The Olympics are Starting

My husband once called me un-American... I wasn't as excited as he was that the summer Olympics were starting. {It doesn't help that I don't like Apple Pie...} We'd been married almost 4 years and we had just had our 1st child. Call me crazy but it wasn't on the top of "Woo Hoo" list.

It did end up being super fun watching Him watch the Olympics. We were full force Team Phelps! Remembering that summer gets me excited for this years games. We don't have TV but we'll possibly be setting up some "viewing" parties elsewhere or over the net. I can't wait to introduce them to The Games!

Another thing I'm super excited about it THIS:

The What's in the Bible people are so clever and creative. They have this fun pack for families to utilize during the Olympics. The pack includes an activity for each day of the Olympics including coloring pages, Olympic Bingo, verses, an Interview Your Parents sheet, make your own medals, and so much more.

Not only are they giving away this pack F.R.E. E. but we're also giving away a Gold, Silver, and Bronze prize which includes the entire Old Testament set from What's in the Bible?, a portable DVD player, an outdoor game set, and a $25 gas card.
Everyone can enter to win and get their INSTANT download here:

http://promos.whatsinthebible.com/olympics/

I've already downloaded mine and have printed some of the funness already ;o) ENJOY!

~~~

{affiliate link}

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Jules is an Amazima Mamma

During my family transformation from youth pastors to church planters, Katie Davis and her book Kisses from Katie played a large part.

As God was moving in Matt's life, this was one of the MANY books he read. As he read it at night and told me about specific stories in the book that were extra meaningful to him I just Knew God was moving us over seas! You see, I "surrendered to foreign missions" almost a year before I met Matt. I told him this when we stared dating but explained I wasn't sure what that would look like in my life. I just knew that I wanted to surrender to any possible thing God would ask me to do. I thought this story of a single girl making such an impact was going to be the catalyst to shoot my family overseas.{ Little did I knew we would be going on a similar adventure right here in the States in this current season of life.}

God did use Katie's story to soften my husband heart in the realm of overseas ministry and in giving! Matt gave up Diet Coke over a year ago! For those of you who don't know my husband, That Is HUGE! He's an addict! {I'll have to ask him to do a guest post about his addiction and God being his enabler} With some of the money we saved, he chose to sponsor an Amazima child! Longoli Moses has become a fairly regular friend to pray for, especially at meal times when we talk about why we sponsor Longoli. My oldest likes to remember to pray for Longoli's younger brother and that he will become a pilot when he grows up.

Another way we've tried to teach our children about why we are loving on Longoli this way is by teaching what we are able to bless Longoli with: a meal! The meal we're provide is very basic and reminds us how beyond blessed we are here. Every once in a while we choose to "eat like Longoli" with a meal of rice and beans.


Here's an update video from Katie's blog:

 

Won't you consider becoming an Amazima Mamma {or daddy}!?!

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Oh, Happy Day!

Confessions of an undignified Christ Follower:

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What do your Sunday usually look like? I know ours are jam-packed and tiring most weeks. Are your's? Is it worth it?

*learn more about where we are and what going on by reading my older post: "What am I "called" to do?"

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What am I “called” to do?

I just read Sarah Mae's post today {I Reject That I Can Do It All.} and it made me smile! I've been struggling with what I feel God is 'calling' me to. Reading lots of christian mom blogs I've come across the theme that, as a mom, your ministry IS your family and if you are doing 'ministry' or anything outside your home/family then you've missed your 'calling' as a mom.

I've struggled with this since I feel I'm gifted in administration and have always (before children) helped my husband with the organizational side of youth ministry. I've been feeling guilty as though I were neglecting my children for trying to continue in this ministry by getting a sitter to help my husband out with youth events. Many people would tell me that "your season of life is different now" and "this will pass and you can go back to doing some of that someday."

I'm just not sure if ministering only to Your family is really biblical.

I don't want to wish aways this season of life. I don't want to hoard or wait to use my gifting until I'm in a different season of life. If I never work on anything or with anyone outside our home/family won't that lead to ego-centric children who don't know what it looks like to serve others (outside their family)?

I also feel I'm gifted in working with children but hadn't been helping with a church plant/community children's ministry because I might be out past my children's bath/bed time and because it was in a rough part of town I might be putting my family in some kind of danger. BUT about a month ago I decided I wanted to attempt it anyways.

We (as a family) went to the park were the children (infants-teens and some parents) were being fed both physical food but more importantly the Word of God. We ALL fell in love with this ministry.

We are building relationships with people we would have never met. My husband it getting to use his gifts. I am getting to love on more children. My children are learning tons! They are learning a different culture and how to love people who are different from them. They are learning what it looks like to worship corporately.

They are learning to follow directions from another adult. They are mingle with lots of different ages.

They are learning to share their parents. They are learning 1st hand how to, what we call "Love on people".

I encourage all of you stay-at-home, homeschooling mammas to create teachable moments! Find your gifting. Find your family's gifting! USE THEM!

Don't just be hearers of the word, be doers. "

Jesus replied,'But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.'" Luke 11:28 NLT

Don't just tell your children what Gods Word says, SHOW them.

God allowed me to see that my vision of having an "as you are going, make disciples" kind of family, is well on its way with our learning inside AND outside the home approach. Last night at our churches Trunk or Treat ministry for Halloween my entire family served our community by handing out candy. I know, may not sound like much but let me break this down so you can see why this is my conformation:

We arrived at the church at 5 to set up our van.

We unhooked their car seats, setting them in the floor board of the van. We let them eat hotdogs while watching a movie (HUGE treat). Jamin got to sit in his stroller and enjoy the weather outside while Matt and I decorated the back hatch and loaded it with candy.

By 6pm all of our vehicles were organized into a giant 'safe circle' in our back parking lot, decorated, and loaded with candy to beginTrunk or Treat! From 6 until ~8 my 2 girls, Magdalene (3) and Isabella (2 in January), took turns giving candy to other children.

They were soooo excited to have their 'turn' to place giant handfuls of candy into trick-or-treaters bags. I loved watching their giant smiles. Izzie nearly chased children down in an attempt to give Everyone some candy. They did so good. They never complained that they didn't make the circle to collect candy for themselves. They weren't concerned with how much candy they gave away.

I love ministering not only to my family but with them!

How better to learn to love, worship, and serve than in your mother's lap?

~~~

What myths have you been taught about being a mom? What creative ways to you serve Jesus as a family?

*To see more pictures of the children's ministry I talked about, trunk or treat, or other ministries we do as a family Friend me on Facebook!!!

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Growing, Growing, GONE!

Years ago I decided that I would attempt to make everything I do be for the glory of God. {1Chr 10:31}

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Many of you are thinking..."Well, DUH!" and some are confused. Please keep in mind: God does not ask me to be a pharisee-rule follower. He ask that I be a Christ-follower and He did not always follow the rules we, as humans, had created.

I took 1 Chronicles 10:31 literally! I also wanted to be like the original church, spoken about in Act.

44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity [fn10] — 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

I made a promise to be set apart, weird, odd, different. Among the list of "normal" things I've decided to try and give God glory with "uncommon" ones. Simply reGifting to God. Kinda hard to find a gift for the God who made and owns everything. Here a few examples:

  • Car- it's not mine. I will always use it to in the way Jesus ask me to...ya know, since its His and all. I will giving rides to those in need. I will drive safely, considering the safety of those in my car and around it (sometimes that may mean Not speed; unless theirs an emergency. Or abiding by other driving laws) I will use it sparingly don't squander gas. I will be willing to let other borrow it (I have 2 and others have NONE).
  • Home- it's not mine. I will always have space available for guest (over night). I will always have a space available for someone to eat with us (extra food, chair(s), dishes, etc). I will keep it clean enough to have unexpected company at any time. I will share all the blessing in it and be willing to give away any of my things God ask (other have NONE).
  • Clothing- it's not mine. I will dress (myself and family not matter the age) modestly. I will not spend exorbitant amounts of money on any item of clothing. I will not have excessive amount of clothing (when others have NONE).
  • Hair- it's not mine. "WHAT?" I know, sounds odd. Stay with me.
    I will take care of my hair's health. I will not let it consume huge chunks of time in my day. I will grow it out long enough to donate. I will not get major hair cuts before it's long enough in an attempt not to waste hair (when others have NONE).
    Hair. I'd like to take a minute and share with you where this desire started in my life.

A man and woman were on an anniversary trip. So excited to have a vacation by themselves having left their 3 kids with relatives, they rode with wide grins in an elevator up the St. Louis Arch! FUN! The doors open and a small boy and his father enter with them. The small boy held his father's hand gazing around the elevator in awe. When his eyes became fixed in fascination on the man on the anniversary trip. "Daddy! He looks just like a crash dummy!" The man and his wife laughed at the little boys creativity. Yep, they could see where he got that! The man has alopecia. Alopecia Aretia.

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Alopecia areata is a condition that causes round patches of hair loss, and can lead to total hair loss. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown. About a fifth of people with this condition have a family history of alopecia. Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. Alopecia areata is seen in men, women, and children. A major life event such as an illness, pregnancy, or trauma occurs before the hair loss in some, but not most patients
Forms of alopecia include:

  • Alopecia areata -- patches of hair loss, usually on the scalp, but they also can be in the beard or other areas
  • Alopecia totalis -- complete loss of scalp hair
  • Alopecia universalis -- total loss of all body hair
    Most of the time there are no other symptoms besides hair loss, but some people may feel a burning sensation or itching.

Alopecia areata usually begins as one to two patches of hair loss, most often on the scalp. It may also be seen in the beard, eyebrows, and arms or legs. Roundish patches of hair loss are smooth, and may be peach-colored. Hairs that look like exclamation points are sometimes seen at the edges of a bald patch.

  • Loss of all scalp hair (alopecia totalis), often within 6 months after symptoms first start.
  • Loss of all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis).

 {All the above information on Alopecia was found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002421/ you can find addition information (i.e. optional treatments) there as well}

This story happened close to 20 years ago. I would have been ~7 years old. I heard this story first hand from my parents, the couple on the anniversary trip.

My dad has been a solid example of how a Christ-follower should be when faced with condition resulting in long-term "physical" effects. He has never flinched at the comments made, back in the day, when people would mutter "skin-head" or other derogatory comments about having no hair {Any Where}. He's always been open to anser question with a smile on his face about why he had no hair. When the bald spots began to out number the hair on his head he ask my mom to shave it all off. With tears rolling down her face, standing in the bathroom, I remember watching my mom buzz my dad's head and then use a razor to remove the remaining hair. Wearing hats for years and a few less family pictures may be a result of insecurity but you never really get that sentiment.

I have chosen to use All the things God has given me for His glory. God has blessed me with the ability...grow hair. I have chosen to live in a constant state of growing, growing, and some years grooooowing my hair only to have it be gone. With this commitment comes the privilege of trusting that God knew what He was doing when he made me and my hair. Requirements for hair donations include (but are not limited to):

  • Make sure hair is a minimum of 10-12 inches. Pull curly hair straight for a more accurate measurement.
  • Hair cannot be permed, color-treated, or highlighted.  Temporary coloring or highlights that washout are acceptable.

I have done "the chop" 3 times now and I am currently in the growing, growing stage. I have donated to Locks of Love the past 3 times but recently found out their wigs are expensive for the recipients so this next time I am donating to Wigs for Kids! I'd say I have about 3-4 months before my hair is long enough to have  10-12 inches an about shoulder length left over. I want to challenge YOU to join me in the Growing, Growing, Gone process! I encourage anyone who can grow hair to do so for the sake of those who can't!!! Don't want to grow your hair that long? PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING PLEDGES FOR MY HAIR DONATION or SOMEONE YOU KNOW THAT GROWS!

~~~

Comment to join this hairy moment ;o), give other donation sites, or to make pledges!
Do you have a story to share. Comments are open!

~~~

For more information about both organizations click the following links:
http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html and http://www.wigsforkids.org/donate

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