She seems to be adapting well already...looks like she's the ham of the group!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A new chapter in life...
As usual, time flies for us...camp is started and we are already in the 3rd week! This brings a new chapter for our family. Sammie started camp!!!!
She seems to be adapting well already...looks like she's the ham of the group!
She seems to be adapting well already...looks like she's the ham of the group!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Pray for this girl...
On January 25, 2009, I posted about a girl new to our area that we got to meet and help. She had been doing well with a job, finishing her GED and getting settled. Old influences die hard, especially when your exposure to Christ is new, and you haven't made a profession of faith. She made some unwise choices this weekend and was in a really horrible car accident. She was flighted to another city for care for her injuries. As of today, she is alive, but has very serious injuries. There is brain injury/swelling, loss of an ear, loss of part of an arm, lacerations, a lacerated liver that was repaired, etc. She is heavily sedated and having help with breathing. Her mother has joined her. A church in the area has someone ministering to the mother and was enjoyed that the mother had a bible open, verses hi-lighted and was reading to her daughter. Please pray that this girl survives, her injuries will heal and most importantly that her mind and heart will come to Christ through all this. I've referred to her in the past as "M". Thanks.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Work Day Birthday!
Well, today is Sammie's 8th Birthday. We started the day out by working at church. We raked, picked up pine cones, cut down dead trees and hauled brush, etc. out of the woods. We don't have pictures of that part of the day since we were a little busy working. :)
Then we came home for Sammie to open some gifts. She was so excited. She got a knitting machine, a hula hoop, Little House on the Prairie Books, and 2 outfits. What a fun birthday. Then she talked to Grandma Siefert on the phone.
The fun knitting machine:
Sammie's new books:
Sammie on the phone:
Then we came home for Sammie to open some gifts. She was so excited. She got a knitting machine, a hula hoop, Little House on the Prairie Books, and 2 outfits. What a fun birthday. Then she talked to Grandma Siefert on the phone.
The fun knitting machine:
Sammie's new books:
Sammie on the phone:
Saturday, May 2, 2009
May is here - yeah!
We are SOOOOOO glad May in finally here. April was insane for our family, especially for me.
My rough totals were:
180 hours of work
60 hours of sitting in classes (Hazardous Materials, weather spotting, EMT refresher, etc.)
15 hours teaching (I trained 3 new First Aid/CPR instructors this month)
12 hours of Fire Dept. activities (meetings, training, etc.)
AWANA, church, school activities, piano lessons for Sammie, playing with the kids, Gathering Place Grand Opening, etc.
Sammie and Kyle finished another year of AWANA graduating to TNT and Sparks respectively. Sammie also had read over 150 books in school this year, and over 1,100,000 words.
Not to mention Steve was on the Marine Biology Trip for 11 days. Luckily my mom came up to help occupy the kids and help out.
So, we are glad to slow down the pace immensely and breath in some of the spring air.
Yesterday, camp started a Biggest Loser/Fitness Challenge for Staff. Since I personally won't be too competitive losing weight, I'm doing the fitness part. Yesterday I put in about 5 miles of walking. Today my ankles really hurt! I took a line drive to my left ankle last July. I didn't break it, but it was badly bruised and I thought better by now...wrong! I guess we're also getting old too! So, today I needed a little rest from walking/running activities and we joined Steve for the canoe trip down the river. I hope you enjoy a few pictures from today's trip with the guys up for the Men's Retreat at Fort.
A tree Kyle and I saw on our walk yesterday:
Steve paddling:
Kyle paddling:
Sammie out cold:
A view on the river:
We all hope you are getting out to enjoy the spring weather. We're looking forward to it being warm enough to start planting someday.
My rough totals were:
180 hours of work
60 hours of sitting in classes (Hazardous Materials, weather spotting, EMT refresher, etc.)
15 hours teaching (I trained 3 new First Aid/CPR instructors this month)
12 hours of Fire Dept. activities (meetings, training, etc.)
AWANA, church, school activities, piano lessons for Sammie, playing with the kids, Gathering Place Grand Opening, etc.
Sammie and Kyle finished another year of AWANA graduating to TNT and Sparks respectively. Sammie also had read over 150 books in school this year, and over 1,100,000 words.
Not to mention Steve was on the Marine Biology Trip for 11 days. Luckily my mom came up to help occupy the kids and help out.
So, we are glad to slow down the pace immensely and breath in some of the spring air.
Yesterday, camp started a Biggest Loser/Fitness Challenge for Staff. Since I personally won't be too competitive losing weight, I'm doing the fitness part. Yesterday I put in about 5 miles of walking. Today my ankles really hurt! I took a line drive to my left ankle last July. I didn't break it, but it was badly bruised and I thought better by now...wrong! I guess we're also getting old too! So, today I needed a little rest from walking/running activities and we joined Steve for the canoe trip down the river. I hope you enjoy a few pictures from today's trip with the guys up for the Men's Retreat at Fort.
A tree Kyle and I saw on our walk yesterday:
Steve paddling:
Kyle paddling:
Sammie out cold:
A view on the river:
We all hope you are getting out to enjoy the spring weather. We're looking forward to it being warm enough to start planting someday.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Once again, this time of year is CRAZY for us all. We've been in Hazardous Material Classes, weather spotting class, camp activities, school activities, work, EMT refreshers coming up, etc. So, once again writing has taken a back stage. Hopefully we can catch up after this month.
However, I wanted to re-post what I put up last year this time. As we take this weekend to relax and reflect on what Christ has done for us, here is what I do with the kids to help them picture the story.
It is a great family activity for Saturday night:
Resurrection Story Cookies
Ingredients & Supplies:
3 egg whites
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
zip-lock plastic bag
wooden spoon
tape
a Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in the plastic bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Discuss how after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl and let each child smell the strong aroma. Talk about when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, that He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to the vinegar (egg represents life). Discuss how Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins.
Read Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat the ingredients together with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in the broken pecans. Drop cookies by a rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was lain.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookies in the oven, close the door. TURN THE OVEN OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door together. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Now it's time to go to sleep. Explain to your children that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 & 22
On Resurrection (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice that the surface of the cookie is cracked. Take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9 - He has risen!!!!
However, I wanted to re-post what I put up last year this time. As we take this weekend to relax and reflect on what Christ has done for us, here is what I do with the kids to help them picture the story.
It is a great family activity for Saturday night:
Resurrection Story Cookies
Ingredients & Supplies:
3 egg whites
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
zip-lock plastic bag
wooden spoon
tape
a Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in the plastic bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Discuss how after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl and let each child smell the strong aroma. Talk about when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, that He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to the vinegar (egg represents life). Discuss how Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins.
Read Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat the ingredients together with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in the broken pecans. Drop cookies by a rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was lain.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookies in the oven, close the door. TURN THE OVEN OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door together. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Now it's time to go to sleep. Explain to your children that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 & 22
On Resurrection (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice that the surface of the cookie is cracked. Take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9 - He has risen!!!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
How to enjoy winter...
So, it's the end of January already and many are already getting sick of the snow, cold and ice. We're kind of glad it has just begun though! There is plenty of beautiful nature to still enjoy. Here is a glimpse of things we've seen in the last week!
Some turkeys on the road - it was -10 when this picture was taken and about -20 the night before:
Here is part of the flock having more of a discussion:
As we passed through the potato fields today, we had to stop and looking at the trees covered with snow!
These pictures really don't do the view justice, but here is another anyway!
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven."
Some turkeys on the road - it was -10 when this picture was taken and about -20 the night before:
Here is part of the flock having more of a discussion:
As we passed through the potato fields today, we had to stop and looking at the trees covered with snow!
These pictures really don't do the view justice, but here is another anyway!
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven."
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Body of Christ...Serving...
So, today was a fun day. Our Pastor mentioned in church that he met a young lady on Friday who is 19 years old. She is in the area to get a fresh start with only her phone, purse and clothes on her back. She is moving today into an unfurnished apartment and could use things to set up house.
Well, I know I had some extra pans, kitchen utensils, knives, and food sitting around so rather than going to the grocery store, we headed back home after church to have lunch and gather what we could. Sammie had fun raiding my pantry to pick things out and I cleaned out part of a drawer of seldom-used utensils. We drove to our pastor's house to help with what they had.
When we got there, we met a few other families and took everything to this girl. Our church was able to provide a bed, a dresser, kitchen supplies and food, a coffee table, bedding, towels, cleaning supplies, crock pot, toaster, etc. The shelter she was at provided a microwave, old vacuum, household goods, ironing board and much more. I had my whole Suburban full of things for her and another family had a pick-up truck full.
It was neat to see everyone work together to provide for her.
Now, we are praying that she comes to know Christ. All I know is her first name and that she is from Chicago, IL originally. We'll just call her "M". Our pastor got to share with her Friday, I got to talk to her briefly, but not more than answering her question of if I go to "the church" too. She seems to be working hard to find a job and go to school locally. We'll see what happens in the future!
Well, I know I had some extra pans, kitchen utensils, knives, and food sitting around so rather than going to the grocery store, we headed back home after church to have lunch and gather what we could. Sammie had fun raiding my pantry to pick things out and I cleaned out part of a drawer of seldom-used utensils. We drove to our pastor's house to help with what they had.
When we got there, we met a few other families and took everything to this girl. Our church was able to provide a bed, a dresser, kitchen supplies and food, a coffee table, bedding, towels, cleaning supplies, crock pot, toaster, etc. The shelter she was at provided a microwave, old vacuum, household goods, ironing board and much more. I had my whole Suburban full of things for her and another family had a pick-up truck full.
It was neat to see everyone work together to provide for her.
Now, we are praying that she comes to know Christ. All I know is her first name and that she is from Chicago, IL originally. We'll just call her "M". Our pastor got to share with her Friday, I got to talk to her briefly, but not more than answering her question of if I go to "the church" too. She seems to be working hard to find a job and go to school locally. We'll see what happens in the future!
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