Merry Idaho Christmas 2010!

Merry Suggie Christmas 2010!

I love my suggies! I can't imagine how I'm going to get along without them whilst my fam and I are in Idaho, but I need to leave them in the care of friends. 

Workboxes vs. Fileboxes

"Workboxes" don’t work for our family, but tweaking the idea and making "Fileboxes" does! 

Using a file box system has resulted in a more prepared and relaxed school day for us. I’m not constantly showing and telling my kids what to do next, because they can see what to do. By planning their file box the night before, I have more time for “mommy” chores because my kids are occupied with their file boxes! It also keeps me accountable.  : )  One of my favorite benefits to file boxes is that I can bring them in the car and on the road ~ so assignments are getting done, no matter where we are.

Shopping List

1 Clear File box so the grid can be seen (with hinged lid and sturdy carrying handle)
13 Hanging files (to hang inside the file box)
12 File tabs (identify each file subject)
12 Paint chip colors from Disney at Home Depot (have Mickey heads on them)
1 Black Sharpie (for numbering from 1-12 on the Mickey heads; laminate for added strength and durability)
36 Velcro dots per file box system (for both the hanging files and the accomplishment grid)
1 Piece of card stock per file box (laminate for added strength and durability)
1 Timer on a string (found one at Cook N Stuff to wear around their neck)

Assembling the File Box

Print or draw a 12 square grid on the cardstock. (I laminated my grid.)
Peel 12 Velcro dots and stick them on each center of the grid.
Number from 1 to 12 on each Mickey head. (I then laminated them, and trimmed them to fit the grid.)
Peel and stick the other side of the Velcro dot to the back of the numbered Mickey heads.
Print subject tabs, fold for strength or use card stock, cut, then slide into clear subject tabs.
Insert four subject tabs per section (see example) ~ order can be changed at any time
Now, just insert whatever you’d like your child/student to do that day per section ~ including snacks and play time!

Making it Work

After breakfast and chores (I use the “Accountable Kids” cards with my own peg system), we have Bible time, then begin our file boxes. Most of the “do together” activities are in the beginning, so I can have some time to do my own chores during their “no need for mommy” subjects. Each child begins with file #1. When #1 is complete, the #1 Mickey head is removed from the front of the file and placed on the grid. Now begins the filling up of the grid; when all twelve grids are full, their school day is complete! 

In addition to school “work”, I also include a variety of unexpected assignments, such as: have a snack, play with your bunnies, chew some gum, play a quick “timed” game on the computer, water a plant, teach brother to ride his bike, show sister how to make a braid, learn to tie shoelaces, etc. This makes them excited to keep moving. They also know that as soon as their grid is filled, they are done and major free time begins! What’s really fun is to make their folder look like it’s full, but when they read the first assignment, it reads: Day off! We’re going to . . . !

After I put in the necessary assignments, I have fun making up stuff to put in a couple of the others. It makes me happy to treat them, and they love to see what’s in the next file. I manage  my time better, and in the process, they learn to manage theirs better.

Here are two of our file boxes; on the left, you can see a full file box, and on the right is a finished file box.

When each child’s assignment is complete, they return it to the file box. At a later time, unless they have questions, I will check their finished work. (I like to have each child’s work returned to their file because I like all work to stay together. If I have them give it to me at my desk, and they forget to write their name,
I still know whose work it is. Also, I can go over their work with them later that day, with them next to me so they can see first-hand how well they did.)

I forgot to mention earlier that I supply an empty file at the front of their file box to hold basic supplies in a zippered canvas bag that they may need (pencils, ruler, scratch paper, etc.), and and empty file at the back of the file box where they return their finished work. Our files have space in the lid to store a few items, but not everything fits. 

One nice thing about this system is that if an emergency occurs, My kids know what they should be doing, and everything is all together. If needed, you can always put a full week’s worth of assignments in the box ~ maybe even adapt it into a road trip, vacation, project box of any kind when not in use as a school box! 

Enjoy, and don’t forget to google other’s ideas on the internet. There are so many great ideas out there! If you don't find one that fits your family, make one up ~ I did!

Project Compassion from Kaziah, an artist in Utah:

Please click here: Portraits of the Fallen

Trying to take a family portrait

of three sugar gliders is much trickier than trying to take a family portrait of four kids!

Never mind.

Ponyo Meets Toolah and Pitree

I brought Toolah and Pitree to the play room for their first time tonight, and they had so much fun! After a while, I brought Ponyo in to meet them. (I'm trying to put a clip on my blog of them meeting, but it's not working yet.)

All three of them were very interested in meeting their new friends, and they even hung out in the snuggle bag together! I wish HappE was here to see this because I know she'd be comforted knowing they may all be fine. We won't really know how the three of them will do until I feel comfortable putting them together overnight. So far, so good! I can't wait to tell Erika too!

The adorable little grey one is Toolah. Now do you see why we first named Ponyo "TubbyWubby-ChubbaWubba-ChunkyMonkey-SugarBaby-Yoda"?!?

Here are all three together ~ Toolah is the one peeking around the corner, Ponyo is inside on the left, and Pitree is inside on the right.

So Sweet, but So Not Ready

Princess Toolah and ZoomZoom Pitree are so sweet, but not yet ready to be handled. I got to hand feed them both tonight, but neither would climb onto my hand. Here are some pics I took, though they had to be enhanced because I took them in low light. ChunkyMonkey doesn't mind the lights in our house at night, but Toolah and Pitree definitely prefer more darkness. This makes it tricky to see the and to take pics of them.

The first two pics are of Pitree, "See, I'm the one with a right foot."

The third pic is of Toolah, "I'm the princess who is stunningly beautiful without a right foot."

The fourth pic is our first sugar glider with C, "I don't know why they call me ChunkyMonkey. I'm such a hunk."

In the fifth pic, C is guiding ChunkyMonkey to E. You can't pick them up, so you need to guide them where you'd like them to go.

Even though it looks like E is screaming, he's not. He's holding in his squeals because he gets so tickled when our TubbyWubby-ChubbaWubba-ChunkyMonkey-SugarBaby-Yoda-Ponyo climbs all over him.

We are looking forward to holding our new babies, but for now, they're settling in . . .

I hear them starting to wake up!

This has been such a long day, just waiting to play with all three of our sugar gliders! I put a piece of fabric in Toolah and Pitree's bed so they'll learn my scent. It worked with ChunkyMonkey, so it may work with them. The kids are saying his new name is Ponyo. I have to say it's growing on me.

Today, we await the awakening of Princess Toolah, Flash Pitree, and Precious Ponyo . . .

They are so fun!

Toolah and Pitree are so much fun ~ and so full of energy! They move so quickly, are so petite, jump and skip vs. walk, climb vs. stroll, and are full of life. Toolah has amazing balance too. She has one hind leg, but can tackle a mealie worm whilst holding her balance on a branch. These two are going to rock ChunkyMonkey's world; aka TubbyWubby-ChubbaWubba-ChunkyMonkey-SugarBaby-Yoda-Ponyo.
You needed friends my sweet little boy, and you'll meet some great friends real soon . . . oh, the time we need to adjust the three of you . . . I can't stand it! But, alas, I will.

We added two more to our family!

Meet our new babies! Their previous owner, HappE, has been so sweet. She wrote me saying, "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think they were going to a good home. You were hand-picked, and I've been looking off and on for over a year for someone to care for them . . . " I feel totally honored. I told HappE she has visitation rights, so we may be seeing her again at the end of the month! She and her boyfriend brought Toolah and Pitree here, set up their cage, and shared how their lives have been lived up to today. I just hope they feel at home here and know they are totally loved!

I'm waiting for it to get dark so I can talk to my new little babies! The two of them together are the size of my one sugarbaby!

They're Coming Today!

We woke up to rain and happy smiles, hopeful our two newest members will arrive safe and sound. C and E keep telling me what time it is because I told them our new sugarbabies would be here after 1pm. Their owner, HappE, left later than she anticipated, so she'll be here closer to 4pm. My kids are going nuts waiting! I think I'll take a nap.

Independence Day

Whilst sitting on the beach this morning, I was overcome by the renewed realization of how blessed we are to be able to have church on the beach. There are so many countries who continue to persecute Christians for the smallest display of their love for God. America is not one of them, and I pray it never will be.

We love our TubbyWubby ChubbaWubba ChunkyMonkey Yoda!

Here he is wide awake at 6am this morning! We told him about two new friends he may be seeing soon, so we decided he was too excited to sleep! We just LOVE our little guy!!!

Orangutan and Hound

I love this!
Click here to watch.

One Way to Wake SugarBaby Up

Got an Itch

SugarBaby

I love my little guy! Here's a pic of his adorable face, just before we fed him a crane fly ~ yum!
The only bummer about owning a s u g a r g l i d e r is that they sleep during the day. I long all day long to play with him! As soon as it's dark, I lift his curtain and sweetly tell him, "Good morning! It's time to get up and play!" He likes me best and glides to me when someone else is holding him and I come in the room ~ true love!

Our Newest Member!

(Sorry for the gritty background noise.)

This little guy lost his roommate to an unknown illness that took her life overnight. It's such a sad story, but we were thrilled to pick him up and give him a new home! We've learned so much about these little creatures, but there's still so much to know ~ continually. (BTW, he is very overweight and we are researching how to help him.)
A special thanks to Erica for giving him to us. : )

To learn more, click here.

Happy Resurrection/Easter/Passover Day!

From Moran's Blog (my friend in Israel)

Remembering God’s Story

In this blog entry, I would like to concentrate on two things: first is the importance of remembering. God has commanded the children of Israel to remember and to celebrate the Passover (Pesach in Hebrew), where He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt:
“This will be a day for you to and celebrate as a festival to ADONAI; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.” Exodus 12:14

I believe that God also wants us to remember that, just as He delivered Israel out of slavery, so did He deliver us followers of His Son, Yeshua, from the slavery of sin. The significance of the lamb’s blood in the first Pesach in Egypt relates to the blood of Yeshua, which was shed for us:

“They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame at the entrance of the house in which they eat it.” … “It is ADONAI’s Pesach [Passover]. For that night, I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both men and animals; and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt; I am ADONAI. The blood will serve you as a sign marking the houses where you are; when I see the blood, I will pass over [Hebrew: pesach] you - when I strike the land of Egypt, the death blow will not strike you.” Exodus 12: 7 and 11b-13

In the same way God has passed over those houses that were marked by the blood of a spotless lamb during His judgment on Egypt, so He will pass over those who are cleansed by the blood of The Lamb on Judgment Day. Those of us who have experienced the awesome power of God in our lives should not be so quick to forget that He alone can overcome any challenges that we face in our daily lives. I am grateful that the God of Israel is a faithful God Who does not forget His promises to our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

This brings me to the second matter of importance, which is telling God’s story. This is exactly what we do every Passover at the Seder meal; we tell the story of the Hebrew slaves being set free and led out of Egypt by Moses. We read from the Hagada, which literally means, “to tell”:

“…so that you can tell your son and grandson about what I did to Egypt and about My signs that I demonstrated among them, and so that you will all know that I am ADONAI.” Exodus 10:2

We must constantly tell others of God’s story. The miracles that God performs in our lives are ultimately to bring Him glory. Just as God has appointed days and times for the children of Israel to recall and tell His story (the biblical feasts), He has also given each of His followers a story, a testimony; yet, it is not our story, but His story in our lives. He has given us this story not that we will be the only ones benefiting from it, but that others who do not yet know Him might come to know Him.
In telling God’s story in our lives, we are not only sharing with others so they may come to know Him, but as we share we will also be reminded of His amazing grace and power to deliver us from our own personal “Egypt” into the promised Land.

I ask you to remember God’s story in your life… Who are you going to share it with?

Happy Passover!

Noia Update

March 04, 2010

Dear Friends and Family:

Noia is recovering very well! The last 24 hours have been an amazing time of miraculous recovery; she is very alert, moving her arms and legs, and even started to smile a bit. She does have moments where she is clearly in pain and she cries, which takes so much energy to do. They are giving her pain medication, which kicks in very quickly and helps. She is also hungry, which is tough because she cannot yet have any breast milk. After her kind of surgery, the doctors want her to wait a bit longer before getting her digestive system working. The concern is that it might put her body into shock. She is also not responding to the meds that help her to sleep/rest, so she’s awake and hungry a lot - the past 12 hours especially. We keep dipping a bottle nipple into some sugar water, which she devours! This helps to at least keep her calm and not get frantic for food. The main concern right now, however, is the fluid that has built up in her lungs. The doctors are keeping a close eye on it.

The two biggest miracles are that she can move her legs, and that the cardiologist declared her surgery a success! Hallelujah! From his point of view, the surgery corrected the constricted aorta and it seems her heart is functioning properly. Her blood pressure is still high, but this will take some time to stabilize. They are giving her medication for the blood pressure right now until it goes down.

For now, we are still in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU); we aren’t sure when they will move us into regular recovery.

Please continue to pray for Noia, for a complete healing and recovery. Specifically, please pray that her lungs will clear and for her hunger to not overwhelm her.

Please also pray for us and our other children, Oriah & Eden, who are at home and struggling through this as much as we are! May God give us His strength and grace to endure this to the end.

Please also continue to pray for Kohen and his parents, Barrett and Karen. Kohen is home from the hospital but is now under outpatient treatment at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. The doctors still have no idea why Kohen has lost his eyesight and are continuing to run tests. Specifically, Kohen will be having an eye exam under anesthesia today at noon. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and protection over Kohen as he is sedated. Pray also that his parents would have wisdom in taking care of Kohen who cannot see and that they would be grounded in Christ's love, peace, patience, gentleness and kindness in the midst of this trial.

Much love,

Moran & Melissa Rosenblit

Moran and his family ~ URGENT prayer request

February 23, 2010

Dear Prayer Partners,

In a routine follow-up exam after being hospitalized with complications from RSV and bronchitis several weeks ago, it was discovered that two-month-old daughter of Moran & Melissa Rosenblit has a serious heart defect. She is hospitalized and scheduled to undergo heart surgery either this Thursday or Sunday. Please pray that the Lord will heal baby Noiah's heart, that He would guide her surgeons in all wisdom & insight when treating her and performing surgery, and restore her to complete health. Lift up Moran & Melissa as they have been through an incredibly difficult time already & are under great pressure as Moran is in the midst of leading a tour. Also lift up Eden & Oriah as they have already endured Melissa being in the hospital for nearly two weeks with Noiah less than a month ago and Moran being away leading the tour. Pray the Lord would give the Rosenblits His peace, that He would draw them near, renew their strength, and that He would be glorified in them.

The one-year-old son (Kohen) of HFI Media Director Barrett Sanders suddenly lost his sight this week. Doctors are telling them that a virus is causing the blindness, but they still aren't sure which virus and why it's attacking his eyesight. Please pray that the Lord will restore Barrett's son's sight completely and give him comfort & peace while he's still unable to see. Pray that the Lord's comfort & peace will be upon Barrett and his wife & that they would feel His presence. Please stand with us to rebuke this attack on the health of the children of HFI staff in Yeshua's name and declare health & victory in faith where the enemy wants to sew fear, confusion, & sickness.

Thank you for your prayers,
The Hope for Israel prayer Team.

Friends Giving Twins Back to Birth Mom

From our missionary friends, Dave and Karen Wilson, in Mexico:



Greetings in the name of our Lord and Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

We write to you today to share some difficult news and turn of events in our family regarding our newest members, twins Abigail and Isaac. As our friends and supporters you have joined us in prayer and provision over the last 7-1/2 months, for the babies daily care and provision, obtaining legal guardianship over them, and the process of adoption. Thank you all so much for your love, support, and assistance!
As we write you we have a lump in our throat and tears in our eyes, as due to a change in circumstances the twins birth mother’s life and living arrangements have become more stable; therefore, she has decided to reclaim Abigail and Isaac to raise herself, which is to take place at the beginning of this week. Though we are glad for their birth mother and the reuniting of their family, our family’s love and bonds with the twins have grown deep these past 7-1/2 months, and Abigail and Isaac have become just as our own children.

We are choosing to bless and fully support her decision to reunite her family, trusting in our Lord and Shepherd, Jesus Christ with the results! This has caused as you can imagine a lot of crying and pain in the reality of no longer having Abigail and Isaac as part of our family. Each of our four children have reacted with tears and questions, yet each realize that even though this is a hard thing to do, it is the right thing to do. God’s Word tells us in Job, ”The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In further support, we will be donating a love gift (that was meant to help our family in the adoption process) toward their family’s daily needs. We ask that you would join us in prayer and support of this decision, fully joyful for the twins and their family.

Thank you friends!

In Christ our Lord and Shepherd,

David & Karen Wilson, and Family

Our Friends in Haiti

Please read this story about our friends in Haiti. Kiana and Ari graduated together last June, and it was a treat to see her again!

Gordon Griffith Photography, A Month with the Karen

Let's Go!
"A Month with the Karen"
Jan.22 - Feb.7
Gallery Opening Jan. 23, 7-11pm
Gallery Closing Feb. 5, 6-9pm
Laurel Gallery
Open Fri-Sun 12n-3pm
255 South Laurel Street
Ventura, CA 93001

Please Send Money to Help Those in Haiti

This organization is being headed up by a friend of ours, so we can guarantee none of the donated money will go anywhere but to Haiti. Also, eDivvy.com has offered to match 5% of whatever is raised for earthquake relief. If you would like to contribute, please go to http://childhope-haiti.edivvy.com. Your contributions are tax deductible.
Send Money to Help Haiti!

Missionary Friends in Haiti, Bill and Susette Manassero

Here's an update from our friends, Henry and Nancy Sanchez:

For current updates on Bill and Susette's status, and prayer requests for them in Haiti, click here.
Today, there is a post showing Bill Manassero interviewed on CNN. Yesterday, Child Hope was featured on the Channel 7 News interviewing Brittney (Bohlinger) Meadth & Peter Bohlinger.

For donations that go directly to the Manassero's / Child Hope: There is a 5% fund matching program at the following direct link: http://childhope-haiti.edivvy.com/ Please post on your facebook/twitter/blog/etc. The response has been AMAZING!

For those of you that do not know Bill and Susette, they are friends of ours from many years ago. Their family has been serving the people of Haiti for several years now through their 501c3 organization, Child Hope. They started a boys home ministering to a group of boys that were orphaned or on the streets, then a few years later, they started a girls home. They call their home for the kids, Maison de Lumiere (The Light House). Presently, they are raising over 50 children . . . feeding, clothing, educating, discipling, and loving them through their growing years and equipping them as adults to go out into Haiti as strong, faithful believers, being salt and light in their nation.

You can go on their site, Child Hope, to learn more about them and their ministry, and to meet the children. As you can imagine, there are great opportunities to help them through partial or full sponsorship of the children and the general ministry. You can also sign up for their newsletter to continue to be informed of what God is doing in Haiti, and how to pray.

Please forward this message on to other friends that may want to help this awesome faithful family that is serving on the front lines in Haiti by supporting them through prayer or financial donations.

Thank you so much!
Henry & Nancy Sanchez

Below are some prayer points from Susette on today's update off of the Childhope site:

Hoping to get an update out tonight-heading out, but thought I'd shoot some prayer requests that come to mind.

--Staff. They're tired/exhausted and under a lot of duress. Please continue to lift them up continually. I haven't seen people pull together like this, EVER. I have been blessed to see what I've seen.

--Protection/Discernment. We are hoping to go an look for people today that are missing. There are many dear friends unaccounted for. We are also going to assess the food/water/fuel situation. Pray.

--Peace. In the country as relief efforts come in, that there aren't riots/manifestations. Peace among ourselves as we wade through uncharted waters.

--Health. We continue to stay healthy so we can continue to serve others.

--NO more aftershocks. Tall order, but hey, He is sovereign and I can ask. It would be nice if they would stop. I fell out of bed this morning as I tried to get up and out, thinking it was another quake :-)

--Supplies. That they continue to arrive safely.

Praise reports:

There are many but some highlights:

People are praying-everywhere.

Daphne finally got her cast yesterday.

We got an influx of Haitian doctors and nurses show up to help us today.

Much needed meds arrived yesterday (right after we'd officially closed the doors to dozens of people waiting outside). We were running out, and then the supplies arrived. Amazing timing, as always.

Great Vacation in Idaho!

We miss you, Nana and Poppie! Thanks for a GREAT vacation!!!

Health Benefit Claims and Uses of Tea

White Tea: Contains the highest levels of antioxidants and polyphenols which protect human cells from damage, lessening the chance of colon, gastric, pancreas, bladder, prostate, and breast cancer.

Green Tea: Contains polyphenols & antioxidants, lessening the change of cancer & heart disease. Green tea contains the potent compound EGCG, which inhibits the production of toxic proteins that clog the brains of Alzheimer’s victims. Other studies show that EGCG prevents bacterial infections & the spread of HIV. Helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis and / or lesson the pain in those already suffering from it. It helps to control your appetite which is beneficial for weight loss. The best free acne home remedy you can give your skin is green tea. Prepare yourself a cup of green tea to drink and cleanse your system from the inside and then rub the teabag over your skin to cure your acne. The health benefits of green tea not only extend to curing acne but also to various other skin conditions.

Black / Oolong Tea: Relaxes and expands the arteries, which increases blood flow to the heart. They contain antioxidants & polyphenols to prevent heart disease & cancer. Aids in fighting tooth decay, as it contains fluoride. It also contains the potent compound EGCG, which inhibits the production of toxic proteins that clog the brains of Alzheimer’s victims. EGCG also prevents bacterial infections and the spread of HIV.

Rooibos: May delay the aging process! Helps to relieve stomach ailments particularly ulcers, nausea, constipation, colic, and heartburn. Contains magnesium, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. It helps to control your appetite which is beneficial in weight loss. Contains antioxidants & polyphenols that help in cancer prevention & heart disease. Caffeine free!

Fruit & Herb Tea: Herbal teas do not come from Camellia Senisus plant as do all the other teas but are an infusion of leaves, roots, bark, seeds, or flowers of other plants. They are not linked with the research on the potential health benefits of traditional teas. BUT they are Caffeine free!

Use as an astringent after cleansing your face.
Place wet tea bags on eyes to reduce puffiness.
Use on bee strings and poison ivy/oak to draw out poison.
Plants love tea leaves.

Steep the rewards!