with. Don't mistake his size though, he hit with the best of them ;). I don't know exactly what he was thinking when I took the picture, but the look on his face is priceless!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUMujIJ2kBfkAEhm91ScydaklI4kNWcAE20uNlCkeaJzVFPBf4Z1J-Y7kmXU2PgH1JA8KYpN5joXvf04xA3Tui_EDtYIMxte-P6t5XS1L3uuMf_Ckx963G-xCSn_WuAYW9afHQHpyL9bJ/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUMujIJ2kBfkAEhm91ScydaklI4kNWcAE20uNlCkeaJzVFPBf4Z1J-Y7kmXU2PgH1JA8KYpN5joXvf04xA3Tui_EDtYIMxte-P6t5XS1L3uuMf_Ckx963G-xCSn_WuAYW9afHQHpyL9bJ/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542821255961677026" border="0" /></a><br />The group of younger boys go to the other side of the baseball field to work on catching and batting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hRhbRSWoPlFVMoU3abia1RGh1yP2R2FGE_VGat_mCWqdNOHS5O3df0Vy7eMtPFT5prPhDxqm-2SOwuFXO2DfDgJTc4yEnd5bOQjCgiUKnbGKY5C4uKJX7HQ2WMS-ZYWGGqAsQ9YTmro8/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hRhbRSWoPlFVMoU3abia1RGh1yP2R2FGE_VGat_mCWqdNOHS5O3df0Vy7eMtPFT5prPhDxqm-2SOwuFXO2DfDgJTc4yEnd5bOQjCgiUKnbGKY5C4uKJX7HQ2WMS-ZYWGGqAsQ9YTmro8/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542821249009905122" border="0" /></a><br />My Dad explain the correct way to position yourself when catching a ball.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkcXO_x6JyWJrMyFO6Lm21gMIfeql9gAKkMTkdEKs8b8moyvypWmV-_vxEbFPvobLLZcgOl3x2tHD0eK0e2_qZgFiB5dIn_2Y3oRUEWVRQtVS1uMxVSw6zyuC_jo4S7o61xBPxzBXrLzj/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkcXO_x6JyWJrMyFO6Lm21gMIfeql9gAKkMTkdEKs8b8moyvypWmV-_vxEbFPvobLLZcgOl3x2tHD0eK0e2_qZgFiB5dIn_2Y3oRUEWVRQtVS1uMxVSw6zyuC_jo4S7o61xBPxzBXrLzj/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542821224246278002" border="0" /></a>Caleb and my Dad show the boys' group the correct way to throw and catch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeQegkHP_cSfEgn08svHjKHErUZfbPI1Yc8P-Qd1J4H3Mzmy4PMadiyMviEWq1yCPBqOx1zmKXTwyeCUhErLqEdlzN9Ifzq08n3NyUxJ-u8fQ7Klli86pB6edyYtkcpVgvciBA9ETsrWt/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeQegkHP_cSfEgn08svHjKHErUZfbPI1Yc8P-Qd1J4H3Mzmy4PMadiyMviEWq1yCPBqOx1zmKXTwyeCUhErLqEdlzN9Ifzq08n3NyUxJ-u8fQ7Klli86pB6edyYtkcpVgvciBA9ETsrWt/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542820489378962786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsiqrusbBpbGtLHsGw4RQwWL6KJc5ZOCpA4QJoCfD7OmQhBF4qC0OwLjpkMBMvi4MKbi-SoDgwgoEx6OniRa4AJ9skKmyLkhaeV1FXA8JD-6Mi1sNN8RzvUNHM80d2MKNalKpMvH89HQW/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+021.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsiqrusbBpbGtLHsGw4RQwWL6KJc5ZOCpA4QJoCfD7OmQhBF4qC0OwLjpkMBMvi4MKbi-SoDgwgoEx6OniRa4AJ9skKmyLkhaeV1FXA8JD-6Mi1sNN8RzvUNHM80d2MKNalKpMvH89HQW/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542820477772721666" border="0" /></a>Here's Caleb after 4 hours of baseball... I kind of felt like joining him ;).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlCvG0QZ94p0Muf2QPDjhCfynVP3fjy9kCNZHasOIqL5T9sBVPjdD2aZNN_yPNA3SckCTr5MpwyGibma-eG4uKmVU-pgSolxMWvImVSA6WTgpXkSSpqzyEa6Hohs2vwSm6KlSmPjmbRN5/s1600/31+October+2010+Minolta+029.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlCvG0QZ94p0Muf2QPDjhCfynVP3fjy9kCNZHasOIqL5T9sBVPjdD2aZNN_yPNA3SckCTr5MpwyGibma-eG4uKmVU-pgSolxMWvImVSA6WTgpXkSSpqzyEa6Hohs2vwSm6KlSmPjmbRN5/s400/31+October+2010+Minolta+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542821214657499394" border="0" /></a>These are the two cooking classes that my Mom leads. This particular week they learned about all the different types of grains and then the kids made pop-corn (the old fashion way). It was a delight to see the deaf kids' faces when they felt the kernels popping up into the lid of the pan. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaFXkoS4L2EDmQpiY5eAG4rqKaok0uaBmDmPsQAapGwT3hXRZwwU1Cyqb6U2Pc8inLmNjW45_EwjPlYlVWj9wilcAu_y52LH4ch_q4ArgqMw3DeNfxbTl-h5lTqQ231SK-vU9l82lMdOL/s1600/23+October+2010+Minolta+052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaFXkoS4L2EDmQpiY5eAG4rqKaok0uaBmDmPsQAapGwT3hXRZwwU1Cyqb6U2Pc8inLmNjW45_EwjPlYlVWj9wilcAu_y52LH4ch_q4ArgqMw3DeNfxbTl-h5lTqQ231SK-vU9l82lMdOL/s400/23+October+2010+Minolta+052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542820463043859346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JapXTstuxK0BskrBhBcM9YN87mRSGGh7orz4MfABZtyqGwoFxsSX2rcvFnr2d7utvfyicBiwqAYXOKV5srB0ZUDSj40szHeeQCDaODEUDE33z1_JeanxQu-to6Zk_PoejOwurNApTCOi/s1600/23+October+2010+Minolta+046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JapXTstuxK0BskrBhBcM9YN87mRSGGh7orz4MfABZtyqGwoFxsSX2rcvFnr2d7utvfyicBiwqAYXOKV5srB0ZUDSj40szHeeQCDaODEUDE33z1_JeanxQu-to6Zk_PoejOwurNApTCOi/s400/23+October+2010+Minolta+046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542820458571362770" border="0" /></a><br />God is good, all the time! May you have a wonderful week!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">He has made me glad, He has made me glad!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I will rejoice for He has made me glad! </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-35029141586539977822010-11-09T11:27:00.001-08:002010-11-09T12:48:07.413-08:00A Birthday WeekHappy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Andrew, happy birthday to you!!!!<br /><br />Andrew is now officially 13 years old. My, how the time does fly! He has had a whole week of excitement; it's been the birthday that just keeps giving! <br /><br />On Saturday we had some friends over after supper. The boys had spent all day setting up the yard for an airsoft war -- for those of you who don't know what airsoft is, just think shooting at each other with bee-bee guns only with plastic bullets and you'll get pretty close ;). I wish that I would have gotten some pictures of the forts they set up and the trenches they dug (yes, they went all-out), but I guess I was too busy playing to think about it.<br />Anyway, after supper we set up some flood lights and played for an hour or so. Once we were tired of playing airsoft we laid a rope across the yard and played capture the flag. I haven't had so much fun "playing" for a long time. It was a blast, and I think that Andrew enjoyed himself as well. The highlight of the night must have been the time when I dove through a gap between the trees trying to get away from my brother and land on top of one of those awful Choya Cacti (you know, the ones that people sometimes call the "jumping cactus")... let's not do that again ;). And adding insult to injury, can you believe that they still took me to jail? How rude is that?! ;P <br />I love having a big family!!! It's great that we only need another four people to make enough to play just about any game we want! <br /><br />After we had tired ourselves out thoroughly and were quite covered with sand, we all headed inside to eat popcorn and watch a movie. The movie of choice was "How To Train Your Dragon". None of us had seen it yet, so we had a great time laughing together. My official opinion: "How to Train Your Dragon" is a great family movie. Perhaps one of the scenes might be a little scary for kids under 8, but it is very funny and not at all inappropriate. Two thumbs up!<br /><br />On Sunday we went to church in Tamazula where a friend of ours taught on the Great Commission and what it means to "preach the Word". It was a great reminder of what our true purpose is here on this earth. It's so easy to get caught up in what the world thinks is important or even in thinking that just living a righteous life is enough. We need to be bold and willing to step up and speak when God calls us to speak. Go when God calls us to go. Stay when God calls us to stay. Do what God calls us to do. Let it not be that we should stand before God in the end and have nothing to say for ourselves. Quite a reminder, if you ask me!<br /><br />After church we went with the Petits and the Graffs (friends visiting from Southern Mexico) to the mall in Guasave where we ate lunch and hung out for a few hours. Caleb and I were able to spend some time with some friends of ours from Guasave who happened to be stopping in for lunch as well. I think that both of us were pretty happy about that ;). <br />Andrew got the second part of his birthday that evening since my parents had bought ice cream to celebrate. Andrew even got to pick a movie to watch. Guess which one he picked? Give up? "How to Train Your Dragon". Hey! I did say it was a good movie!<br /><br />Monday -- that being yesterday -- Andrew got his day off from chores (it's this tradition that we have in our family. On your birthday you don't have to do any of your housework. Pretty cool if you ask me) and then in the evening we had our home fellowship group -- plus a few others -- over for a Bible study, Posole (<span style="font-style:italic;">Po-so-lay</span> the traditional Mexican birthday dish made with puffed corn, beef, red chili, and onion and served with shredded cabbage, cilantro, and tortilla chips) and cake. I am so proud of my little brother. He has such a way with people. There is something about him that makes people love him, and it's such a great gift from God! I can't wait to see what God does with Andrew's life!<br />But wait, his birthday isn't done yet! I still have my present to finish and give him and Grandma's birthday card hasn't arrived quite yet. <br /><br />Well, I should wrap things up. I'll end my post with a thought from our Bible class assignment for this week. <br />We were assigned to find five different places in the Bible that talk about friendship and apply them to our lives. I was reading the passage in Daniel 1 where Daniel and his friends stand up for what they believe is right. I was struck by the thought that friends should be willing to stand beside each other and fight for what is right. Friends should spur one another on to righteousness. How often do the actions that I take cause someone else to stumble when I am not willing to stand up with them or speak out for them? Even in the small things, or maybe especially in the small things, I should be willing to make the sacrifice (sacrifice meaning to give up something good for something better) and encourage my friends in righteousness. That is, after all, what God has called us to do. <br /><blockquote>Proverbs 27:17(NKJV)<br />As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.</blockquote><br />Perhaps on our own we aren't brave enough to be different, but with a friend beside us how much more willing are we to take a stand?<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-3574902119057288622010-11-04T11:27:00.000-07:002010-11-04T12:23:11.758-07:00Back in Mexico... since Oct. 1... ;)<blockquote>Life is like a mathematical equation. You spend all that time figuring out the answer to the problem only to discover that you plugged in the wrong values and miscopied the original problem to begin with!<br /></blockquote><br />This is something that I wrote on my facebook wall a couple of weeks ago. It seemed very appropriate at the moment with all of the decisions that I was making (and unmaking). Needless to say it's been a rather tense couple of months what with trying to sort out ideas, keep up on school-related stuff, helping in various ministries we are involved in, and preparing my class for the kids in Tamazula each week. Quite honestly, the only thing that has allowed me to remain at peace in it all has been knowing that God has the ultimate word and that He loves me, so I can trust Him with my future. It's been a struggle to keep my focus where it should be, but with all of the amazing people God has placed in my life to guide me I have been victorious until now. God is good, all the time!<br /><br />Along the same lines of being "shaken up"; I am sure that most of you would have heard someway or another about our earthquakes. I guess it happened about two weeks ago now. The final and largest earthquake that hit us was a 6.7. I had never felt anything like it... the whole house shook and then when we went outside the ground felt like it was "rolling" underneath us. Quite a unique experience. Even the car was moving back and forth in the driveway. I would say that pretty much all of us have suffered since from paranoia. I have woken up at least twice during the night feeling like the ground was shaking... of course, it wasn't, but that's beside the point ;^). Thanks to all of you who prayed for us. It was very much appreciated!<br /><br />On a more normal note, life has been good here in Mexico. The heat finally broke somewhere around the 20th of October would you believe that the temperature gets down to almost 68 degrees at night with only 62% humidity? Just makes you want to shiver don't it? ;P Since it's begun cooling off we have been working like madmen... almost like we're trying to make up for lost time. In some ways I feel like it is lost time, but at least we don't have to do it again until next year!<br /><br />School has gone well. It's been a little difficult to keep a normal schedule for classes, but, one way or another, everyone is learning! I have picked up my Spanish class with the boys and I feel like it's going a lot smoother. It's been a good learning experience for me... and I am hoping for them as well! <br />For the present I have stopped my French classes. I'll be taking a different approach to learning. I've already bought one book and a have a few more on my list to buy soon. I think that with all that I have learned up till now I should be more than able to be self-directed... practice, practice, practice! Now all I need to do is move to France... we'll just take it one step at a time ;).<br /><br />Alright, I'm leaving now to make lunch. See you next time! I think that I am going to get back on top of this whole "posting regular" thing. God bless you all! Take care! <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-11411847674091139382010-09-11T16:26:00.000-07:002010-09-15T16:29:34.417-07:00Camping anyone?Greetings fellow soldiers! I am so excited to be alive one more day! The blessings of my Lord and Savior are so absolutely mind-boggling and amazing that I cannot find the words to express the change and hope and love that He has brought into my life. Every day I am so amazed that He loves me enough to care about me personally... personally enough to answer my prayers and give me strength in the times when the circumstances make me want to give up. It really isn't that God has always given me times of "springtime and harvest" but that no matter what I have gone through He has been faithful. And I am so blessed!<br /><br />The past week and a half have been great. As I mentioned in my last post, our plan was to leave from the Fitzgeralds' house to a place near Phoenix where we were going to be camping for a week with some good friends of ours. So, after fixing the problems with the trailer axle we left Tucson on Tuesday afternoon heading toward Tonto National Park -- any of you who know what that word means in Spanish can have a laugh at the name ;) -- and the Apache Lake campground. We pulled into the campground around 6:30pm, just as the sun was going down. We had just enough time to pick our spot and set up the tents before the sun was gone. None of us were up much after that anyway, we all pretty much hit the sack as soon as we had eaten a supper (leftovers ;^) ).<br /><br />First day of our vacation dawned bright and clear. The sky was beautiful and the lake was brilliant blue (btw, that's just a trick of the light... when your really get close the water is actually quite green). We spent most of the day swimming and playing down by the lake as well as playing card games and Boggle (aka, the best game -- almost -- ever). It was so relaxing to be able to do basically nothing for an entire day. We received an extra special treat in that an elderly couple staying in the campsite across from ours took a liking to our family and offered to take us on a tour of the lake in their boat. That was extremely enjoyable. Apparently Ann and Mike had been coming to the lake since the '60s and they knew a ton about the history of all the different lakes, dams and rock formations... very interesting!<br /><br />Next day our friends arrived and it seemed like the fun was only beginning. Our friends also brought their boat and a bunch of "water toys". You could just see all of the boys' eyes light up... or course I wasn't excited... at all *winks*. Naturally things don't always go exactly as planned. There was a problem with the boat that day and so all of the next day the guys (my dad and Mr. Schneider) spent fixing it. A bit of a frustration, but it was fixed without too much of an ordeal.<br /><br />I'll just hit the highlights of the rest of the week...<br />Caleb turned 16. YEAH!! I am so proud of my lil' bro. Or maybe not so lil' anymore ;) . The camping was kind of half-way sorta part of his birthday present since he had really wanted to do something like this during our trip.<br /><br />Everyone who wanted to (that means everyone but the moms and Evie) got to have a go at wakeboarding. Neither Andrew nor I were able to get up, but all the rest of our crew did... grrrr... the older sister mentality just totally rebels against the idea of my brothers being able to show me up... "My give up, my give up".<br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/213.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/205.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/372.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br />There they go...<br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/361.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br />Three of the young people (Seth, Jessee, and Madison) got baptized on Sunday afternoon. So exciting to watch them grow in the Lord. It was also a great time of fellowshipping and singing together. We even had a chance to share with some of our neighbors through it. Awesome opportunity!<br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/271.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/270.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/263.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/258.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/247.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br />And here are some random camping photos...<br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/183.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/171.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br />This is a really cool cave that is located on the lake about 4 miles from our campsite. The plan was the achor the boat and jumping out to go exploring, but it wasn't to be. The last day, after a week of perfect weather, we had a pretty amazed rainstorm. We all got very wet and the water got too choppy for us the achor so close to the shore... and the sharp rocks!<br /><br /><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/September%202010/378.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br />The boys had the chance to play airsoft several times... they really looked the part with their camouflage outfits and guns ducking in and out behind the trees. It was fun to watch... but not enough to make me want to join in. Too much pain involved.<br /><br />The final night before our friends left we played together (drums, guitar, and voice) and had a great time. As we were playing several of our neighbors stopped by to listen. We invited them to sit down by the fire with us. Eventually we had about thirty people in our campsite just listening and enjoying the Christian worship music we were playing. Isn't that amazing?! So neat how God works!<br /><br />Now we are in Woodland, CA. We won't be here too long, just for a couple of days. I did miss a few days in between, but I'll have to catch you all up later because we are running late for a church event and I gotta go!<br />Blessings!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-72481044409024534122010-08-30T09:10:00.000-07:002010-08-30T10:59:02.975-07:00Yet another tripHello fellow peoples! Glad to see that you stopped by! As some of you might have guessed, we are now in the USA (Tucson, AZ to be precise). We got in last night about 9pm... it was a very very very long trip. Oh, and did I mention that it was long? We left our house in Mexico at 4am with every intention of arriving in Arizona by 6pm at the latest. Funny how plans go awry!<br /><br />On Friday the two little boys went back to Los Mochis, leaving us busily getting ready for our trip. All day Saturday was spent packing, cleaning, and cooking (food for the trip). Originally the plan was to leave on Monday morning, but after having spent all day Saturday working we were so close to being done that we voted on it and decided that it would just be a lot nicer to leave the next morning. And so the plan was laid! <br /><br />On our way out of Las Glorias yesterday morning, we picked up a lady who was going to ride with us up to Nogales. The first few hours were fairly normal. Pretty much everyone slept (except for my dad, of course) while the road stretched on and the villages and towns flashed by. Then coming up upon Navojoa we stopped at a toll booth to check our load. My dad got out of the car and walked back to check the straps on the trailer only to walk back a minute later saying that we had a serious problem. I was kind of dozing during all of this so I only caught snatches of the conversation mixed with weird dreams of car problems and past trips. When I did finally wake up enough to become somewhat coherent, it was an hour later and my dad and brothers were across the road at the train tracks trying to bend back the trailer axle that had apparently been bending under the weight of the load. Right. Just another minor detail ;).<br /><br />So after another hour or so of that -- my dad bent back the axle, flipped it over and put it back on -- and after shifting the load more to the van we were on our way. Unfortunately (or providentially, however you want to look at it) we only made it about 45 minutes down the road before we realized that the problem with the axle had not been fixed and that we would have to do something soon or the axle would bend again. So we stopped, undid all of the straps, and unloaded everything from the trailer into the van just leaving a few of the lighter things in the back. And with that we were back in the car, though packed in a little tighter than before.<br /><br />That delay cost us about 3 hours. Normally, after all that, you would think that we would be able call it a rather eventful trip and drive the rest of the way without incident... but it was not to be. I don't know exactly how much time passed between the two things, but I think it was like an hour later when we stopped for gas and realized that one of the tires on the trailer had picked up a nail... and needed to be patched. Okay, now all we had to do was find a tire shop. We did find one a short way down the road. I do have to admit that, as bothersome as patching a tire is wherever you are, fixing it in Mexico is a million times easier than fixing it in the US. It took less than 30 minutes for the whole thing and only cost us $4. Meanwhile, Luz (the lady riding with us), my mom and I were laughing over what an insane trip it had been so far. She was amazed at how calm we were able to be, and we had a chance to let our lives speak Jesus' love to her.<br /><br />Now of course we should have been able to finish the trip smoothly, right? Wrong! In all in the years that we have traveled to and from Mexico we have never been unpacked and searched. God obviously had some plan for us this time, because at the inspection station in Santa Ana (4 hours before the border) we were stopped and asked to unload everything. Everything? Like "everything" everything? Yes, everything. Oh dear. This was at about 4pm. Keep in mind that we had only slept about 5 hours the night before and had been up since 3am. We were all really ready to be done traveling... but things don't always go the way we plan. So we did unload everything, run all of it through inspection, and then load it all back up. We were able to share Jesus with the soldier on duty. He seemed like he was carrying a lot of hurt and hatred; pray for him, that God would be doing His marvelous work in his life.<br /><br />The last 6 hours did go smoothly. We left Luz in Nogales with her sister and were on to the border. We prayed for no problems at the border and God answered our prayer by giving us a really nice lady to do the inspection. We didn't have to wait at the border more than an hour. As I mentioned at the beginning of my post, we arrived in Tucson at 9pm. We were tired, sore and extremely thankful for God's faithfulness throughout our trip. Often we can't see God's plans at the time, but it is enough to know that He's there and that nothing happens in vain. It was a long trip, yes, but all in all I feel blessed, and I regret nothing that happened. God is good, all the time! And His grace is sufficient!<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Romans 5:1-5</span><br />Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. </blockquote> <br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-66620785686716441812010-08-22T13:51:00.000-07:002010-08-22T15:07:03.801-07:00The normality of abnormalityHello! Glad to see that you took a moment to stop by and read my blog! This past week has been moderately normal. Preparations continue for our upcoming trip to the US and, as always, life moves on!<br /><br />Lack of water is something that we have been struggling with during the past month or so. I mean, we never have water in excess, but these past weeks have been, as we would say, "exagerada" in the lack thereof. Even the local "planta" where we buy our drinking water has often been without any water and we have had to drive much father than normal even for that basic necessity. The real difficulty, however, has been how to wash our laundry. I am not sure if you come from a big family, or if you have brothers, but if you do you can probably relate when I say that we dirty a lot of laundry... a LOT of laundry. I don't know when my brothers had the time to wear as much clothing as ends up in the dirty clothes hamper and I especially don't know how they are able to get so much mud on their clothing... it would be quite impressive if we didn't have to wash it!<br />Anyway, this battle against the forces of dirt has been a little interesting. Laundry is like any other housework; you do it once and the next day you have to do it all over again. My mom became my hero -- well, actually she already was my hero -- as I watched her outside washing all of the clothing by hand... I help a little bit, but she's like a hand-washing maniac! Go Mom!<br /><br />As of July we entered into the official rain season. Compared to other years we have received relatively little rain (hence the lack of water), but we have gotten some seriously awesome thunder and rainstorms. Just a few days ago, we were hit by a huge storm; thunder, lightning, rain, wind, dark menacing clouds, the whole shebang. The wind woke everyone up early. It was blowing so hard that palm leaves were flying off our awning. The shade over our pool had to be taken down too... that was rather fun, especially in the rain. We all got totally soaked in a matter of minutes and getting the tarp under control in the wind was hard, but we did get it done.<br />An exceptionally positive note: our roof didn't leak! Not even one drop. We were all so thankful. It was nice to be able to just sit back and watch the rain fall without having to run around with buckets. Not to mention the fact that this trip to the States we can leave our house unattended without worrying about it. God is good!<br />The picture below is of our family going out for a bike ride shortly after a heavy rain. My mom went too, but she has this habit of always being behind the camera!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/August%202010/17August2010Minolta001.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><br />Yesterday was the last Saturday for my mom and I teaching in the kids' class at the church in Boca del Rio. We had a great time during the months that we were able teach the kids and I know that I'll miss them. Since it was the last lesson in the curriculum we also had a small graduation for the kids who had attended the class. We took pictures of each child with his/her certificate (the plan is the print them out and give them to the children the week after next) and then afterward we served cake, cookies and cool-aid. All in all, I think that the day was a success.<br /><br />Well, to end on the most important thing of all, our family has been studying recently in the book of Hebrews (just to let you know, if you haven't read through Hebrews, you should. It's an amazing book!). Last week we were reading through chapter 4 and this passage really struck me. It's such a wonderful assurance to know that God knows just what I am going through and I can come before Him with a confidence, knowing that He understands. What an amazing God we serve! How can we keep from singing His praise?!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hebrews 4:14-16</span><br />Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.<br />For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.<br />Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. <br /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-80249493749002478802010-08-17T12:25:00.000-07:002010-08-17T14:46:17.185-07:00Once Upon a Time in a Land far far away...... there was a missionary family who had a daughter who was very good at keeping her blog updated. But, as in all fairy tales, the truth has to come out sometime!<br />Well, after a much longer than expected leave of absence I think that I am finally back. I really wish that I hadn't fallen so far behind in my updates, but I suppose that sometimes things just get pushed to the back of my mind and then forgotten. Not that I actually forgot about my blog, but I sure did let it slip to the bottom of the priority list, and I that should not have been the case. After all, I really do want all of you, faithful readers, to have some sort of an idea of what I am doing in the far-off land of Mexico! My deepest apologies and sincerest wishes that it doesn't happen again.<br /><br />So, what have I been up to? Such a question! If I remember correctly that last time I wrote I had just gotten back from Los Mochis where I had spent a week working at the deaf school... let's think. Since then two of the little boys from my class, Juanito and Andrés, have come to stay with us for the summer. It's been a blessing to have them with us. We haven't had "little kids" in our family for years! I love their spontaneity (you know, the hugs out of nowhere, the jumping up and down with excitement over the rabbit that ran across the yard, their fascination with killing flies with their rubber-band guns) and I know that Andrew and Evie are loving having kids younger than them to hang out with. I don't know what we are going to do when they go back to Los Mochis in two weeks!<br /><br />The heat has been rather trying. I would say that it is unbearable, but that wouldn't necessarily be the truth. Though the heat is tough, it doesn't last forever and God is faithful to give us the strength the push through. I must take this chance to note that this year has been much nicer since we are living upstairs. Thanks again to everyone who made that possible! Praise God!<br /><br />As far as my French class goes, I just got out on vacation the week before last. I have learned so much in the short amount of time that I have been with Miss Rodriguez taking private lessons and I am excited to be continuing come October. Until then, come rain, come shine, come snow, come dead of night the studying must go on ;D!<br /><br />Also since I last wrote, my parents have started a parenting class in a nearby town. They have 20 people in the study and it's going strong. I have been put in charge of the kids during these classes and I have been embracing the challenge wholeheartedly. Some of the kids are what you would call rambunctious, but with the help of my darling siblings *winks* and plenty of prayer I have been able to bring about some semblance of order. For me the class is extra special because the kids are almost like blank pages. They know so little about the life of Jesus or about any of the other famous Bible characters. Last week I took so much pleasure in watching their faces light up as I told the story of the Good Samaritan. I love it! And of course, no class is complete without play-dough!<br /><br />Along the same line, my mom and I are nearing the end of the kids' program that we started 3 months ago at the church in Boca del Rio. This coming week is to be our last as teachers and then we will both be stepping down. It's been a great time of learning and I will miss my class (I was teaching three to six year-olds) but I am confident that I am leaving it in capable hands. As His Word says, "to everything there is a season"(Ecclesiastes 3), and even if parting is rather bittersweet, I know that God has a purpose. <br /><br />Oh yes, and I most definitely could not leave without at least mentioning the fact that not only did the motor on our van blow, but we were able to fix it in less than a week for a ridiculously low sum! I know, I know, that's quite a bit of information to put in one sentence, but it is short, sweet and to the point! The way that everything worked out was totally and absolutely God. Hard things and difficult circumstances that we go through are such a blessing. I have learned so much from everything that has happened over the years and I wouldn't trade a moment of it! You can go to our family blog to read a little bit more about <a href="http://thecoultfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-good-sound.html">the night my parents broke down</a>. <br /><br />My parents and I have still been praying about what I am going to be doing this next year. I am still very interested in the TOEFL Certification, but further investigation has brought to my attention that I will need to get some sort of college degree should I desire to pursue teaching English. That much being said, I have taken steps toward enrolling in <a href="http://collegeplus.org/">College Plus!</a>. Today I received a call back from them and I was able to get a more informed view on the program. As of yet I have made no final decision, but I am praying and my parents both see the program as a good opportunity. Of course, leaving my family would be more than a little difficult... just one step at a time, eh?! <br /><br />As some of you might know, our biannual trip to the US is coming up. It's going to be a quick trip this time and, though we are going to be traveling as far up as Sacramento, we won't be staying more than a day or two at each stop. Still, if you want to meet up with us just send me a note and I'll see what I can do. I always love being able to see people so don't feel like it'd be an imposition to ask!<br /><br />Well, I do hope that you find a chance to swing by again soon! Lord willing, I will have posted something new by then!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ephesians 3:20-21</span><br />"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.</blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-5086868550335350172010-06-11T13:16:00.000-07:002010-06-12T08:49:44.359-07:00A prayer requestHello everyone!<br />God is good, all the time and I am so blessed to be His child! Right now I am at home once again and enjoying my family. I really do appreciate them, and I think that when I leave for a time it makes me realize it even more!<br />My week at the school was really great. I was so blessed to be able to spend time with my students again and to see the progress that they have made. It is so amazing to see how much they have advanced! Praise God!<br />I did have a something that I wanted to ask all of your prayers for. This past year has been full of many opportunities and decisions to be made. As yet, I have not confirmed what I will be doing during the coming year, but I know that the time for deciding is drawing near and I am praying toward making a real "plan" (that's to say as firm a plan as I can make while still being open to anything else God might show me). My inclination is toward getting some kind of degree that will enable me to travel into foreign countries with more liberty than I might otherwise be able. That in mind, I am seriously considering taking the <a href="http://www.oxfordseminars.com/tesol-tesl-tefl-course/course-outline.php">TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification Course</a>. Nothing is certain as of yet, but I ask that if you have a chance you pray that God would give wisdom both to me and to my parents in this. I trust that in Him everything will work out as it should.<br /><br />Blessings to you all! Next time I get on I will post some pictures from my time in Los Mochis, but for now I should go help my mother with lunch. May the Lord guide you and shine His glory upon you that you may shine it on others!<br /><blockquote>Romans 5:1-2<br />"Therefore having been justified by grace we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we have obtained our introduction into this grace in which we stand and we exult in hope of the glory of God. " </blockquote><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-21833420658636962852010-06-04T17:03:00.000-07:002010-06-11T13:48:38.446-07:00A post about life in general<div>Good evening one and all! I have almost come to the end of a pleasantly eventful day and I praise God for it! I am presently at the deaf school in Mochis again. This visit is only for a week and a half because of various other commitments I have to fulfill at home. I came with my family yesterday and we spent the day with some friends of ours here in Los Mochis before they dropped me off at the school. </div><div>Things are a little bit different this time than they were last. One major change is that we are now at the new location. After almost a year of working and praying, the entire school, house and family has moved and is moving forward quite wonderfully. Granted, there are more than a few unpacked boxes stuffed in various corners, but that's nothing that time won't cure!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have started French lessons again. I enjoy it even more this time than I did last time. This time I am taking private lessons instead of a class in a group. It works much better for me since it allows me to move at my own pace. I think that the one thing I do miss, however, are my classmates. We had a lot of funning learning, practicing, and making mistakes together. I know that I got over a lot of my shyness by being forced to talk in front of a group. But as I said, this time it's just me and I am thankful that God has allowed me to return to something I like so much!</div><div><br /></div><div>As far as me, myself and I, we are doing very well ;) ! I am amazed daily by my God and by His Word which always seems to be showing me something new. Reading in Psalm 27 it comforts and encourages me to know that God is always with me and that I can find complete joy and peace in him! </div><div>Alright, I must fly! Let me just end this with the passage of scripture that was so precious to me this week...</div><div><b></b></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Psalm 27:1-6</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. </span></span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-32139280589330077912010-06-01T07:08:00.000-07:002010-06-01T08:05:11.989-07:00Our New House!!Welcome to our house!! Here is the "official" tour ;) !!<br /><br />If you take a step through the front door, this is the first thing that you see. Welcome to my dad's shop! He is loving having all this new space and has already put it to good use!<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx31-gKXnQw2zD44j5FYX2YVjDSYqm-MBUtS3TtIBf3cePi1aMONZ-cc5T387kve2NtRvVrpzD4492E-BV3ThXc7bycSswl8_fUOTlL8nEraxyopYgjBd3RR7DDVKbnvKMByUJe9wunbxe/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+251.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477807449254169026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx31-gKXnQw2zD44j5FYX2YVjDSYqm-MBUtS3TtIBf3cePi1aMONZ-cc5T387kve2NtRvVrpzD4492E-BV3ThXc7bycSswl8_fUOTlL8nEraxyopYgjBd3RR7DDVKbnvKMByUJe9wunbxe/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+251.JPG" /></a> This is where most of the men of the village spend their lunch hour now!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9CaEv2Yp98bnUdRnhR8PKSPPefaJUhKOLRekLevsS3IBHy8r1iQUpLMuKrHLopI1s-fFQgIj92vRwr8H7JcN0HDh1cp5_VihDGw9WWoR8d0UQ4-IofgAP_QIFMdUnGKSk-rOIiump13u/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+252.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477807457074672914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9CaEv2Yp98bnUdRnhR8PKSPPefaJUhKOLRekLevsS3IBHy8r1iQUpLMuKrHLopI1s-fFQgIj92vRwr8H7JcN0HDh1cp5_VihDGw9WWoR8d0UQ4-IofgAP_QIFMdUnGKSk-rOIiump13u/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+252.JPG" /></a>Standing in the doorway -- at the left side of the above picture -- you can see our table, part of the kitchen and just past the reach of the photo, beside the fridge, is located the door to our bathroom.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee3mrl7skN4ltfz3obg8ZzxEzVlMYQje7D-pP7L_W7ZA9jnSM9ECnGH_kJz_CZ1EJxtd0duvRAIcBDJyD7LJowYEOmzcOPL9ciyZ6NAN-EBXO62IjEhzWuebl0RKiZimVczZjiWEmv7K9/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+253.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477807464976741426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee3mrl7skN4ltfz3obg8ZzxEzVlMYQje7D-pP7L_W7ZA9jnSM9ECnGH_kJz_CZ1EJxtd0duvRAIcBDJyD7LJowYEOmzcOPL9ciyZ6NAN-EBXO62IjEhzWuebl0RKiZimVczZjiWEmv7K9/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+253.JPG" /></a>This is our new kitchen. I absolutely love the new setup and I actually enjoy cleaning the kitchen now that there are places for everything!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV__zri5ntWOknJ-O29_YuyEJ1_1jF3Pf0X3DD5ygSOM_QDVqWdeRCC03tzi1JJpZNOE1CLJn_obE30Pc5L7eneZfDZkRILVVjFdBlSTFrsdIA76FSF0DW8yRyDBrsEA4VjGv2DWrejZvj/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+255.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477807470478308530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV__zri5ntWOknJ-O29_YuyEJ1_1jF3Pf0X3DD5ygSOM_QDVqWdeRCC03tzi1JJpZNOE1CLJn_obE30Pc5L7eneZfDZkRILVVjFdBlSTFrsdIA76FSF0DW8yRyDBrsEA4VjGv2DWrejZvj/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+255.JPG" /></a> If you turned around and looked behind where I was standing when I took the picture of the kitchen, this is what you would see. Hi, Dad!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcbuvGt7YsElELqvKpQ6ghhlYBsbtNGkxlnPjkLv1v3e0DAPiDfARF8RX9bHbPGOsaaJ9ufhLW28OiL7pO_tCFMcPjVxI8Vt29WD3vWrAfxh91wr5ZWsxLL84qvyCE4cXnI41LNy_Hohw/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+256.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808430792127650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcbuvGt7YsElELqvKpQ6ghhlYBsbtNGkxlnPjkLv1v3e0DAPiDfARF8RX9bHbPGOsaaJ9ufhLW28OiL7pO_tCFMcPjVxI8Vt29WD3vWrAfxh91wr5ZWsxLL84qvyCE4cXnI41LNy_Hohw/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+256.JPG" /></a>Here is the completed stair, though it is still missing part of the railing. My dad is working on that and it should be finished by the end of this week... or perhaps next :D !<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72KsWSe_rzYhrpJ6tQu1MQm1hDRoysxY2iAtmPdaRmA9gFXPaD3t0kg-w1yDcPOza7zXn0talXd6EjNWoL94uMv1sI5RLQgB6sB5I2i8kuVK7DkmmJmQxp2GYJfd5-k-wljq2wc5XSEnZ/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+257.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808433009127490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72KsWSe_rzYhrpJ6tQu1MQm1hDRoysxY2iAtmPdaRmA9gFXPaD3t0kg-w1yDcPOza7zXn0talXd6EjNWoL94uMv1sI5RLQgB6sB5I2i8kuVK7DkmmJmQxp2GYJfd5-k-wljq2wc5XSEnZ/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+257.JPG" /></a>Through the railing at the top of the stairs and looking into our living room...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx-P7GHNkyXmd5rAZ8c06FelIU1fvajf5m243WL54DhArtKJEWYICn_X1LC8zNpQCDqulV7HUczSLb1aNM9QeWKtavNaCRZFdu7kLRbIvlaIUZRvSWDbWD_WIRPg29qwCLQEKJLHS7aAQ/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808436932923250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx-P7GHNkyXmd5rAZ8c06FelIU1fvajf5m243WL54DhArtKJEWYICn_X1LC8zNpQCDqulV7HUczSLb1aNM9QeWKtavNaCRZFdu7kLRbIvlaIUZRvSWDbWD_WIRPg29qwCLQEKJLHS7aAQ/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+258.JPG" /></a>The door pictured here is located directly to the right from the picture above. It leads to the upstairs balcony. This is our new "music corner" (the piano is under the black dust cover). It's much less dusty than where it was located before, for which I am heartily thankful!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOI_78J5-UxqO-Q3piJW_e4N7rNDR6s93HPAzTWhFEzq7vGGPmhyeum8jvyHYiGHKFUkJkeGrpyjObKHHbDY3U3kvDV1Fcu33P5KTsEeLboNrqEpY5DxfZd_fwFD_aIKEeSoX4TOoAuac/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808444731359666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOI_78J5-UxqO-Q3piJW_e4N7rNDR6s93HPAzTWhFEzq7vGGPmhyeum8jvyHYiGHKFUkJkeGrpyjObKHHbDY3U3kvDV1Fcu33P5KTsEeLboNrqEpY5DxfZd_fwFD_aIKEeSoX4TOoAuac/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+260.JPG" /></a> Here's the back door. As of right now, it doesn't lead anywhere, although the brothers like to jump out as a short-cut to the pool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHMCildlExKwTGJXMEsZDypgTI7BE562eFxtElFlfGXW7BQGmzhpsHEQC0ReZ8fdAzT4sQ50oLIy0Lh8EKO6QxWZoljqabihE8MKBDQkTQy5nJDrcMzpCs8VbCKUwYdC1_evVyrignl0M/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+264.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809050503093010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHMCildlExKwTGJXMEsZDypgTI7BE562eFxtElFlfGXW7BQGmzhpsHEQC0ReZ8fdAzT4sQ50oLIy0Lh8EKO6QxWZoljqabihE8MKBDQkTQy5nJDrcMzpCs8VbCKUwYdC1_evVyrignl0M/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+264.JPG" /></a>This is my room... or couldn't you tell?! ;)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqteSPfnzoLigKHOMrRm-i_T-cHnleNf6kkMMApRQqLPKTl281vGu8MF3V5p0BLuhnTaTqa34N8OljHV4z1vd6IlWzRRZ3p_1JJ3Qo-k8_eSnxIztZjucvGqnLwCNmH1Sej0adVNkOm1gm/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809701499897954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqteSPfnzoLigKHOMrRm-i_T-cHnleNf6kkMMApRQqLPKTl281vGu8MF3V5p0BLuhnTaTqa34N8OljHV4z1vd6IlWzRRZ3p_1JJ3Qo-k8_eSnxIztZjucvGqnLwCNmH1Sej0adVNkOm1gm/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+271.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKa1bYcnFyAZYZhLTnmd3WnRMCD931-E8EkNIVu2PQr549xqArtAsGTQvtdWuZjyUx2U_o-M4QADXD2vUO91jSI9rUedP7oV1pCn7238HJCK5ayGvuMecuvruNGZZO2sqs775zlqE8abv/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+267.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809698406291346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKa1bYcnFyAZYZhLTnmd3WnRMCD931-E8EkNIVu2PQr549xqArtAsGTQvtdWuZjyUx2U_o-M4QADXD2vUO91jSI9rUedP7oV1pCn7238HJCK5ayGvuMecuvruNGZZO2sqs775zlqE8abv/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+267.JPG" /></a>This picture was taken standing in the doorway of Seth and Jessee's room. The bed you see is Jessee's...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-wlJfW2wbjNzvV78heSxGY4RMYdo_Yt8_kkLjb2W67Q46WGWnEkolvnYTfhgwV3IMLKFph0MT5h2VXyIPGM8YlBzHsiYPILEW2sHS3l4zLsUQWaN0wNswZ2X68eYNlPnZeJFOZhBj7IP/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809049003079842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-wlJfW2wbjNzvV78heSxGY4RMYdo_Yt8_kkLjb2W67Q46WGWnEkolvnYTfhgwV3IMLKFph0MT5h2VXyIPGM8YlBzHsiYPILEW2sHS3l4zLsUQWaN0wNswZ2X68eYNlPnZeJFOZhBj7IP/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+262.JPG" /></a> ...and this one belongs to Seth. The cloth below is covering his iguana's cage (yes, he does have another iguana and a good sized one at that!). It was early in morning when I took the picture and Seth hadn't "awakened the iguana" yet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcVf9jQ0ufEy7kfzdrjwNhyGMHrPemebbBpfGKZV_AF9pXXR_02toPdZ2ZSxmuUp8exEP9Nr9g8i4DdmR7d1cO2-eMFQwrxAV5UYsukaDBWWJgDbomRuwXeAkt8GsJ3CbyM-cM9Lj5gsR/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+263.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809046634384114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcVf9jQ0ufEy7kfzdrjwNhyGMHrPemebbBpfGKZV_AF9pXXR_02toPdZ2ZSxmuUp8exEP9Nr9g8i4DdmR7d1cO2-eMFQwrxAV5UYsukaDBWWJgDbomRuwXeAkt8GsJ3CbyM-cM9Lj5gsR/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+263.JPG" /></a>If you could see all of the camoflauge decor that these boys have in their room you wouldn't believe it. Andrew and Caleb's room might not be the neatest all the time, but they do definitely have the most consistant theme! Caleb's bed is located above where I am taking the picture. The red bars are the bottom of the frame.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOqnnT-R4jN-h8yeQ5LKanpuLyPy4HTFC8js_igGz2ZFVfY-xdP0qef6pT5RL1gNs2Q6gKj3oGdpaTukiPf0dLkDo2VZMBQWvsYVmKjTgL6SEEDwNfVqhYABHqIL1Jd46b7tpp2YXS7b9/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808446351071682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOqnnT-R4jN-h8yeQ5LKanpuLyPy4HTFC8js_igGz2ZFVfY-xdP0qef6pT5RL1gNs2Q6gKj3oGdpaTukiPf0dLkDo2VZMBQWvsYVmKjTgL6SEEDwNfVqhYABHqIL1Jd46b7tpp2YXS7b9/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+261.JPG" /></a> This is a picture of our yard off of the upstairs balcony. We are finally starting to get some green in the yard, thanks to Mom's hard work and dilligence! It's so nice to look and the flowers and stand in the shade of our "trees" that used to be 2 foot tall sticks! Awesome!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6UXN2rcsQzqRfCp_-J0yGo2KKqFgNdIhpnF7f0qccIRcJKgnoRNIj-p7rYdPv8KATu8JQnppgBBRHAeTW7niu_v6QCqe3sFP9TRar61UEq6IolAQNQyJYpXwA2EoRb0X38rC5v084uFg/s1600/31+May+2010+minolta+265.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477809055291651426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6UXN2rcsQzqRfCp_-J0yGo2KKqFgNdIhpnF7f0qccIRcJKgnoRNIj-p7rYdPv8KATu8JQnppgBBRHAeTW7niu_v6QCqe3sFP9TRar61UEq6IolAQNQyJYpXwA2EoRb0X38rC5v084uFg/s400/31+May+2010+minolta+265.JPG" /></a>And there you have it! I hope that this post might give all of you a better idea of what our house looks like at present. Blessings! I hope to see you all around again soon!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a></p>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-58324049099552935772010-05-27T08:34:00.000-07:002010-05-27T10:31:05.302-07:00A few odds jobs around the houseAnd now for the update that I had hoped to post about a month ago.... I promise that I really had every intention of doing it, but what with internet issues at our house and the impossibility of uploading pictures on our slow connection it just got put off. So, let's see what I can get you all caught up on!<br /><br />In the middle of March of this year when we arrived home from our furlough our house was not in the most beautiful shape it has ever been! We took the first three of four days to get settled in and then it was time to get to work. The first order of business after moving all of the stuff upstairs (sorry, all of us were so involved in moving stuff that we didn't get any pictures. Just try to imagine taking the fullest shelf in your house and dumping it's contents on the floor. That's pretty much what our house looked like) was the construct our new stairs. It was tricky business getting the design all set, but once my mom and dad had figured that part out it was "full steam ahead" for my dad. I think that all of us (the kids) were involved in some way in the process of making the stairs. I had the "opportunity" ;) to paint the stairs --both wood and metal -- and to help my dad install the steps. Needless to say, I now have a much better understanding of how to build a stairway!<br /><br />This is the stair we had before building the permanent one. I grew to despise that stair after having gone up it more times that than I could count and tripping down it more than twice (that was definitely no fun). I was heartily glad to see it go!<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/April%202010/UnloadedJanuary19049.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/April%202010/13April2010Canon351.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/April%202010/13April2010Canon348.jpg" width="350" /></div><br />Installing the stair!<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/April%202010/13April2010Canon426.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/April%202010/13April2010Canon468.jpg" width="350" /></div><br />I was a little bit overwhelmed at first and thought that we would never be able to get everything we needed to do done. That's one of my faults, I suppose. I have a hard time looking at a huge project at the start and not getting frustrated. Once I am into the work I don't notice... it's just the getting started that gets me! That's probably why I make a good team with my dad; he doesn't even seem to notice the present state of things, just the goal in mind!<br /><br />Another large project that has been on hold for about a year is my mom's outdoor kitchen. Both my mother and I have been wanting to have a kitchen outside since the very first Summer we spent here. It just gets so hot here during the summertime that the last thing you want to do is heat up the house by cooking. The first step we took in that direction was to build our outdoor oven and now, a year later, my dad was finally able to add the counter, barbecue grill and "hornillo" (pronounced "orniyo" and meaning literally "little oven". Here we use it to cook things like Tamales or large pots of stew that wouldn't fit on the stove-top)!<br />Already we have used the kitchen to fry hotdogs, cook clams and oysters, make granola and bread and tomorrow we have planned to barbecue some meat we have in the freezer! God is so good in blessing us even in these small things!<br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Canon276.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Canon278.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Canon286.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Canon290.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Canon300.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/May%202010/15May2010Minolta004.jpg" width="350" /></div><br /><br />Alright, next post I will post a bunch of pictures of our house in it's present state and then I am going to call myself "caught-up" and we are going to forget all the stuff I missed!<br />Blessings to you, friends! I hope that you are blessed this day to overflowing! Here's something that I have found to be challenging in my life recently. I suppose that I struggle quite often with worrying in different ways. Maybe I'm not worried about what I am going to eat, but perhaps I am worried or frustrated by all the things I have to do. Whatever it is, this verse covers it all...<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 6:31-34</span><br />"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. <span style="font-style: italic;">But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. </span>So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." </blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719249198174895239.post-87805283674635243802010-04-08T14:10:00.000-07:002010-04-13T17:50:21.687-07:00The Ultimate Catch-You-Up Post<div>Hello! I hope that this posts finds all of you readers well and blessed. I think that I am going to abandon this whole episode by episode idea and just catch you all up to the present with this post. I want to be able to write about the interesting -- or maybe not so interesting -- things that happen around here... as it is I feel like every time I sit down to write I am only able to make a tiny dent in the ever-growing stack of things I want to tell you all about.</div><div>So, my plan is to tell it all to you in the "nutshell version"... you'll probably like it better that way anyhow ;) !<br /><br />The last post I wrote told you all about the mission team that came down to build our house. Pretty much directly after that team left we ourselves left on our biannual furlough to the States. SURPRISE! I am sure that most of you knew this either from the letter I sent out or facebook or perhaps seeing us while we were there. For those of you who totally missed this event... I am deeply sorry! I will do a better job of announcing it next time!<br />The trip went awesome. God did some amazing and "ground shaking" -- at least for me -- things while we were there. I met some awesome people and got to hang out with awesome people I already knew. God was just all around good to me the whole time! I don't even know where to start sharing... I suppose I will try to hit some highlights.<br /><br />This trip we were able to make it all the way up to Oregon. I nearly froze to death, I'll tell ya, but I had a nice visit and from talking to a friend there who grew up in Mongolia, I just don't think I have much to complain about!<br /><br />In California we stayed for two weeks with my Dad's parents. They have a huge park right next to their house and we (the kids) had a great time riding around the trails on our new bikes. Oh yeah, forgot to mention that; God provided bikes for all of us. They aren't new, but they are really nice quality and in good shape. We got the added blessing of each of us being able to pick out our own bikes so we all got the exact one we wanted... God is so awesome! They really are such a ministry asset in that we can use them to go back and forth to the church without using the van. I am so excited!<br />Anyway, we also got to enjoy the library a few blocks down from my grandparents house. As seldom as we have the chance to visit libraries now it was a real treat. I probably read a lot more those two weeks than the whole year before!<br /><br />Another cool States-side experience was driving on a four-lane divided highway in traffic with a full trailer in tow. It was actually a lot of fun... but a little tiny bit nerve-racking at times! I didn't do anything that was that illegal... other than going through a rather yellow light (though I still argue that it was green) and pulling what my Mom called a "California stop" and then once accidentally passing on the right... got a bit of a lecture for that one. We live and we learn, right? ;)<br /><br />In Tucson we were in for yet another proof of the greatness of the God we serve. Sometime earlier on our trip I had been strongly convinced that God was going to be providing a new van for us before we left the States (ours was about on its last leg). Still, the whole trip sped by and before we knew it we were a week and a half from leaving and still no van in sight. God, however, had everything in His hands and through various circumstances, which I won't go into for the sake of time, He put it on the heart of the pastor of our supporting church in Tucson to buy us a new vehicle. Wow! After that everything fell into place, from finding the right vehicle to getting it shipshape and ready for travel. I know that this is something so small among the things God can do... but it just serves to me as another reminder of how amazing is my Lord! Praise His name!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/allcreationsings/February%202010/20March2010Minolta122.jpg" alt="Us and the new van" width="400" /></div><br />Another highlight in Tucson was that my Mom's parents came out from Kansas so we got to visit with them for a week. I don't know when the last time was that we had the opportunity to see both of my grandparents in one trip! The twins turned 14 while we were with them so they got the royal treatment for the day and we (well, I mean my grandparents ;) ) took them out bowling and then to the restaurant of their choice -- which ended up being an all-you-can-eat buffet. I'd say that for them, though, the highlight of the day was the new Bibles they were given. It extra cool in that they weren't just given Bibles but rather we taken to the bookstore and allowed to pick out the Bible they each wanted. I was really blessed to see the look on their faces when they brought the Bibles home... So awesome!<br /><br />The trip home was long and long and, well, long. We got out of Tucson a lot later than we had planned and even though the border crossing went smoothly we were still about 5 hours later than we had hoped. What with stopping periodically to water down the tires on the trailer and to clean up nail polish off the back seat -- that was Andrew and Evie, though quite accidental -- and to stretch our legs daylight flew by and, before we knew it, the sun was gone. After discussing it a bit my parents decided that it would be best to spend the night at a hotel in Obregon (about six hours North of where we live) since they were really tired and it was pretty late.<br />So, we did. The next morning we were off and homeward bound! We pulled in at our house around 4 o'clock p.m. I was so excited to be home! Albeit that the house was in disarray because of the construction and we had a million and a half things to do before Semana Santa (Easter week) and the arrival of a team of Americans from CA.<br /><br />Alright, I feel a little less overwhelmed now! I will be back soon to get myself the rest of the way caught up!<br />Blessings to you all! Here's my verse for the week!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 Timothy 1:12</span><br />For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. </blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: medium none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/321/1EABC7CA20B061C5A5E19699DE0F6382.png" /></a></div>Miss Sarah Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657575302392250295noreply@blogger.com4