"Keep Breathing"

I've been singing this song all week. A few people on my mind and Danny & I are waiting in anticipation to see how God is going to just bring it all to show His sovereignty! I just pray that they keep breathing and holding on to God. The Devil is not at all happy, we can see battles going on all around. If you would... pray for these people. Pray for us. We need strength and wisdom.

Heard 'round here..

This post will be more entertaining for our families that don't get to see their g'kids, nephews/niece, & cousins. But others might get a good chuckle too.

Gracie (pointing to something): "deesa one".  Translates: "I want that one."

"Guys!!!  Heeeere!" (loves when brothers come home from school)

Gracie walks into the kitchen and says: "heeet me" (hit me) a few times.  I follow her into the living room where she says it again while pointing to a brother.  It happened once and brother got in trouble a week or so ago.  She now uses it as a way to get what she wants... she wants a toy that a brother might be holding... she comes in and says "hit me".  Knowing we'll go check it out... but that trick was short lived... brothers can talk a lot more than she can right now ;)

She repeats everything! I really can't get over how her speech has just really taken off as of late.  It's amazing (yes, she's our 3rd, but I'm always amazed at how kids absorb the world around them!) to see her observe a conversation between me & Danny or the boys and find a phrase she likes and then say it perfectly is hilarious and scary.  I guess I'm partly intrigued because I don't recall the boys speaking as clearly or having as big a vocab as she does at this age.

I went to check on the kids after they had been in bed for a couple of hours to make sure the radiators were keeping their rooms warm and I was startled when Nate sat up and said, "I'm so frustrated." (I didn't really want to hear the whining that I was sure was coming next about how he didn't get to have a light to read or that they didn't get to watch a movie, etc.) So when I half-heartedly asked "Why?" His answer made it hard to not laugh out loud and wake up Micah on the bottom bunk!  Nate says as serious and frustrated as can be, "I can not whistle!"

Lately, Micah has been a much grumpier boy during the "getting ready for school" part of our morning.  Some of his reasons are as follows:

-Why do you get to stay home and play? (Yeah... that's what mom & dad do all day... we play with the laundry, office work, the dirty dishes, etc.)

-My friends don't like me. (he has plenty of friends and he is well liked... just so you don't worry about him!)

-I want to play with MY toys, not school toys.

-I'm sleepy.

-I don't like eating yogurt for breakfast. (which is actually his favorite food... he'd eat it 3x a day if I'd let him).

Never a dull moment in our house!  

Chick-flicks & Football

I like my fair share of "chick-flicks" and musicals.  When I was a young girl, my mom & I would get our mugs of hot chocolate and get cozy on the couch and watch a movie (especially on those cool and rainy Baguio days).  I'm talking about: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, White Christmas, Singin' in the Rain, Pollyanna (Danny had never even heard of this one till we married!!), My Fair Lady, The King & I, An Affair to Remember, Charade, Holiday Inn, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, House Boat, etc.  Basically, if it had Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Cary Grant (random fact: that man was married 5 times... yes, 5 times! Crazy!), Deborah Kerr, Audrey Hepburn and the like, we watched them.  So, I like my girlie movies and even spent the night before my wedding watching one with my bridesmaids and so, I come by it honestly.

Now, I was also raised in a house where football was watched and especially if our beloved Dallas Cowboys were playing.  But I never really got into it and didn't understand all the rules so I didn't usually sit and watch for very long. But as I grew older I fell into the group (maybe stereotypical) where I would roll my eyes when guys would sit and watch football for hours and ignore the rest of the people around them (I realize this is not every guy out there and so don't get all huffy if you're a guy reading this and if you're a gal, don't get on your soapbox either).

So fast forward to 1999.  The year I married my best friend.  We got married in August, so that would be pre-season for you non-NFL informed. I soon realized that my new husband was planning on watching a lot of football on Sunday afternoons. We lived in a small apartment and owned one small tv. We both worked, were full-time students and were active in our church. So knowing how busy Sundays would be our homework was usually finished before then.  Now what on earth was I going to do for a few hours?!? Well, I decided early on that I wanted to truly be interested in things that Danny liked. I wanted to enjoy life together. Before I knew it I was watching the games and kinda leaning forward in my seat when the Cowboys would have the ball and maybe even have that swell of pride when a touchdown was made, so I watched and asked questions (usually at appropriate times... I learned that from my Dad & brothers).

Now here we are... 12 and a half years of marriage and many football games later... we are sitting in the living room together watching the NFL Playoffs as I write this blog.  I'm not saying this to make me sound good or make an interesting blog... but I really, truly enjoy watching football!  There have been times I'm hollering at the tv and Danny comes rushing in the room saying "What happened?!?  Wait... why am I not in here watching it instead of you?!" To make my point even clearer, I've been playing fantasy football since 2005 and if I do say so myself have had some really good seasons :)

Before you think I'm the only one showing an interest or just tootin' my own horn, I will say Danny has sat thru quite a few of my girlie movies and watched them all the way thru with me. Though you won't ever hear him admitting to liking any of them... there are a few I'd dare say he didn't hate.  He takes the time to do things I like... watch chick-flicks, takes me shopping, lets me discuss a book I read (that isn't probably on his list of books to read) and helps me with my love of photography to name just a few.  He makes an effort and I have taken notice.

I guess I share this with you because it's important that your spouse, who should be your best friend as well, know that you truly care about what they care about.  It obviously does not have to be football, chick flicks, fishing (which I don't really mind.... so long as I'm not putting the worm on the hook or for goodness sakes the stink bait!) or reading html codes, shopping or well, whatever your spouse likes to do. I have women in my life that are wonderful friends and we share similar interests.  But those friendships, as great and needed as they are at times... will and should never take the place or fill-in the missing piece of the friendship that I have with Danny.

This also could never really be more sobering a thought than watching a dear friend lose her best friend and husband. She has told me many times to treasure each moment I have with my husband. To hear other women complain, gossip about and tear down their spouse is wrong and not Biblical... it's also crushing to those women who have lost a spouse and would love to be going thru life with their best friend.

Pray that God would develop in you a deeper love and respect for the spouse he has given you.  Protect your marriages.  Be an example of what a couple that places God at the center of their marriage should look like to others.

If you have kids.... show them that you respect each other even when you disagree... show them how to handle conflict. Show them that God leads your home.  Show them a stable home (I can't stress this enough with the week we've had counseling someone). Show them the Gospel. Show them what they should want in a spouse.

Be the spouse God created you to be for the wife/husband with whom He has blessed you to walk on this journey. Be the parents God created you to be-- to the gifts he has entrusted to your care.

Low-cal Recipes

Danny & I have been trying to be conscientious about our calorie intake. Here are just a couple of recipes that we've tweaked/created on our own (I have more, but they aren't on my laptop).  This dressing took a little bit to grow on me, but the few choices that are available here aren't really low in calories so Danny came up with this one.

Dill Yogurt Dressing

1 tsp Dried Dill - 13 calories
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice - 5 calories
1/2 tsp Vinegar - 5 calories
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder - 4.5 calories
1/4 tsp Onion Powder - 4 calories
100 g - Low-Fat Yogurt - 42 calories
1/2 Salt - 0 calories
Dash of Ground Pepper - 1 calorie


Total Calories: 65.5 Calories


Serving Size: 1 TBSP - 8 Calories
                                         

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate.

We really, really like Chinese food.  Having gone to school in Springfield, Mo. the Cashew Chicken capitol... well, we get to craving it at times.  But that stuff is high-cal!  I'm not saying we'll never have it again (the original way), but we do want to try and come up with different ways to enjoy our favorite foods so we can have them more often.  So here is our version of Cashew Chicken.

Cashew Chicken (for One)

Ingredients:

¾ cup Brown Rice - 164 Calories

70g Chicken Cubed - 106 Calories

2 cups Frozen Vegetables - 47 Calories

(Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots)

or

2 cups Frozen  Carrots - 62 Calories

100g Low-Fat Yogurt - 44 Calories

1 TBL Soy Sauce - 10 Calories

1 TBL Oyster Sauce - 13 Calories

½ Chicken Bullion - 14 Calories

¼ tsp White Pepper - 2 Calories

7 Cashews Chopped - 64 Calories

½ tsp Extra Olive Oil - 19 Calories

2/3 cup Water - 0 Calories

Black Pepper, Garlic/Onion Powder to taste - 4 Calories

with mixed veges - 487 Tot. Cal.

with carrots - 502 Tot. Cal.

Directions:

Add water to wok.  Heat on highest temperature setting.  Once boiling add chicken and vegetables.  Add black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste.  

Allow to cook until most of the water has evaporated, stirring often.  Add oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cashews and white pepper.  Stir well.  Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from burner and stir in yogurt.  Serve over a bed of brown Rice.

Now, these numbers are based on the brands we get over here... but it'll give you an idea and hopefully you can find the equivalent.  The yogurt is the key here... it does give it a different zing than the original recipe, but without it the calories are just too high. 

No Fear! Just Belief!

Yesterday my sermon came from John 14:1-20. The story takes place right at the end of Jesus' earthly life. He is imparting some final words to his disciples. He is preparing them for what is about to happen. He begins by saying don't be afraid, rather believe in God and in me (being that they are one in the same). He proceeds to share with them that he is the Way, the only means of coming to God. He is the Truth not just for some but for all. He is the Life, the source and giver of it. Outside of him there is no life.

He continues by telling his disciples that he has a great plan for their lives. They will, in fact, do greater things than Jesus himself did, not greater than what he accomplished on the cross, but that they would physically carry the message of what he accomplished on the cross further that Jesus himself physically did. We also have that great privilege.

Next he tells them, that even though he is leaving, they will not be disconnected from him. He shares with them two great gifts that God has given us all. First, we have access to God through prayer. Just as the disciples could talk with Jesus before his death, they would be able to do so after his ascension. Secondly, he said, even though I am physically leaving I am not leaving you alone like an orphan. The then told them about the Holy Spirit, which is in fact Jesus living in us as he describes in John 14:20. Jesus is in God (as he is God). Believers are in him (through faith). He is in believers (in the form of the Holy Spirit).

Life in this world is not always easy. Sometimes we need to be reminded not to be afraid of what it throws at us. No matter the situation, Jesus' words of comfort to his disciples apply to our life situations as well. Don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged. Don't give up. Just believe in Jesus (John 14:1). We need nothing else. There is nothing else. There's only Jesus. Stop trusting what you can do and believe what he has done! That is not the starting point with God. That is all there is. We walk by faith!

Video of last summer's camp

Here is a glimpse of last year's Football Camp. I'm biased, I know, but our guys (Styrian Bears) are just awesome!  The coaches that came were just excellent and were such an encouragement to our family and our ministry. They didn't even know us before hand and yet wanted to help us and our ministry... they were our first US visitors outside of family.

Can't wait for the next camp!

Choosing an Email Address

Being that Krista and I spend a lot of time on the computer, Nathan has an increasingly growing interest in how computers and the internet work. We are able to watch movies on the computer, listen to music, video chat with family and friends and do much more. In a recent conversation with him I explained how email works. I told him that you need to pick a name for your email address and then you can use that to send and receive messages.

This is something that has apparently been occupying his thoughts as of late. Just before Christmas break I was bringing the boys home from school in the car.

Out of nowhere Nathan says, "Hey dad, I thought of an address for me."

I wasn't sure what he was talking about so I asked him to explain what he meant.

He said, "You know, so I can write to people on the computer."

I said, "Oh! What did you pick?"

His reply, "NBC.com" (His intials)

I told him that NBC.com was already taken. He said he would just pick for NBC.de (".de" being the TLD of Germany, which he obviously learned from watching TV).

Football Camp

Last summer we had the opportunity to host an American football camp here in Graz.  Joel Hill of The Way Sports Ministries brought a group of college coaches and a former NFL player over from the States to conduct the camp for us.  We had around 30 participants, the vast majority of which, are members of the Styrian Bears, the team for which I play.

We had a great camp!  The coaches put on a quality camp.  They made it very clear that they have two passions in life.  One is football.  The other is Jesus.  During each camp session the Gospel was presented.  On the last day of the camp, 12 of my friends raised their hands indicating an interest in following Jesus.  I can hardly describe the emotions that ran through me that day.  God is awesome.

Now, six months later, we are beginning to prepare for this coming summer's camp.  We are extremely excited about the opportunity to host Joel and his team again.  Along with the football camp in Graz we are also discussing the possibility of hosting two other camps in Austria.  We will have a firm answer in the next 10 days.  We would appreciate your prayers for us in this area as God brings it to your mind.

Above is a collage that Krista made with pictures from the camp.  The picture in the center is of coach Mike Cochran (SNU Head Coach).  The bottom left is of Joel Hill (The Way Sports Ministries) sharing the Gospel with a group of players.

This is another collage that Krista made.  The large picture is of me reading Bible verses in German as former Chicago Bear's tight end Michael Cobb shared a Bible lesson with the camp participants.

2012... oh the possibilities!

Happy New Year!

We are excited about all the incredible things God has planned for us.  I don't know what they are, but as one of His children I know He only wants what is best for me.  Now that doesn't mean my life is going to be a walk in the park and no hardships or growing pains, but I know He is holding me and molding me... for His glory.

Please pray for us as this year will be full of activity, ministry, child-rearing, traveling, new ideas for sharing our faith and just the day to day mixed in with bumps in the road that we have yet to see.

Here's to a year of making sure my life as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, friend bring all honor to God.

A new look...

It's time to freshen things up. 

I like rearranging our house quite a bit, so I'm a bit shocked that I've not messed with our blog more, but 3 kids (one of whom has homework every. single. day), a ministry, a house to try to keep from getting buried with all the "living" we do here, being involved with our community, or just having meetings through out the week keeps me from sitting down and trying to amuse you or enlighten you with something I might've just discovered (which I'm told by my hubby isn't usually all that newly discovered... to the rest of the world). 

Danny has been teaching himself to design websites for a while now and I'm so proud... all that html language makes my head spin!  I found this background online, but he did all the other arranging and personalizing for me. He's working on our personal website, but with blogger I had to update it when I made changes (today), so this one is a little bit ahead of the overall new look that is-a-comin'!  Yay!