Beautiful Colorado

Everywhere. In every direction...
beautiful, contrasting reminders of God's power & love!

(These are taken on my phone... so they'll just give you
an idea of the wonderful sites I've seen this past week.)

Denver International Airport

Things overheard at our house... 2

Back in December I posted a similar blog

I don't promise any deep life lessons...

just a laugh or maybe encouragement knowing that

you're not the only crazy household in the world! :)

(Our family in Barbies! Thanks, Zoe)

________________________________________________

"Is it Sunday today? Please can it be Sunday? I love Real Church!"

"There are no guns allowed in McDonald's!"

"Mommy, how come atha kids have a twicicle & I don't?"

"Mom, let's raise Chickens!"

(I blame Melissa O. for this... hee hee)

"I like food way more than decorating. When I grow up I'm

gunna be really big!"

"You're a piece a work!"

"What? I don't even have a job?"

"What kinda truck is that, Daddy?.... oh... what's a SWAT truck?"

"Where does Jesus work?"

"Well, Honey, Jesus doesn't go to work."

"MoooM, I thought Jesus worked in our hearts!"

"Mommy, I love you. You're so cute & chubby!"

"This is so cool, Mama. I love it. Thank you!" (my heart melts)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Motoring with Mama!

Tonight I ran into a young mom of 3 who is taking a short

road trip this week (3 or 4 hrs. one way). She was stocking

up on things to entertain & feed the kids....

and I found myself spouting off several ideas off the top

of my head. She said, "If you have anymore

ideas, please let me know."

So I am listing ideas for her....

and any of the rest of you that can benefit from these ideas, too.

1. Take toys that they haven't played with in a while- they'll seem new

2. Keep toys & snacks outa sight. Bring out something new every hour

or so... as needed

3. Pipe cleaners are fun. Kids can make creatures, things they see out

the window, etc... (the ends are a little sharp, so not a good idea for

really young children)

4. Even regular snacks can seen new & exciting if put into tiny baggies,

or grouped together in a different way.

Example: Raisins & Cheerios put in a baggie & tied w/cute ribbon.

5. Get some new kids music! It's worth the money... and keeps

you from wanting to poke snack food in your ears!!

6. Listen to adult music sometimes, too. (Hey, kids aren't the only

ones in the car!... and you're the boss!)

7. Tell silly stories. Start one & then pass it on to the next child

and they add more & so on.

8. Play the "I'm thinking of something ___" Game (It's like "I Spy" but

you're thinking of it instead of seeing it, since scenery is changing)

9. Play Word Association games. Take turns saying a random word.

Then everyone in the car has to say the first thing that comes to

their minds. (My oldest daughter used to say, "fun" after everything...)

Use various themes: places, people, famous people, Bible People, etc

10. Play "Alphabet Game." Look for A on a sign, then B, etc... you can

play as a group or by yourself & try to find all the letters before everyone

else finds them.

11. Younger kids often enjoy the "Category Game". Ask them to look

for things that are Green, then old, then things with letters on them,

things that move, things that have food on them, barns, flowers, etc...

12. Ping-Pong (or Round the World) is taking turns around the car

saying something you all know. Example: Books of the Bible, 1st

person says "Genesis", 2nd person says, "Exodus" and so on.

Other ideas: Bible memory verses, song lyrics, etc...

13. License Plate game: keeping a list of all the states you see on

cars & trucks.

14. Schedule. Give kids a verbal list of the next 2 or 3 things happening

next. Example: "We're gunna go through 2 more towns & then we'll stop."

or "We're gunna listen to some music, then have a snack, then stop & run."

15. Stay calm. Crying kids can work up serious stress in no time.

(To my knowledge, no one has been seriously screwed up from sitting

in a car seat for a while, even when crying. )

16. Be in charge! You ARE the adult & you don't have to turn around

every time someone wants you to (keep your eyes on the road)!

You don't have to turn music up or down every time someone asks.

17. Pull over. When all craziness and/or crying & screaming

has taken over... don't try the "reach behind you & swatch the kids."

It usually only take ONE time for me to pull off the road

(or take the next exit), take my "unruly" child out of the car & administer

some tough love... then the remainder of the trip goes well & the

children are happier & I am still sane! "

18. Talk. Take advantage of the this uninterrupted time by turning

off the music and talking... (see #9 for great conversation starter...

just don't TELL then you're trying to "have a talking time now!")

19. Check out MomsMiniVan.com

20. Make memories! Remember that even the craziest roadtrip

will someday be a funny memory & a great story to tell....

so enjoy it all. Laughing now is even better than waiting til later!

Related story...

Example: When my oldest daughter was a year old she

hated the car seat & proceeded to scream all the way to the airport

from Canton, Ohio to Cleveland...

the ONLY thing that made her stop crying was me...

hanging a baby blanket across the front seats

to create a puppet stage & then holding my right hand in a painfully

awkward angle to do puppet shows. When my hand cramped up

& I would shop & she'd scream bloody murder.

When the hand puppet (literally) reappeared she stop screaming!

In hindsight, some screaming may have been less painful for me,

but hey, I was a first-time parent then.

Happy Summer Travels!

American Heros make History

America! I love you.

Jesus! I love you!!!

With freedom comes responsibility...

Are you living like & talking about JESUS?

If you are living for the purpose that God's called you to

(to tell people about JESUS), then you're enjoying

freedom...

and you're changing history!

You're an American Hero!

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless

I use it for finishing the work assigned me

by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others

the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

Acts. 20:24

Click here to hear more!

Going Public!

Our church had a big service at the island park (Belle Isle)

in the middle of the Detroit River.

Thanks for loving us & praying!!!

I thought you'd enjoy seeing the slide show.

If the link doesn't work, try it from Chilly's website

at http://www.ichilly.com

JESUS is AWESOME!

Click below...

Pictures of the Baptism in the Detroit River!

Home

Friday evening we had a little fun on the beach...

it was the last night of our MOST WONDERFUL

beach vacation! sigh... tears.

Then a huge thunder storm rolled in.

and...

This evening we returned to the D.

More details later.

Where I'm headed...

You may not be hearing much from me

(aside from an occasional Twitter update),

cuz here's where I'm headed:

A Grateful Comparison

Does is bug you when someone says, "Oh, I totally know

exactly how you feel?"

Although we may be able to relate to someone on some level,

we don't really know exactly what they're going

through.

So, with this truth in mind, I humbly make the following

comparison between ministry families and military families.

The "ministry family" part I know... I'm living it and

loving the life I'm called to.

The "military family part"... I don't pretend to really know

what their lives are like, but from those I've known and the

blogs I read and the few I currently know, I've seen some

similarities between the two.

I'm listing this comparison ONLY to heighten our respect

and admiration for them & the courageous lives they lead.

Here's my observations:

- Often live away from their families

- Move from place to place

- Must force themselves to make relationships even though

it's possible that they'll move again soon

- Learn to rely on friends as family (we find this a blessing!)

- Good at packing boxes & moving

- Are acquainted with "lonely"

- Knowing that their husbands are on the front lines for the cause

- Risk is a way of life

- Strong Wives/Moms who must function for long periods

of time while the husband is away

(NOTE: my husband travels quite a bit, but I don't even pretend

to relate to the military wives who are separated from spouses

for months/years!)

My comparison must end here... I know there's so much more that

they endure,

that they sacrifice,

that they give...

I'm so VERY grateful to the countless families who live a completely

different lifestyle than I could ever truly relate to... all because they

have chosen to serve our country...

to serve us!

With tears in my eyes I write...

Thank you, Service Men & Woman and your families!

Your sacrifice is unlike ANY other!

I respect you, admire your courage and pray for you regularly!

Our freedom, our flag, our country means SO much to me!

Thank you for protecting all that we hold dear!

Grill Master Mighty White- Netta's NICHE

The grill calls to me.... it taunts me to try new things!
So, I've given in this summer.
Besides the regular grilled chicken, and ham
and pineapple kababs & fat french fries, we've also made pizza.
(Just because it's summer doesn't mean we can just
abandon our "Finger Food Friday" tradition!)

















Regular sized pizza.
Single serving sized pizzas.
and pizza turnovers (small calzones!).


















Success!
Sweet Success!















(The little calzones are the family's fav of all
grilled pizza-type foods. We dipped'um in
some spaghetti sauce for added yummy-ness!)


I'm still planning to grill some fruit and
possibly even try to make some kinda dessert! mmm

It's starting to feel like just about anything can be
made on the GRiLL!

Just add Water!

While many of my friends out there in blog-land
and other states across the US are sending
their kids to school this week,
we in MICHIGAN don't begin school until after
Labor Day- it's the law!

(and we make our homeschool schedule similar to the public school.)

So, regardless of our weather (it's rainy today)
it's STILL SUMMER IN MICHIGAN!












Summer! Kids! Water!

















Those 3 words go well together.

This summer we've enjoyed fountains,
the small, inexpensive water park,
kiddies pools,
free city beach,
squirt gun fights,
homemade backyard water parks!














Just about any activity in the summer
gets better when you add water....
any form.
Just add water!













We used a "noodle", poked holes in it, put the
hose inside of it and hung it from the top of our swing set.
(The swing set idea came together because of our neighbor!
Thanks, Mr. Tom!)












And, of course the classic...
Put the kiddie pool at the end
of the slide!

These & This

These people are believing Jesus for this...

Summer in The D

We love DETROIT!
Jesus has a plan & for whatever reason
He's called us to be a part of it.
It's been over 5 years since we moved
here... and we have fallen in love with
The D!

This summer we're taking in the
sites & fun. Here's a few things we've
done in the last couple of weeks!
(Not in order!)





















Chilly & I celebrated our 20th Ann.
at Comerica Park and even saw the
huge fireworks over the city that night!



















I love this man! xoxox


















Took my youngest 3 kids & visiting niece to
the Detroit Science Center! So fun!
(That membership Mom bought us has been
used over & over. We love it!)


















Dance party at home! Always fun!
Always Free! and always funny!

















HUGE playground at Belle Isle - have you
ever seen a double-decker merry-go-round?
Free Fun!


















A round swing? They loved it.
















Swimming in the Detroit River at Belle Isle.
(Hey, it's clean... well, I mean.. um COLD!..
just ask Zoe!) Free.
Freezing Water. But Free!




















Free Fun! Playing in the fountains behind the
GM buildings! (Those buildings behind
the fountains & across the river
are in CANADA! Weird, huh?)
















This kids inside the GM RenCen

And, below...
a little impromptu hide-N-seek at Old Navy!
(also free... not the clothes, but the hiding!)

Helplessness

Since my list of "Summer Projects" is much longer
than any normal (or perhaps even super-human)
can possibly conquer in one summer, I was
encouraged by the quote that Chilly had written down
back in 1989 or 1990 (yeah, I'm old).
I found it today in an old organizer notebook
(that I was cleaning out... check that off the list!)

Here it is...

"The Power of Helplessness"
Individuals can find strength within,
ONLY after they acknowledge the limits
to what they can accomplish alone."
by
Catherine Marshall

This summer's a great reminder that I really
can't EVER do anything of worth without the
power & direction of JESUS!

Lord Jesus...
My summer belongs to You!
Change, rearrange, do whatever You
want to my "to-do-list."
I'm Your's!

In Florida with My Man!!!

Chilly & I returned on Sunday evening from a 5 day
trip to St. Pete Beach, Florida! We were part of a
church planter's conference and Chilly spoke on
the closing night. Being away was great & I could
write paragraphs on it all. But I won't... just a
bullet list with a few pics.


Wonderful things about our trip...
(in no particular order)

- Seeing the new airport
terminal in Detroit

- Flying in a airplane...
it's been 3 years!



- Getting 5 straight days with Chilly
all to MYSELF!!
(it's been.... years?)

- Only having to get myself
ready each day

- Eating out... translation-
"Not cooking"

- Actually enjoying seafood...
(it's been... never BEFORE!)

- Had a great time hanging out with friends

- Staying RIGHT on the beach & spending time
with Jesus out on the little patio each morning!











- Riding in the convertible in the sunshine!

- Meeting other church planter's and future
church planter's & hearing their stories

- Not having to set an
alarm for
several days!

- Taking pictures,
continually!

- A tiny frig full of
Diet Coke!

- Knowing that our friends & oldest daughters were
lovingly caring for our kids

- Meeting other woman in ministry

- Hearing my husband share the vision God gave us
for Detroit... and being a part of the prayer time
when the Holy Spirit rocked the house!


- The feeling of the sunshine
on our pasty white
Michigan bodies...
and getting a tan!

- Not having to "get used"
to the ocean water...
it was 82 degrees!


-Driving along the shore, laughing, praising, singing,
enjoying the wind in my hair, driving over a ton of
really beautiful bridges


(This is Sunshine Skyway)






- Going to a cute little area
called John's Pass, enjoying
the boardwalk, shops & even saw dolphins


- Celebrating 20 years
of marriage
(a couple weeks early!)




- Falling even MORE in love
with Chilly!






- Feeling the sand between my toes



- Loving the time away and
having God continue
to grow a strong love of home
- DETROIT-
in our hearts!







- Knowing that
God is putting
a miracle together
and we get to
be a part of it!



- Falling even MORE in love with JESUS!

- Realizing that we will ALWAYS remember this week!