Nurse Mommy On Duty

2 girls

2 doctors appointments at the same time last night

2 x 2 tests (strep and influenza)

2 cases of Influenza B

2 sick little girls

See you next week.

Recipe LInks

In the past couple days there were two lists of recipes I don't want to lose that I thought you would enjoy too!

Amy at Mom's Toolbox of Bible in 90 Days fame shares a whole list of easy, time saving meals with a link inside for even more easy meals!

Aimee at Simple Bites shares a long list of ideas of meals for when you are taking a meal to someone called the Cooking For Others Edition!

There are definitely lots of ideas on both lists that I plan on giving at least a chance, and a few others I know will be favorites!

What is your favorite quick meal?

What meal is your favorite when you are taking a meal to someone else?

Multitude Monday 30

Monday February 14, 2011

• Valentines from little girls
• with little girl kisses
• heart and flower shaped pancakes
• Chinese food for supper
• A special gift this year - our new house on the anniversary of our engagement all those years ago!
• storm ending by the time I leave for BSF, and a beautiful night to return home in.

Tuesday February 15, 2011

• Classical Conversations Valentine's Day Party
• Painting with textures
• Farm eggs through the connection of a friend!
• So sick after supper but but baby brought the Dr. Juice delivery and big one brought the water delivery.

Wednesday February 16, 2011

• lock repair delayed
• good books to read
• warm quilts
• get well kisses and snuggles
• Grandma on the phone talking to little girls for almost an hour until Daddy got home when momma needed her pillow.

Thursday February 17, 2011

• We are moving to our own home, no more accommodating repairs on someone else's schedule.
• bagels, cheese, and jam
• Coffee with milk in a special cup
• little girls playing lego and duplo
• My Thursday Afternoon Perspective Check - a list of 14 to correct my bad attitude.

Friday February 18, 2011

• a husband who comes home when there is a problem with the repairs that is not ours and...
• fixes it...
• and takes us to lunch when the smell is too bad.
• a drawing book for mommy and daughter to learn to draw together
• buddy skate - daddy and daughter
• the moon across my husband's cheek as he sleeps

Saturday February 19, 2011

• House papers are all signed
• Costco errand run done - Little One's favorite store.
• Husband fixing car himself after researching the problem and ordering the car rather than just taking the car in.
• Learning to draw chickens with our older daughter and realizing that I can indeed draw
• God healing childhood wounds through the gentleness of our daughters.
• wind in the trees - love that sound!
• Safety when there was a small house fire at the bottom of the hill.

Sunday February 20, 2011

• Little girls piling in to bed with us - Mommy and Daddy on the outsides as bread, big girl bologna, little girl cheese, lots of laughter.
• Miss Pear's sadness over being too sick to go to church and missing worship.
• Watching the pile of packed boxes slowly grow.
• Little girl confidence that bedtime prayers are especially powerful.

390-441 and counting, thank you Lord!

New Home

Okay, it is official, we are moving. We bought a house!

Our new home is in the same little city, just a little further east, but still close to work, church, and all our friends. It is a four bedroom house so we will finally be able to set up a proper guest room, and we are hoping God will allow us to enjoy lots of hospitality! And the kitchen looks like it will be great to work in!

We actually signed the closing papers on Saturday and are closing on Wednesday if the final walk through goes fine on Tuesday!

After renting for over 10 months I have to say that we are done renting. There were just some things that were hard, and somethings that are just weird after having your own house.

We will have the entire month of March as overlap between the two houses so that we can get the repairs done that are needed (they gave us a credit), and paint the bedrooms.

If you think of it, or feel like it we would love prayers for God to work out some issues at our rental that need to be resolved, and the logistics of it all. Plus provision for our needs, the repairs, and a dining room table. (We had to sell ours at our last home in Southern CA and would love another one as our kitchen table is so small that seating 6 can be tight, so we cannot even fit another family around it!)

Sick, or Multitude Monday Midweek Edition

I am sick with a touch of the flu - only one in the family. Which is kind of ironic because I am the only one who got the flu shot this year. Sigh.

I was having a rotten attitude and nap time was ending and I realized I needed a perspective check or it was going to be a rough afternoon.

And I started counting the gifts.

• warm quilt
• cold sprite
• excellent book followed by excellent book
• beautiful view out the window
• clouds running across my window
• sun playing in the clouds
• sky peaking out
• crow hopping in the tall evergreen trees
• the stacks of clouds - I still love it! You don't see this in California.
• the burst of rain to be sure I was paying attention
• the bright sun against the dark clouds
• little girls waking up singing Jesus Loves Me...
• ...and wondering where her socks went
• kisses from the big one to make me feel better

My attitude improved tremendously.

Grace Word Study Step 3

We have talked about what a word study is, we have completed step one of selecting a verse/word and finding the Strong's number, and step 2 of finding the various translations. So today it is time for step 3, which will appear to be the most challenging, but is actually quite simple because you found the Strong's number in step 1.

Step 3 is to find definitions of the word you are looking at, definitions to the Greek word. You will find these in Greek lexicons and Bible Dictionaries (especially dictionaries of Bible words).

Hebrew and Greek lexicons are readily available online. The Strong's site we used in step 1 will also give you the Strong's definition of the word. Plus if you scroll down on the same site you will find Vine's - that is 2 definitions already, and two I always use!

A quick search for "Greek Lexicon" resulted in finding a great site called Bible Study Tools and their Greek Lexicon! It says it uses Kettle and Thayer, two of the ones I use in book form, so I think it is solid

But here is the biggest secret to make this step easy, or at least manageable: Most of the lexicons available are keyed to the Strong's number, so once you have that you can pretend to be a Biblical Linguistic scholar as you plug that into the sites and they give you the definition! No knowledge of Greek necessary! (It would allow you to go deeper, but for your personal study it is not required).

For a personal study I would recommend at least 3 definitions - and I have given you 3 sources above, so you could use those and be done! Or you could search form more sites, if you would like.

For an academic study it was recommended to me to use at least 7 definitions at a minimum, and that is still the standard I shoot for.

Therefore I always start with the Strong's definition, then go through all the ones available on my computer software, then the one in my Bible if it has one, and then any books I have.

When I was done my definitions looked like this, and it was kind of surprising what those definitions showed:

Lexicon’s/Bible Dictionaries

Strong’s – graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual); especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in life; inculding graditude: acceptable, benefit, favor, grace, joy, liberality, pleasure, thankworthy. (From 5463 chairo, verb; to be cheerful, to be well, to be glad, to rejoice)

NAS Greek – grace, kindness, blessing, concession, credit, favor, gift, graciousness, gratitude, thank, thankfulness, thanks

NIV Greek – grace, the state of kindess and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benfit given to the object; by extension; gift, benefit, credit; words of kindess and benefit: thanks, blessing

Thayer – good-will, loving-kindness, favor; the favor of Christ, assisting and strenghening his followers and ministers to bear their troubles.

Dr. Mills (from my Bible) – From the same root as chara “joy” and chairo, “to rejoice.” Charis causes rejoicing. It is the word for God’s grace as extended to sinful man. It signifies unmerited favor, undeserved blessing, a free gift.

Vine’s – friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindess, good will. On the part of the receiver a sense of favor bestowed a feeling of gratitude. To be in favor with is to find grace with.

Analytical Greek Lexicon – favor, acceptance, a gracious provision, free favor specially manifested by God towards man in the Gospel scheme, gracious dealing from God, a graciously vouchsaved spiritual position (specific to this verse)

Word – grace, particulary that which causes joy; of the grace, favor and goodwill of Christ as exercised toward men; every kind of favor, blessing, good, as proceeding from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; forgiveness of sin and reconcilliation to a Holy God.

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – you (Paul) will get no more grace because you need no more, the grace you have been given perfectly fills the need you have. Grace is the basis of justification. It is a gift.

Is there anything in these definitions that surprised you or changed your thinking a little bit? Anything that stands out?

Do you have any questions at this point because there are only 2 steps left, and these last two are the easier ones!

Multitude Monday 29

Monday February 7

• Monday morning, just our family, getting back on schedule
• A clear view of my disobedience before God as I discipline my daughter
• BSF intro night - it was wonderful, and it felt like my soul sighed in contentment
• ...plus I was able to get 5 weeks of back lessons!

Tuesday February 8

• joy of children being so happy to see me in the morning
• joy of friends just happy to see you, even though they knew you were coming
• joy of a hot cup of coffee while listening to children learn about art

Wednesday February 9

• Bible, BSF lesson, hot cup of coffee
• Cake
• Friends stopping in for tea, cake and a playdate!

Thursday February 10

• CSA box on our doorstep
• sunshine
• quiet day
• stack of books, cup of coffee

Friday February 11

• nap time and the silence it brings
• skating night - always a joy

Saturday February 12

• Leftover Valentines from a previous year for our daughters to give their friends at a party so we can hibernate today
• Take and bake pizza that is heart shaped
• Montreal/Toronto hockey game

Sunday February 13

• That a holy and awesome God would call a sinful woman like me His own, and call me by name!

370-389 and counting....

My Reading List 2011 - February Update

I started this year saying that I am going to be intentional in my reading this year, reading the Bible twice this year as well as a biography and spiritually challenging book each month. And shared my Original List in January, noting that I did not go very far out because that is a recipe for disaster as far as I am concerned as a new book catches my eye, or I feel the need to read about something or other for some reason and then my list is impossible and I get discouraged. And good thing too, because suddenly it seemed like I was a book magnet finding new books to read and books I had started and not finished!

Since I last updated I finished reading

Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham which was an excellent book! It was a delight to read and encouraged me so much! To hear how she lived her life in obedience to God, always seeking to grow in her relationship with Him and knowledge of His Word encouraged me to press forward! She was so humble and in reading this biography it made it feel like all Christians could accomplish what she did. It also strongly emphasized the importance of faithfulness in the every day of life! I loved this book, and will likely read it again soon.

I also finished

Release the Power of Jesus which gave me fresh perspective on praying for healing and really made me feel like this was indeed an area I was equipped to pray in!

I also read

True to His Word: The Story of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

I loved this book and it reminded me how much I love BSF - which is good because I returned Monday night for the last half of the study of Isaiah! To read of God's faithfulness in growing this ministry that encourages people to grow in God, His Word, and leadership to bless their churches. This is a ministry that thinks of itself as the arm of the church. They are in no way wanting to compete with Church programs, rather they want to equip Christians so that they can bless their churches! I cannot recommend this book or BSF enough! But I might be biased! :-)

Currently Reading:

Bible - I am reading on a 6 month plan that I made up and am on track.

Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long

This devotional was a gift and I am loving it! I start with this one, and no, it is not uncommon for me to use two devotionals to start my quiet time!

My Utmost for His Highest - Deluxe (DELUXE CHRISTIAN CLASSICS)

I love this devotional - at the end of last year I simply moved my bookmark back to the beginning. Unbelievably rich!

When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage This is the book on our Church book table that our pastors are highly recommending, and I can see why, it is excellent! The author uses a conversational style to discuss and share deep truths! I am a big believer in preventative maintenance and every marriage would benefit from this book!

Reluctant Entertainer, The: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality Our new home will have room for hospitality, and I want to do a good job at this, but have a hard time finding a balance. This book is excellent, and I am enjoying it tremendously! This was a book that disappeared between my night stand and my Bible reading bag because it is a larger size! I am so glad I rediscovered it!

Mommy Manual, The: Planting Roots That Give Your Children Wings This was a book that disappeared and reappeared. I am slowly working my way through it because it is rich.

The Complete Tightwad Gazette

This is a huge book, and I am almost half way through it. I read a bit, then put it aside for a bit and then pull it out again. Lots of great tips for saving money - I can see why it is referred to as the top resource for making changes to save money! While some of the ideas are a bit extreme, she is up front about saying that not all the ideas work for her either! It is about finding what works for you and your family.

Inkspell (Inkheart)

I picked up this whole series at Costco in hardcover with each book being under $7! I had read the first one while Miss Pear was recovering from her surgery last winter, and loved it, but I had to finish the first one up fast when we were suddenly moving and I had to return the borrowed copy. So now I have the full set and am slowly reading through it. While this second book is good, it is not as good as the first book, Inkheart, or at least not yet. I had buried this book under other ones and was pleased to discover it under my stack of books and look forward to reading it again!

On the To Be Read Pile (prioritized, the whole pile would be a book in itself!)

The Normal Christian Life

Friendship for Grown-Ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives

The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life

Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi (Compass)

The Hidden Art of Homemaking

For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life

Books I Finished in February 2011

True to His Word: The Story of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

Books I have finished in January 2011:

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting

Release the Power of Jesus

Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham

CSA Box This Week

This morning my CSA box showed up at my door again - how wonderful is that! And it delights the girls to retrieve the yummy box.

When I was reviewing the box this week I realized that I wanted to keep it easy for us, nothing too thought provoking or challenging to figure out! Plus with the yuck in our house last week I still had some veggies and fruit to use up.

So our box this morning contained the following:

Box Contents
Cucumbers, Organic - 2 each
Garnet Yams, Organic - 3 pounds
Broccoli, Organic - 1 bunch
Yellow Onions, Organic - 3 each
Garlic, Organic - 3 each
Roma Tomatoes, Organic - 1.5 pounds
Green Leaf Lettuce, Organic - 1 bunch
Grapefruit, Organic - 3 each
Navel Oranges, Organic - 6 each
Mangos, Organic - 2 each
Minneola Tangelos, Organic - 6 each
Gala Apples, Organic - 5 each

In addition, the following Green Grocer items are scheduled to be in your order:

Qty.	Item
1	Celery, Organic - 1 bunch/order.

A big salad will be made with the lettuce, cucumbers, and roma tomatoes from the box along with some sweet peppers and carrots I have on hand.

There is lots of fruit for snacks and desserts.

Broccoli will be simply steamed for a side dish, and the sweet potatoes roasted for another side dish.

Nothing fancy this week, and that is just how we need it!

What our CSA Box Looks Like

I have been talking about my love for our CSA box for a while now, and FINALLY remembered to take pictures the last delivery!

When I open my box I am greeted with this:

A box of organic fruits and veggies and almost no packaging! (I reuse bags that I have at home to store my fruits and veggies.)

My first order of business is to always unpack everything and check to make sure everything is there and of the quality they have spoiled us to expect, when I am done it looks like this:

The brown paper bag was the only packaging in the box and it is protecting the zucchini. In this picture you will find:

Box Contents
Garnet Yams, Organic - 3 pounds
Bunched Carrots, Organic - 1 bunch
Zucchini, Organic - 1.75 pounds
Green Onions, Organic - 2 bunches
Red Bell Peppers, Organic - 2 each
Green Cabbage, Organic - 1 each
Romaine Lettuce, Organic - 1 bunch
Yellow Onions, Organic - 3 each
Minneola Tangelos, Organic - 6 each
Gala Apples, Organic - 6 each
Navel Oranges, Organic - 6 each
Pink Lady Apples, Organic - 5 each

What I am always amazed at is the lack of dirt in our box! It is rare I need to wash anything before I store it!

Does this make you want a CSA box too? How do you find the fresh fruits and veggies you need for your family?

Grace Word Study Step 2

Last week we looked at why anyone can do a solid word study and completed step 1. All from the comfort of your home with the power of the internet - step 2 is no different! All done from home, and if you are like me, it means it was done in sweats and slippers with a cup of something hot and yummy assisting!

The next thing I like to do is compile a selection of different translations of the same verse. For an academic version of this you should shoot for at least 7, and considering how easy this step is going to be, you might want to do 7 or more! But for a personal study 3 or 4 translations would certainly be good.

Why do I say this is so easy? Well, even if you don't have a number of Bible translations on your shelf or Bible software on your computer there are a lot of great sites out there that make it very easy to get as many translations as you want! For an online reference I most often use Bible Gateway where you can search by verse and then simply keep changing the translation. Plus it has the LOVELY benefit of making it possible for you to simply copy and paste into your document - the key reason I do this whole study in a Word document!

Again, as you copy and paste your copies of your verses in, be sure to bold the word you are looking at!

When I was done this portion of my document looked like this:

Translations

NAS95S – And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

NLT – Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

KJV – And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

NIV – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

AMP – But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Message – My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

NRSV – but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

NIRV – My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

ESV – But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

At this point you will notice a few things:

Yes, I really did use 9 translations, but I did this for a couple key reasons. First, I am actually looking at the word sufficient in this verse as well, so as I collected verses I collected with that word in mind to - and then copied it into the other document. It makes life much easier if you want to look at 2 words in the same verse that you do the two studies in tandem for both this step and another step that I will show you in 2 weeks. Plus, I love looking at the Bible in multiple translations, it really helps me to grasp more of what the meaning is.

Second, you will note that in the Amplified version (Amp) there is a parenthasis right in the Bible verse that explains the word grace. This version does that a lot, and so it is ALWAYS helpful to include it, even if it might not be your favorite study translation.

Any questions? Is anything jumping out at you at this point yet?

Multitude Monday 28

I am loving doing this every week! Somehow last year when I started I was not exactly on top of things with Miss Pear's heart surgery, husband's job change, and moving and whatnot. But now that I am doing this every week it is having a HUGE impact on my outlook on things!

Monday January 31

• A morning upstairs at my desk to get caught up on stuff while...
• ...my MIL plays with the girls
• A friend stopping by to pick up some books for tomorrow morning and completely cheering me up from my "I feel yucky and the girls are sick too" funk.

Tuesday February 1

• MIL making a delicious supper
• 2 sick girls finally seeming on the mend
• The lovely option of just staying home today and hibernating!

Wednesday February 2

• Being a little slower to get out of bed this morning (did I mention my MIL rocks!)
• My MIL
• Awesome Bible study resources online! Strongs, Lexicons, tons of translations!

Thursday February 3

• Costco shopping with help
• All the errands run and home by 11AM
• Turkey roller sandwiches from Costco and carrot sticks for lunch - I love those little sandwiches and hardly ever buy them so it is a great treat!
• My reading girl who team read
• Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! with me!....
• ....accompanied by lots of snuggles!

Friday February 4

• Silliness in the kitchen with Grandma helping the girls make chocolate cake
• It only taking one simple phone call and one simple call back 20 minutes later to get a CD of Baby's x-rays sent to me - something that we thought we had worked out but did not, and that the new doctor could not get even with my signature that I thought would take all morning. Such a blessing!

Saturday February 5

• Even though it is very sad to see my MIL go, she is coming back after we move to help with the last boxes and the nitty gritty details that she is so good at!
• Out for lunch to cheer up sad little girls who love their grandma
• Soft pillows, warm quilt, Bible.

Sunday February 6

• Worshipping the Lord with our Church family
• A little friend taking Lord's Supper for the first time!
• A rainy day - yes, still a treat for me
• Warm sweats, hot coffee, and a hockey game with my husband.
• Quiet at home with my family.

344-369

Because Life Happens

This has been an interesting week. It is the last one of my MIL visiting, the girls are recovering from colds, they shared with my MIL and I, we went to Costco, and that was our week.

Seriously, that is the whole list. With lots of reading and snuggles mixed in.

Unless you count this morning when I made a stack of phone calls regarding medical stuff for the girls. Nothing earth shattering, just taking care of the picky details which ended up being blessedly easier than expected.

Plus we organized the Playmobile toys yesterday afternoon.

It is one of those weeks where life just marched on and my computer fell down the priority scale.

Right now I am listening to the fun sounds of Grandma baking with the girls. Hysterical!

It is one of those things in life that is simple and joy filled.

And when I slow down, and am gentle with myself (rather than hold unrealistic expectations) I find that much of life is simple and joy filled.

So I wish you that this weekend. Simple days filled with joy.

Grace Word Study Step 1

Today we are just going to do the very first step. And honestly, when I start, this is usually as far as I go.

Step 1: Picking a Verse and a Word

For this study I chose 2 Corinthians 12:9 because that is the verse that is most meaningful to me right now, and the idea of God's grace being sufficient is especially comforting!

I begin by open up a Word document on my computer and entering the following:

Month and Year: January 2011

The verse:

2 Corinthians 12:9 – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (NKJV)

I am always sure to bold the word I want to look at. (And if you are doing this with me, help yourself out by noting which translation you used - I recommend using the translation you normally use at this point).

I chose grace.

Now I get the Strong's concordance number (this saves you a TON of work). If you don't have a Strong's Concordance at home, that is fine, it is available online here. Be sure to record both the Strong's number and the transliteration of the word (that means the greek or hebrew word written with english letters)

In this case the Strong's number is 5485 and the transliteration is charis

That is it, we are done step 1. Your page should look kind of like this:

Date: January 2011

2 Corinthians 12:9 – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (NKJV)

Strong’s # 5485 charis

That's it! Any questions?

Word Study Introduction

Too often when I talk to friends about Bible study I often a similar sentiment, that they want to really study the Bible, to really dig deep, but they are not Bible scholars so it is beyond their ability.

Really?

Let me give you a tip....

...do you belong to God?

...do you own a Bible? (or at least have access to one?)

If you said yes to those questions guess what? You are fully equipped to be a Biblical scholar.

AND, if you have a seminary near by, or your church has a well stocked library, or you have a buddy with a well stocked library who will share, you are in even better shape! Plus the internet is an incredible source of information that will help you!

There are a few kinds of in-depth study I enjoy, so while I go through it I am going to post how to do it here, kind of a sharing of my work.

We are going to start with a word study. Now if you saw the word studies I shared, you might immediately say, "I cannot do that! It is too much!" Gee, you sound just like me when I first saw what I had to do!

But you can do this, I assure you it is true! How do I know this? Because I can do it.

Therefore I invite you to do this along with me! I will go through step by step and you can either follow along with me, do it along with me, or do your own going through step by step with me.

In the next post I will share the first step!