Desperate times call for desperate measures

It's Christmas Break - no extra money - these walls are coming in on us!! The kids want to go to McDonalds - it would cost taxi fare and us paying triple the prices for chicken nuggets. Just for fun I put "recipe for McDonalds chicken nuggets" in google and look what I found!
A blog where she was looking for the same thing! http://forfood.rezimo.com/?p=432 So we had time to kill and chicken so we gave it a shot. We don't have a food processor, so we 1st tried a little processor that you turn by hand - doesn't work - then we tried the blender - we let the magic smoke out of the blender!! So my strong husband went to it with a knife and after a lot of chopping we had the mush you need to make the recipe. It does take a little extra time to make the balls and dip them 3 different times - but trust me - IT IS WORTH IT! We had McD's nuggets for lunch. The kids loved them and of course I didn't make enough. We will definitely be making these again!!

I'm dreaming of a "wet" Christmas

We have no snow obviously, but the Lord did bless us with a rain cloud which cooled things down enough to at least make it feel like fall. I've pretty much been a scrooge most of my adult life. I've never liked to decorate and generally felt that a Christmas tree was a waste of money and time. However, this year with only finger painted Christmas trees above the sofa; I felt "Christmas". NO commercialism here just Jesus in the manger and my kids playing around me.

Christmas 07

I know these are long - but not too long for Grandmother's and Grammy Sugar's. Enjoy!

Our Christmas Trees

If you know me very well at all you know one of my favorite things in the world is Christmas Trees. I love seeing the first truck load roll in around Thanksgiving and I love picking it out and decorating it. Well this year has been a challenge, because you can find one, but how do you get it home and what do you decorate it with - because in August when we were packing Christmas stuff wasn't high on the list. So we got some poster paper and finger paint - Shay drew a Christmas tree and our little artist painted them. I think they are the best Christmas trees I have every had!!

Ox Carts

Shay took the kids to Sarchi - this is where they paint all of the famous ox carts. It was a long long bus ride, but they loved it. I was Christmas Shopping!!!

Merry Christmas from Grandmother

My mom sent us to the beach for Christmas. We went to Punta Leona, it was wonderful! The kids swam in the ocean or the pool all day everyday. They had a butterfly farm on site. Each morning we ate breakfast with monkeys, iguanas and lots of other animals. They would actually come up to the tables and steal food from the tables. The kids loved it. Thanks! Grandmother

We got Elfed check it out!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1424452611
This is Shay & Gwyn

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1425217401
This is the kids!

Merry Christmas!!

"Can we take marshmallows to the Volcano?"

We're taking my parents, sister and nephew to see a local active volcano during their visit the week of Dec 31. Yesterday as we were getting ready for school the kids were asking what we would be doing with Grammy. When the volcano was mentioned Jesse made the statement above. I want to have that kind of wonder. Why not roast marshmallows over a lava flow? Life should always be an adventure! Who needs a campfire when you have a volcano nearby?

Thought this was cute - not sure if it is true?

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

This is a quiz at: http://orgjunkie.com/
Try it and see who you are?

Our Christmas Greeting

Ox Cart Parade

This is a really big deal in Costa Rica. They have the most ornate and beautifully painted ox carts. There were over 200 ox carts in the parade along with traditional dancers and bands and may poles. They also had these tall statue things with people inside of them. They would dance and twirl and their arms would fly around it was hilarious!

16 years WOW

Are we really old enough to be married for 16 years??? My sweet husband found away to continue a tradition. He always sends me roses for the number of years we have been married and one more for the next year - so yes this is 17 roses!! They have beautiful flowers in Costa Rica.

Robleato Children's Home Christmas Party

Every year the students of our school throw a Christmas party for the children of a local children's home. This is kind of like a foster home in the states. The hope is for the children to be reunited with their families. We went and visited Roblealto about a month ago. It is up in the mountains. Their are 9 homes and each home has about 10 children and house parents. Their is a school on site as well. We had lunch with them and they loved our kids. They couldn't keep their hands off Jesse's blonde hair, I can't blame them!! Their was one little boy that really stuck with us and talked to us a lot his name was Diego. I got to see him at the party and he ran over and gave me a big hug and kiss. Their was also another little boy that stole my heart he came up to me and a friend of mine and wanted to give us some of his candy that he had won. Of course we said No, but he really wanted to share with us, kind of his way of saying Thank You. We both had to hold back the tears, to see someone with nothing want to share the little they have. This is a picture of him getting his present. We had the gym set up like a carnival and they all got to go around and play different games and they got their face painted, ate supper, we had 4 pinatas and then the big finale was getting their presents. Every student picked a child to buy a gift for.

Our Thanksgiving

Living an “upbeat life”!

Living an “upbeat life”!

Sunday as we worshiped in our church I had difficulty keeping the beat because Ticos (Costa Ricans) clap on the upbeat rather than the downbeat. The thought has occurred to me that Ticos are “upbeat” about most things. For instance, most cultures have some form of traditional greeting. Americans say “good morning” or “good afternoon” which is usually shortened to simply “morning” or “afternoon”. Ticos similarly say “buenos dias” or “buenas tardes” which are shortened to simply “buenas” which translated means “good”. As Americans we are most concerned with the transfer of information (time of day), but Ticos are more concerned that you enjoy what day you have and therefore wish you “good”!

I have always been a “glass half full” kind of guy in public with a secret foreboding of the void in my glass! Everyday I need Jesus to help me look beyond the “facts”, the flow of information is not what counts. IS LIFE GOOD? That’s what counts! Are my children joyful and growing in their relationship with us and the Lord? Are Gwyn and I joyful and growing in our relationship with our children, each other and the Lord? (Notice I did not say happy, because that is a fleeting emotion and not a valid goal for our lives.)

The matter of greatest importance in life is not the level of the water in the glass, but rather that you drink in what you have been given and enjoy it to the last drop! Life Is Good!

Updated Pic of Banana Tree

We are a little obsessed with our Banana Tree! It is so much fun watching it grow!

Grammy Sugar is here

Grammy Sugar is visiting us for two weeks. She is getting used to all the rain and all the extra walking. She is a real trooper.
The kids love to play games and Grammy is here to please!

Banana Tree

This is a picture of the Pod on our banana tree. Banana trees only produce one pod each year and there are many layers under each layer is a bunch of bananas. We can't wait to eat these, it will be a few weeks before they are ready. To see some really cool pictures of the tree check out our flickr pics -http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaygwyngriffin/

Mama Tapp

This is my Mama Tapp (my daddy's mom). She is very sick and has been placed in a Hospice home. I am going home to see her this week. She has always been such an inspiration to me. She is a hard worker, a prayer warrior and tranquila. Tranquila is a word that we have learned is necessary for life in Costa Rica. It means calm, tranquil, relax - and that is the only way to live here. Mama Tapp doesn't get upset about much and she is always sure things are going to work out. She has encouraged me many times to not worry and things would work out and they always have. I had the pleasure of living in her house for a few years before we had the kids and I will always treasure that time. I have so many great memories of the time I spent there as a kid. One of the words that she always used is "Precious". When you ask any of my kids about Mama Tapp they will say "Precious". I love her and am very glad I am going to be able to spend some time with her.

Children's Museum

Last Saturday we took the kids to a children's museum. It had tons of different rooms about different professions and different hobbies like music and art. We had a great time. It is in an old county jail. The country is very proud of it, the say it speaks to the direction the country is moving - less criminals and more kids.

Flowers

My sweet husband brought me these flowers from the Market last Saturday. It really made my day! He is very good to me!!! Do you like the vase. It's a vinegar jug, you have to be creative around here!

We have started school

We are here!! We did make it here and are adjusting well! The kids have started school and are doing well. Shay and I have started school and are actually doing well. We have taken 3 test and on 2 we made 100!! The other we haven't gotten back yet, but we know we didn't make 100... Our normal day goes something like this:
4:30 - Shay's up for his quiet time
5:30 - I'm up we do breakfast, I make lunches for all the kids, we bathe everyone, get them dressed with back packs and lunches and our goal is to be out of the door by 7:10am. We have about a 10 min walk to school and we ALL have to be in our classes by 7:30.
12:00 - Shay, Jesse and I all get out of school and we come home and eat a bite of lunch and lay Jesse down for a nap and Shay and I do homework or if their are errands to run Shay does that. Grocerys are about a 15-20 min walk, we have to go get money out of an ATM in one place and get it exchanged for colones (Costa Rica's currency) at another.
2:30 - Damie and Sierra get out of school and one of us walks back to school to get them and on Tues and Thurs Damie stays after for 1 hour for soccer practice.
3:00 - Sierra takes a nap ( a must)
3:30 - 5:00 - more Homework, play etc...
5:00 - we eat supper
by 7:00 - kids are in bed
by 8:30 - We are in bed - It gets dark about 6pm and we were advised to not go out after dark. Actually by this time we are exhausted.
Cutting new neural pathways and living at a higher altitude while trying to maintain a positive attitude really zaps your energy.
On Saturdays we go to the Ferea - It is an open market where they have fresh fruits and vegetables.
On Sundays we go to a church that is about a 10 minute walk and we have to be there at 8am. That is usually no problem since Jesse wakes up around 5:30 am every morning!!
That's how our week goes and will go for the next year.

The "why" of mission!

This is why we go or at least it should be.
this is part of the sermon I recommend that people hear the whole message.

Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead
Judges 17

"Now I ask you; What is the Philosophy of Missions? What is the Philosophy of Evangelism? What is the Philosophy of a Christian? If you’ll ask me why I went to Africa, I’ll tell you I went primarily to improve on the justice of God. I didn’t think it was right for anybody to go to Hell without a chance to be saved. So I went to give poor sinners a chance to go to heaven. Now I haven’t put it in so many words, but if you’ll analyze what I just told you , do you know what it is? Humanism. That I was simply using the provisions of Jesus Christ as a means to improve upon human conditions of suffering and misery. And when I went to Africa, I discovered that they weren’t poor, ignorant, little heathen running around in the woods looking for someone to tell them how to go to heaven. That they were Monsters of Iniquity! They were living in utter and total defiance of far more knowledge of God than I ever dreamed they had! They deserved Hell! Because they utterly refused to walk in the light of their conscious, and the light of the law written upon their heart, and the testimony of nature, and the truth they knew! And when I found that out I assure you I was so angry with God that on one occasion in prayer I told Him it was a mighty little thing He’d done – sending me out there to reach these people that were waiting to be told how to go to heaven. When I got there I found out they knew about heaven, and didn’t want to go there, and that they loved their sin and wanted to stay in it.

(Brother Paris speaks with great passion in this paragraph) I went out their motivated by humanism. I’d seen pictures of lepers, I’d seen pictures of ulcers, I’d seen pictures of native funerals, and I didn’t want my fellow human beings to suffer in Hell eternally after such a miserable existence on earth. But it was there in Africa that God began to tear through the overlay of this humanism! And it was that day in my bedroom with the door locked that I wrestled with God. For here was I, coming to grips with the fact that the people I thought were ignorant and wanted to know how to go to heaven and were saying, "Someone come and teach us!", actually didn’t want to take time to talk with me or anybody else. They had no interest in the Bible and no interest in Christ, and they love their sin and wanted to continue in it. And I was to that place, at that time, where I felt the whole thing was a sham and a mockery, and I had been sold a bill of goods! And I wanted to come home. There alone in my bedroom as I faced God honestly with what my heart felt, it seemed to me I heard Him say, "Yes, will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The heathen are lost, and they’re going to go to Hell, not because they haven’t heard the gospel. They’re going to go to Hell because they are sinners, who love their sin! And because they deserve Hell. But……I didn’t send you out there for them. I didn’t send you out there for their sakes." And I heard clearly as I’ve ever heard, though it wasn’t with physical voice but it was the echo of truth of the ages, finding it’s way into an open heart. I heard God say to my heart that day something like this, "I didn’t send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My Sake….They deserved Hell! But I love them! And I endured the agonies of Hell for them!!!! I didn’t send you out there for them! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME… Do I not deserve the reward of my suffering? Don’t I deserve those for who I died?" And it reversed it all!! And changed it all!! And righted it all!! And I wasn’t any longer working for Micah and ten shekels and a shirt! But I was serving a living God! I was not there for the sake of the heathen. I was there for the Savior that endured the agonies of Hell for me, who didn’t deserve it. But He deserved them, (the heathen). Because He died for them.

Do you see? Let me epitomize, let me summarize. Christianity says, "The end of all being is the glory of God." Humanism says, "The end of all being is the happiness of man." And one was born in Hell, the deification of man; and the other was born in heaven, the glorification of God! And one is a Levite serving Micah, and the other is a heart that’s unworthy serving the living God, because it’s the highest honor in the universe." (highlights are mine)

meaningful activity?

10 Signs of a Great Preschool

If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.

1. Children spend most of their playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time.
   
   
2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.
   
   
3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group.
   
   
4. The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.
   
   
5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.
   
   
6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.
   
   
7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
   
   
8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups throughout the day, not just at group story time.
   
   
9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children’s different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
   
   
10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick.

What's good for the preschool is good for the Home school!

Meaningful activity breeds contentment and harmony.

Psalms 133:1 "...how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony."

Harmony is the new watchword for our family. I've often prayed for a peaceful home, but peace without harmony is the recipe for a Cold War! America had peace with Russia but no harmony.
Gwyn said that harmony requires activity. You have to be singing or playing to create harmony. You also need focused direction. An orchestra while warming up has no direction and no harmony. However, when the director raises his baton there is harmony.
Our kids, and me too, thrive on structure. An organized environment filled with meaningful activity breeds contentment and harmony! Peter and his friends were sinking their boat and tearing their nets and despite the adversity they were in the middle of "meaningful activity" so they were happy and content. We must focus on the positives (fish) and not dwell on the negatives (sinking boat). The Lord made sure that there was another boat nearby to come and help Peter with the catch so he would not sink under the blessing.
Now comes the hard part! How do you fill your days with "meaningful activity"?
I'll try to let you know when I find out.

torn nets, sinking ships and the blessings just keep on comming

Pastor Jamie preached last week on the "wheat and the tares (weeds). He said that blessings and adversity often grow together in our lives. Today when I read the story of Peter's great catch I was reminded that once again blessing and adversity came in the same package.

Luke 5:4-11

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. (highlights are mine)

How to be content is a real struggle for me. Perfectionism is an act of futility in a fallen world full of inpetfected poelpe. People just can't be right unless they give themselves away and trust in Jesus' righteousness imparted to them in faith. But righteousness still does not feed my desire to be good at everything. I am an all or nothing kind of guy and if I'm not the best I tend to lay down and give up. Parenting is therefore my greatest challenge cause most of the time I am not sufficient for the task and want to give in and go back to bed! I can't though!!!! Three little lives are dependent on my success of course that is no pressure, NOT!
Jesus told Peter to "...go out where it is deeper...". We are definitely going deeper as we get ready to move to Costa Rica and then the DR to build Restoration Ranch. Daily I feel like my boat is sinking and my nerves are stretched to the breaking point. Lord Jesus help us to keep our eyes on the "catch". Only then can we have joy in the midst of this adversity. Of cource they ended up with a bigger vision that made to catch pale in significants because the Bible says they left it to follow Jesus!

Not all who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien quotes

English writer, author of richly inventive epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings, 1892-1973

"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost. Courage is found in unlikely places. Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. The wise speak only of what they know. Deep roots are not reached by frost. The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say. There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after. Not all who wander are lost. All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be the blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king. I have no help to send, therefore I must go myself."

I've always been intrigued and repulsed by this quote. It seems in one light to excuse unrighteous living and in the other to encourage a bold search for the road less traveled which these days seems to be the way of Jesus.

Everyday is a battle to stay ahead of my urge to eat pizza and peanut butter. I am thankful that the Lord has given us the strength to lose the weight we have already lost. However, for me the real challenge has arrived. I'm so close to my goal that cheating seems somehow "OK". 8( NOT!
I am not who I was and by the grace of God I will not remain who I am!
We are always striving to be better and reach higher in our service to Jesus!

portion of May newsletter

Many of you have already heard of our decision to pursue service with Restoration Ranch. The Ranch is a new work in the Dominican Republic that will be a residential children's home. Gwyn and I have had a heart for orphans for years and this is the opportunity of a life time for us.

The founders of the ministry, Danny and Denise Stone, have a powerful vision to reach the DR for Jesus. Who better to tell of Jesus’ love for the Dominicans then a person who was helpless until a loving Christian picked them up, cared for their needs and loved them in Jesus name! We are honored that the Stones are considering us for this position. Before we can get to the work of the ranch our family has to make many preparations.

We know that in our service to the orphans of Restoration Ranch it will be absolutely necessary for us to be able to speak their heart language. The Stones and Pastor Tony have asked us to prepare ourselves for service by attending the Spanish Language Institute in San José, Costa Rica. This will be an important time of transition for our family as we learn Spanish and become familiar with the Hispanic culture.

The Spanish Language Institute was started in the 1940’s to train Presbyterian missionaries and has a great program for our family. While Gwyn and I are learning Spanish our children will be taught in another part of the same campus. The children will have English speaking teachers to teach them Reading, Writing & Arithmetic as well as Spanish.

We have several missionary friends who have shared with us that if they were able to go back & change one thing about their ministry they would have dedicated more time to learning the language of their people group before entering their field of ministry. We are blessed to have leadership that loves us enough to require us to prepare ourselves before taking the step into ministry.

We will be leaving the last week in August ‘07 to attend the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica.

www.thespanishinstitute.com
This is the school we will be attending. They have a school on the same campus for the kids too.

We are really going

We have been planning on going on the mission field for so long, that I started to believe we would never really go. But we have a house in Costa Rica and plane tickets to leave on Aug. 23rd it is real it is really happening!! The school gives each new student a Big Brother and we have the BEST Big brother! The house he got for us was very popular and three other big brothers were trying to get it for their family. He called us an hour before he was suppose to be able to talk to the landlord and he had pulled some strings and we have the house! I can't wait to see some pictures.