..and the weather for the week is....

Please read this in the best weather reporters voice you can

"The weather forecast for Manitoba this week is very cold, it presently is at minus thirty two with temperatures dropping into the minus forties and staying very cold all week, this is in great contrast to the balmy temperatures of plus twenty seven in Cuba, where Ben and Cindy will be spending the week relaxing and keeping warm in summer wear. and that is the weather update for tonight folks, enjoy your week and don't forget to check back here on the street in a week or so to catch to photo replay, bye bye folks."

And the winner is.....

Wild Child




wow I was so thrilled with how many of you voted...thanks.
"wild child" was the winner and "love it" and "swing'n into summer" where tied for second.





We will be getting those pictures blown up and displayed in our home for the year. Now I get to begin again with taking the best pictures of the year, so look for this event again next year.

Vote for the best Photo of 2006

Announcing the 3rd annual best pictures of the Year.

vote for your favorite photo by placing a comment







January "Fun in the snow"












February "Waiting for Spring"













March "Ballerina"














April "Wrestling"













May "Wanna Hug"













June(1) "Sweet smile"












June (2) "swing'n into Summer"












July (1) "You can run but you can't hide"














July (2) "Wild Child"














August "Happy Birthday"















September "Looove itttt"









October "A new and strange species has hatched"











November "Open house"











December (1) "Little Mary-Joe and the Infant child"










December (2) " Settling in for a long Winter"











vote for your favorite photo by placing a comment

Joy to all

I hope you all had a joyful Christmas season. We had a very nice Christmas, we are so blessed. Many of you have felt for us as we have missed our family - thank you for your concern and a special thankyou to those that had us into your homes. Love you lots.

Not always Happy

can i just ramble today?...will you let me just dump my thoughts?......I really need to .....I love Christmas time and the best part is seeing how much fun the kids can have. I join in the fun too sometimes, so mostly you'll see me enjoying the holidays but I have to be honest i am not always happy about this time of year. We always have a lovely christmas with our 3 girls, we are growing together but I have to be honest it is a time I notice what a huge sacrifice we have made as a family. While every one has their mom and their dad, siblings and grandparents around them, we do not. We came here more than 3 years ago and no place on earth could feel more like home than here but why is it that it is still so hard... my thought is that family has a bond that can not be created in people, it takes the growing-up together, living under the same roof together, like I have with my brothers and sister and parents.... we really have a good time when we are together..... I miss them sooo much.

oh I know you mean well when you ask but i think one too many people asked me today - "Are you going home for Christmas this year?" and as you know the answer is "NO".

Thanks for letting me babble and actually reading it LOL I am having a wonderful Christmas because the girls love this time. and it all depends on the angle.

**post time does not reflect the written time--I wrote it last night.**

For His good pleasure

Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."
I found Seraya on hands and knees, having a good time, bucking and tossing her body around the floor, all by herself....or so I thought... LOL .. at one point it even looked like she had her hands pinned behind her back. Well upon asking the obvious question " What are you doing?", She answered, "Wrestling God."
and in that moment I wished I was a child again. I want to have fun with God like that.
LOL... I also thought... ya I wrestle with God a lot too and he usually has me pinned.
God is so fun .... if I can learn how to put a video clip here I will, because I got it all on tape.



Seraya




speaking of wrestling ....
Joe and Ray have discovered a new pass time, .... play fighting. The princess image just doesn't seem to fit them anymore when you see two girls go at eachother with fists and legs.

Images of life on my street

I just wanted to share some pictures with you.


#1 little dinosaures coming to life

#2 Just the regular party guests -sometimes we party daily -join us anytime.











#3 family game night -Cat in the Hat monopoly

tossing in a stone

Listening prayer - Some of you may be familiar with the idea - to others this will be very strange. ( After reading, If your feeling confused it's ok, I would be confused too, You should start by reading Brad's book "Can you Hear me?" or at least check out his website or Blog)

I figure God gave us and imagination for a reason(many reasons I am sure) and that is why the things I have learned form Brad Jersak really resonate with me.
Jesus and I we have a place we meet; a beach. This morning I found Jesus standing by the waters edge tossing small stones into the water, so I walked up, picked up a pile of stones and joined him. We stood for a while beside each other throwing the stones in the calm water and watching the ripple effects. After awhile I asked Jesus," What does this mean?" and he said "Like throwing stones in the water and getting a ripple effect, is the seed of my love you plant in the lives of people around you, especially the refugees you now closely affect. Though it is a small thing now the ripples carry on to affect after many years." then I saw many stones being tossed in and many rippling affects and Jesus reminded me that the ripples of other peoples stones before me and around me are also affecting their lives.
This blog is one stone, I suppose, the ripples go where they may, only God knows it's effect.
and to you - toss your stones into the waters of others lives and watch the ripples.

Let him be

This morning I was reading in Mathew and the command to love the lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and mind and to love others as yourself stood out. I meditated on it for a short while and then went on with getting the kids ready to go to the dentist(big family dentist visit this morning..fun) . I have had a busy week and Ben has had a busy week and we both have taken our turns being..well.... edgy and irritable. This morning, I noticed Ben was.... well still stressed and as I am sure you can guess I was very sympathetic because I have been there too..NOT... sorry to burst your wonderful opinion you had of me but selfish me is all thinking "Why can't he just get over this funk and be happy so my day can go better..I'm feeling great today because my stressful parts of the week are over and so he should just suck it up and move on." Lucky for me my mouth stayed closed and the Holy Spirit drew me back to the words he showed me only an hour or so earlier..... my selfish nature shrank back and I thought what if that where me, if I was stressed and he was haven a good day? I heard God say(in the subtle voice of God) "let him be and instead ask him how you can help him deal with the stress, for his sake not for yours."

It's a good thing I let God drive this morning. I really notice when i take time for God and how that affects my day.

Please remember this command next time you meet me and I'm edgy and irritated. LOL

Ask why

As part of a class I am taking we did a learning style survey, I have done these surveys before but this time I really came across something. I realized asking WHYis part of my personality .... it has really been an important question all my life. And through this survey I see finding purpose in everything is part of my personality.

I ask....
Why do I do what I do?
Why do I wake up on a Sunday morning and go to church?
Why do I care about people?
Why are we pastors?
Why should churches unit and work together?
Why am I teaching English?
Why do I write in this blog?
Why do I exist?

And I don't always settle with the pat answer.

I question it all and I like to find the purpose for living and exisisting in every situation. Sometimes I am sure I have irritated people .. sorry(but not too sorry). I have found it very freeing to ask. And you can't even imagine how freeing it has been to find out why I ask why so much LOL one question I have been asking of myself for ages.

I don't know the answer to all the why's but I will ask it till I die. I don't only ask why of myself but I do of others too, not in a judging kind of way but in a challenge to learn and grow.

I ask of you:
Why are you reading my blog?
Why do you care about me?
Why do you go to church every Sunday? Why don't you?
Why are you friends with who your friends with?
Why do you exist?

Sometimes the answer is simple and other times the answer is more complex or even impossible(for the time being) to know.

And by the way asking "Why do I/you exist?" for me is not a negative doubting we have purpose in life question ... I know there is an answer and I sincerely ask.

You don't have to answer me but think about it, and ask why?

celebrate

Where was I this evening?
I have exciting news for you! He's a boy a beautiful boy. One of the the women that arrived with our new arrivals this week was fully loaded with baby and now she has him in her arms - he is so cute and cute and really cute. I was there in the room when he was delivered. I gave birth to 3 children and now I saw the whole thing from a different side, wow, the miracle of a birth. Celebration in the street today.

Busy

Well if you hadn't noticed from my lack of time here I should tell you I am very busy right now I am hoping for a Sabbath real soon.
I have been helping arrange the details for these refugees that are arriving in 3 days. Plus doing an EAL course and teaching 2 nights a week and keeping time with my family and husband and all the other things I do. CRAZZZYYY life. I haven't had a real good devotional time in a month I think. I have spent a few minutes reading my bible and praying ... And praying throughout the day but I want to have some time again to just not care about time when I am with the King.

I Started memorizing Isaiah 53. Not sure if I should say it is going good or bad. I have the first verse memorized but it's taken me more than a week to do it. But I don't plan on giving up so I am still facing the right direction. It says " Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the lord been revealed. He grew up before him like a tender shoot a root out of dry ground." I hope to make it to the end of the passage someday.

proud

My parents are building a house in the mountians

I wish i was there.

here is a picture of it so far.







I am so proud of them.

out in the street

outbreak - outcast - outcry - outdo - outermost - outflow - outgrow - outhouse - outlet - outlaw - outlook - outmanoevre - outnumber - outpost - outpouring - outrage - outreach - outshine - outside - outspoken - outwork

Out is serving ,speaking, spreading. The cry of the street preacher, the sound of someone carrying home an elderly person's shopping. Why ? Because they're worth it, they're relevant and OUT has no boundaries.

love society so much that you are on your knees.

discover how we can communicate a relevant message.

do something with the frontline is in your backyard.

get out and help out

Words from tribal generations

Got bitten...

If your expecting some wild riveting story about some rabbit dog roaming viciously about the street and how I heroically defended some innocent child form being eaten by the mangy thing and in the mean time got a nasty bit which has left me feverish and bed ridden .. Well you are looking at the wrong blog. Spontaneous is his name and yes he roams my street.. Watch out.

Ben and I, we like to .... or rather tend to do things spontaneously. We have never planned that far in advance for holidays and well this time spontaneity bit us in the butt. A few days ago we began planning for a sunny getaway for just the 2 of us, planning on leaving in 2 weeks. oh how nice it would have been.....**dropping shoulders and hanging head low****..... Our pass ports expire in 4 days *** smashing head against street sign*** why do we not plan in advance!!!

Ok so we will still go but it will be in January.

Del

I have a friend in the Philipines she is preparing to leave soon to be a long term missionary. There have been a few delays in her departure but while she waits she has not been idle. Praise God for her ability to share the gospel.
This is what she wrote in her e-mail today:

God works together for good …

Upon hearing of my aunt’s sudden illness which led to
her death, my heart was heavily burdened for her and
my relatives.

I went to see my aunt’s wake which lasted by
the way for 5 days, .. God even encouraged me through His words in
Isaiah 52:12 which say “Our Lord will go on ahead of
you; the God of Israel will protect you from behind”.
I knew then that God will do an amazing thing out
there.

For those who are called according to His purpose….

I kept on meditating on that promise from God and
indeed He prepared the way. The second day of the wake
I was able to share the gospel with my nephew Jofer.
Praise God he accepted. There were disturbance along
the way but God’s plan cannot be thwarted. I asked my
niece who is a Christian to follow him up and take him
to her church. Please pray for the follow up. A few
hours later, I shared with my cousin Ric. In the
middle of my conversation with him, he suddenly felt
so dizzy he said he was about to pass out. I told him
will talk later but he insist we finish our
conversation. A few times I am almost certain that his
going to pass out but he said his mind is clear and he
really wanted to hear the truth. After we prayed the
prayer of acceptance he said he felt ok and relieved.
He said he heard a voice in his head distracting him
but then again, God was victorious. It was so obvious
that it was the devil’s work. Praise God for another
answered prayer.
The next day I shared with my aunt Ligaya but she is a
very strong catholic fanatic so the truth that Jesus
is the only mediator between God and man is very hard
for her to embrace. Please pray that God will open her
heart and come to faith.
On the fourth day, my cousin Jam approached me and
asked me about my faith. He works in Manila which is
like 4-5 hours away from where his family lives so he
only goes home once a month... Indeed a
perfect opportunity that God created. I was so
surprised that he initiated the conversation. He was
very open and I had no hard time explaining to him the
gospel. Praise God he too accepted Christ! He said a
few months ago, his friend invited him to a mid week
service and ever since that day he has been attending
but no one ever shared the gospel with him. He also
has a tennis buddy who is a Christian. Even at his
workplace there is a Christian. God indeed prepared
his heart.

Truly indeed,even in trials and bad times we rest upon
the hope that God works together for good for those
who love the Lord and are called according to His
purpose.

I thank you once again for your partnership. I know
that you have been praying for me and all this came to
be as an answer to our prayers. All glory and honor
belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!


In Him,
Del

To You

I am only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair spray I use and the girlfriends I have.
Here's to you!
Why do we only have parties for each other when one of us gets married,
pregnant, has a birthday, or retires?
What would most of us do without our sisters, confidants, and shopping, lunching and traveling girlfriends?
Let's celebrate each other for each other's sake!

Copied from an e-mail I got from a good friend.

I really value your friendships and I wish we could have a real party right here, together. You make me stronger and more confident, knowing I have friends I can share my life with ,good and bad, who actually care, really comforts me, especially when I find out that you can infact relate.


Be Blessed my sista's.
God loves you, I love you.
I'm passing this on to bless you, Thanks for reading my blog.

less myself

Ok people - I have a problem and I am trying to correct it. Problem - I am selfish. I am sure all of you have solved this issue in your lives so please give me some tips..... eekkk I can't stand myself sometimes. Don't you just hate that, when ya lay down at night, in the quiet of your head you replay the day and low and behold you see yourself .... as you are. The other night that was me, I saw myself, n a k e d and ugly, selfish and without an excuse.(Not really n a k e d just figuratively) The day had gone something like this- A particularity selfish day- 8am -12 noon me time, serve lunch quick, 1:00 -3:30 me me me, serve after school snack, and so went the day until I lay down my sweet head(give or take a few details). I had barely given the time of day to my precious little ones, my children. The painful part was that I don't think they noticed, think of that... They have come to expect very little of me.(this is getting very personal) (why does God make me share this?) Yes, "their used to it" reveals the fact that this is not just a one day problem, it's kinda been going on for a while, maybe it's not every day and maybe I am being too hard on myself but that night I really confessed to God and I asked Him to help me be different, to be a better mom... now for the good news... He is helping me! Seriously it is going so much better and I feel so much better about myself now that I am less myself(a work in progress) My kids just thrill me I can't image why I wouldn't want to thrill them more. SO the selfish problem isn't over but I feel like I have taken a step this week. Thanks God.

Just had a humorous thought - Who would write a blog about themself and expect others to voluntarily read it unless they had self inflated issues? ***raising hand***trying to force it down***

My friends I sure hope I'm here for more than just myself.

Tis' the set of the sails

You know the same thing can happen to two people and each one can take an entirly different road becasue of it. It is not our circumstances as much as it is what we do in them that shapes us.

I love this quote-
One ship sails East,
And another West,
By the self-same winds that blow,
Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales,
That tells the way we go.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Job - After the worst things you could imagine had happened to him, he fell to the ground in worship God and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job's story has come along way on the winds he set his sail to.

God may my sails be set to your winds.

photo by Hal Bergman

----

This week Ben returned from his grandmothers funeral. He was moved by many of the memories that the family recalled together and he enjoyed the family time. Read about it at extending the kingdom
I survived teaching his class and actually enjoyed the lesson.
not much to say today I just wanted to up date.