Posts

Camping, Creativity, and Popsicle Stick Joy

-
Image
  ✨ A family moment, a simple craft, and a glimpse of God’s transformative love. While we were camping, Cai had one simple request: to make a paper fan. It was a quick, no-fuss craft—perfect for our outdoor setting. I didn't bring along the craft bin though, so we had to make do with materials we had on hand. First, we took a few finished camping MadLibs pages and folded them accordion-style, breathing new life into something that had already served its original purpose. With a little glue and a pair of popsicle sticks rescued from the firepit, Cai turned ordinary scraps into a colorful fan—and soon, into his favorite fidget toy. It was a short crafting moment, but the joy and calm it gave him lingered long after. Watching him enjoy fidgeting with the fan reminded me: God is the master of repurposing. Just like those MadLibs and popsicle sticks, our lives may feel used up or done. But when we place the pieces in His hands, God creates something new—something deeply meaningful. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Faith That Holds You Up

-
Image
Scripture:   "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." — Psalm 71:18 (NIV) Devotional:   These days there's no reason to wear suspenders—unless they’re Barry’s. A bold red pair, thick with memory and meaning, packed and unpacked for decades as a keepsake of someone special. Until one day, they were worn. And suddenly, they became more than clothing. They became a testimony. Barry’s suspenders aren’t just fabric—they’re faith in action. They symbolize the strength it takes to show up, to pour into teenagers, to serve humbly and speak boldly. Barry didn’t just wear faith on his sleeve—he wore it strapped across his chest. Like a cross between John Denver and the Brawny Paper Towel man, Barry was a man of the earth and a man of God. Through workcamps, his garden, and tall tales, Barry mentored with his hands and his heart. He embodied the fruit of a life rooted in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fireworks in a Jar: A Spark of Faith for Little Hearts

-
Image
  Have you ever watched fireworks light up the night sky and felt a sense of wonder? That burst of color, that sudden brilliance—it’s like joy exploding in the darkness. But what if I told you that kind of light can live inside a jar? Even better, what if it could live inside   you ? The Little Jar Once upon a time, there was a small, empty jar sitting on a windowsill. It wasn’t fancy. It didn’t glow or sparkle. It just sat there, waiting for someone to put it in the recycling bin. One day, a child came along with a few simple things: a little oil, some water, and a few drops of food coloring. He poured them in carefully, stirred gently, popped in an Alka-Seltzer tablet and then— boom! —colors began to swirl and dance like tiny fireworks. The jar didn’t know it could do that. It didn’t know it could hold something so beautiful. Cai watching the 'fireworks' show. The Light Inside Us Sometimes, we feel like that jar—plain, small, maybe even a little empty. But with just a tiny b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fri-Yay Fun!

-
Image
  Fun and Faith on Fridays 1.  Our inaugural STEM project is inspired by *Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids* by Christina Herkert Schul. Cai was particularly enthusiastic about this activity. Sitting together coloring the popsicle sticks was very relaxing.  The push pins were too hard for Cai to push the pins through the sticks.  Glue on the ends of the pins is a must. 2 . The next thing I was really looking forward to was the CD Hovercraft. But before we got started, we noticed we didn't have the exact bottle cap we needed, which could mess with the experiment a bit. The hovercraft is a fail for now. With the proper bottle cap we might succeed. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Weekly Running Wrap-Up

-
February 7 - February 13, 2016 38 Weeks Pregnant Sunday February 7 - 3 miles Thursday February 11 - 3 miles Total Miles - 6 miles New baby is low and I think this is why my upper legs are so sore during and after running. At this point, I'm also having sciatica pains in my right leg which cause me to limp when I run. Officially I made it 38 weeks during this pregnancy but in the interest of not hurting myself for after the baby is born I'm going to stop running until baby is born. I wish I could have continued to run, but my tiredness and the bad weather combined with the soreness in my body that running causes have convinced me now is a good time to take a break.
Post a Comment
Read more

Weekly Running Wrap Up

-
January 31 - February 6, 2016 37 Weeks Pregnant Monday February 1 - 2 miles Tuesday February 2 - 3 miles Thursday February 4 -3 miles Total Miles - 7 miles I'm disgusted by the low mileage, but whether it's Nate's hospitalization, the bad weather, the crummy roads or the pregnancy, I'm just tired and lacking the motivation to get moving.
Post a Comment
Read more

Weekly Running Wrap Up

-
January 24 - January 30, 2016 36 Weeks Pregnant Thursday January 28 - 2 miles Saturday January 30 - 2 miles Total Miles - 4 miles It finally happened - snow - and a whole bunch of it - 2 feet! It snowed on Saturday so Sunday through Tuesday the roads were just too narrow to run on. I wouldn't have had anywhere to go when a car came and the sidewalks weren't in great shape. The park is off the map now since they don't plow or clear any paths. :( I had planned to go running on Wednesday, but Nathan ended up being hospitalized at Chambersburg because he couldn't get enough oxygen. After staying in the hospital overnight Wednesday, I went home Thursday and eked out 2 miles. Unfortunately that night, Nathan was life-flighted to Hershey. Saturday was a bitterly cold and slow two miles with Makayla around the hospital.
Post a Comment
Read more