Here I Am, Lord

Long about five or six years ago I returned to a journey I started years ~ a lot of years ~ ago. I was basically called out by God, who caused me some time to examine my self, that is, to discover who I had become and where I was going. What I saw was a pumped up self, one that I had come to believe as pretty darned important and more so ~ self-made. And as a result of re-starting that journey, I have been able to get back into step with Him, and for me there is no better place to be. I am not so very important. I never have been. And I certainly was not self-made. What I had; what I have; He has provided. That includes friends, families, employment, all of it. And the best part of it is that He has welcomed me back with His loving, gracious arms, in which I know I am forgiven and ~ believe it or not ~ can and do find His joy and peace.

It is almost a week since I returned from Poland, where, as I described below, I spent time with four other women from the church, teaching English to Polish children. And the secret to our endeavors is that we used Bible stories to teach. In doing so we were allowed an opportunity to see God at work in the hearts and minds of these little kids. It was awesome! I know that if the kids already knew Him, they were happy to soak up His word in English. If the kids didn’t know Him, they sure got a dose of Him, that will last a lifetime. Can you imagine hitting them with the Christmas story, Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine, Zeccheaus who sat in a tree waiting to see Him, the love and forgiveness experienced by the prodigal son, and ending it all with the Easter story. In five days we covered it all. He came to save us because He loves us!

In the midst of it, one boy asked, “How can we change to be more like Jesus?” Is that not ever so cool! And the little girl that, at the end of the week, was able to say that Jesus died on the cross for us because He loves us. His message was heard. And they know all the English words to go with it!

Mission accomplished.

Along the way we spent a couple of days in Warsaw and more in Slupsk and along the beach of the Baltic Sea in Ustka. Beautiful weather! So much to look at and absorb!

Best of all time spent with Pastor Froelich with his congregation, breaking bread together, and worshipping in languages peculiar to our ears, but praising one Lord and Savior.

Dzien' Dobry

Hi ya'll. it is good to be back in the USA. what a wonderfully fulfilling, experience we had. 36 kids soaking up the English language through Bible stories. what better way to spread His word! and we had the best of His world to go with it.
some of you think His premier place is where you are, but there is much to be said about the landscape of northern Poland. but for today, it is back to work....i will tag up with you later.

the countdown begins

Its monday morning. The suit case is pretty much packed. so is the carry on. i need an extra pair of shoulders to lug that one...i still can't figure out why it is so heavy! It must be the red vines. I think i am going to dump them. Maybe only take one bottle of water. i just cant see paying airport prices, when walmart is less than a mile from my house.

very excited about heading out on wednesday. yesterday we were commissioned for the mission. ultimately sharing Christ through teaching ESL using bible stories. can't beat that method! pray for the five of us that we deliver the goods just the way He wants them delivered and to open ears and hearts of children that attend.

we are not marching to pretoria, but we are flying to poland. it will be a long day. left coast to desert to midwest to destination. leave here at 6am and arrive the next day around noon. don't panic i tells my self...we are losing a day in the process ~ it is only 15 hours travel time.

we get to stay on the baltic sea's premier beach! check this out:

so i will be back in two weeks. see you all then. be good.

Back into Baking

a new discovery tried and true for you.

pilsbury makes REDUCED sugar cake mix!!! all colors, even!!!

my 4th of july cake was out of this world. get this. white cake, made w/ egg whites, cause that keeps the cake white covered with frosting from heaven. found it on the box. make it from REDUCED sugar frosting and sugar-free cool whip. whip it together. voila'! put some strawberries and blue berries on it ...mmm mmmm mmmm....it was really really good.

tonite, a repeat peformance with a twist. for the frosting, i am using brummel spread, strawberry, and whipping it with the cool whip. no fruit. out of fruit. but really looking forward to it. 30 minutes from now.

here's the deal. check out the cake mix and frosting! it satisfies the sweet spot we all have and flake over dealing with. so...try it. i think you will really like it. i think it will bake even better if you use products from beth's unspecified business endeavor. check out her site "if you knew her".

okay fine

if i have to sign in i might as well blog.

hmmmm

7/7. my mom and dad's anniversary. have trouble remembering mine, but never forget theirs. wonder why.

i guess it is time for my announcement. the day is coming quickly.... 7/21, i jet out of here w/ four other women. first to phoenix, then to chicago. why chicago? because it is the polandia city of the usa. and from there, we have a direct flight to warsaw poland. 14 days. a perfect opportunity to teach english...and spread the good news while we are at it. we will be staying in a small town on the baltic sea a few hours north of warsaw.

excited!

yep. good stuff

Stamp-ede

Just caught wind of the increase in postage. I would venture to say that I do 99% of my business online, but there are occaisions (albeit extremely rare ones) that I do actually use mail (snail-mail). Up two more cents. That's a loss of my two cents worth.

Why, I remember when you could send an air-mail letter for six cents from Europe to the US. And that is only because everyone was belly-aching over the raise of postage by .... two cents.

So what is with the two cents thing? Why not one cent? Why not five cents?

Give me your two-cents worth. I gotta go mail my letter.

She is II

my sister, but this one is camera shy. and she really doesn't like to talk about birthdays. she is big sister. i remember her sewing sequins on my "costume" for tight-rope-walking part in got in the local circus act at school. and painting clowns, and writing poetry. probably a softer side of a not-so-easy life.

happy birthday, sister, DEAR.

i pray all the ones coming are full of bangers! every birthday deserves a banger.