Catching Up & News!

I'm finally getting back into the world of blogging, but...


I have to be honest...


I did not miss blogging.


Not one bit.


Believe me, blogging the way I do is a lot of work!


Being a mama and wife is a lot more work. Combine those two and you've got an overworked mama that needs to back off once in a while.


Anyway, it was a much needed break with my body going through the cycle of making our baby #4... yep, you read that right! That's the news! If you haven't heard via Facebook or through friends, I am about 3 months along with our surprise baby #4.


Yeah, we weren't planning (well, we didn't even plan the other 3! LOL!) to have any more babies... at least not for a few years so I can have a break and enjoy my other growing kids! But, obviously, God had other plans and I've learned that it is better to go with the flow.


Now I really need to get on the ball with writing up my side of the story with Tobi's birth. It was the best of the 3 and I pray that the fourth will be just as great if not better in some ways!

Life here at Rancho Oasis is going amazingly well. We are in awe of how God is using this place and us to reach out to the community of families and kids. If you haven't, please take some time to look through the last few weeks of weekly pictures that my hubby has been putting together to give you all a good look at what goes on here and around us.


Now, I want to thank all my noisy followers for staying around when I basically disappeared for a while without much warning. But that's how a blog should be... I shouldn't have to feel like I need to keep posting regularly to keep you guys around! You guys can come and go as you please  :o)


Now, enjoy the new month ahead of you and keep your eyes open for future posts and giveaways!

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My Missionary Life Story: The Unexpected Journey of Faith, Trust & Simplicity

Everybody has a role model in their life that they look up to, learn from and follow in their steps. if I asked you who your role model is for what living simply is all about… what would be your answer? Your local farmer? Joel Salatin? Michael Pollan? Mother Teresa? The Amish?

Want to know my answer? Jesus Christ.

Jesus, God, came into this world as a babe in a humble, dirty stable through a simple girl named Mary. His birth celebrated by the shepherds and 3 wise men. He grew up loving the Laws of God. He was the carpenter’s son. Learned to make a honest wage to provide food for the family. He was described as simple in looks and attire. He raised up 12 uneducated men to walk alongside Him and learn from Him. He purposed daily to get away and spend time alone in prayer. He taught with all wisdom and authority. He showed power & strength through humility before His enemies. He kept His promises.

He lived simply… yet His life speaks powerfully to us today. His life is teaching you and me to choose to live a simple life not caught up in the world.

Through Him, I am learning that a simple life is accepting what I have and making the best of it rather then wishing for what I don’t have or can’t have.

Through Him, I am learning that a simple life is holding loosely to my plans and allowing God to make the final changes and direct my steps.

Through Him, I am learning that a simple life is living now, in the moment, with my family and living joyfully in all circumstances.

Through Him, I am learning that a simple life means to be humble and righteous in all that I do.

Through Him, I am learning that a simple life involves hardships, persecution and suffering.

Through Him, it means to take up the cross… sacrifice my life, my plans, my comforts, my stuff…  and follow Him.

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The Unexpected Journey

It has been over four years since we boarded the airplane in Chicago, bound for Costa Rica, with only 21 pieces of luggage & trunks that carried what was left of everything we had. We sold everything that would not fit in those trunks and suitcases.

That was the start of learning to let go of “stuff” and have less. I struggled going through all our possessions and deciding what we didn’t need to take with us. Now, I don’t even remember what those things were. I look back and remember how freeing it was to get rid of it all!

"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13

We arrived thinking the vision for RO4Y would begin in Costa Rica, but it was just a time for God to prep us for Honduras. At the time we didn’t know that, but now we do. Honestly, if the Lord brought us straight to Honduras… I don’t think we would’ve stayed long. He knew that. He knew what we could and couldn’t handle at the time.

Now, It has been two years since we once again thinned down our possessions, loaded to the max our bus & my dad’s F-250, drove across two borders from Costa Rica to Honduras and began the wild journey of learning to trust, believe and live by faith simply in God’s hands.

If God sent an angel four years ago to tell me that my husband & I will be missionaries in a rural area of Honduras, with 3 kids and this angel gave me the details of everything that was going to happen to us in the past 4 year span...

My response would have been nothing like Mary’s.

"I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true" Luke 1:38

My response would have been more like…

“Lord, I am never doing that! Can you find someone else? I can’t do that, I’m just a deaf mama. I don’t want to do that… I just want to have a simple life with a nice little house in New Mexico, a car that will get us around, a church where we can fellowship and the comforts of living in USA.”

Yeah, I am ashamed to say that would’ve been my response.

Since we moved to Honduras… God has brought us through fire to refine us, increase our faith in Him and make our life simpler so we can serve Him freely.

I was pulling ticks off my family everyday; showering with a garden hose outside; using a poorly built outhouse as a toilet; sharing a very small 3 bedroom Honduran mud-brick house with my parents; dealing with: animals coming through the roof & eating our food, a leaking roof and regular power outages; fighting against the termite swarms; killing 30+ flies a day; worrying about the health of my family; adjusting to difficult cultural changes and dealing with the cultural shock lasted through the first year of our life in Honduras.

Through it all… I learned to accept it, but I wearily wondered why God chose me for this role. Wondered if this simple life was really going to work for us. Wondered how I could handle all of it. God promised never to give me anything I couldn’t handle but I sure felt like I couldn’t handle this.

Why did He trust me so much?

I am learning to understand that it is not about how much He trusts me. It was about how much He trusts the work He has done in me. Preparing me for this simple life in rural Honduras.

I probably had more emotional breakdowns & tears that year than in my whole life. Through that dark and lonely time in my life… the Lord spoke to me through these verses:

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:28-31

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives, Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

What really threw me into a turmoil was going from having access to a beautiful, huge farmer’s market in Costa Rica where the rich, organic bounty came from local farmers to an ugly, tiny spot on the ground they called a market in Honduras where the chemical-laden produce come in mass quantities from the city, not from local farmers.

Health is important to me. We truly believe that taking care of our bodies is essential to living life to the fullest for the Lord. How can we if we are distracted by sickness from eating bad food all the time? For me to go from buying 90% organic or clean food to less than 5% was a shock, but I learned to accept it… with tears and despair.

Why did God ask me to sacrifice so much?

So that He will get all the glory. God knows our situation and our heart’s desire to be healthy, live simple and fully… he has blessed that desire above and beyond what I thought was possible. No, we did not find organic or clean food, but He gave me a deep peace that helped me accept what I couldn’t have.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:31-34

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Embracing my Life

Into the second year, one beautiful morning, the Lord spoke to me. Not with thunder, but with soft breeze of a whisper.

My child, embrace the life I’ve given you!

That was the turning point for me. Not just to accept my life, but to embrace it with joy and victory. Embrace the hardships & simple life as a missionary alongside my Man and raising my 3 kids in rural Honduras.

I love that word… embrace!

Walking in Thankfulness

Next, came the realization that I needed to have the attitude of thankfulness.

To be thankful for the things that I most often complain about… the house we live in, the hardships and the discomforts of life as a missionary.

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." Colossians 2:7

Instead of wasting energy fighting against God with my complaints, lack of contentment and trying to make things happen the way I want it to happen. I am now choosing to look through eyes of thankfulness. It isn’t always easy, but it is easier than fighting!

Well Done

It has been my heart’s desire that when I bow before the throne of the Lord, I will hear the words richly flow over me and into my healed ears, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.

That alone will make everything I’ve gone through in this life worth it.

Is that your heart's desire too?

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: ListPlanIt Memberships!

Happy New Year everyone!


Wow, the last few days have been blowing by and leaving us pretty wiped out. I know I was supposed to post a Celebration Giveaway on my birthday, but I wasn't thinking it through when I started the whole thing.


We've had a group working here since Dec. 27th & will be here until January 6th and I've been so busy cooking meals that I've been too tired to put up something. So, I thought I would wait until January 1st and make it a celebration for the New Year... as you can see, didn't happen.


Well, better late then never!


I decided to extend all the Celebration Giveaways to January 14th. I see that many of you are itching to win one of these giveaways by your daily entries! LOL! Well, you now have many more days of chances to win.


So, I had big plans to give you all a fantastic surprise giveaway for my birthday... but it fell through  :o(


Instead, I am going share with you about ListPlanIt.com... a great place with hundreds of "lists to put your world in order"!!

Now, how many of you have put on your yearly resolution list to be more organized?!


Yep, I see many hands... hmm, just what I thought!


Who doesn't want to be at least a little bit more organized with life, family, kids and everyday things? I am not an organized person by nature, but I am also not a disorganized one either. I guess you can say I am in the middle and taking baby steps everyday to be a little more organized here and there. I don't obsessed about it because my kids don't need a organize-freak of a mama! LOL!


I've been using many of ListPlanIt lists for several months now and have enjoyed how simple & easy they are to use. Before I came across ListPlanIt, I had been looking for simple ways to organize my life and had little success with finding ideas and "already made" lists. I was ready to give up when I came across ListPlanIt!


There are lists for everything you can think of! Lists for organizing your home, business & life. Lists to organize the bedrooms, freezers, bathrooms and pantry. Lists to organize the parties, meal plans and groceries. Lists to get ready for moving, traveling and MORE!


Want a list for something specific?? ListPlanIt is sure to have it!
Want to customize a list for yourself or a business?? ListPlanIt can help you!


Now...


FIVE winners will be given ONE of the following:

• 1 Print Membership (value $20)
• 1 Download Membership (value $30)
• 3 ePlanners

How to Enter

Just leave a comment below sharing one area that you know you need to be more organized! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

'Like' ListPlanIt on Facebook (1 entry)

Sign up for the L.I.S.T. Newsletter (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until January 14th! This giveaway is open to the world and the winners will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted after January 14th.

PLEASE include your email in each entry to leave for me to contact you. Thank you!

Don't forget to check out Celebration Giveaways 1, 2 & 3!!

Also, you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $12

My friends, have a great New Year!!

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DPP 2011 > Help Us Help Them

It isn't easy to catch a beautiful smile like that with these kids.


Most are so solemn... life is hard for many of them.


But when they come here to RO4Y, they are able to forget for a while and just be kids... silly, goofy and laughing. There is so much peace here and they can feel it!


I know a real smile when I see one... it lights up their eyes.


Like Diana, up there.


She has a hard life... Dad is alcoholic and can't keep a job. Both Mom and Dad can't read. They live very simply on beans, rice and corn tortillas.


Thankfully, Diana has chosen to learn to read and write. She has chosen to come to RO4Y. It seems that she wants to choose a better life and learn more about Jesus.


Help us help her.


We want to help with her spiritual needs and physical needs. We want to do that for every kid that comes here as much as possible!


For Christmas, we are planning to put together food baskets and give them out has gifts to the families of the kids we work with. For $25 we can give a family a basket of wholesome food that will last them anywhere from 2 days to a week... depending on how many people are in the family.


Would you like to help us?

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DPP 2011 > Learning In the Sunshine

It was a beautiful day out... warm breeze, hot sun and the smell of earth drew me outside.


"Wanna work on your writing outside?" I asked Naomi.


"Yeah!" Yelled Naomi, jumping up and down.


We gathered all the papers, books and crayons. I got an old pink sheet and spread it out in the breeze. We settle down and Naomi went right to work on her R's sheet. I started to read a chapter from "I Heard Good News Today" (GREAT book!).


After Noami finished her R sheet... we looked through the Children's Encyclopedia and learned about mountains & rivers.

Slowly and quietly... our animals came to us.


The dogs, always on the look out for attention and affection, laid down next to us.


The chickens, always watching for us to bring them scraps and food, pecked around us.


The horses, always curious (especially Nyssa, the filly) and looking for treats, snuffled through our things and gave us kisses.


The cat, always look for a hand to stroke him, laid on my lap.


Felt like heaven on earth at that moment.


"Mommy, this is nice. Can we do this again?"




DPP 2009 Picture

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Strawberries & Thankfulness

Day before Thanksgiving day, I checked our small strawberry patch and what did I find?

Our first 2 beautiful, deliciously red & sun-riped strawberries!

It is simply crazy for me to think that in the USA everybody have finish up harvesting their garden bounties and huddling up for winter, while we are watching our strawberries flowery, forming and slowly growing.


This is my first time growing strawberries. I never thought it would be possible to grow strawberries up here, but they are growing beautifully & organically! 

They smelled earthy, fresh & sweet! My girls and I couldn't stop smelling them. Hmmm!


So, I had to hold the girls back from eating those two precious gems and wait for their Daddy to come home to share the love. Seriously, what is better than a simply strawberries & cream?

Now, on a different thought...


The night before Thanksgiving Day, like everybody else, I started thinking about things I was thankful for... Of course, there is so much and it comes naturally to think of all the good things when all is good.


But...


What about everything else I should be MORE thankful for? Having the attitude of thankfulness It a 24/7 choice we make. Not just on Thanksgiving Day!


So my thoughts changed direction... What things in life should I have the attitude of thankfulness?


Am I thankful when I might not have the house I want? Am I thankful for the things I already have? Am I thankful that God called my family to be missionaries? When my healthy son wakes me up in the middle of the night to nurse, am I thankful?


Are you thankful for that job, even when you don't like it or it doesn't pay well? Are you thankful for the trials in your life? Are you thankful when you struggle with your weight? Are you thankful for that car you have? Are you thankful for that person that bothers you?


Are you thankful for the life God has given you... good & bad?


"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)


"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."
Colossians 3:15-16 (NLT)


"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
Colossians 4:2 (NLT)


"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

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Embrace The Life I've Given You! (w/ Photos of Wild Lilies)

Couple weeks ago we were in awe of God's amazing, beautiful nature blooming right before our eyes. These wild lilies stretched their graceful heads out, slowly unfurled their beauty and released their sweet scent throughout the night...

It was like seeing, feeling and smelling heaven opening up before us. The warm breeze danced the sweet aroma around us, tickling our noses and causing gasps of delight...

When the first rays of sunlight peaked over the mountain, the lilies exploded with screams of glory to our Awesome God. I could just hear the sounds of praise and worship rising up all around us. Tears came to my eyes while looking through the lenses of my camera... trying to capture this pure beauty.

My throat tight... my heart pounding... my hands trembling as I knelt before this amazing beauty. Worship and praise burst from my heart up to my lips as the heavenly aroma washed over me. Tears spilled over, falling and joining the dew drops dazzling in the sunshine...

I imagined the breeze carrying the sweet, heavenly aroma being the Lord's breath upon me. Comforting me as the ache in my heart grew. The long year of hardship, loneliness and pain crashed over me, drowning me in the memories. I gasped and cried out...

"Lord, I don't think I can do this anymore! I want to run with joy, not limp with pain & sorrow... I want to dance with freedom, not fall down with burdens... I want to sing with peace, not moan with turmoil!" The pain shot through my soul, causing me to reach for my Savior's hand, surrendering...

A soft whisper touched my heart, "I started the good work in your life and will stay with you till the work is finally finished on the day I return. Remember, My grace is all you need. My strength and power is perfected in your weakness... My child, embrace the life I've given you!"

Embraced by my Lord's grace, warmth flowed through me. A song poured out from my mind, heart and soul - spilling through my lips...

Covered by the graceful flow

I come boldly to Your throne

A warm embrace, a gentle smile

With Your opened arms I enter in

So I stand in Your presence Lord

I lift my hands to honor

The God of all creation, the Lover of my soul

Father bring me to that place

Where I can clearly see Your face

I bend my knees and bow my head

The world around me, fades away

So I stand in Your presence Lord

I lift my hands to honor

The God of all creation, the Lover of my soul

I lift my voice as a sacrifice of praise

I'll live my days to bring glory to Your Name

Glory to Your Name, oh Lord

Glory to Your Name, oh Lord

So I stand in Your presence Lord

I lift my hands to honor

The God of all creation, the Lover of my soul

(Listen Here! I Stand In Your Presence - By Lindsay Skaar)

With a deep breathe, I stood on the solid ground of grace. Letting go of the past and moving forward, embracing the new day He has given me. With weak hands, I grabbed onto the rope of promise that He will never leave nor forsake me...

If I die with Him, I will also live with Him...

If I endure hardship, I will reign with Him...

If I deny Him, He will deny me...

If I am unfaithful, He remains faithful...

 For He cannot deny who He is...

I ran into my home, gathered my kids and brought them out to see the glory and beauty. Again, the Lord whispered to me, "Embrace the life I've given you!"

I will thank You, Lord, among all the people!
I will sing Your praises among the nations!

Psalm 57:9

This post is part of the Barn Hop @ Homestead Revival & 

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