Friday's Fave Five!

1. Home. I'm so glad that we homeschool, that I am a stay-at-home-mom, and that Gana has a home-based business. This week our kids were sick. They got hand-foot-and-mouth disease. It's worked its way through the children this week. But our life was not drastically shaken-up. We had to stay home, but we do that anyway. What a lovely life at home.

2. Breastfeeding. Though five of the children broke out with blisters on their hands, feet and inside their mouths, Saraa remained healthy as a horse and happy as a clam. I think it's due to the fantastic health benefits of breastmilk.

3. Mochi ice cream, especially green tea and mango flavors.

4. Last Saturday my children performed in a little talent show for our homeschool co-op promotion/recognition night. Israel quoted Joshua 1. Meg worship painted. And Captain did a sign language song. They were so adorable and confident. It makes me happy to see them learning to share their gifts with others.

5. For Father's Day we printed homemade cards for all the grandfathers and god-fathers. And then we took time to pray for each one individually, a process which took most of the day. Then the children wrote words of encouragement, prophecy and blessings to each one. For those that are receiving them, believe me when I say that I had no part in it. The words they are sending you are completely their own hearts hearing from God. Personally, I was very impressed at some of the things they wrote. So, for number 5, I am thankful for children that are learning to hear the voice of God.


(For more FF5, visit Living To Tell The Story.)

Friday's Fave Five

1. My Famine Students raised $710.86 at their yard sale. That's just about enough to feed two hungry children for an entire year! (By the way, you can be a part of it! We are accepting donations for our 30-Hour Famine. Every cent will go to World Vision.)

2. People who stand for marriage! This past week was more encouraging than the week before with people deciding to stand for their marriages! We are so blessed to have a community here of people who are cheerleaders for marriage! You can have encouragement when you want it and confrontation when you need it.

3. Meg has been worship-painting a lot lately. She puts on worship music and then paints what God shows her. She's done a series of scepters. Each one stands for a different characteristic of God. For example, she'll tell me, "This is for God's creativity." or "This is for God's kindness." and so on. I find it very moving. Tomorrow she is going to do it at a homeschool co-op talent show. It was her idea. She's a brave and artistic soul.

4. Today was somewhat of a gloomy day weather-wise. Although, I'll take the overcast sky over the scorching heat we had this time last year! It was a perfect indoor day. I sat on my bed with my kids, drinking cocoa and watching Faerie Tale Theatre on Netflix. Made me feel all nostalgic.

5. My friend, Linda, gave me a lovely handmade bracelet on Wednesday. And today she opened an Etsy shop! Visit her here. And 50% of the purchase price will be donated to charities such as Iris Ministries. I love my friends. They are not only aware of what is going on in the world, but also what is going on in our Father's heart. They inspire me.

Friday's Fave Five

It's that time again. Time to be thankful. And I need this tonight! It's been a rough week, relationally speaking. I have been so burdened for some dear friends who are going through a rough time. Intercession become sort of all-encompassing for me. I need to learn how to work my spiritual gift a little better. Anyway, today is just one of those times when it's good to stop and see all the silver linings. Which brings me to....

1. After a rough day (lack of sleep for a variety of reasons and then some relationship stress with friends) Captain came into the bathroom where I was putting on my make-up and said, "Mommy, I LIKE you. You are so beautiful." Talk about melting my heart. I think it was the Word of the Lord for me at that moment!

2. Our friends Mark and Raquel who write the Eden blog with us. These are some of the most transparent and loving people I've ever met! Their passion for marriages is incredible. They fight for marriages with every weapon in their arsenal. I know the devil is afraid of them. They inspire me.

3. Last Friday night, my friend Karen came over. We (including the kids and our friend Navchaa) put on 70 and 80's tunes and danced around our living room. We belted out "I Will Survive" and tried to do the electric slide. It was a great time. Then we sent the kids to bed and we all laid down in the living room and started talking. Then we all fell asleep! I love friends who are so comfortable together you can fall asleep in the middle of conversations and no one gets their feelings hurt.

4. My brother and sister-in-love are about to welcome their fifth baby into their family. I feel overwhelmed when I think of the work of grace God has done in their lives. I want to cry and laugh and dance all at the same time. You can keep up with my brother's spiritual journey here. Put on your steel-toed boots first, though. He might step on your toes--but he does it in a spirit of genuine humility. It's lovely.

5. My 30-Hour Famine students. Do you know a group of 13 or so teenagers who decide on their own to fast for 30 hours and to raise money for hungry children? Do you know of that many teenagers (or even adults) who are brave enough to look into the face of poverty, even when it makes one so uncomfortable? I do.

"Willing to be confronted" is a much over-looked character trait that I really admire in these young people. Not many people are willing to be made brutally uncomfortable in order to be inspired to make a difference. I love these kids.

For more grateful thoughts on this FF5, visit Living To Tell The Story.

Friday's Fave Five

1. Luc. This is what he does while I'm trying to teach him to read:

2. Playing in the mud.

3. On Sunday we dedicated Saraa. It was a beautiful day. I'll blog it soon.

4. Today is National Chocolate Chip Day! What's not to like about that?!

5. Check out this blog. My Famine Students are at it again!

(For more, visit Living To Tell The Story.)

Friday's Fave Five!

1. Park Academy. Our homeschool co-op is made up of some of the most wonderful parents in the world. We are all very different, coming from different backgrounds, churches, and homeschooling philosophies--from severe unschoolers to classical educators. But, they are all so supportive and loving. Seeing them was definitely a bright spot in my week.

2. My friend, Linda, has a new blog. She's passionate about passing on a lasting and world-changing prophetic legacy to her children. She's inspirational!

3. Worship on Sunday. It just set my week off right! Check out Kenny Peavy on MySpace to hear some of these great songs!

4. Funny things in long days that make me laugh. Yesterday I was out nearly all day long running errands. It was so hot and everyone got tired and a bit grumpy. Then standing in the check-out line at the Mexican market I uttered a phrase that made me laugh out loud. "Israel, put down that Our-Lady-of-Guadalupe-toe-nail-clipper now! We are not getting that." Comic relief.

5. As of Monday, our family is debt-free! How amazing is that?! It must be the Lord, because mathematically, it's almost impossible. How can someone go to Fuller Seminary with six kids and not have any debt?! The Lord has been so very good!! It's all Him!

Friday's Fave Five!

1. Chocolate milk. You know, I don't think we enjoy chocolate milk often enough. Today on our picnic we all had our own chocolate milk. And I wondered why we don't drink it more often. It was so yummy. (All health-conscious people keep the diatribes about the evils of milk and chocolate to yourself.)

2. Standers. I appreciate people who are tenacious enough to stand.

3. Naps with my kids. I love sleeping next to a warm, contented little kid who smells like baby shampoo and PB&J.

4. My PMS group. My pastor started a prayer group of a few mommies last years. She called it PMS (Praying Mommies of the Sisterhood). (So, when I say, "I have PMS today" it's actually a very good thing!) I was reluctant to join when she asked me because I have a pretty full plate. But, I'm so glad that I did. I LOVE being with these ladies. We meet twice a week. You never knew a group of more authentic and spirit women with the anointing of Deborah!

5. My oral surgeon. A week ago I had my wisdom teeth out. I anticipated days or weeks of pain. I'd heard so many horror stories! I told them that I did not want to be knocked out. I wanted only a local so I could nurse my baby right away. They were fine with that. The surgeon was like a magician. After I was all numbed up, he had those teeth out in about 7 minutes! I could not believe it. He prescribed me vicadine for the pain, but I never took it. They just haven't hurt that much! Yesterday I went in for the post-op check-up. I took all six kids in with me. Ever had a dental exam with a baby in a sling? No? Well, you don't know what you're missing! I was anticipating some comments or dirty looks or something for bringing six little kids with me to a dental appointment. Instead my surgeon gave me a high-five! How great is that?!

Friday's Fave Five!

1. A wonderful trip to Mongolia. I'll get to posting about it soon. Let's just say it was a beautiful time!

2. A wonderful trip from Mongolia. Can I just say that I love the Korean Incheon Airport? What a perfect airport, aside from not having a newsstand or bookshop in terminal C. Other than that, it was a very relaxing and almost fun 6 hour layover.

3. It's Good Friday. I love seeing my children all dressed in black today. They have also voluntarily given up all sweets and sugar today. Very disciplined, they ate their oatmeal this morning plain--no brown sugar, honey, or even raisins.

4. This past week I read an incredible book that I highly recommend. It's called The Torch and The Sword by Rick Joyner. God has been rocking my world with that all week!

5. My mother-in-law. She expresses her love for us in so many ways. It was great to spend some time with her. She spent all her free time this last week loving the baby. And Saraa saved all her best smiles for her Emee.

Friday's Fave Five!

I've totally flaked the past few weeks on FF5, but I'm back!

1. Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of the day Gana asked me to marry him and put a ring on my finger! I was 20 years old. He was almost 26. We were looking out from Zaisan, a mountaintop right outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

I didn't know then, but I do now, that love gets even better.

We were supposed to go out to dinner and a movie last night. Had a sitter lined up and all. But, we've had a little sickness around here and I was not up to going out. Instead of going out to celebrate our commitment to each other, we lived that commitment with Gana taking care of me and the kids. He also brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card that was so romantic that it totally made up for not going out.

2. I got a great deal on a plane ticket. Saraa and I are going to Mongolia April 1! No joke!

3. My grandma, known to everyone as Grandma. You might think I'm joking, but I don't think most people in her church even know her name! They all call her Grandma! She is the perfect grandma from every storybook you've ever read. She makes the best cookies, crochets the most beautiful things, is generous, is sweet, has pictures of her grandchildren all over her house. She's also as lively and sharp as can be. You'd never know she was 81! If we had to pay her back for all the wonderful things she has done for us, we'd be paying forever.

4. Brownies. I make some really good brownies thanks to my friend's "secret" recipe. I just had one and WOW! was it good!

5. Co-sleeping. There is no way I would survive post-partum unless I slept with my baby. I'm not a person that can function well getting up several times a night to sit up and breastfeed. I'd be delirious after a few times of that. But, my precious Mishka and I sleep wonderfully side-by-side and sometimes with her tucked into the crook of my arm. I like to wake up with her right there and see her precious face and drink in her lovely smell.

For more people expressing gratefulness, visit Living To Tell The Story!

Friday Fave Five!

1. My new favorite tea is Get Maternal by The Republic of Tea. It's so tasty! Plus, it's healthy! It's Rooibos, Raspberry leaf, Stinging Nettle, Ginger, Horsetail and Parsley. Plus it has Mango and Black Limon flavor. Ahhhhh....so good!

2. My nephew The Dov turned 1! My sister gave him The. Most. Adorable. party ever! It was Dr. Seuss themed. The cutest party for the cutest 1 year old!

A Jello dessert my mom made! Isn't it amazing?!

His first piece of cake!



3. On Wednesday I went to my moms' prayer and discipleship group. We call it PMS (Praying Mommies of the Sisterhood). It was my first time back since Saraa was born. It was wonderful to be back with friends and women after God's heart.

4. Wednesday was also Ash Wednesday. We are entering a holy season as we prepare our hearts of Easter. In recent years I've loved this season more and more as I've learned to observe Lent.

5. My Dad. Today is my Daddy's birthday. I'm a bit of a Daddy's girl still. My dad is the best and if you knew him you'd agree. So, Happy Birthday Daddy! I'm so glad that you're my Daddy and I'm your little girl!

Friday's Fave Five!!

It's that time again! Time to pause and be thankful!

1. For the past year I've been complaining to our housing managers about our stove. It was unbalanced and kind of dangerous. It wouldn't stay lit. The oven didn't heat evenly. Overall, it was just a daily frustration that I had learned to live with. However, on Wednesday, our managers put in a new stove!!! YEA! It's white and shiny and clean and balanced and lights when you turn it on--you know, everything a range should be!

2. I got carded. On Valentine's Day morning I went to the grocery store and got some treats for our family party. I got a bottle of champagne and the cashier asked to see my I.D. Being that I recently turned 30, I was thrilled. No one had carded me in a long time. I'm not sad about turning 30, but I just really enjoyed being in my 20's and making fun of Gana for being in his 30's.

3. My mom. She is so wise. I know she has a special connection with the Lord. A few weeks ago I was frustrated with getting my daughter to read better. We were just having a bad day and had come up against a wall. I called my mom and vented my homeschooling frustrations and she gave me the solution in a matter of minutes. This week we took care of it. Meg needed glasses. Thanks Mom for your wisdom!

4. Dinner with friends. On Wednesday we had dinner with another big family. They have five kids the ages of our kids. We had a blast! Good fellowship, encouragement, laughter, messy chocolate fondue! In short it was organic Church!

5. Hyland's Earache Tablets. Psalm 104:14 says that herbs were given for the service of man. I love safe and natural remedies. This week Luc recovered from a short-lived cold. But on Tuesday he complained of a bad earache. One dose of Hyland's Earache Tablets and it was gone!

Friday's Fave Five!

This week I have a lot for which to be thankful. I'm full of loving and romantic thoughts. Must be all the oxytocin from nursing.

1. My littlest girl smells so wonderful that I could sit in the rocking chair just breathing her in.

2. I radically cleaned out and reorganized my children's rooms. Loads of stuff to the thrift store and to the dumpster. Just going in their rooms now make me smile. So neat, so clean, so free of clutter. I'd rather spend time in their rooms than mine!

3. Godiva dark hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Gana gave it to me for Christmas. It's my late night after the children are asleep treat.

4. Yesterday my sister and her family and my mom came down for the day. We all saw Annie at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. It was a blast. I'm so blessed to have family that does things like drive 3 1/2 hours one way to see a play with me!

5. Last Sunday I wore size 6 pants to church. That's right folks. Maternity clothes are going to be packed up and my regular clothes are coming out of storage! (Although some would argue that after six pregnancies in 8 years maternity clothes are my regular clothes.)

Friday's Fave Five!

(Click above for more Friday's Fave Five fun!)

1. New dark chocolate brown 400 thread count sheets. They make me happy every night when I go to bed.





2. Saraa is one month old today. Some days it seems like she's been in my life forever. Some days I'm still not used to the idea that we have a new baby girl in the family.





3. Rainy days like today. Tea and Cocoa, snacks, movies, books, and an excuse not to do anything but cozy up in the house.





4. Friends who remembered my birthday when I am so terrible at remembering every elses'!





5. Kahlua and Cream.

Friday's Fave Fives

I know. I already do a themed post on Fridays (My Husband Rocks), but I've been thinking about this one for a few weeks. I just can resist it! It cultivates such an spirit of gratitude that I'm going for it! So what if I blog two posts in one day!

(Click on the image above to learn more about Friday's Fave Five.)

1. Home cooking. For three weeks postpartum my lovely girlfriends from church have been bringing me meals. What a treat! I haven't cooked a thing other than oatmeal and grilled cheese sandwiches since Saraa was born. It's been fabulous! But, Sunday was the last day. At first I was overwhelmed and wondered how I was going to get dinner prepared, dishes done in addition to nursing the new baby and homeschooling the others. However, I discovered that I had really missed cooking! It's that creative spark in sometimes mundane days that I really do enjoy! Last night I made homemade noodles and they were so yummy! Recipe is on the Gomboblog.

2. Woman Act Now. Last Saturday I went to a friend's home and heard Anna McCoy speak. It was inspiring and challenging and fun to be together with other Christian women who are ready to rock 'n' roll with their dreams!

3. Lighting my candle. As I talked about a long time ago in this post, when I go to the kitchen to prepare something tasty or nourishing (or both) for my family, I first light a candle. It gives me a moment's pause to reflect and be grateful. Right now I'm burning a Christmas-y scented one from Yankee Candle Company. I like it. And it's red, so I think I'll keep burning it until after Valentine's Day.

4. Poop in the potty. If you are not a parent just pretend to be excited with us. Belgee pooped twice in the potty this week! Yippeeeeeee! His diaper days are numbered!

5. Pink. Laundry just might be the bane of my existence. I'd rename my blog Lost in Laundry, but my friend Starr already has that name! However, there is something quite satisfying and lovely about a pile of pink clothes and blankets neatly folded and ready to be put away. It's been a long six years of blue around here. And I am revelling in the pink!