More Soccer

Just some more soccer photos. Saturday was such a nice morning

with the warm sunshine. After a week of rain and flooding,

I was about ready to build an ark!

Amarin's first goal of the season.

Can you tell he's a bit excited about it?

High-fives from a teammate, buddy!

And he scores!

Jacob and Amarin still play on the same team

and they won on Saturday.

Perfect opportunity...the goalie isn't looking, and no other

players are in the area!

Just For Fun

Just some fun photos of the kids. Jamie is loving his new camera, and capturing

expressions and movement that he couldn't

with the old camera.

Here's Laura...I just love the candid shots.

Amarin outside doing his chores.

Charlie having fun with his cousins.

Jacob, the sea pirate!

Jacob making a motor...he was so happy that it really worked!

Helping my almost-6-year-old with her somersaults.

She can't be that old yet, can she?

It feels like she just came home from China!

And the happy squeal...

Now I try myself, mom. This is as much as she's

figured out so far. Then she crawls back for more help.

Laura and her patient dog, Ruffey.

C*medy Centr*l...Not Funny

Sometimes I feel like I'm becoming an activist. It's like there's a never-ending battle for goodness and morals in society. Somedays, I think I'd prefer to bury my head in the sand and just pretend that TV shows are funny, music shares hope, kids are innocent, adults have morals, and love abounds. But, like 2 Timothy 3 states, there will be difficult times.

A friend sent me this email, and she granted me permission to share it. Thanks, Joy!

The Comedy Central network has a long history of denigrating Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. Now, they are developing a new series called "JC" that will openly mock Jesus and give Comedy Central even more time and latitude to increase their attacks on a religion practiced by 80 percent of Americans.

Just weeks ago, Comedy Central censored a depiction of the prophet Mohammad after intense Muslim protest. But Christians are fair game!

I am outraged by this unabashed double standard, and I'm protesting against Comedy Central and its parent company Viacom and their plans to air this show mocking Christians.

I have just added my name to a Media Research Center petition, and I'm urging you to do the same by clicking here now:

http://www.grassrootsaction.com/455/petition.asp?PID=24727008&NID=1

We cannot allow the Hollywood Elite and the left-wing media to continue to savage Christians. That's why I'm taking action and I hope you will do the same.

Thanks for joining with me.

Mrs. Joy Boots

Filling The Hole

We're working on "filling the hole." You know,

"the hole in our gospel?"

See a couple posts down, and you can read

more if you missed it.

And as you read this,

know that I'm NOT exalting our family in any way.

What we did today should not be looked upon as

extraordinary, but ordinary for Christians.

You know the song...and they'll know we are

Christians by our love, by our love...

We're trying to serve as a family in our community

and abroad.

We're trying to be the Christians Jesus talked about

in the gospel,

not just Sunday church goers.

We need to reach outside of the church walls, my friends.

Going to church isn't going to do a lick of good

unless we take what we learn there

and put it to good use.

And there are so many ways to serve others.

And kids...well they need to be serving, too.

There isn't a child too small to make a difference.

And if they grow up serving others,

they will see it as an awesome opportunity,

rather than a burden and someone else's job.

It's easy to sit back and grumble about the morals

of our world, or the poor and homeless that

"litter" the city and smell bad.

It's easy to sympathize with the orphans,

or the children living in poverty.

But it shouldn't be that way.

For decades, we, as Christians, have failed to do what God

called us to do.

Do you realize how many millions of Christians

there are just in America...the land of the wealthy and prosperous?

And do you realize the difference these Christians could make

if they would get off their lazy bums and do

something to help?

So let's go!

Let's get God's work done!

We can change the world for better!

Let's be the people that stand out in the crowd,

not for our own glory, but

so others can see God's love through us.

Let's strive to hear those words from God,

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Donning their aprons and gloves,

they picked up and scraped a ton of dirty dishes

at this senior home...and with smiles.

I'll have to remind them of those smiles when

they're cleaning the dishes at home! :)

Amarin was scoping out more dirty dishes.

Jacob and Charlie working together.

After we served, Jacob entertained on the piano.

He has been totally against playing anywhere in public...

just too embarrassed.

But we prayed about it several times

before coming this morning

and he was much more at ease than he thought.

He did a great job, and the seniors loved it.

Charlie...creating some comedy while Jacob's playing.
He does have the gift of making others laugh!
(Sorry about the blur...I think Jamie hid his new
camera on me until he gives me a lesson...so I'm
using my old one that blurs easily!)

So, what do you do as a family to serve others? Leave a comment so we can all get some great ideas!

Soccer & A New Camera

Jamie got a new camera for his birthday and was eager to try out some action shots.

Soccer was the perfect place to try!

Here's Char and his buddy after the game...

still lots of energy!

Jacob

Jacob, again

My baby snuggling between plays.

Jacob "battling it out" with his buddy on the other team.

Go, Char!

Watch the ball, Char!

Jacob and his buddy, again.

Don't ya love Bob, the Tomato?

Amarin playing goalie.

The big boys' coach is in the background.

He used to be a missionary in Thailand,

so he speaks a bit of Thai to Amarin.

Kick it, buddy!

Making new friends.

Amarin

100 Crashing Jet Liners

I'm reading a book right now by Richard Stearns, called The Hole in our Gospel.

Ever heard of it?

Did you know that there is a hole in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Did you know that hole is you and me?

Let me give you a bit of a background on Mr. Stearns.

He rose very quickly up the corporate ladder,

and became CEO of a company in his early 30s.

His job, previous to his current one, was CEO of Lennox..

you know...the fancy dishwear?

He owned a 10 bedroom home on lots of acres.

He drove a jaguar.

He was married with 5 kids.

He was actively involved in his church, community, his

kids went to great schools, he had a great marriage.

Then, God knocked...loudly...and continuously for months.

Mr. Stearns was not comfortable with what God was asking him to do.

But it was made clear by some "coincidences" that he needed

to obey God's calling.

So, he left his CEO position, uprooted his family,

downsized his home, got rid of his jaguar,

and took a 75% paycut.

Yes... a 75% paycut!

That's a dumb move from the world's perspective.

He became the president of World Vision US.

So, as I'm reading his book, I come across a chapter

entitled One Hundred Crashing Jetliners.

Let me attempt to paraphrase the idea behind this chapter.

Let's say we woke up tomorrow and all over the news was

mayhem because 100 jetliners had crashed, killing

26,500 people.

Can you imagine what would be going on around the world at that point?

Really...think about it.

The governments around the world would be in a panic.

Airports shut down.

No-fly zones.

Military aircraft monitoring our skies.

FBI, CIA...all agencies on high alert.

Society would be scared and frantic.

What on earth happened? How can we stop this from happening again?

But wait...the next day it happens again.

100 jetliners, and 26,500 people.

Day 3...same thing.

Day 4...again.

I think people would really think the end of the world was upon us.

Reality is, this peril does happen everyday, just not from

crashing jetliners.

26,5000 is the number of children that die EVERY DAY

because of poverty.

It happened yesterday, it's happening as I type this,

and it will happen tomorrow.

We're all aware of this.

Our governments know what's going on,

but do you see dignitaries or officials stopping

to address this?

(OK...a few days in a devastated area does not count.

These people don't need pep talks by rich, famous

people. They need dedicated workers.)

Are we, especially Christians who

are called to help those in need, doing anything to help?

Why not? Because it's not next door to us?

Because we don't want to part with money that

could help?

Because we don't trust that our money will go to the right place?

Because we don't want our day burdened with bad news?

It's time, my friends, to get out of your comfort zone.

Step out and watch God do miracles.

No, we can't help everyone today...

but one person at a time is all it takes.

What are you going to do now?

Go Fly A Kite

Today was one of the nicest days we've had yet this year. Clouds were predicted, but the sun shone all day, and the temperature was over 80 degrees. And, the wind was gusting...perfect to go fly kites! So, having just received kites last night, they headed outside to give them a try.

Here was Amarin preparing his kite for flight. This was another first for him and he did really well keeping it up in the air.

Run, Jacob, run! His kite was a bit testy...cause, ya know...it couldn't be the handler...especially when the younger brothers' kites were afloat!

See Char way in the back? His kite was soaring well, too. He would run like a cheetah across the backyard to get that thing off the ground. Daddy was taking a turn with Amarin's kite...and Jacob remained convinced that his kite was not working right...mmmhmmmm...

Minus the woods in the back, we only have 2 trees in our backyard. Now, one would think that they could be avoided...one would think....catch #1...Jacob...and I'm sure it was because his kite was not working properly (sarcasm intended).

Amarin's turn...and Jacob to the rescue.

Mom, these strings are just a mess!

Charlie's turn to meet the tree...
and when he tried walking backward, pulling
on the string in order to free the kite...

well, his rear met up with the sandbox.

Fresh air, sunshine, lots of playing = 3 tired, happy boys at the dinner table...even if one of those kites was "not working." :)

Art Show

My boys love art. They love to draw, and they sit for long periods

of time sketching and drawing. They're at a stage now where pencil

drawings are preferred...no color necessary.

And, since we homeschool, and since I have about

as much artistic talent as a gnat,

we thought an art class would be a good idea.

We found a great Christian art teacher for them.

She prays with them before each class,

has soooo much patience,

and comes up with the coolest projects for them!

She even enters some of their work in the local

art shows.

At the end of the year, they have an art show

for parents, and anyone else that would like to visit.

Their art show was yesterday and they were so

pleased! Amarin's already asking when he

can take art classes again!

Here's a sample of their work this year.

Amarin's leaf project using warm and cool color markers.

In the spring, they get to work with clay.

Then, for the art show, they have to "make it look real."

This is Jacob's weaving project.

He chose gold and black to make it look Egyptian.

And Jacob's pencil sketch of his hands...

"peace" and "hang loose."

Know what was really special?

Daddy skipped an awesome "work" golf outing

for the boys' art show.

We think he's the coolest dad ever!

Mission Accomplished

Does anyone else enjoy cleaning out and organizing closets?

Especially those of pack-rats?

It actually gives me a sense of accomplishment

when I look and see it tidy, clean, and with clothes

for the current season.

It also makes me realize how much we have in excess.

I mean, really...is it necessary for one child to have 20 t-shirts?

I'm not kidding!

And 4 pair of tennies...2 for play and 2 for "good?"

We're tucking some away for Charlie,

(love hand-me-downs)

and giving some to our friends that have younger boys.

The boys had the job of going through their art/craft box...

which usually accumulates whatever they decide to

toss in on the spur of the moment.

Ahhhh...much better.

Wait a minute!

Who left the marble in the middle of the closet floor??

Just kidding...I'm really not that type-A.

Just ask my hubby and kids...

on second thought...

don't.

Handle With Care

Jenna Mei is about to get a big surprise!

We'll be mailing this to China very soon.

I hope she likes her presents.

I hope the clothes fit her.

I hope the caretakers take lots of photos with the camera.

I hope she thinks we look friendly in the photos.

I hope she won't have to be in China for much longer.