Summer Reads

I love the smell of a book, the breeze off of the ocean, and stepping into someone else's world across the ocean or at a different time in history...

My summer reading list includes:

Read aloud to my son The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, then we watched the movie. 

This was certainly a good introduction to a horrific act in history through the eyes of the innocent.

My prayer is that my children know and learn so that they are 

not indifferent when history begins to repeat itself (like it did in Rwanda). Reading these types of books together is a great time for answering those questions of curiosity...

Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - the life of Louie Zampirni! Have to say it took me a while on this one...BUT it was well worth the read and once I finally got halfway through the book I couldn't put it down. Such a testament of God's grace from beginning to end!

My love for education has me reading The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner. This book has me thinking, rethinking, and of course creating ways in my head of how teaching can be done differently and more effective for our children! Each summer I try to read at least one book on ministry & one education. I like to weave my thoughts together on the two!

Picking up Three Cups of Tea: One man's mission to fight terrorism and build nations...one school at a time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

I am banking on loving this one so much that I continue on into his book that follows Stones into Schools.  I will update by summer's end!

**I know that budgets are tight...so I want you to know that each of these are available at your local library (in the United States).

first of summer days

The first of our summer days have my heart bursting with joy...my daughter is with her daddy on another continent loving on children and exploring some of God's incredible creations...

My son and I are holding down the fort...building bonfires, serving teachers, winning baseball championships, having time with friends on the lake, playing scrabble, and adding mystery ingredients to our basket for dessert (our family version of the Food Network's Chopped!

And during his down time, he's busy making videos...of himself!

We continue to learn more and more of God's faithfulness, recognize the gifts of "ordinary" in each day, and remind one another - through Scripture, a prayer, or a song of how much our Savior loves us! Yes, all of God's World is our classroom!

Life in Mercyville...so thankful it's where my family resides.

Haiti, Heartache, & Hope

Headlines in the news have long faded... Haiti remains a nation lying in ruins.

Time spent in 3rd world countries still did not prepare me for the depth of poverty that blankets this nation. Aid continues, on our flight alone there were 3 teams coming in to spend a week to help - build a home here, put in a water system in there, share the good news of Jesus, provide basic medical care...

Yet, as we drove down the bumpy, dirt roads the scenes were often the same...the men were sitting roadside gambling, women were hauling loads of laundry on their heads, and children sometimes playing a game, more times than not they too were carrying a water bucket, going for produce, working, or simply surviving the hostile streets. 

Heartache sets in 

as stories are told of those who have visited the medical clinic that our friends run. Horrific acts being done to children, superstition leading to brutality, ignorance seemingly unmeasurable, abuse of every kind, neglect, selfishness, self preservation. Daunting and overwhelming.

Yet, this Hope remains...

"we can change our world"

a generation to rise up, call out - turning their eyes, hearts & nation to God, stop ignorance, fight for justice, take a stand against indifference, make wise choices. Haiti's future leaders. There are adult Haitians that desire a new nation, and know that it will be in the next generation.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, 
to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11