Posted on

Missionary Monday – An Adoption Story

This morning my girls and I were reading about John Wycliffe and Johannes Gutenberg.  We were asked to remember that even though men like this and their achievements etched out a place in human history, in the moment, they probably did not feel like they were doing anything grand.  They woke up each day, ate breakfast, went to work and came home.  They put their pants leg on one at a time, if you will.  Sure, God used their lives in extraordinary ways, but sometime we get caught up too much in the extraordinary nature of the events.

Superman is fun to watch on a screen, but he doesn’t inspire us to fly because we know it is outside of the realm of possibility for us.

In order for us to learn from those we see as inspirational or even heroes , we must remember that they are ordinary people.  They have to be human.  We have to see flaws and limitations in order to be able to say, “They did it – I can do it too.” We have to see something in their life that is relatable to our own.

I pray that the people I write about on Missionary Mondays can do that in your life.  That they would be relatable and inspiring to us all, not in the realm of superman that we would say, “That’s awesome, but I could never do that.”

This series was inspired by a series of messages at Passion City Church called People of the Fine Print.

I hope to shine a light on normal people that are going through their lives, making  a difference for Christ in their little corner.  They have no idea the impact their lives will have.  Their names may never be written in the history books, but they are forever impacting the people God has placed in their path.

Today is the story of the Odell family who has a passion for children!  I met Carrie while we were stationed at West Point.  Carrie and her husband Joey have twelve children: eight biological and four adopted from China (and a brand new daughter-in-law!).

I recently talked with Carrie about adoption and big family life! I hope you are inspired by their story!  As believers we are ALL called to care for the fatherless (Is. 1:17).  Consider how the Lord would have you to respond as you read!

To read more of their story about each of their adoptions, you can read their blog here.

The Odell Family

S: Twelve kids! Did you always want a big family?

Carrie: I was an only child! I always played with at least a half a dozen Cabbage Patch Kids and didn’t like not having siblings- I wanted friends over all the time, and I always wanted to have several children. When Joey and I got married, we said we wanted six, and no one believed us! They all said we’d stop after two or three. Once we got to six, we thought, well, what’s one more..and one more…etc, etc, and now we have double what we set out to have!

S: What led you to adoption?

Carrie: Before we got married, we discussed adoption as something we would do “someday”, and I was totally comfortable with that.  Almost ten years later, Joey and I each read three books that brought to life what we already knew to be true from the Bible: Stop Dating the Church, Crazy Love and Radical– followed by me finally reading Adopted for Life. What a much needed jolt to my spirit! God called me to so much more than my comfortable life here and now. I do not want to stand before Him someday ashamed that I lived for me and my own desires. I want to live for Him and His glory and share in His eternal and global perspective. The Lord continue to worked on my heart during a retreat and asked me if I really believed all children were a blessing, or just my own (the ones I could have biologically)? One morning Joey and I actually put into words what we were both knowing we were supposed to do: it was time for us to start the process to adopt. I was still scared, but I knew that saying no to God was not an option anymore.

As soon as I submitted to God and gave up the fight, He filled me with a desire and a passion and now I want to adopt. It truly is amazing how quickly this happened- it was almost instantaneous. I went from saying no way, I can’t do that and I could have told you a million reasons why it was a crazy idea (and I can still do that in my weak moments of doubt and worry!) to having a heart realizing God’s love for precious children around the world who need a family to love them.

S: Why did you choose to adopt internationally?

Carrie: There was never a question about domestic vs. International for us. We had no idea which country, agency, or any of the logistics, we just knew God was calling us to go completely out of our comfort zone and embark into the unknown world of international adoption- we had no choice but to trust and obey in faith. For our family, part of our “Great Commission” calling is to go into ‘all the world’ and bring a child into our family to love and share the love of Christ. This was one aspect of our hearts’ desire to adopt Internationally. We also knew we were supposed to choose a country that was restricted or hostile to the gospel. While there are so many who need homes right here in America, at least these children are in a country with great opportunity and a chance to hear the truth of God’s word. It is just not like that in approximately 54 other countries around the world. Here is a short link to read about China.

S: What can others do for adoptive families?

Carrie: First, just realize that it’s really hard- harder than when someone comes home from the hospital with a new baby. The new child doesn’t sleep like a new baby a lot of the time, jet lag is more brutal than postpartum, and it’s completely exhausting.

Bring meals, have a shower/gifts for the new child, but keep space initially as the family “cocoons” in the home and bonds with the child. The parents need to be the only caregiver initially, so people need to realize that holding/feeding/taking care of a newly adopted child is a big no-no, even relatives and close friends. Only immediate family as the new child has to learn what a family is, and who is in it.

S: What would you say to others that are looking into adoption?

Carrie:  Start reading: Adopted for Life, Crazy Love and Radical. Read your Bible. Pray. Seek the counsel of others who have walked this road before.

Then, you need to choose an agency. The placing agency (the one who matches you with a child) does not have to be in your state of residence. We highly recommend Lifeline! Your home study agency DOES have to be in your state. Your placing agency will help you find a home study agency, or they may do the home study themselves if you are located in the same state. Or, if you have a heart for a certain country, start there and find an agency that does that particular country. We did a lot of internet searching in the beginning to find out the requirements in each country, the number of trips required and time in country, etc, etc. Your agency will hold your hand through every step of the process and the agency payments are very manageable as they are spread out over time. Once your home study is complete you can begin the above fundraising as you look forward to travel, when the bulk of the money is due.

To read more of their story about each of their adoptions, you can read their blog here.

Posted on

How I Find Rest – A Pastor’s Wife’s Perspective

I’m excited to welcome my dear friend Tara Vinson as a guest blogger today!  Tara and I met while our family was stationed at Fort Campbell.  She is a pastor’s wife and mama of three beautiful girls!

Tara is continuing our series about rest – what it means and what it looks like in her own life.

I hope you are enjoying this series and walk away with practical tips to implement in your own life!

 

Knowing I need to rest and actually doing it are two totally different things. It can be as elusive as knowing I need to eat better or exercise more without doing what I need to do to make it happen.

Then, often inside my brain, when I try to rest finding it can be just as challenging and elusive. Like the insomniac being able to find sleep, dealing with the inner monologue of my constantly striving brain can keep me from finding the rest I need.

Like Stephanie has written, “resting” is commanded. God designed us to need rest -so we should have faith that He can handle things -all things- and be able to rest in Him. Saying it and knowing it is one thing . . .  Being able to do it, to have the faith required to rest, is something else entirely.

If you were to drop by on Sunday afternoon, you would find us all in the middle of an activity the we have entitled “Sunday Siesta.” Everyone one of us would be found in a horizontal position. There may or may not be snoring, but each of us has our own space and the house is most definitely quiet.

As my husband is in the ministry, Sunday is very much a work day. We try to protect a couple of hours of our Sunday afternoons for this time of rest, but if I am being totally honest, most Sundays my siesta isn’t very restful.

I am dealing with my inner voice listing all the things that need to be done around the house that I didn’t get to the day before. Then I start compiling the list of all that needs to be done that evening to prep for another busy week running from commitment to commitment. And I can’t forget the meal prep and grocery list that has come to resemble the never-ending task of doing laundry for 5 people.

I may be laying down and even snuggled under a fleece blanket of my choosing, but the bombardment of all the things I “should” be doing makes evasive the rest I so desperately need.

Then there are my expectations.  Most of those I have put on myself. The other expectations I wrestle, I have unintentionally allowed other people to place on my shoulders. They shape the things I feel like I should be doing. They motivate my planning and shape my hopes. Expectations are incredibly heavy. . .

Too often my expectations seem to be married to my own comparisons.  You know when I feel lousy about myself because “she” seems to have it all together. These comparisons keep me striving to measure up to some illusion of perfection that keeps evaporating before my eyes like a desert mirage. Looking to my right and left keep me busy judging and condemning or coveting and discontent.

Where’s the gratitude? The contentment? The peace?

The rest?

I can’t say that I have found the perfect formula to keep my Sunday Siesta from becoming a legalistic check-mark on my weekly to-do list. However, in the last year or so really I have found that rest can be found not just on a Sunday afternoon – but throughout the crazy, busy weeks of real life.

I am not “New Age” and I don’t support the idea of traditional meditation, inward focusing for the achievement of inner peace and a state of tranquility – but I believe will all my heart that rest can be found and achieved and kept in Christ.

When I am intentional to be in His Word and focus my heart upon the gospel – I experience rest and all the benefits that come along with it.

Don’t get me wrong. It is a struggle. It is NOT simple.

The voice in my head does not simply turn off when I open my Bible or begin to pray. In fact, sometimes, many times, it gets louder, screaming even for my attention.

Yet with a steady diet of Bible study, my faith grows and then so does my ability to rest.

I can combat those comparisons with the truth I read this morning that tells me how much God loves me and how He created ME with purpose and intentionality. I am not supposed to be like so-and-so. Plus, He will gently point out that it is by His grace alone that I am where I am in my relationship with Him. Who am I to judge someone else?

Through studying the truth of His Word, I am reminded that He is powerful and capable. My worries are minor to Him. He is already in tomorrow and the next day and the next week. He speaks to my soul, gently reassuring me that the things that really count will be accomplished and I should hold “my” plans loosely so He can work in and through me for my good by His good pleasure and for His glory.

He gently asks me “Who is judging the cleanliness of your floors? Or how balanced your kids’ breakfasts are?” His Word shows me what He has deemed important and tells me the things that He says I should be doing or not doing.

His Word is powerful (Romans 1:16-17) and productive (2 Timothy 3:16-17) . His Word, like manna, is the daily diet we need (Deuteronomy 8:3).

I knew these truths in my head. BUT the voice in my head told me that I was too busy to be in the Word. The voice also stroked my prideful ego and tried to tell me that I knew enough of God’s Word and I didn’t really need it. The voice told me I could do it on my own.

I found myself more weary and tired. The full life that Christ came and died to give me became a facade I was trying desperately to hold up. As a minister’s wife, a church preschool director and a “good” Christian, I felt the heavy expectations that I had to.  I was allowing Satan to steal and destroy the rest I needed, that I was commanded to have.

It is easy for me to still give Satan that power to tempt me into doubting God’s Word. Now weariness and worry become my indicators that I am not resting. A quick evaluation will point out to me that I am not focusing on the Word. (Note: I can be “in” the Word and reading it, but not  truly believing it or applying it!)

In Psalms, it says that He is my hiding place and my shield, that my hope is in His Word. (Ps. 119:114) When the battle is heavy, I can hide in Him and find my protection there because I know His Word is true. His Word tells me that He will finish what He has started and there will be a time when I don’t have to struggle to rest. It WILL come super-naturally for me.

 

Today, as I type this, it is Sunday. I got up real early to have some rest time in the Word, to focus on God. The sun has quietly risen and my heart is now ready to worship with my church family. After teaching Sunday school and listening to my husband preach I will feed my children lunch and we will have Sunday Siesta.

Tomorrow morning, as the sun, Lord-willing, again rises, I will meet with Him again to rest before the chaos of a new school/work/home week begins.

On and through both of these days I will ask Him to help me seek His face and His will -because His word tells me too. It also assures me that He will listen and He will answer. He will grow my faith and show me how His Word applies.

My hope for rest is in His Word. It is there I find who He is and who I am to Him. My strivings cease. My worries fade. I am rejuvenated and renewed. I rest.

Posted on

What’s in the Bible

Veggies Tales is a staple in many young families – wholesome, fun stories told and sung by vegetables.  What’s not to love, right?

Did you know Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales, produced another line of DVDs and materials?  They are called What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver.

These are favorites in our house! 

The 13-part DVD set walks through each book of the Bible giving highlights, stories, basic doctrine, and even church history with plenty of catchy songs!  (My kids know the kings of Judah and all the judges thanks to these clever songs!)

Phil Vischer says about the series:
“Biblical illiteracy is a huge problem in the church today as far too many kids are growing up without a clear understanding of their own faith. The What’s in the Bible? video series is an effort to provide kids a foundational knowledge of the Bible and of their faith that can launch them on a lifelong walk with God—a journey that will change them and change the world around them.”

The doctrine is kept at a pretty macro level, which provides a great launching pad for teaching more in-depth doctrine and beliefs for each family.  It provides a great foundational understanding that kids and adults both can find useful.

If you lead children’s church or Sunday school, these would be great additions to any lesson.  Chad even used a section on justification in our adult Sunday School class in New York!  They have a variety of curriculum options, including VBS.

Posted on

The Nine Commandments

Growing up I memorized The Ten Commandments.  They seemed pretty straight forward – don’t kill, don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t worship idols.  Maybe it was just me, but I tended to skip over one.

 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

I think I assumed this commandment didn’t apply to me.  After all, we are under grace now, not the law, right?

In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul reminds us clearly that we are not under the law, bound to rules and regulations, but under grace.  Christ fulfilled the law perfectly – the law that we had no hope to keep.  His perfection is now offered to us through salvation.    However, as believers today, The Ten Commandments are still  incredibly applicable to our walk.  So what’s the deal with this commandment?

David Guzik gives three purposes of the law for us today:

  • It is a guardrail, keeping humanity on a moral path.
  • It is a mirror, showing us our moral failure and need for a savior.
  • It is a guide, showing us the heart and desire of God for His people.

God has chosen to communicate with us through words – words matter.  More words are given to this commandment than any other.  This gives us a clue that it is important and should not be brushed aside.

So using the Word of God has a guide and mirror in our lives, what should we do with the fourth commandment?  Should we observe a sabbath? Do we bind ourselves with a legalistic set of rules to follow?  Does it just mean we should go to church one day a week?

God provided an example to us in Genesis 2:3:  “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

Spiritually, Jesus is our sabbath – we can find rest in Him every day, as we discussed last week.

Practically, God knew our bodies needed rest.  He designed us this way.  Contrary to American norms, we are not robots, designed to be in a constant state of work.  Our bodies and our minds need regular times of rest and renewal.

Growing up, I felt like the message from the pulpit was almost the complete opposite.  The culture of our church pushed us to volunteer and the size of the church often meant, in order to keep ministries going, you had to volunteer in multiple positions.  My perfectionist drive pushed me to willingly piled up responsibilities and expectations, but more often than not, it was done out of a spirit of duty and obligation.  At times I even viewed missing church due to sickness or vacation was weak at best and ungodly at worst.  Rest never factored into my thoughts or plans.

With this perspective, it is no wonder that in recent years I have been captivated by the idea of rest.  Whether its ministry, work, family, sports or school – God did not design us to live of life constantly at full throttle.  We need  time to slow down, to be quiet, to be alone.  I’m not even talking about vacations (vacation with four young kids is anything but restful!).

A time of rest would be a time to unwind, release the pressure of the day, relax our bodies and minds, connect with our loved ones and quiet the noise around us long enough to hear from God.  A time of renewal, admitting that we cannot do it all on our own, positioning our hearts, minds and schedules to reflect our true source of power and strength.

Throughout Scripture God tells us to be still.  Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God:”

In tithing, we give a percentage of our money to God, trusting that He can meet our needs with what we have left.  What if we viewed the idea of rest and sabbath in the same way?  What if we carved out time in our schedule (above and beyond daily quiet times) to allow our bodies and minds to rest?  Could we trust God to multiply our remaining time to accomplish the things we needed to accomplish?

Things to ponder today given what we’ve seen in Scripture:

How often are you quiet and still? (sleeping does not count…)

How would you define rest?

Do you view rest as a need or a luxury?

Does your personal/family schedule reflect the value of rest?

Do you have a regular time each week to set aside work and allow your body and mind to rest? If not, what would it take to make time for it?

Posted on

Styling Fireflies – Top 3 Styling Tips

What We Love Wednesday – Styling Fireflies              Top 3 Styling Tips

Anyone else cleaning out closets this week?? In our house, my kids call it “The Great Clothes Changeover.”  It is my least favorite chore, but I always feel better when things are organized and fresh clothes are ready for a new season!

I’m excited to welcome Kat McNeal back to the blog today!  She’s bringing us 3 tips to remember as we pullout, refresh and rebuild our fall wardrobes!

I am honored that Stephanie asked me to follow-up after the August blog post. With the holiday season upon us, the white space on our calendars begins to disappear as it fills with events and social demands making it an annual struggle to keep Jesus the reason for the season.

The last thing we have time to do is go wardrobe shopping to accommodate our countless invitations. However, as women we have a natural desire to feel beautiful because we are called to display His image. Therefore, we want to make an effort to let His light shine through us. Thus, Matthew 5:16, is the mission of Styling Fireflies

.

With this in mind, I want to share 3 style tips that all women can apply this season, and every season, to create a style with ease and help us look our best:

 

  1. Match your shoe color to your hair color! Gone are the days of finding shoes to match your outfit. When your shoes match your hair, they will compliment every outfit you wear. Imagine yourself as a picture frame. Your head and feet are the frame; your face is the picture. When you create this visual balance, you become the object of attention, so don’t forget to smile!

Recommend: 1 hair color pair of flats or boots/booties to pair with jeans, leggings, and dresses. No matter the event, this 1 pair of shoes will match your outfit, because they match you!

 

  1. 3-to-POP! When it comes to accessorizing, add 3 accessories every day to complete your style. This could simply be a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a dash of lip color, and out the door you go!! Taking just a moment to add simple accessories will give you that polished look even in jeans and a T-shirt.

Recommend: 1 pair of gold or silver hoops or studs, 1 cuff or bangle bracelet, and purse that matches your hair color. (Same rule above applies to your purse too).

 

  1. Less is more! If you do decide to do a little personal shopping for all the social demands of the season, keep in mind that every wardrobe purchase should coordinate with 3 other items in your closet. Found a new red floral blouse you love, but debating if you should spend the money?? Ask yourself if it will go with at least 2-3 items you already own…a pair of jeans, layered under a denim jacket or blazer, or with your black cropped pants…then your answer is “Yes.” Following this simple tip will help you build a larger selection of style with fewer pieces and relieve you from standing in your closet feeling like you have nothing to wear.

Recommend: Start with the basics.  Great wardrobe staples, i.e. jeans, navy and gray pants/skirts) create the foundation for more style selections. Are you an “App Girl”?  Stylebook is a great app to organize your closet and keep track of what you already own.

 

I pray this advice brings you confidence and simplicity as well as offers guidance on how to be a stylish steward, not only during the holidays but all year long!

Follow Kat on Instagram and Pinterest for more style trends and tips!

http://stylingfireflies.com

SaveSave

Posted on

Longing for Rest

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

What comes to your mind when you hear the word rest? What do you picture?

If you are a parent, you probably envision your pillow. (Maybe a pillow in a quiet hotel room away from the kids…now that would be true rest!)  Maybe you envision a vacation, a spa, a nanny or a housecleaner.

I picture the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean.  The gentle tide ebbing against the sand as the glowing sunshine beams down.

Do you long for rest?  Do you ever press pause on your life long enough to think about it?  Is it elusive?  Do we really need it?

As a mom of young kids, trying to juggle responsibilities as a wife, mom, teacher and writer often leaves me exhausted.  I have often wondered if exhaustion is normal, just par for the course in this season of life.  As I press deeper into my heart however, I have discovered that it isn’t just physical exhaustion that weighs upon my shoulders.  It is my soul that is weary; like my inner being has done one too many deadlifts and can’t seem to make it up the stairs without crawling.

When I look in Scripture I see that the Lord has promised abundant life, joy, rest and peace, yet in this season, the weariness seems at times to overwhelm me. 

And I can’t help but think that I am not alone.  

Over the next weeks I want to invite you to study the idea of rest with me.  What is it?  What does it look like in daily life?  How do we achieve it?

Merriam-Webster gives distinct definitions of the word rest:

1:  repose, sleep; specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
2 a :freedom from activity or labor
b : a state of motionlessness or inactivity
c : the repose of death
3: a place for resting or lodging
4: peace of mind or spirit

Few would argue that our American, 21st century way of life promotes any significant form of rest as stated in those definitions.

Let’s take a look at each one more closely.

#1 – repose, sleep; specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities

Sleep.  There is an undercurrent in our society that seems to tell us that sleep is for the weak.  It is almost a badge of honor to burn the candle at both ends.  Sometimes our children or jobs require us to push through a hard day or season with little sleep to accomplish a specific purpose.  However, too often, this becomes a pattern.  We forfeit hours of sleep, thinking our bodies can function on 4-5 hours of sleep, when studies show that our bodies need more.

Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep every night in order to function well.  Children need even more.

(Just a few resources for further study on sleep: Sleep Foundation, Sleep Does a Family Good.)

#2 – a :freedom from activity or labor, b : a state of motionlessness or inactivity

As a mom of young kids, this definition is tough to even comprehend because I think this type of rest for moms is simply unachievable unless you are alone!

Typically, this would be our leisure time, whether at home or on vacation.  A time to put aside the to-do list and rest.  Relax.  Unwind.

#2, part 2 – c : the repose of death

Well, there ya go.  There is hope for rest for us all!

#3 – a place for resting or lodging

The cabana on the Caribbean Beach or the lodge in the mountains!

#4 – peace of mind or spirit

If we are honest, this is the deepest yearning of our souls.  To be at rest and peace when we lay our head on our pillows at night.  To have an inner haven from the outward striving and pushing and work.

In Matthew 11, Jesus speaks the words our souls long to hear:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Jesus invites us to a place where our minds and our spirits are at rest.

“Come to me” is an invitation tells us that true rest cannot be found outside of Him.  The cabana on the beach will not give our souls rest.  No trip to the spa or day of shopping or fishing will give us the rest we truly crave.  Dear friends, if we are longing for rest, we can only find it at the feet of Jesus.  First through surrendering our lives to Him as Lord through salvation and then continually trading our lives for His everyday.

“All ye that labour and are heavy laden” gives us an insight into what makes our souls weary and tired.

“Labor” here has a good connotation.  Laboring and working hard as Galatians 6:9 instructs us.  There are many good things that we are to be doing.  II Thes. 3:10, Prov. 19:15, Rom. 12:10-11 all exhort us to work diligently unto the Lord.

“Heavy laden” has a completely different meaning.  It means to be burdened or weighed down with burdensome religious requirements.  It is only used one other time in Scripture in Luke 11:46 when Jesus rebukes the leaders of the day for burdening the people with an impossible standard of rules and laws.

What is so beautiful is that the Lord invites us to rest, no matter what is causing us to be tired.  He knows that we will be tired from the work that is necessary to do.  He knows we will be weary from burdening ourselves with expectations and pressures we were never meant to fulfill.

No matter what the cause, He is the answer.  He invites us to lay our burdened and tired selves down at His feet.

“Take my yoke” – Oxen are made to work.  They are not leisure animals.  Before the fall of man in Genesis, we see God instructing Adam to work.  The curse of the fall was not work itself, but that it would be difficult.
A well-fitted yoke is a blessing to the animal, providing the boundaries and guidance for it to work well.  A good parent provides boundaries and guidance for his child, in the same way our Heavenly Father gives us guidance and instructions for our good.

“Learn from me” – A young oxen would always be paired with an older, more experienced oxen.  Two young oxen paired together would equal chaos and frustration for the farmer.  A young oxen, when paired with an older oxen, could learn his ways and walk in His steps.  No striving, no fighting, no pressure to achieve.  All the young oxen needed to do was follow.

“I am meek and lowly in heart” – Our Lord defines himself as a humble servant, willing to carry the weight our burden.

“and ye shall find rest for your souls” – He lays out the prescription for the rest we need – trading our burdens for His.  What a sweet hope!

He is not calling us to a life of leisure, but to work from a place of rest as we lay aside our striving in exchange for rest, trust and hope in Him.

Take a moment to listen to this song.  Today take hope.  We have a Savior that has promised us rest.

(Study notes and commentaries used)

Posted on

How I Get Dinner on the Table Every Night – What We Love Wednesday

I am passionate about helping families gather around the table.  Whether it’s sharing a recipe, selling Pampered Chef products, planning freezer meal workshops, teaching workshops about meal planning – I strive to share practical advice and encouragement to help provide tools to make family dinners more feasible for busy families.

Multiple studies have shown measurable benefits to regular family dinners, including:

  • Better academic performance
  • Higher self-esteem
  • Greater sense of resilience
  • Lower risk of substance abuse
  • Lower risk of teen pregnancy
  • Lower risk of depression
  • Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders
  • Lower rates of obesity

(The Family Dinner Project is just one resource that highlights the benefits of regular family dinners. )

But how do you routinely get dinner on the table between kids in multiple activities and sports, plus church activities and busy work schedules?

One tool that I have found to be indispensable in this process is my Instant Pot.   (I have the Duo 7-1, 6 quart.) With just a little research, you will find that there is almost a cult following to the Instant Pot – recipes, Pinterest boards, Facebook groups, etc…

The Instant Pot is basically an electric pressure cooker, sauté pan and slower cooker in one.  Most models include other settings to make rice, yogurt, grains and beans.  It has a timer to allow you to program a delay start, a cooking time and it automatically goes to a warm setting once cooking is complete.

The huge advantage to an Instant Pot over a slow cooker is the time it takes to cook.  I can pull a bag of frozen soup I have prepped in my freezer, throw it in the Instant Pot with a piece of frozen chicken and it is done in less than 30 minutes.  I can cook 2 lbs of dry beans in 25 minutes with no soaking required and make perfectly cooked boiled eggs in 2 minutes!

The quality of cooking in a pressure cooker vs. a slow cooker is remarkable, especially when cooking meat.  I can cook a pot roast in about an hour instead of all day in the oven.  Plus it can cook while we are aren’t home!

Another feature that I love is the sauté feature.  I can brown meat for tacos, chili or spaghetti sauce right in the Instant Pot, throw in the remaining ingredients, set it to cook (to cook/warm the other ingredients) while we are at volleyball or soccer practice and dinner is waiting when we come home!  Best of all, there are no additional dishes to wash.

The company also firmly stands behind their products.  Two weeks ago I had a fatal error on my Instant Pot.  I contacted the company and they sent me a brand new unit, even though mine was outside the 1 year warranty!

I could go on and on, but it truly is a one pot wonder and worth the investment!  Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday normally feature the best prices, but occasionally sales can be found during other times of the year.

What are your favorite Instant Pot recipes or tips?

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

Posted on

Missionary Monday – A Compassion Story

I’m so excited to feature my friend Ali as today’s Missionary Monday!  We met her and her husband Eric and their kids while we were stationed at West Point.  Her story made such an impression on me of the impact at our finger tips through these organizations.  I encourage you to pray about how the Lord would have you respond as you read her story!

When I received Stephanie’s invitation to write a post for Missionary Monday, my first thought was “Did she really mean to ask me to write a blog post?  She must have gotten me mixed up with a different Ali who is involved with Compassion International.”  I almost responded right away with, “Are you sure??” And maybe I did, because one, I don’t consider myself a missionary and two, I’m definitely not a writer.

Aren’t missionaries the people who leave the country for years at a time to go start schools and live in the bush?  I’m sorry…I really like my air conditioning and queen-sized, bugless bed.  My husband is the aspiring writer in our family by authoring our annual Christmas letter. I only write teacher-notes, grocery and to-do lists — that’s it!  So I am completely humbled and honored to write as a guest on her blog.

Have you ever heard of Compassion International?  I hadn’t either until I was 22, on my wedding day (story to follow).  I was involuntarily signed up to be a child’s sponsor, which just goes to show that this isn’t about me.  It’s about God and His plans, how He knows what we need way before we do and way better than we do, and how He orchestrates our lives to achieve His purposes.  The following is the story of our involvement with Compassion International.

The first time I heard of Compassion International was from my husband when we got married.  I think it was actually on the altar after we had just said our “I do’s” when he snuck it in there…”I do…(now in a whispery voice) Oh, by the way, a female friend and I sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic through Compassion.  Since you and I are married now, it’s going to be your job to write her letters and make sure we send our monthly contribution (because that used to be my female friend’s job, and I decided to marry you, not her).  That cool with you?” Me: “Uh yea…I guess…isn’t this something you should have told me before we got married?!  So I just said ‘I do’ and all of a sudden I now have a child to sponsor in the Dominican Republic?!?  I didn’t sign up for this!”

 

Okay, it didn’t really happen exactly like that, but kind of, and I did start writing to our first sponsored child, Odannay, and sent our monthly support each month until she graduated the program.  I actually wasn’t a very “good” sponsor back then.  I didn’t write to her as much as I meant to, and at that time I didn’t totally grasp the importance of the sponsor-sponsored child relationship.  I just thought if we sent in our money and it helped her and her family that was enough.

 

We started sponsoring Manuela when she was 12.  She lived in La Romana, Dominican Republic, which is about an hour east of Santo Domingo.  I tried to write to her more often, but she definitely beat me in the letter-writing department.  I sent sporadic letters and our monthly contribution of $38 for a couple of years, until one day when everything changed…

 

It was 2011.  I had just started reading Ann Voskamp’s blog A Holy Experience, and one post in particular was about how she sponsored a Compassion child and was able to go on a group tour to visit her for the first time.  Her story about meeting that little girl was so beautiful I wept.  My eyes opened to what sponsorship could be about, something that I had actually wanted for years!  I realized it was so much more than just the monthly $38; yes, that definitely is an important aspect of it, but what it’s really about is a relationship with another human being, a child living in poverty, in a faraway place who may be just surviving.

 

That evening I told my husband about Voskamp’s post and that I thought we needed to go meet Manuela in person.  And if you know anything about my husband, he’s a DO-er.  I have to watch what I say around that guy.  The next thing I knew (well, after some background checks and applications and updating passports), we were on a plane to Santo Domingo to spend time with Compassion International Dominican Republic and Manuela.

Compassion DR’s Headquarters, August 2011

That trip to DR did three things for us.  First, it gave us a behind-the-scenes look at Compassion International’s headquarters.  We saw where all the in and out going letters were translated, the staff opened up their financial books to us, and we learned how the staff supports the various Compassion project sites around the country.  The crux of the organization’s success is how they partner with local churches, enabling their ministry to children not leading or forcing it.

Second, we walked through a “project site.”  This is the community center and tutoring program that our monthly contribution directly facilitates.  It includes academic and Bible instruction, a healthy meal, counseling services, and even vocational training.  In a devastating family emergency or natural disaster, the local church uses the infrastructure of the project site to provide for needs of the children and their families.  It was so inspiring to meet the half-dozen or so volunteers that nurture hundreds of children flowing through these facilities each day.

Finally, we experienced first-hand the life impact of Compassion.  When we walked inside the center I saw Manuela for first time, that little girl from the picture that hung on our refrigerator.  She had grown since the last photo I received of her, and her smile was beautiful.  Later, Manuela’s family invited us into their home, where they presented us with gifts, humongous avocados from their tree, and warmth and love only strangers who know Jesus can share.  To say that Eric and I were humbled by their hospitality, by the sacrifices they made to purchase gifts for us, by them opening up their small, bed-sheet-for-a-wall home to us, is such an understatement.

And then…Manuela left the room and brought back a box.  In it was all the letters I had ever written her.  All of them.

Manuela and me at her home in 2011

We visited Manuela two more times since then.  She graduated the Compassion program this past year and is now working to earn money so she can go to school to be an accountant.  Compassion arranged for us to say goodbye to her one last time when we visited in June.  Our final goodbye was so bittersweet.  We talked about how God used Compassion to grow Manuela into the young woman she now was, we praised Him for allowing us to be a part of each other’s lives for nine years, and we cried and embraced one last time.

We now sponsor a little girl our daughter’s age, named Hidekel, and a little boy, our son’s age, named Leudy, both from the Dominican Republic.  We brought our daughter, Glory, with us in June of this year so she could meet Hidekel.  They’re actually pen pals.  Hidekel always draws pictures of her and Glory playing together or as princesses outside a castle.  Watching them communicate despite the language barrier, marvel at aquarium fish, eat ice cream, laugh, be little kids together was a beautiful site, and my heart was full thinking about how God has let us be a small part of these children’s lives and how they are a part of ours.

At Hidekel’s project site in Santo Domingo, 2015

That’s what Compassion International is about.  It’s about the love between a sponsor and a child, the local church and Compassion centers being the hands and feet of Jesus, and releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name, one letter at a time.

 

I have so many more stories about how Compassion International has impacted the lives of our sponsored children, their families, and us.  I could write about how Compassion is such an efficient and above-board organization; how they invest over 80 cents of every dollar directly to sponsored children and Compassion programs.  I could list stats on the percentage of children who finish high school and then pursue higher education because of the Compassion program, the number of babies that survive their first year because of Compassion’s ministry to pregnant and new moms, about their clean water initiatives around the world, etc.  But I won’t include all of that here.  If you want to know more or learn how to sponsor a child, please go to www.compassion.com or contact me at alikat0630@gmail.com.

From L to R: Hidekel’s sister, our daughter Glory, Leudy, Hidekel, 2017

 

SaveSave

Posted on

What We Love Wednesday – Brute Force Sandbag

What We Love Wednesday – Brute Force Sandbags

A few months ago my husband announced, “I’m going to order you a sandbag.”  I rolled my eyes, but he insisted.

See, I used to go to the gym 4-5 days a week.  At my best in New York, I was consistently running, actually improving my times and training for my first triathlon.  I had two young kids and my husband was deployed – I had nothing but time for long workouts and routinely used my daily max of 2 hours for childcare at my local Y.

Fast forward six years and gym time is now basically impossible.  I know, I know…there are many homeschooling moms that consistently knock it out at the gym.  However, I’ve just struggled with how to fit in workouts consistently while juggling a baby that gets up at 6AM, nursing, naps, teaching school, making 456 meals and snacks a day, writing, co-ops, church responsibilities, etc…

Throwing school work in the car and going to the gym 3 mornings a week has just never worked for us and no matter what time I get up to workout, my little guy knows when my feet hit the floor.

I’ve done body weight type workouts at home for a while, but I had no accountability, no real plan and my fitness suffered.

Enter the sandbag.  As my husband promised, it has been the answer to my fitness needs at this stage in my life.

There are many different sandbags on the market, but we have the Brute Force Athlete bag, which holds up to 75 lb. of sand.  The bag comes with inner, removable bags that you fill with sand to your desired weight.

My favorite part is the accompanying app that provides daily workout.  They normally take less than 30 minutes and I can a lot of them in my house during nap times.  If a workout includes sprints, I either do them on my sidewalk or sub stair runs inside.

Since we move a lot, I love that we don’t have to haul around heavy kettle bells or weight benches.  When we are ready to move, we simply dump the sand out and pack the empty bags.

It may not be a crossfit gym or a 10 mile run – but it certainly gets the job done for this busy mom!  Maybe it could work for you too!

How do you fit workouts into your day?

SaveSave