I have been blessed with the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica this July with an organization called Pure Joy International. This trip's focus isn't the normal focus of mission trips that you think of -- and I'm SO excited about it's focus. It isn't construction or VBS or medical or even evangelism as we think of it...even though all those wonderful things...but it's strictly on lifting up our missionary women. Pure Joy International (purejoyinternational.com -- take a look if interested in learning more!) has one and only one focus -- reaching out to women that have left their home country and are serving Christ around the world. We, a team of twelve from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Arizona, will be setting up a retreat for fifty missionary women who reside in different parts of Costa Rica. We will have praise and worship, speaking, craft time, exercise time (zumba!), and, most important, one-on-one counseling with two licensed counselors. Being a former missionary woman, I know how important it is to receive counseling. It is so nice just to talk with someone regarding the struggles of language learning, culture barriers, home sickness, marital problems, etc... Each team member has a specific job -- one doing craft and zumba, two being speakers, one media person, two counselors, etc. I have been chosen to be the team devotional leader -- giving devos to the team every day. Scary! I'm not a speaker, but hopefully God has a reason for choosing me to do this!
As with any mission trip, I've had to raise my own money to go, which although I'm not fully funded yet, I'm sure the rest of my funds will come in, which has been a great blessing so far! It is intentional also for the fifty missionary women that have been invited to this retreat would also be funded by various donations of people wanting to help and support. The retreat starts July 12 and so far, only half of the missionary women have been fully funded. I know that God will fully provide -- because that is just the way He works! If anyone would be willing to donate some money towards some of these missionary women, it would truly be a generous and wonderful gift. Just go to the website and you will find all the information there!
I'm excited to be able to go and minister to women that are serving us overseas by sharing God's love in various ways. I'll be leaving my baby boy for 10 days, but I know he'll be having tons of fun with grandparents! Be sure to look up the website! www.purejoyinternational.com
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter! I had looked around to find an Easter egg hunt for Tristan. He had one at Mother's Day Out last week and did pretty well if someone was helping him. So, I was excited about giving him another chance to show off his egg hunting skills. We went to a recreation center down the road and noticed TONS of people there. They had roped off a huge section for the older kids and a smaller section for the younger kids. However, there were so many kids there and just not that many eggs! Also, the parents were NOT allowed in the egg section, so the kids were all on their own. I then gave up my dreams of having Easter candy later. The pictures below will explain some of our adventure...that lasted a whole 30 seconds...
Nathan and Tristan waiting for the hunt to start!
Not sure what he was looking and smiling at...he didn't fully understand the reason he was there...
There were some mothers yelling at their kids to get more eggs...and the whole 30 seconds that the egg hunt went on, Tristan stared at them the WHOLE TIME :)
Again...more staring. One of the mothers then ran under, grabbed an egg, and gave it to Tristan, who didn't even say thank you but just continued staring.
Mom and son celebrating the one egg (and one piece of chocolate) they got during their adventure!
Maybe next year will be better...
Nathan and Tristan waiting for the hunt to start!
Not sure what he was looking and smiling at...he didn't fully understand the reason he was there...
There were some mothers yelling at their kids to get more eggs...and the whole 30 seconds that the egg hunt went on, Tristan stared at them the WHOLE TIME :)
Again...more staring. One of the mothers then ran under, grabbed an egg, and gave it to Tristan, who didn't even say thank you but just continued staring.
Mom and son celebrating the one egg (and one piece of chocolate) they got during their adventure!
Maybe next year will be better...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
My A-Z
I stole this from a friend -- Carman, hope you don't mind :)
My Random A-Z
A. Age: 28
B. Bed size: king, which was a hand-me-down from a friend when we got married, and I'm SO spoiled by it now!
C. Chore you dislike: making the bed -- our king-sized bed! Then, cleaning the shower (I think it is from cleaning all the showers out at camp -- yuck!!!)
D. Dogs: None, although I've promised Nate that when we get our house out in the country, we'll get a dog :)
E. Essential start to your day: Breakfast (oatmeal) -- the little one is usually up about the same time as me, so we usually have breakfast together, although lately, Nate has been really good about letting me sleep in a few extra minutes before he goes to work and feeds Tristan for me -- what a great husband!
F. Favorite food (I changed it from color because I don't have one): hamburgers, fajitas, and Asian food (right now, Vietnamese!)
G. Gold or silver: I'm a silver girl
H. Height: 5'9
I. Instruments you play(ed): Piano for 20+ years, violin in 6th grade, flute from 7th-12th, and piccolo for two years
J. Job title: Full-time stay-at-home mom and part-time (10 hours/week) teacher of 1 year olds at a Mother's Day Out program
K. Kids: Tristan Ezra, 12 months old, my dear lovable, sweet, temperamental, active child
L. Live: Currently Austin, TX
M. Mom’s name: Beverly (aka Bev)
N. Nicknames: FeFe (only one person still calls me that :), Rudy (aka Rudaburg)
O. Overnight hospital stays: Age 20, had gallbladder out; at 27, had two nights at hospital after Tristan was born
P. Pet peeves: arrogance, noisy eaters, gum poppers, selfishness, unrespectful
Q. Quote from a movie: I'm horrible at quotes!
R. Righty or lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Shannan, my 32-year-old sis
T. Time you wake up: normally around 6:15-6:45
U. Underwear: none ya business ;)
V. Vegetables you don’t like: bitter melon/ku gua (had it in Asia -- yuck!!!)-- I like most other vegetables
W.What makes you run late: Usually when Trist and I are almost out the door, and I realize that he has a dirty diaper :(
X. X-rays you’ve had: on my foot for tendinitis, several on my back/ribs for pain
Y. Yummy food you make: Love to back! Muffins, cakes, pies...all those not-so-good for us things :)!
Z. Zoo animal favorites: I like the snow leopard -- so pretty! But I'm not a zoo person like my husband -- he loves the zoo! I'm hoping Tristan will too someday!
My Random A-Z
A. Age: 28
B. Bed size: king, which was a hand-me-down from a friend when we got married, and I'm SO spoiled by it now!
C. Chore you dislike: making the bed -- our king-sized bed! Then, cleaning the shower (I think it is from cleaning all the showers out at camp -- yuck!!!)
D. Dogs: None, although I've promised Nate that when we get our house out in the country, we'll get a dog :)
E. Essential start to your day: Breakfast (oatmeal) -- the little one is usually up about the same time as me, so we usually have breakfast together, although lately, Nate has been really good about letting me sleep in a few extra minutes before he goes to work and feeds Tristan for me -- what a great husband!
F. Favorite food (I changed it from color because I don't have one): hamburgers, fajitas, and Asian food (right now, Vietnamese!)
G. Gold or silver: I'm a silver girl
H. Height: 5'9
I. Instruments you play(ed): Piano for 20+ years, violin in 6th grade, flute from 7th-12th, and piccolo for two years
J. Job title: Full-time stay-at-home mom and part-time (10 hours/week) teacher of 1 year olds at a Mother's Day Out program
K. Kids: Tristan Ezra, 12 months old, my dear lovable, sweet, temperamental, active child
L. Live: Currently Austin, TX
M. Mom’s name: Beverly (aka Bev)
N. Nicknames: FeFe (only one person still calls me that :), Rudy (aka Rudaburg)
O. Overnight hospital stays: Age 20, had gallbladder out; at 27, had two nights at hospital after Tristan was born
P. Pet peeves: arrogance, noisy eaters, gum poppers, selfishness, unrespectful
Q. Quote from a movie: I'm horrible at quotes!
R. Righty or lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Shannan, my 32-year-old sis
T. Time you wake up: normally around 6:15-6:45
U. Underwear: none ya business ;)
V. Vegetables you don’t like: bitter melon/ku gua (had it in Asia -- yuck!!!)-- I like most other vegetables
W.What makes you run late: Usually when Trist and I are almost out the door, and I realize that he has a dirty diaper :(
X. X-rays you’ve had: on my foot for tendinitis, several on my back/ribs for pain
Y. Yummy food you make: Love to back! Muffins, cakes, pies...all those not-so-good for us things :)!
Z. Zoo animal favorites: I like the snow leopard -- so pretty! But I'm not a zoo person like my husband -- he loves the zoo! I'm hoping Tristan will too someday!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tristan is One!!
Can you believe it?! How did this past year fly by so fast?! How can I really have a one year old already?! It's been a fast, yet fun/crazy/tiring/exciting/stressful/wonderful year! I never knew the learning curve could be SO steep!
He went to his one-year appointment last week, and he is 30 1/2 inches long (75%) and 21 pounds (23%) -- as always, long and lean. Doctor says he looks healthy! He HATED laying still for the doctor and, of course, the shots, but he recovered quickly.
Tristan is walking (almost) like a pro now. He still falls a lot, especially when he is walking outside, but he is definitely a "walker" now. It's so funny how he'll walk around, waving his arms (like he's talking with his hands)and talking to himself.
He is starting to say a few words. Several things are "ba" -- bath, banana, ball. He still doesn't say mama and dada much unless he is in distress. But his receptive language is really improving. I told him tonight it was time for a bath, so he walked right to the bathroom (I was putting up his toys) and waited for me, standing right next to the tub. Cute, huh? He loves his baths.
Anyways, here are some pictures of his birthday:
12 month picture -- he didn't want to just sit there...surprise, surprise...
The rocking chair he got from his Mimi and Buddy -- he loved it!
Isn't he just cute sitting in his chair, reading his book?!
Nathan holding Tristan while everyone singing "Happy Birthday"
Tristan was really unsure about the cupcake -- he kept trying to feed it to Nathan!
Once he tried it though, he loved it!
A piano that his friend (and her mommy -- one of my best friends) gave him for his birthday. I'll find him sitting on his knees on the bench, hitting the keys -- he may be a pianist someday! (the white spots is just packaging from the box)
He also got lots of other things (I just don't have pictures of everything) -- he was only a LITTLE spoiled :) I think he had a great first birthday!
He went to his one-year appointment last week, and he is 30 1/2 inches long (75%) and 21 pounds (23%) -- as always, long and lean. Doctor says he looks healthy! He HATED laying still for the doctor and, of course, the shots, but he recovered quickly.
Tristan is walking (almost) like a pro now. He still falls a lot, especially when he is walking outside, but he is definitely a "walker" now. It's so funny how he'll walk around, waving his arms (like he's talking with his hands)and talking to himself.
He is starting to say a few words. Several things are "ba" -- bath, banana, ball. He still doesn't say mama and dada much unless he is in distress. But his receptive language is really improving. I told him tonight it was time for a bath, so he walked right to the bathroom (I was putting up his toys) and waited for me, standing right next to the tub. Cute, huh? He loves his baths.
Anyways, here are some pictures of his birthday:
12 month picture -- he didn't want to just sit there...surprise, surprise...
The rocking chair he got from his Mimi and Buddy -- he loved it!
Isn't he just cute sitting in his chair, reading his book?!
Nathan holding Tristan while everyone singing "Happy Birthday"
Tristan was really unsure about the cupcake -- he kept trying to feed it to Nathan!
Once he tried it though, he loved it!
A piano that his friend (and her mommy -- one of my best friends) gave him for his birthday. I'll find him sitting on his knees on the bench, hitting the keys -- he may be a pianist someday! (the white spots is just packaging from the box)
He also got lots of other things (I just don't have pictures of everything) -- he was only a LITTLE spoiled :) I think he had a great first birthday!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Eleven Months Old
My baby boy is now 11 months old! One more month and he'll be one!!! Can't believe that at all! How is he growing up so fast?! The picture isn't the best, but we were in a hurry, so this is what we got :)
Some new things about his this month:
He is playing more with his food than eating his food -- which he loves, but Mom doesn't!
He stopped nursing this month and is now on half formula and half whole milk.
He loves sweet peas, bananas, cottage cheese, sliced cheese, avacado, scrambled egg yolks. Our problem was protein, so we've started blending cottage cheese and tofu (which isn't bad at all, actually!) and he seems to really like that. Against grandparents' wishes, we still haven't given him any juice or sweets ;)
He isn't walking yet, also he cruises on furniture like a pro. He's even stood up by himself a few times, but gives up pretty quickly. He can even get off the bed and couch by himself!
He is still taking two naps a day, and Mom is hoping he'll continue that for quite a while! He also still goes to sleep at 6:30-7:00 and usually wakes up between 6:00-6:30.
He hates sitting still!!! Always on the go and definitely loves to play with people. However, I have caught him several times playing with books, which is wonderful to see :)
There is probably lots more I could put about him, but while he's sleeping, gotta get stuff done! He's my joy :)
Some new things about his this month:
He is playing more with his food than eating his food -- which he loves, but Mom doesn't!
He stopped nursing this month and is now on half formula and half whole milk.
He loves sweet peas, bananas, cottage cheese, sliced cheese, avacado, scrambled egg yolks. Our problem was protein, so we've started blending cottage cheese and tofu (which isn't bad at all, actually!) and he seems to really like that. Against grandparents' wishes, we still haven't given him any juice or sweets ;)
He isn't walking yet, also he cruises on furniture like a pro. He's even stood up by himself a few times, but gives up pretty quickly. He can even get off the bed and couch by himself!
He is still taking two naps a day, and Mom is hoping he'll continue that for quite a while! He also still goes to sleep at 6:30-7:00 and usually wakes up between 6:00-6:30.
He hates sitting still!!! Always on the go and definitely loves to play with people. However, I have caught him several times playing with books, which is wonderful to see :)
There is probably lots more I could put about him, but while he's sleeping, gotta get stuff done! He's my joy :)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Story to warm your heart
The other day, I was telling my mom this story of a couple we knew overseas and I realized that it was too good of a story to not tell others. It is an amazing example of God leading us and showing us His way for us. If the couple that this refers to reads this and my details are all wrong, forgive me! This is how I remember their story:
They are from Canada, so I'll just call them Mr. and Mrs. Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Canada are currently about my parents' age. They have 4 or 5 adult kids of their own and several grandchildren. They felt called to go overseas to China, but they didn't know where exactly they were supposed to go. One night, Mrs. Canada had a dream, and in her dream, she was being called to go and live in "K-town" (I'm probably overly protective of city names, but after living in China, you're antsy about everything like that), which they had never heard of before. The next day, they pull out a map and find this small city in the middle of China (where we met them). So, they went, feeling like God was calling them to go to this place, but having no idea why. Once they arrived, they wanted to go visit some orphanages, so they took a friend translator and went. While there, one of the woman hands them this baby -- very sick and frail -- and tells them to take this baby home and let her die peacefully. There was nothing the orphanage could do for her. This baby girl had a disease where her red blood cells broke down much faster than normal and without routine blood transfusions, she would die before the age of five, if not a lot quicker in her case. So, Mr. and Mrs. Canada took her home and decided to try taking her to the hospital in the capital (3 hours away) and do transfusions. Every few weeks, they had to travel to the capital, but slowly, the baby girl started developing strength and health. Before long, this couple felt that this is why they were called to go to K-town -- to save this child and take her home with them. After many many months (maybe up to 2 years), China finally gave them the go, and they were able to adopt this sweet girl and take her back to Canada with them. She is a beautiful girl, and I know that God has amazing plans for her and her beautiful and faithful parents.
God works in amazing ways, doesn't He?!
They are from Canada, so I'll just call them Mr. and Mrs. Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Canada are currently about my parents' age. They have 4 or 5 adult kids of their own and several grandchildren. They felt called to go overseas to China, but they didn't know where exactly they were supposed to go. One night, Mrs. Canada had a dream, and in her dream, she was being called to go and live in "K-town" (I'm probably overly protective of city names, but after living in China, you're antsy about everything like that), which they had never heard of before. The next day, they pull out a map and find this small city in the middle of China (where we met them). So, they went, feeling like God was calling them to go to this place, but having no idea why. Once they arrived, they wanted to go visit some orphanages, so they took a friend translator and went. While there, one of the woman hands them this baby -- very sick and frail -- and tells them to take this baby home and let her die peacefully. There was nothing the orphanage could do for her. This baby girl had a disease where her red blood cells broke down much faster than normal and without routine blood transfusions, she would die before the age of five, if not a lot quicker in her case. So, Mr. and Mrs. Canada took her home and decided to try taking her to the hospital in the capital (3 hours away) and do transfusions. Every few weeks, they had to travel to the capital, but slowly, the baby girl started developing strength and health. Before long, this couple felt that this is why they were called to go to K-town -- to save this child and take her home with them. After many many months (maybe up to 2 years), China finally gave them the go, and they were able to adopt this sweet girl and take her back to Canada with them. She is a beautiful girl, and I know that God has amazing plans for her and her beautiful and faithful parents.
God works in amazing ways, doesn't He?!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Count Your Blessings!
Right now there is a car horn outside, honking like crazy, and I can't help but be aggravated by it. I have found myself lately wishing to be out of this apartment and into our first real house. I have noticed things that other people have and can afford (or can they?!) that we can't afford, and I feel a little envy. Then, today, as I was listening to Beth Moore on my computer, she mentioned our blessings, if we ever sit back and think upon our blessings. So, I sit back on my couch, as she said, and think...
First I see the fan above me and it makes me think about our apartment. If I never have a house, if I live in this small 850 s.f. apartment until the day I die, how blessed am I?! I think back to the village houses that I have sat and had dinner in while in China, and I remember the lack of everything they had.
How can I ever look at someone's house that is bigger than what I will ever have and be jealous?! I know that jealously is part of our sinful nature, but if we consider how blessed we are by what we have -- how can I be jealous?!
How blessed am I that my husband makes enough money for me to stay home with Tristan? So many people don't have that option, especially those single mothers. We don't make a lot of money, but staying home with Tristan is so much more important to me than having a nicer car or a bigger house or all those gadgets that I wouldn't know what to do with anyways! It's hard staying at home everyday, but it is worth it, to see my baby boy get on a beautiful napping schedule for once since we are finally in a consistent situation, to see him learn new things daily, to learn new things about him. I'm blessed with being able to do this, for this to be my "job".
I am blessed that I was raised in a loving Christian family in a healthy environment. Not only do so many children in our country face child abuse and neglect, as well as poverty, but those children in other countries that face malnutrition, disease, neglect, orphanages because they are girls and not boys, child soldiers who are brainwashed, child prostitution, etc... Why was I allowed to grow up in a country that is so blessed not to have most of that? I am so blessed.
Anyways, I could go on and on with my blessings but I need to do a few things before the little guy wakes up from his nap. Remember to count your blessings today and everyday.
First I see the fan above me and it makes me think about our apartment. If I never have a house, if I live in this small 850 s.f. apartment until the day I die, how blessed am I?! I think back to the village houses that I have sat and had dinner in while in China, and I remember the lack of everything they had.
How can I ever look at someone's house that is bigger than what I will ever have and be jealous?! I know that jealously is part of our sinful nature, but if we consider how blessed we are by what we have -- how can I be jealous?!
How blessed am I that my husband makes enough money for me to stay home with Tristan? So many people don't have that option, especially those single mothers. We don't make a lot of money, but staying home with Tristan is so much more important to me than having a nicer car or a bigger house or all those gadgets that I wouldn't know what to do with anyways! It's hard staying at home everyday, but it is worth it, to see my baby boy get on a beautiful napping schedule for once since we are finally in a consistent situation, to see him learn new things daily, to learn new things about him. I'm blessed with being able to do this, for this to be my "job".
I am blessed that I was raised in a loving Christian family in a healthy environment. Not only do so many children in our country face child abuse and neglect, as well as poverty, but those children in other countries that face malnutrition, disease, neglect, orphanages because they are girls and not boys, child soldiers who are brainwashed, child prostitution, etc... Why was I allowed to grow up in a country that is so blessed not to have most of that? I am so blessed.
Anyways, I could go on and on with my blessings but I need to do a few things before the little guy wakes up from his nap. Remember to count your blessings today and everyday.
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