See my new blog at http://swazilandchildren.blogspot.com/ :-) Continue reading

http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=haiti-survival-packs-make-send Wonderful idea! I urge you to check it out. Deadline is Thursday, so act fast. Continue reading

I've been finding a recurring theme in my reading lately, suffering. Things like, "You came to serve, not rule. Know that you were called to suffer and to labor, not to be idle, or to spend your time in talk. Here therefore men are proved as gold in the furnace. Here no man can stand, unless he humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God." "Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross." "All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to endure anything for Him or with Him." "Many... Continue reading

"Lovely white snowflakes, Swirl through the night air, Kissing the waiting earth. Caressing the ground, The snow brings the gifts, Of silence and peace." --Karen Bateman, excert from her poem, "Snowed In." Continue reading

I was playing catch-up, reading a friend's blog, I've been missing out on lately, and saw the most beautiful snowflakes her children had made as Christmas decorations. Thankfully, being the kind of woman she is, she graciously shared the how-tos with her readers. Now following her lead, I am sharing them with all of you. Whoever reads my blog deserves something, right? :-) And here is another pattern to printout, http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow2000_13.htm I can't wait to share these with my kids! Continue reading

Before our Christmas break, I had decided to do a unit on William Bentley, the Snowflake Man. Imagine my delight as snow began falling on January 4th, the first day we started our new unit! God always seems to do neat stuff like that to remind me that He is in charge of everything in our lives. Nothing is too big or too small for Him to care about. Now you may be thinking that snow in January is not that unusual, but it is here in the Deep South. It is also being one of the coldest weeks we've... Continue reading

I drink too much diet Coke. This is what I concluded about a month ago. I use it mostly to wake up in morning and find it takes more and more of it as time goes on. I've read enough warnings about the ill-effects of diet sodas to know better than to let this continue. I've also learned more and been drawn more to Saint's Coffee, www.saintscoffee.com . Even though I've never been a coffee drinker, the mission of Saint's Coffee was enough to get me to want to try it. Every purchase of their coffee or their products feeds... Continue reading

Yesterday, I received my first piece of mail from one of my sponsor children!!! We are so excited around here! We began sponsoring Sikelelo in May. I've written her monthly ever since. I was unsure if she was interested or able to write me, but I just kept at it. I got not only a card from her, but a handwritten letter from her that is a page long! In her letter, she told me about herself, her family members, and her school. Her letter was beautifully and neatly written in her native SiSwati language. (She is from Swaziland.) We... Continue reading

If you read this blog, I think you deserve to be let in on the secret...my youngest daughter is getting a horse for Christmas! But not just any horse. Blaze is a very special horse that she fell in love with. I think I now realize why she loves him so. He loves her. Blaze is a rescue horse. He first appeared in our neighbor's fields this fall. My kids name all the horses, donkeys and mules that our neighbor keeps with his cattle. The description they gave me of Blaze surprised me. He was in rough shape, had a... Continue reading

While I doubt anyone really cares what kind of music I love, I have to share about the things I am passionate about. It is just the way that I am. I never want anyone to miss out. I have pretty eclectic taste in music, but David Nevue is one I never, ever tire of. Continue reading

"Is loving God -- and by extension, loving people-- what you are about? Is it what being a Christian means to you? Do you live as though faith, demonstrated through love, really is the only thing that counts?" Francis Chan Continue reading