Same old, same old...

So, not too much new happening here this week. Last week seemed very busy, and this week is shaping up the same way. We've had two harvest parties this past week and another "costume" wearing day tomorrow. I'll post some photos later this week.

Dad update: Dad came home from the hospital on Thursday last week. He is home and comfortable, but still re-cooperating. He still doesn't have any job prospects yet, but is focused on resting and getting better first. We appreciate all of your prayers and continue to ask for you to pray for him and their current circumstances.

Sorry, I don't have too much more to talk about today. I've thought about blogging several times this past weekend, but just never really did. Hopefully, another day I'll be a bit more successful :)

Prayer Brigade!!

Ok, Friends. I need to ask for you all to band together and form the prayer brigade with me!! Many things battle for our attentions each day and fight for the top claim on the "prayer list". I would ask that this topic be placed on the top of your list today and for the next few days... Here's what's happening...

I would ask you to pray for my dad and my mom. As some of you have known, my dad has been out of a job for 4 months now. This is the third job that he's lost in the last 5 years. When he lost his job in July, we were blessed to know that God was faithful by His showing of hints along the way that He would provide for my parents. The story is a long one of how mom and dad have gotten to this point, but result is this... Dad is out of a job and in need of a new one, despite the horrible economy that they live in, in MI. They have 4 weeks left until the severance checks run out and they are down to one income. Dad has been feverishly applying for jobs and attending job seminars to help build his resume and prepare for those interviews. But they're just not coming.

To top it all off, this week, he's been in the hospital, diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Although the name sounds very upsetting and "final", this disease is something that he can recover from. But you can imagine how dark and frightening these days have become... Mom is working full time at a fabulous job that she enjoys, but she can't pay the bills on her own. Dad has been working hard to find a new job and prepare their house to be sold as well. What full plates they have to juggle... and the juggling space gets very tight when there is only one income.

Simply put, my Dad needs a job. God is faithful. I am in full surrender of this statement. However, I ask that you would pray on their behalf for these things:

• Please pray that the Lord would give him a job. That it would be a job that would last and that he would succeed in. Pray that it would be the job that he could retire from.
  
• Please pray for peace and hope for a situation that seems to build by the day, and become more daunting. We know that God is faithful. Pray for his faithfulness to be revealed each day in small ways.
  
• Pray that he will not give up in his fight for a job, for health and for safety for his family.
• Pray for his health - That he would get stronger and stronger as the days progress. Pray that his spirit would not be broken by circumstances.
• Please pray for my mom as she is to support dad. Give her encouragement and love for her husband of 36 years.

Much love my friends... And although, I've read this post several times, it just doesn't convey my need and request clearly enough. Perhaps it is the weight that is upon my shoulders when you see your parents struggle. I'm sure you've heard requests like this many times during the past year or so... but many of you know my parents personally, and have spent time in their home with us, and know that they love God and love their family. Please lift them to Jesus' feet...

"He is BEFORE all things & IN HIM all things hold together!!" Col 1:17

More signing and discipline breakthroughs!

First off, Finnegan is again signing more and more. Recently, he just signs milk, and light (which are very similar) all done, bath and more. Today, he started signing the word "please". He doesn't always sign it, but if I remind him to sign it after asking for something, he repeats the sign. Very exciting.

Also, I'll be the first one to admit that I need all the parenting advice that I can get. And most people wouldn't believe (unless you've seen it) that I have a pretty hot temper and tend to fly off the handle very easily, especially when I'm at home, and by myself. With that being said, you can imagine that moving into the "toddler" phase of my parenting journey is gonna be a rough one. Recently, I've been encouraged by my husband and a friend of some other ways that I can help to change Finnegan's behavior when he's being "difficult". Today, during lunch, he was very adimate about feeding the dogs his broccoli instead of eating it. So, I stopped what I was doing and focused only on him. Instead of raising my voice when he was doing something that I didn't want him to do, I looked right at him, spoke in a low, slow tone and explained why he wasn't to do it. Then when he ate a piece of broccoli, I was very excited and praised him for eating very nicely. Granted, I had to do this pattern several times, but I think he was getting it. Then when he was done, he looked at me and gave me the sign for "milk". I asked him if he wanted more milk and he again signed "more". So, I gave him the milk, he drank some, and then signed "all done". Oh, It was a beautiful thing. No yelling, everyone is still happy and we've moved onto the next task.

Goodbye Ernesto and Angie!!

So, we had Ernesto and Angie with us this week and it was such a nice visit. They were here a total of 5 days and it was wonderful! They slept in, wrote blogs, updated mailing lists and caught up on all their loose ends. I was pleased to hear that they'd gotten so much done during their visit, as they'd been on the road for almost 2 weeks straight, sleeping in a different place almost each night, very rarely having their own room or space and preaching, teaching and talking for days. Granted their trip to WA was a little off course for where they were headed (from Nebraska to LA) but what a blessing it was to visit and enjoy their company.

Ernesto is still the same guy he was 15 years ago when I first met him... passionate about life and extremely excitable. He loves comics, movies, Macs and music. He loves his Jr. High students back in MI and was sad to leave that ministry, but very excited that he's been taken to this new ministry. He loves reading and reads anything he can get his hands on regarding the church or missions. He's hungry for the word and diligent of spreading the news. Although we'd never met Angie before this visit, she is such a complement to Ernesto. They lead the ministry together. She's well read, very intelligent and so sweet. She has a tender heart for people and yet is a bit shy. She comes from a sound background with supportive parents who support their venture whole-heartedly and have been a great influence for them along the years.

After hearing their many stories and asking our questions, there is no doubt that God prepared each of them for the other, and is paving their way to India. The answers are clear along the way and they've answered faithfully.

While they were here, we visited Seattle's Pike Place Market, had great walks down memory lane and created new memories along the way. Ken finally had a partner to play Wii with and they played like they did years ago! It was such a blessing to have them in our home. If you feel led to take a look, check out their website (www.claycups.net) and consider giving towards the call they've heard and are followed.

Playing Wii together... They loved every minute of it!!


Ken's Motherload Sandwich... It was 8 inches tall!! He always chooses the biggest sandwich!! :)

Missions to India

Earlier this week, we recieved an unexpected call from a long ago friend. Ernesto Alaniz and his wife Angie have been traveling around the country (by car) from MI, to visit churches and friends before their trip to India early next year. Ernesto went to Jr High and High School with Ken and they became friends. Ernesto went to our church off and on during those years and even celebrated with us at our wedding. Ernesto has been very vocal since arriving that Ken was an influential person in his life and was one of the first to show him what "Jesus" looked like. He tells of stories that he used to be so mean to Ken during school... He picked on him and threw food at him and really was a bully. Yet, Ken turned the other cheek and always had a kind word to say to him. They became friends and went to church with each other through late jr. high and early high school, and always went to the same school. And now, Ernesto has just resigned as the Jr. High Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Waterford, MI and is now embarking on a new journey of missions into many villages of India.

They arrived at our home late on Wednesday evening and we've been enjoying they're company ever since. On Monday morning they left Nebraska and will travel down to LA after leaving here. Since we haven't seen Ernesto in years, and we'd never met Angie, it has been nice to visit and get re-acquainted with them. They've shared with us their story of being called into the ministry of India's untouchables. Since they've been with us, I've learned so much about the Indian culture and the caste system. It is amazing how God is already working through them and preparing them to go and minister to these people as well as train their pastors. You can read about them here... www.claycups.net

After driving for days, Ernesto and Angie have been able to relax some. Last night they went to Bible Study with us and got to share their story with our group. Today, we're being tourists and visiting the Pike Place Market in downtown. Tomorrow is church and one last day to hang out befor our friends are on the move again... To LA, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Muskegon, MI all before Thanksgiving!!

I'll post some photos soon of our visit.

Tagged, Again

Jenney tagged me and now I have to tag 4 of you...alrighty here goes

4 things I was doing 10 years ago
1. Being the Manager of the Varsity Girls Basketball team (my 4th year)
2. Anticipating the Spring Musical
3. Was on Homecoming Court
4. Still driving my sister to school

4 things on my to do list for today:
1. Prepare the guest bedroom
2. Go to Gymboree
3. Vacuum
4. Make Dinner

4 jobs I have had:
1. Pete's Coney Island
2. Cornerstone University - Admissions Office, Student Development, University Fund, Student Union... Tons of stuffy!!
3. Tetra Holdings, USA
4. Central Pet, NW division.

4 Movies I have seen more than once
1. 13 going on 30
2. The Devil wears Prada
3. Ever After
4. Meet the Robinsons.

4 places I have lived
1. Pontiac, MI
2. Grand Rapids, MI
3. Blacksburg, VA
4. Bonney Lake, WA

4 places I have been (this year):
1. Pontiac, MI
2. Tacoma Point Defiance Zoo
3. Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle
4. Going to Disney World in 6 weeks!

4 TV shows I watch
1. The Today Show
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Amazing Race
4. Nightly News with Brian Williams.

4 things you may not know about me:
1. I would go back to school to be a chef and then open a bed and breakfast... super fun.
2. I have no desire to have more than 2 kids.
3. I used to HATE going to Disney World... but now LOVE every moment of it.
4. I'm expecting house guests late tonight... Friends from High School that Ken and I haven't seen in about 8 years. CRAZY!! They're driving across the country preparing for their life of missions in India, starting in January.

4 things I love about my husband:
1. He's a hard worker
2. He lets me be a good hostess, and doesn't limit my talents.
3. He is such a good daddy
4. He loves me for who I am, even when it's not pretty.

4 people I tag: (your turn if you want!)
1. Jessica
2. Andrea
3. Megan S.
4. Tara

So Far, So Good...

So last week, I posted a few, financial goals. I must admit that so far, so good. Last week, I only made one trip to Starbucks and Target and didn't go to Old Navy and Gymboree. This week has started off well. I went to the grocery store today and used coupons. I was so proud of myself. I planned a menu before I went and bought with coupons. Today, I did get an email from Gymboree about a 60% off sale and I took at look at the things on sale and then remember I wasn't shopping there. So, I deleted the email... out of sight, out of mind, right??

And, last week, Ken asked me to close my accounts with Target and Old Navy... I never used the Target card anyway, it was just sort of a back up, and the Old Navy card, was only used at old navy... so reluctantly, I closed them. But it's for the best.

Have a great $$ savvy week!!