Saturday, March 27, 2010

Hershey's Better Basket

Give back this Easter season in a fun way with Hershey's Better Basket.

Easter is always a celebratory time in our family. Not only are we celebrating our Savior's resurrection (the most important part) we also get to come together as a family, eat a great meal, and hunt for Easter eggs.

Dying the eggs, finding them, and eating candy are all fun - but don't you think it is nice to do good on Easter for others as well? Here is a simple opportunity: for every blogger who links up their posts at Hershey's Better Basket, Hershey's will donate $10 to the Children's Miracle Network.

So instead of giving away a basket to each of you, my wonderful readers, consider yourself invited - all of you.

What a great and easy way to give back with a simple blog post! Please link up!

HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES
  • Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
  • Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
  • Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
  • Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
  • Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
  • Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
  • Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.
You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! Mark 16: 6

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Patrick's Point

Yurok Village at Patrick's Point State Park.

A stick to help her as she walks.

We climbed up to the top of Patrick's Point.

At the top - Daddy's Girl.

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Winning Team

This is what the devil often does: Just when a person is making great decisions to follow Jesus, to make Him Lord of their life - he throws in the obstacles. It is though he realizes that you are making a stand; you are standing strong on the winning team. And he is mad. Of course, since you are a threat to him and his purposes. (This reminds me of the song, "Victory in Jesus..." I love that old hymn.)

Here are just two examples from our seminar here in Northern California this week:

One older lady who has been faithfully coming out, completing her lessons (we run a Bible School with 27 lessons and have a graduation at the end of the seminar), and making great decision for Jesus, is now sick. Luckily my wonderful husband is able to drop off the lessons and CDs of the seminars she missed.

Another lady who has not missed a single night of the seminar, also doing the lessons, also making great decisions to follow Jesus, just learned that her mother died. She must leave until Monday. (Please pray for her as she now must bury her mother.) She also is having financial difficulties. (Like so many people we meet. This really is such a difficult financial time for many.)

I know that God is in control. Of course, I know that, but I still hate that these things happen. And actually both ladies are coming back. So I am pleased that ultimately Satan will not win. I just hate seeing people suffer. I am tired of sickness, death, and sin in general. Does it ever just feel so tiring for you?

I learned today that one of our friend's son is having a huge medical crisis. He began having seizures at the beginning of this month, one even lasted 45 minutes! He is just a young boy. They took him in and found multiple masses through out his body, including his brain - thus causing seizures. We are now waiting for results from the brain biopsy. A. SMALL. INNOCENT. BOY.
What is his mother going through right now? I can't imagine. Please won't you pray for Samuel as well?

So I am brought back to the same conclusion as Tuesday's conclusion: Trust God! This world is not our final home. Praise God we are just pilgrims passing through to a much better place. A place without sickness, death, or disease. Choose the Winning Team today, don't put it off!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Restoration

So a very crazy thing happened to my husband this weekend. As he was out on visitation, a woman flashed him. That is a first in his ministry. She wanted to assure him that yes, she was a woman. And her husband was standing next to her. It was my husband who was embarrassed but he continued with his visit, encouraged them to keep following God, and prayed with them.

When he told me, my first reaction was to laugh. But then as I thought about it, I just felt sad. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes. This couple was raised in the church, left God, got into drugs, and now they NEED Him more than ever. (I mean, how far have you gone when you flash your breasts to a minister?)

The husband has been coming to our seminar here in Northern California faithfully. As he is making decisions to recommit his life to God, I just ask that you keep him in your prayers. Not just him, but his wife as well. God is truly in the business of healing people and restoring all the years that have been wasted on drugs. I'd love to see this couple one day working for Him, and bringing light to others.


I will repay for the years the locusts have eaten... you will have plenty to eat, until you are full. And you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you. Never again will my people be shamed. Joel 2: 25, 26

Friday, March 12, 2010

Living Intentionally, A.C.T.S Prayer Time

Extravagant Grace

When I got a journal in a blog swap I decided I would start writing down some prayers to God. At the end of each seminar my husband teaches a class for church about the importance of a devotional life. In that class he teaches the acronym A.C.T.S, which you can use during your prayer time with God.

A= Adoration
C= Confession
T = Thanksgiving
S = Supplication (A fancy word for the things you need and want)

I got to thinking about that acronym, applying it to my devotion time, and also how it related to Living Intentionally for God.

So here is my A.C.T.S prayer for this week:

A = I really adore God for the the beauty of His creation all around me: ocean, redwoods, wild daffodils, and sea life.

C= Some times this area is personal but I want to mention that I need forgiveness and your prayers for impatience, raising my voice, and better time management.

T = I am thankful for the safety God always bestows on us when we travel, I am thankful for my family, for our health, for hope, and above all for salvation.

S = Family friends just lost a 3 month old baby. After a surgery to repair a cleft pallette the baby stopped breathing in the home as he was sitting in his car seat (1 day after being released). I pray for them, it is difficult to understand that kind of loss. We also had 2 old friends come to our seminar, who are not walking in a right relationship with God. It is heartbreaking to witness that. One last supplication to God is that He help us fill up our 2011 seminar schedule.

So as you can see the A.C.T.S acronym can stretch your prayer time. I wrote this out briefly but when you actually pray to God this can make your prayers go from 1 minute to 10 minutes quite easily. And yes, I realize that my "S" section is a bit longer. Isn't that how we are? We need and want so much for God. I need to start incorporating more of the other categories in my prayer time as well. (Add one more necessity to my Living Intentionally in 2010 list!)

Blessings, LaVonne :)

For more Living Intentionally head over to Extravagant Grace.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Things I Love Thursday: Traveling

Because of my husband's ministry we really travel a lot. So it is a good thing that I love traveling. We get to see so many great places, meet great people, and do great things. Yesterday, I posted a picture of myself licking a sea anemone!

On our day off, Tuesday, we went to Crescent City to visit Ocean World. The Princess was free, and our tickets together were under $20. What a fun time we had. We not only held starfish, kissed sea anenome, watched rock fish, sharks and sting rays, petted sharks, we also watched a fun seal show. I love those seals! They are so smart! The entrance fee included a 40 minute tour guide. He asked for a brave volunteer, so when no one raised their hand, my hand shot up. What was I thinking? So, the task: lick a sea anemone to feel their "sting". It wasn't too bad, it felt like licking a battery. I didn't last longer than 5 minutes and did not affect my speech, nor was it painful.

Our Princess is going to grow up seeing so many fun things. Not just tourist activities but also seeing people give their lives to Jesus. What an exciting calling we have!


For more Things I Love Thursday head over to the Diaper Diaries.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Humboldt County is Finding Christ

Last night my husband presented a seminar on Salvation. It was the fourth night of our seminar and after some catchy presentations with great Power Point slides, he choose to present the gospel message in its simplicity. And the visitors and church members responded.

When I entered in their cards (we hand out decision cards on important nights), I was in awe at our amazing God. To tell you the truth, we are having a smaller meeting than we are used to. We actually were expecting it. This is a small town, and it is a very secular, new age, "hippie" area. But the visitors have been coming out. Our numbers have not dipped. So when many people decided to follow Jesus last night or recommit their life to Him after drifting away, I just get excited. Excited to be a part of this great ministry. Excited to see God working in lives, with my own two eyes. Excited to see a glimpse in their life as prayers are answered. Living for God is exciting!

So please, keep us in your prayers as well as the people who are hearing the gospel message. In this day, when life is difficult, Jesus makes it easy to be saved. Just choose Him! Pick His side.


...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24: 15

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Please Unlock the Door!

We arrived very happily, after a LONG six hour drive, to this beautiful Northern California coastal town. The owners greeted us, and nicely began showing us the layout and little quirks of the place. So, imagine my embarrassment when the Princess locked herself in the bedroom with the phone. (She is a phone lover, any chance she gets she grabs phones.) I could hear the high pitched beeping as she was happily dialing numbers, calling who knows where. Staying calm (since there was strangers in my presence) I asked, then begged, then raised my voice (didn't yell, luckily) for her to open the door. When she replied "No", I was loosing my cool, for a moment, until I began to worry that the mirrored sliding closet doors would fall on her or she would climb out the screen-less 2nd story window. (I always imagine the worst.) I began to pray. And you know what I did? I lied to her. I feel a little guilty for doing it but it worked. I said, "Goodbye, Bella, we are going." Then I remained frozen and silent outside the door. The sound of little feet made my heart glad, and then as she turned the lock, and opened the door I wasn't sure if I should hug her or strangle her.

Oh, and the nice owners, felt bad, and kept repeating that this has NEVER happened (in the ten years they have owned the home). Yes, we know, but you have not met Isabella.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Menu Plan Monday

We arrived safely to the Northern California coast last night and we have such a lovely vacation rental home near the ocean. (Yes, I know we are blessed.) We had a great day exploring the nearby beaches and parks. Last night, I made a meal plan (finally) for the week. I wrote down all the things I would need, and shopped at the local Safeway from that list.

Plus, I matched as many coupons I could and saved about $16 using coupons. Because we buy mainly organic foods, I am unable to use as many coupons as I once did. But we still did pretty good. (One great thing about Safeway is that they carry their own brand of Organic products.)
Here is our meal plan for the week:

Monday: Organic Whole Wheat Bowtie Pasta (reduced to $3 for 2 boxes) with Organic Marinara Sauce ($6 for 2 jars) and Organic frozen broccoli (the fresh organic broccoli was sad, to say the least).

Tuesday: Tater Tot Casserole - this is one variation - but I use Imagine Soy Cream of Portobello Mushroom soup, Ore-ida tater tots, and Organic sour cream, then at the end top it with some cheese. Sometimes I add veggie hotdogs but not this week. Serving this with organic fresh green zucchini, and organic romaine salad.

Wednesday: "Chicken" Enchiladas (using Morningstar Farms Chicken Strips, green enchilada sauce, Mission yellow corn tortillas, organic mild cheddar cheese, and organic sour cream), organic black beans, chips and emerald valley mild salsa.

Thursday: Boca Vegan Burger with homemade organic french fries (baked in the oven).

Friday: Tacos using Textured Vegetable protein and taco seasoning, organic cheddar, organic chopped romaine lettuce, organic hothouse tomatoes, organic yellow onions, and the leftover corn tortillas from enchilada day. Also, we love a taco salad with tacos on the side.

Saturday: "Chicken" Nuggets (One of Bella's pics) with homemade french fries, and organic peas and corn (frozen.)

Sunday: Frozen Stir Fry with brown rice and organic tofu (baked).

Whew! 7 complete meals and we also purchased bread, Yves bologna, organic fresh fruit, baked chips, Fiber One cereal, 1 gallon of soymilk, whole wheat pancake mix, and organic eggs, "dessert" cereal (for those last night cravings), and Slow Churned Ice Cream (for the sweet tooth).


For more Menu plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.