feeling full and still counting...

I made a more conscious effort this week to write down my blessings daily instead of putting it off until today.

Here is my simple list of gifts from God this week:

263. a worship team made up of people from 9 different churches of various denominations.

264.  Worship dancers and flag bearers.

265.  Praising Him as King.

266.  colors and words that captivate the eye and touch the heart.

267.  Celebrating 30 years of Belize being an independent country.

268. Knowing Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

269.  Meditating on our fullness in Christ.

270.  Watching Rodwel grow as a speaker.

271.  cool breezes on a rainy day.

272.  Studying about the Mystery who adds fullness to our lives in Colossians 1:25-27

273.  a loyal dog who barks at the garbage collectors and passersby to keep our property secure.

274.  garbage collectors who do their job even in the rain.

275.  quiet days at home.

276.  hot chocolate with cinnamon.

277.  a double feature of Indiana Jones and True Grit in our living room.

278.  praying with Tom

279.  birds who sing rain or shine.

280.  Quiet time with the One in Whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found.

281.  a week of sleeping without using a sleep aid.

282.  time in the hair salon enjoying Kriol being spoken.

283.  beginning to understand the joy that grows out of Thankfulness.

284.  text messaging with Nathan

285.  the energy to work.

286.  sharing my freshly baked cinnamon rolls with those who have never had them before.

287.  realizing the need to surrender and let life happen.

288.  Camillah, Angie, Femmy and Moi singing on the worship team for the first time.

289.  Skype with Spencer.

290.  appreciating the lavish blessings that come from the attempt to live a simple life.


joining Ann Voskamp and the gratitude community:

Road Trip!!

So excited about tonight...we are taking a group of youth up to Belize City for a worship concert. 

 We'll have an hour on the road each way so the car time will most likely be filled with laughter and snacks.  

So what are your plans for the weekend?

I wonder...

I wonder how long you can be at the stop sign before it's considered parking?

Thought for today

May we rejoice along with creation over being known and may we seek to know Him more.

Tasty Tuesday

I have finally joined Pinterest and oh my goodness is it addictive!

Friends kept mentioning it...and I resisted for as long as possible.  Resistance is futile.  What I like about this virtual cork board is that anything I find of interest on the internet can be pinned there.  A recipe, a photo. a video, a book I am thinking of purchasing...can all be stored in different categories without having to bookmark each individual site on my computer.

What a great concept.  And so far I am finding all sorts of treasures on my own and from things my friends have pinned on their boards.  Check it out if you dare...  just remember it will be hard to back away once you get started!

You can see the recipes I have pinned in hopes of trying by clicking here

I am especially eager to try this Chicken Parmesan Burger:

Recipe here

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

1000 Gifts

Counting the gifts:

251.  Spencer having the experience of a life time in Togo

252.  hearing stories about their work in the orphanage.

253. they were able to teach on the radio to three different countries.

254.  Watching Tom and Harley napping in the afternoon.

255.  finally being armed with cellphones to capture Tom rapping on video

256.  Tom rapping for the second time for those who missed it.

257.  so grateful for our new furniture which helped our house to become a home

258.  Having three of the youth from church come over to use the internet on Friday.  It was a blessing to be able to provide this luxury for those who don't have internet at home.

259.  having opportunities to say yes to God.

260.  quiet times capturing birds in the front yard.

261.  discovering Pinterest!

262.  Nathan's new job with Archie McPhee.  After making the move to a new state he spent three months diligently sending out applications and going on job interviews and it paid off with a job that he enjoys.

Images from the yard

Woodpeckers can be annoying, inspiration for  life lessons, and provide opportunities for enjoying creation.  I am so grateful to have finally had an experience with a woodpecker that didn't involve me waking up two hours before my alarm clock goes off!  

Enjoy your weekend!

Furniture Delivery Day!

We were so excited to see the delivery truck show up with our furniture!

And even more excited that they came before the rain began again!

Will it fit through the front door?

Not looking very hopeful at this point.

Not only is the sofa large but it is also very heavy.  The set that we purchased was made locally of Belizean hardwoods. Tom said he has not ever lifted a sofa this heavy that didn't have a mattress inside.  The frame and legs are connected so the legs couldn't be removed to go through the door.

Tom directed them to the side door...after lots of maneuvering the sofa finally made it into the house.  

They had to disconnect the stove and move it out of the way so there was more room to negotiate.  At one point the second guy was having a hard time getting through the doorway on his end...the first guy said "hey, what's the jam up?" and the second guy laughed and replied "mi cell  phone!"

After all of their hard work getting two large chairs and that sofa in the house they asked it they could pick some plums from the tree in our yard.  We gave them each a bag to fill...they were very pleased with their bounty!

My photos are not the best...my camera battery was recharging when they drove up so I had to use Tom's cell phone.  Once we get the furniture arranged the way we want it I will post pictures of the living room.  We are so grateful for the generous  gift that was given to us so that we could make this purchase.  We are going out on Friday to look at a table and chairs for the kitchen.  

We have been here a full year now...and this house we are in is finally feeling like a home.

Thought for Today

  

Tasty Tuesday

This is my friend Stephanie's recipe for Cinnamon rolls...they are absolutely divine.  And each time I make them it reminds me of her and of being in her kitchen.  Warm. Comfortable.  And filled with love.


Steph's Cinnamon Rolls
1.5 C warm milk
1/2 C sugar                                          
1/2 C vegetable oil
1/2 C mashed potatoes, unseasoned
1 egg
2 tsp. salt
2 envelopes yeast
5.5 C flour

1/2 C butter, softened
1.5 C brown sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon

Mix first 7 ingredients. Add flour. Knead for 10 minutes. Grease bowl and transfer dough. Grease top of dough, cover and let rise until double. Approximately 1 hour.
Punch down and roll out. Spread dough with softened butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon and spread over butter. Tightly roll dough. Cut into rolls and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned at 350.

Steph's note:
I glaze the rolls while hot with 1.5 C powdered sugar, 2 tbsp. butter, 1/2 tsp. almond extract and enough water or milk to form a glaze consistency.
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I have had a major craving for donuts lately.  But there are no Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donut  shops anywhere to be found here in the jungle.  So, I decided to put Steph's recipe to a different use.  I made them into doughnuts!

and donut holes.

I followed her directions until the point where you roll them out.  I rolled them out thin because they will rise as you fry them.  Using the rim of a glass I cut out the shape and the lid of a water bottle worked great to cut the center hole.  I fried them in about a 3/4 of an inch or so of oil until golden brown on each side.  While they were still warm I dusted them with powdered sugar.  


They really hit the spot with a hot cup of raspberry flavored green tea with french vanilla creamer.


Tom said they reminded him of donuts his mom used to make.  He remembers that every year around Halloween she would make donuts and apple cider.  

If you give the cinnamon rolls or the donuts a try and let me know how they turn out!!

what are youth facing in Belize?

I was thinking about a couple of the dramas we watched last week at Legacy.  Alcohol and drugs are a major problem.  Suicide came up more than once.   I realize these are universal problems that young people face all over the world.  But the one that keeps haunting me is suicide.  This has even come up a time or two in our counseling office.

People feeling as if they have no hope or purpose in life.  People feeling as if they would be better off dead because they cannot live without a loved one who has passed away.  People feeling as if a demonic power is telling them that suicide is the answer to all of their problems.

We listen, we encourage, we tell people how much they are valued and loved.  And we keep praying.  Today is not a holiday here in Belize so we are at work in the counseling office.  Please keep us and those who walk through these doors in your thoughts and prayers.

Still counting the gifts:
246. youth who are willing to speak out and bring awareness to others.

247. finally hearing from our youngest son who is on a mission trip.

248. our oldest son started a new job that is perfect for him.

249. being able to work and live in such a wonderful place.

250. homemade doughnuts!

Praise Time

A while back Tom and I spoke at this church in the village of Roaring Creek for a Women's Conference.  I finally took the video off of Tom's phone and uploaded it to YouTube.

The man in the long sleeved white shirt is the pastor, the drummer is one of his sons, and the two young women singing who are dressed alike are his wife and one of his daughters.

Tom teaches at this church now two times a month on Wednesday nights and we truly enjoy the lively praise time there.

 Be careful when you play it...you might want to turn down your speakers.  It is pretty loud! 

You know you're in Belize when...

You see someone asleep in the bed of a truck.  The drive from Belmopan to Belize City is about an hour.  Each time we have made the drive we have seen someone asleep in a truck.  It is the rainy season right now and it is hot and humid most of the time. We have noticed that people here work very hard and they seem to get up very early which makes their days very long.  I don't blame this guy for taking a nap!