Shayden photos

Here are the promised photos of our little star - who- by the way - just turned 2 1/2!

Before the haircut:

After:

This one was on Sunday. He doesn't normally go to sleep while eating his lunch (pumpkin soup), but I was so busy getting ready for guests that I sat him down just a bit later than usual - and this is what happened...

This was after his nap - trying to impress the guests with funny faces

...and when you're a little Maori boy, sticking out the tongue is part of the protocol...

(I don't have any photos looking from the side at his new haircut, just wanted to post these few photos now)

Randominium

Today, I went to a wedding, prayed and prayed for a friend who was having a baby (baby born just over an hour ago! YAY!!!) - - - and in the midst of this I realized how much NZ really has become home to me.

Once you get to be part of those special events in people's lives (have been at a funeral already, too) - you're making your HOME in that place - even though you've still got family all over the world! SO SPECIAL!!!

I feel soooooooo blessed and GRATEFUL for all the wonderful people in my life!!!

Oh yes, Shayden reached a milestone today: he got his first hair cut!!!! He was so good, holding nice and still for most of the time and looks sooooo cute! (photos to follow)

Even though it was exciting, I do feel a tinge of sadness, as he has now definitely left behind the "baby-stage" - he looks like a little boy now!

He's also come into that new stage this week in other respects: he is getting into EVERYTHING!
He's been emptying the kitchen cupboards for a long time now; he's just picking up the speed with which he throws everything on the floor (I'm talking about all the plastic stuff) - about 5 times a day - and let's not mention the tantrums he throws as well...

Since this week, he's constantly been at/on the table, pouring milk over my Bible, the table and floor, making himself a jam sandwich, rolling the toiletpaper off the roll, you name it...

I know I've had it really easy with him until now - he's been so cruisy - and still is - he's just being a good 'ole toddler, that's all! FUN FUN FUN!!!

So much better!

After a pretty crazy 10 days with me sick and all that that means for a family of 7 - - - things are coming back to normal - if there is such a thing as "normal" 'round here - ha!
Thanks for praying for my health! After starting on antibiotics on Monday, I am now feeling MUCH better! THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

I feel SOOOOOOO BLESSED today - what an AWESOME God we have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish...

... I could report that I'm back to my normal, energetic self. Alas, this is not so...
I am still/again suffering from fatigue and a bad sore throat - probably did too much too quickly?!
Can't wait to be ALL healed up again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just letting ya know...

... that I'm back among the *living* :)

This was - according to my memory - the worst flu I've had in my adult life. Yikes! (and it wasn't swine flu - Lord, protect us from that, it's in our city now)

Kinda like the dengue-fever (like malaria) that I had just before Nathalie was born...

Suffice it to say - it was interesting... Mom being pretty much "out cold" in bed for almost 5 days.



Or in Rich's words: "I think the hardest job there is, is being a Mom."(remember, there's a toddler and a still somewhat unwell 5-year-old in the house)

'Nuf said :)



Oh yes, THANK YOU SO MUCH, if you have prayed for me!!!

Would appreciate your prayers

I got hit with a NASTY flu yesterday - one week after Kylie came down with it...
Just taking a short break from bed to have my back in another position, cuz it HURTS!!!
Would appreciate your prayers for a quick recovery!
Rich came back today, which is wonderful - although I feel sorry for him - - - he didn't get a very nice welcome and had to jump right into helping/working... since the kids had been holding things up since yesterday (and wanted a break)

Feed the Forgotten

It's not that it was new news in our household.
But I felt to mark the point.
I was so tickled as I prepared the evening "meal" last night - consisting of rice - nothing but rice.

I have such a HUGE burden for all the orphaned children in Africa.
And the poor ones that so often go without food - - -

And then I found someone who is doing something about it.
At first they were just trying to raise enough money to feed 3 villages in Uganda.
But through the generosity of many, they are able to do more.

And I want to be part of it - it is so exciting to be able to help, make a small difference.

So I decided to surprise my kids with a "just rice" dinner - - - and with the saved money, plus some, support this initiative that you can read up about in this blog.

So, while filling up on rice instead of a good meal, we had a little talk about what God thinks about the poor. I put a Scripture underneath everybody's placemats and we read them out to each other:

Ezekiel 16:49: "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."

Proverbs 22,9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Proverbs 19:7
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,and he will reward him for what he has done.

Prov.31,20 A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies…. She opens her arms to the poorand extends her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 28,27: He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes from their want will have many curses.

Some pretty strong statements, aren't they??!!!

It was funny to see the reactions of the different kids - I won't mention names, but we only had one who was upset about the food (because of some other upsetting circumstances just prior to dinner-time), one who didn't even notice anything was different (huh?! - came late) - and little Kylie thanking me for such a good meal - how sweet is that?
Even Shayden (whom I had fed a decent meal at 4pm) ate more of the rice than some other dinners...

Would YOU consider coming along as well and giving up something - or just giving something - in order to feed somebody who would otherwise go hungry? Please do! Together, we CAN make a difference!

$0.14 will provide 1 meal
$2.86 will feed someone for 20 days
$1 will feed a family$20 will feed a family for 20 days

YOU can Make a Difference
CLICK HERE TO GIVE (remember to write Feed the Forgotten in your notes)

Update

Rich should just have landed in Singapore. He'll be there for 4 days, helping prepare/do a church-based Impact World Tour outreach. Can't wait for him to come back on Sunday, but am excited for him and all the new experiences he's having in Asia!

When Kylie was sick on Sunday, Leilani REALLY wanted to get sick, too, so that she could stay home from school on Monday. Well, she got her wish - thankyouverymuch! - and has been quite miserable now for 2 days... you gotta watch what you wish for... or as Jeremie said tonight, "Gotta watch the power of the spoken word, cuz it's got great power!" (he's just been reading the Bible in the book of James)

Hey, just heard that Rich is on the phone - - - yahoooo! Haven't had much time on the phone with him, even though he's been calling every couple of days, but always in a rush with just a few minutes to spare.

After phone-call (he called with skype from Singapore airport after an interesting flight with Air Brunei - no drinks, no food, almost a crash at landing - thankyouGod for protection!!!):

When I brought Kylie to bed tonight (she's better but still not well), she said she wishes she was a queen.
I asked her why.
Her reply: "Cuz a queen can get anything she wants."
Me: "So, what would you want that you don't already have?"
Kylie: "A crown! And - a really expensifist hot-air balloon (no idea where she gets this idea from)
Me: "What would you want to do with a hot-air balloon?
Kylie: "Well, you know, fly around!"

Sadly, Jeremie's job hasn't started yet because of bad weather - bummer!
Hopefully it'll get better SOON!

'Night! Gotta go to sleep soon, had a bad night last night (Kylie sleeping next to me, keeping me awake with heavy breathing).

Lazy/sick day

Today was probably the most relaxing day I've had in a while.
I/we invite guests for Sundays most weeks and as I was pondering if I should invite somebody, I felt to leave the day free.
Good thing!
Kylie (and I) had a pretty miserable night, with her being really sick.
Today, she still had a bad sore throat, constant runny nose, fever, tummy ache and vomiting -couldn't keep any food down all day - really miserable little girl!

So I installed her on the couch and pretty much stayed with her all day.
Jeremie and Leilani offered to take Shayden to church (Nathalie was service-directing) and drop him off at the nursery, which was nice of them, so that I could give Kylie a little extra attention.
So far, I have never left Shayden at the nursery, since the kiddos have to be able to walk and you know from my previous post how wobbly he's still been on his feet just recently (though he's getting more stable every day!). Plus, I like to stay there with him :) - I will probably start helping out there again.

I was a bit nervous about leaving him but felt right to try it. It seems that it went quite well, except that he had a fall and got a bump on his head with some tears just before Leilani picked him up ...

After Shayden was off for his nap, I went to rent a few DVDs for Kylie - to the family's suprise!
I am known for not being into DVDs much and don't (hardly) ever rent any, but I just knew how much it would mean for Kylie to be distracted in this way. And it worked!
She even said it helped her feel better! YAY!

It was a special treat to receive a phone call from Rich and he was able to talk with Kylie for the first time since he left a week ago! He was even able to pray with her on the phone, which was special! Seems that he was also sick in the night - some kind of food-poisening...

Hong Kong update

Kylie has come down sick again today with a new bout of a cold and such a bad sore throat that she can't sleep - arghhh. I can't believe it - she hasn't been REALLY well now for almost 4 weeks - crazy! And I'm doing everything I know to get her better...

Here's another update from the Hong Kong - Call2All Conference (it is now finished and Rich is having meetings with the leadership of Impact World Tour)

Friday, 5th June, 2009 Nations Dance Together!

Something supernatural is happening this week in Hong Kong. Scripture speaks of the time when “a great multitude that no one can count from every tribe, nation and language stood before the throne and in front of the Lamb. “ A little slice of heaven is happening on earth in Hong Kong.
By this third day, the delegates from all around the world are responding before the Lord as one. Many of those attending are commenting on the profound unity that is being experienced. There seems to be an absolute commitment from all the nations and ethnic groups to the idea of finishing the Great Commission in our lifetime.

The same kind of unity is being felt in worship. Those from China, India, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, South Africa, Columbia, USA, Holland and 89 other nations of the world are worshipping, kneeling, weeping and rejoicing before the Lord together. Led by the Chinese, many are dancing.

After a full day of round table discussions and workshops, Loren Cunningham, Dr. Alexander Philip, and Rev. Patrick So described how God’s word is transforming nations. Excitement built across the crowd of 4,000 as they heard stories of what God is doing in every continent of the world. The evening was also filled with dynamic worship lead by young people from Asia and North America. Participants left their seats and came to the front celebrating Jesus long after the main program ended.

I recently read...

... that by the time a child is 5 years old, he or she will have had about 2,500 falls.

I think Shayden may just beat that figure - or double it? - at the rate he's going at the moment.

I can't count all the falls he has in a day. Of course, he also insists to walk un-aided on rough terrain outside, independent little fellow!

Here's a sample of his walking (in the house) from a couple of weeks ago:

Gotta love the kiwi-land

Jeremie got a job starting Monday in the kiwi-harvest - until he leaves for Fiji in early July - .
Actually, the harvest is almost over, but there needs to be some work done to the vines - like pruning and what not...
He'll be working 5-6 days a week (no work if weather is bad) from 7am to 4pm.
That's GREAT!!! Should pay most if not all his fees for his missions trip. YAY!!! THANk YOU, Jesus!!!

I still can't get over the mentality of kiwis (not the bird, nor the fruit) when it comes to the way they dress in the freezing cold winter.
Admitted, it's not as cold as in some other countries all day long, but still - in the mornings, like today, there was frost on the ground and the cars, and you see people walking around in shorts - and barefoot. HOWDOTHEYDOIT???? DUNNO!!!
Jeremie told me of a friend who didn't even own a pair of school shoes last year and walked to school barefoot the whole winter - and not because he couldn't afford the shoes, just "cuz his feet are tough", Jeremie said. Unbelievable!!!

What's happening in Hong Kong with Call2All

This is from the call2all website - a report on the first day of the Congress that Rich is at:

Historic Congress Begins!

About 3,000 ministry leaders from more than 100 countries united in Hong Kong this week to strategize for the completion of the Great Commission.

In what might be one of the most significant meetings of its kind, the Call2All Congress in Hong Kong will affect missions for years to come. There is a growing sense among Christian leaders that God is calling the Chinese church to take a new place in world missions.

Call2All President Mark Anderson (also founder and leader of Impact World Tour - added by me) said, “I believe we are going to see the destiny of the Chinese church moving into a new phase. Great numbers of Chinese missionaries will help lead the way in the next phase of world missions.”

The first day began with a solemn assembly of prayer, where God healed historical wounds and brought the various delegates together as one before Christ. In a moving time of confession , a British business man asked Chinese leaders on behalf of his county for forgiveness of the sins committed during the Opium Wars during the mid 19th century. With tears in their eyes, Christian leaders from China extended forgiveness and in return expressed gratitude for the many missionaries that were sent from the West.

Later in the day, delegates were introduced to one of the largest maps in the world ever printed. All 3,000 in attendance were able to walk on the map and pray over 4,000 locations, committing to go wherever God would send them. Using posted notes they wrote their commitments and stuck them on the map.
This massive group of Christian leaders then began to walk back and forth across the map of the world, as well as circling it, declaring the greatness of God over the nations. Together they pledged obedience to God’s Great Commission.

To cap off the day in the evening Dr. Steve Douglass, President of Campus Crusade for Christ, and Dr. Thomas Wang, Founder/ Director of the Chinese Christian Mission addressed the delegates. Both declared boldly the reasons why they believed the Great Commission can be completed in our lifetime.

So much happened the first day, that many in attendance commented, "We feel like we have experienced a whole conference in just the first few sessions." The consensus among the delegates was that their lives and view of the world would never be the same.

Trying something new

I've always wondered how I can embed a youtube video into my blog.
So, here's a trial - make sure to turn off my music on the bottom of the blog first :)



Just talked to Rich. He had a good, though very long, trip to Hong Kong and the conference is going well so far - with 3000 Christian Leaders from around 100 nations gathering to strategize, plan, pray and worship - and all that good stuff.