Scarecrow Illustration--Amazing--Enlightening!!

I am reading a book called Hearing Heart by Hannah Hurnard, author of Hinds’ Feet on High Places. In this book, she shares something about fear that helped her from then on.

The preacher said, “A wise bird knows that a scarecrow is simply an advertisement. It announces that some very juicy and delicious fruit is to be had for the picking. There are scarecrows in all the best gardens...If I am wise, I too shall treat the scarecrow as though it were an invitation. Every giant in the way which makes me feel like a grasshopper is only a scarecrow beckoning me to God’s richest blessings.” He concluded, “Faith is a bird which loves to perch on scarecrows. All our fears are groundless.”

Think on this one...be bold in the Lord's wisdom!

The House--Pictures too!!

Roses in our front "garden"
Our front "garden" after a bit of weeding!
John and the kids(notice I didn't help-haha!) putting in a live oak in the backyard...we also put a purple pear (non-fruit bearing) tree in too.

John taught me how to download from a two month old camera!! Sorry it took so long!!

Update on our house: We are coming back with a counter for the first offer--our real estate agents are coming down on their end by 50 percent b/c they said they back what we are doing in Russia!! What a favor giving God we serve! AMAZING!! And so nice of them too!!


We feel those prayers---thank you so much to all of you who have prayed for us!!


They found out that the second couple interested made an offer on another house and our house was #2...oh well. We shall see what happens from here. John and I prayed last night about what to do about the house and we believe that we are to pray and believe for the house to sell! So, that is where we set our faith.

The Tongue

Ok, one of the main things I got out of the tongue message was this Quote:
"Stop building your case, and start building a bridge." I am not a "lawyer" or fighter when it comes to being a great debator and winning...but I do tend to "build a case" in my mind. It's time(well, it's been time for a long time) to stop remembering the past for the wrong reasons. I hope to remember this and apply this to my life. I can't wait til it's really put to the test to see if I can pass "this test."

We did it!

We applied for our visas on Friday...we had all our information together and now it's done! We are praying for no 90 day stamp in our visas.

We had a great lesson in church yesterday on the tongue!!! Did you know it weighs about 4 oz? Bet you didn't expect me to learn that! I will post more later about the lesson--very convicting!
Going to go do one of my work out videos!!

Update

We are applying for our visas tomorrow! No more offers on the house....yet!

We got them!!!

This morning at 10:10ish...we got our LOI's(invitations to come to Russia--needed for our visas)!! They are all in Russian, so we can't read them, but they are HERE!!! Woohoo!!

We also are waiting for the second family interested in our house. The first family offered us an unreasonably low offer. We asked them for a more reasonable offer if they wanted the house. Our house is already reasonably priced below what it is worth. We are praying for a great offer to come in soon.

Great expectations!!

Our LOI's are expected to be delivered by 10:30 am tomorrow and we have at least one offer coming in for the house!! Thank you Jesus!

When it rains it pours---this is a good thing!

Our LOI's have been sent today(change--they were supposed to go out Friday through Fed Ex--but did not) --woohoo---house is getting interest, LOI's on the way, our banking has been set up...it's pouring!!

Two People interested in our HOUSE!!!

We got a call last night about a possible offer, and this morning we had another person that called the realtor yesterday about the house...she's coming again today!!! Cool!! Two people interested! We would love to have you pray for us to have a great offer and wisdom to handle it. Also, that the sale would go smoothly--no kinks, no big things to fix, right price. Thank you!!!

Current information...LOI, House...

I feel like I am always updating this blog...but it seems like I don't post as much!! Don't forget to check the updates on the side--if you are interested:). There is also a map that shows where all the visitors on this blog are from:).

So, we have re-read our email about getting our LOI's(invitations from Russia) and we are thinking that we might have read them incorrectly--when we expected the LOI's at our door by today. I am checking into this, but what a bummer to realize this yesterday. How could we have read it this way before---things that make you go hmmmmmm. So, we are thinking they should be ready by today--when they will be Fed-Exed to our door--good question! Hopefully, this week!

Yesterday, we saw some friends that have just gotten married and are heading overseas again to return to the mission field. They are our age, and they have been in the mission field for over 10 years! When talking to them, our plight seems very similar. Russia is not the only country that closes the doors from time to time. When asking them what their plan was, they said---Well, we have a month tourist visa and we will go and work on a way to stay longer--Wow, that sounds familiar!!! Most people must look at us as strange that we don't know how long we can stay, but yesterday, we had friends that did understand:), yet we all look at each other as if to say---What, you don't know??? Even with similar situations, it seems hard to trust when you don't comprehend.

Other news, our house has some interested people:), we heard this info last night at about 9pm! We are possible going to have an offer soon. What's the hesitancy...we have had some one say this before, and nothing happened. We do trust God and believe He has this whole situation in His hands...so we wait. But, oh how exciting!!

Gardening

(this is not a picture of my friend's garden--I didn't bring my camera-:( )

Yesterday, my kids and I went to visit a friend of ours "in the country" about an hour a way from us. She lives in a beautiful home on acreage that is family land--her in laws live all around--but let me just say--not any where near like in a subdivision--they are about 1/4-1 mile away! She has a beautiful garden at her father in laws property where we went and picked--tomatoes, banana peppers, green bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, jalapenos, broccoli and cucumbers--Beth picked those b/c they are prickly!! I didn't know they could be. She also is growing cantaloupes--they were yummy and watermelons too! The garden isn't that much bigger than my kitchen, but they have all of that in the garden!!! Yikes a doodle! It's amazing! She sent me home with two buckets full!!! I'm amazed. I can't wait to do this too someday!

Do you garden? Have you ever picked fresh from a garden? What do you grow or what would you want to grow?

Blog List!---Time Saving Device

I love my new time saver on my blog--the Blog List!!! You see, before I had this list, I would go check the blogs I love for updates and if they didn't have a new post, that was wasted time on my computer(I love my computer time, but I use far too much time checking blogs that haven't been updated that day(I don't post every day either!)!)

This Blog List is created by me and it shows the latest blog title and when it was posted. The most recent ones at the top! I love it! It is a true time saver! Add one to your blog if you like!

How is your Friday? Hope it goes great! We saw a friend and her daughter this morning that we haven't seen in a very long time! It was great! Happy Weekend!!

You've gotta listen to this one!!!

My friend Crystal got me listening to this one! Thanks! It's so funny!!!

New Tag---Book Tag!

After you read mine or before...you answer it...leave me a comment if you plan to answer these!
Ginger---I thought of you when I did this one!!

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

I learned to love reading when I discovered the Elizabeth Gail Series in the sixth grade. I can't remember loving to read before then.

2. What are some books you read as a child?

Little Women, Elizabeth Gail Series(18 books), Anne of Green Gables-most of these in the series, Little Men(I don't actually remember if I really finished this one though) , Kitty in the Summer.

2a. Did your parents ever do anything to get you into reading? Did it work? Are they readers?

My mom would have us read one book(that she would buy for us) in the summer. It probably helped, but I didn't like to read til I found the E.G. series(maybe my mom bought the first of these). My mom is an avid reader and my dad reads many non-fiction Christian books.

3. What is your favorite genre?

Biographies, Christian Romance(no matter what time period!)

4. Do you have a favorite novel?

Honor Bound by Colleen Reece.

5. Where do you usually read?

I like to read outside, on the bed, on the couch, on the floor, in hiding places!(anywhere!)


6. When do you usually read?

At night, sometimes on the weekend, on car trips

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Of Course!!

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I don't skim too much in non-fiction(unless I don't like it and I have to read it!), but I do a lot in fiction.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

Buy ---I am a penny saver, but the library for some reason hasn't caught on with me. My mom and I trade a lot, and I LOVE to use paperbackswap.com

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?

If I will read it again, I keep it. Otherwise, I just put it on pbswap or give it to someone!

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?

Little Lord Fauntleroy and Little House on the Prairie

12. What are you reading now?

Touch of Grace by L. Snelling

13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?

Mentally and on PB swap

14. What’s next?

Russion mission mystery or Mozart's Sister , Jane Austen Biography, Bringing up Boys,...etc

15. What books would you like to reread?

Lori Wick(Historical)--most of them!!

16. Who are your favorite authors?Some of them, in no particular order:

Wanda Brunstetter, Beverly Lewis, Dee Henderson, Karen Kingsbury, James Dobson, there are many more, but I can't think of names right now.

The Altar and the Door

Have you ever heard this song before? This is a song by Casting Crowns--an amazing band that has deep thoughts. Turn off my music on the side and play this song. Listen to the words...it's so good.

Netflix--good options

If you are looking for faith-based movies---Netflix actually has very many of them! I found Belle and the Beast on there and Overcome and many more like Bella(which you can watch immediately on your computer!). They have a free two week trial, if you just want to check it out...you have about 10,000 movies that are available online. Some are ok, most are movies I would suggest only watching through a filter like the one mentioned previously. We use Clear Play and LOVE it. There are still movies that we can't watch through this b/c of the main content...but you have to make your own wise choices.

I just thought I'd pass Netflix on as an option b/c I had no idea that they had so many great Christian titles available.

Here are some that we have watched that we loved the theme or lesson taught.
Facing the Giants
Janette Oke Movies--all of them!
Saving Sarah Cain
Flywheel
Hidden Places
Time Changer
Second Chance...
There are so many more--will try to add more.
Do you like a certain Faith Based Movie---leave a comment!