Women’s Getaway- A Mom’s Perspective

At the Women's Getaway, I look forward to getting a break from my kids and life in the home.  I love the uninterrupted time with the Lord.  I cannot wait for the balance of learning, relaxing, having fun, and going on a trip. It is just such a refreshing time in the Word and with other staff women learning of His goodness and how others are experiencing Him.  I also get to sleep in and go out to eat; two things I do not get much of at home!

As Athletes in Action staff, we do not have big teams on our campuses nor regional teams or meetings.  Because of this, we never have the opportunity to retreat someplace, refresh spiritually, reenergize emotionally, or reconnect with other staff.  I have attended the Women's Getaway three times in the past five years and every time I connect with other staff women and hear life changing stories. I leave refreshed and encouraged!  I love the opportunity given to me to be a part of such a life breathing getaway.  It is also amazing experiencing the larger ministry of CRU.

The Lord always revitalizes my relationship with Himself.  I leave filled up to go back home and minister to my family from a full tank.  I have a renewed energy from getting away with Him for these few days.  I leave spoiled by His goodness and love that is experienced every day at the Women's Getaway.

~Mary Throckmorton
AIA Staff serving in Raleigh, NC

Lindsey Rhea- My Corner of the World

 

50 Men Crazy, then 50 Men Dead

I was watching a documentary the other day (I know, cool, right?) about Jamestown, one of America’s first colonies. You know, the one with John Smith and Pocahontas? I’m no history buff. In fact, in high school my AP European History teacher told me I was bad at remembering history. It was true. But, this documentary had a theory that because of a severe drought, the river that the colonists depended on became mixed with the ocean water. Many developed salt-water poisoning- a condition makes you go crazy with hallucinations, slowly and painfully shuts all your organs down, and kills you. They kept drinking the water, never satisfied, never realizing that it eventually would kill half the colony. 50 men crazy, then 50 men dead.

This last week has been like that for me. Okay, no death around here. But I feel like I am going crazy most days. To set the scene (just a disclaimer: I love my family and respect my husband immensely!): I have a “just turned three” year old girl who is also a tantrum thrower (h.o.l.y. c.o.w), a 1 ½ year old boy, a husband that is an MTL on campus by himself and gets unmotivated quickly, I’m leading a morning bible study with 8 girls, my house is always messy, and to top it off, my master bedroom isn’t the peaceful place it “should” be (read that in a book yesterday). Guilt. My husband has been discouraged because the weekly meeting numbers have been down, and we are thinking about taking a risk next semester and doing something totally different. And that is scary. Our marriage that is usually so life-giving to me has drained so much of my emotional capacity. Bubble baths don’t even help (now that is crazy, you know!?)

So, I want share my journal entry with you. I think most of us can relate in some way. I don’t know how long it had been since I had journaled… oh wait. June 12. Yikes. The performance sinner inside me wants to yell “JUST BECAUSE I DIDN’T JOURNAL DOESN’T MEAN I DIDN’T READ MY BIBLE OR PRAY, SO DON’T JUDGE ME SO QUICKLY!” Yeah, that is me smeared in sin. Okay, here goes…

“Dear Lord, I’m having a hard day. I feel on edge, short tempered, and angry. Show me what is going on in my heart. I can’t pinpoint a reason for this. What am I looking for right now? What am I not getting that I feel like I should? Anxiety is swallowing me, it feels. I’m on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. Am I living this life in a self-righteous way? Show me the root of this anxiety! Disbelief? Distrust? Despair? Emptiness? What is the opposite of despair? Hope? What is hope, really? What am I hoping for? What lie do I believe that if I could only achieve this, or have this, or be this, then I would be happy? Is it a break from my kids? Jeff? Responsibility? Housework?

Lord, forgive me for this! Forgive me for my idolatry. Forgive me for not being thankful, for my anger, for my self-reliance. Forgive me for trusting in myself. Forgive me for yelling at Faith. Forgive me for the pride of “controlling” my anger in the car. Help me! Teach me the gospel again. Show me how to live it- to live as though I am righteous in your eyes, but at the same time remembering that all the credit goes to Christ. Forgive me for not remembering Christ. Teach me to follow you better- as a mom, as a wife, as a homemaker, as a staff. I want to be steadfast. I crave it. Thank you for forgiving me and redeeming me. Love, Lindsey”

I’m trying to identify the salt-water in my life. When I feel like I’m going crazy, or slowly dying (okay, soooo overdramatic), I need to ask myself- “What is this idol that has such tight control over me that I can’t function anymore without it?” Preach to myself: Jesus gives life. Christ is living water. Anything other than Christ is deadly poison.

So I tell you this: Don’t be crazy. Don’t be dead. Don’t drink salt water.

~Lindsey Rhea
Cru Staff serving at ECU

Jenna Sherard- My Corner of the World

God is Bigger

They say that one sure way to know you’re a writer is if you’re always thinking some extraordinary thing is happening to you. As if you are the special one who gets to walk through life starting stories with, “You will not believe what happened to me this week… or yesterday…. or ten minutes ago.” This describes 90% of my conversations, and I think what this really means is that God has designed me with an inner drive to be a storyteller. You would think this would really benefit my two-year-old daughter Celia, but she usually gets some version of Little Pink Celia hood and the Big Good Wolf and that’s about as inspired as it gets.

The reality is that these days my life is filled with things that are quite ordinary like laundry and dishes and checking email to make sure I’m just minimally behind (not woefully late) in responding to people. And honestly, most days I search for the words to write something beautifully crafted. I started a novel once in college. Never finished and don’t know if I will. The thing is my characters can never live out what I once imagined them to become. Why? It’s because I’m different. I’m (semi if not firmly) rooted in reality now, and I don’t grieve the college girl who created an imaginary family and world for them to live in on the pages of a long abandoned manuscript. The thing is, I long to know the Creator more than I want to be creative. I know God can show me how those things are so intricately related, but for now I think He just wants me to be still. To rest in the truth of how small I am in light of the big story He is weaving together.

This doesn’t mean that I’ve stifled my story telling nature all together. I do, in fact, put a really intense spin on the events of our day when I give my husband Bobby the recap at supper each night. From what he is told, Celia is the fastest toddler to ever go flailing across Chick-fil-a at the most crowded lunch hour in history, while literal swarms of people stare with gaping mouths as her hugely pregnant mom bounds after her trying not to yell about getting Mr. Spanky (the spanking spoon) out of the diaper bag at any moment if she doesn’t stop (true story). And the little burn on my index finger turns into a second-degree scald as I recount how hot that plate of potatoes was as I retrieved it from the microwave. And the conversation with my kindred spirit best friend is relayed with as many interventions from the Holy Spirit as Jonah himself would have experienced in the belly of the great fish.

If I’m being really honest, the imaginary tea parties each day with Celia are actually pretty magical. (Her pretend cinnamon rolls are the best ever.) And God really can take mundane chores and give me great joy and purpose in them (cue Ann Voskamp blog music please), but it doesn’t look as noble as I once thought it would be. I don’t know where you are in your life these days. My guess is that you’re not living in some kind of creative state of bliss. (Maybe you are and if so, congrats and have one of Celia’s cinnamon rolls to celebrate.) But regardless of where you are it’s my prayer that you’ll be still in your reality and let God be better than your imagination. He has good stored up for us and he is a God who is “merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Ps. 86:15). He is merciful when I don’t finish what I start. He is gracious when I seek to know Him better (and on days when I don’t). He is steadfast and faithful beyond anything my small mind could dream up and it makes me love him and worship with more vulnerability than I ever dreamed possible. Imagine that!!

CSU Staff Connections

We’ll be in Colorado before we know it! For some of us it is a great time of spending time outdoors, getting poured into from great teaching, and connecting with friends. For other staff it’s a time of feeling lost in the crowd or a time when Satan attacks our weaknesses. Are you aware that some staff REALLY STRUGGLE during this time?

As believers together we are a family of faith. A family that cares for one another, encourages one another, prays for one another. I would like to invite you to do just that in the coming days. Look for others who may need an invitation to hike or play disc golf. Look for others who may need a ride to an event or activity or an invitation to join your group for dinner.

Maybe you could take time today to call your newer staff who have never been to a CSU Conference and give them a heads up about a few things... Most dorms don't have A/C, dress for the conference is casual, maybe suggest renting a car or getting a bike from the bike library. I remember arriving at CSU the very first time, only knowing a handful of staff, and wishing someone had shared tips like these.

I know that we care for one another and desire to help others in times of need. Many of us do just that! At the same time I think that many of us miss opportunities to serve others because we are distracted and busy with our own plans. Let's put some of those things aside and really love each other like a family!!!

I am praying for the Lord to open your eyes to be aware of the needs of others around you. For you to open your heart to make others feel more comfortable and included. I am praying for you to live out the following verses:

24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
1 Corinthians 10:24

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[e] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 Andthey were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 
Acts 2:42-47

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 
Ephesians 4:1-6

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 
Philippians 2:1-4

 

I look forward to seeing many of you in Colorado and I look forward to seeing how the Lord can use us to encourage one another!

Looking for someone’s cell number or info about the conference, check this website https://csu2013.cru.org/ It has info on the speakers, schedule, and even a tab to “Find-a-Friend.”

Erin Mullis
Cru Staff serving on the MidSouth Regional Team

Around the World in 60 days

Just found this cool resource created by Focus on the Family for teaching your kids about other cultures and praying for other countries. The best part… it’s totally FREE!

Have you ever wondered what life is like in other countries? This summer, Thriving Family invites you to join us on a trip around the world! Over the next 60 days, you'll have the opportunity to explore 27 different countries on six continents. For each day of the trip, we've packed a biblical lesson and an activity that will give your family a glimpse into another culture.

Click on this link to get the map, itinerary, and passport.

http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Magazine/2013/around-the-world-in-60-days.aspx 

Do you have great resources to share that would be beneficial to your staff sisters? Email Erin.Mullis@cru.org and I will share them on this blog!

Praying for Ourselves & Our Kids

Hey y’all,

I found this great resource on Pinterest that has a list of 31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your children. We’ve been using it for a few weeks and LOVE it! These are also things that you can pray for yourself. One big plus is that it already looks cute. You can just print it out or save it on your computer. It’s not another “Pinterest Project” to add to your list (my list is already way too long).

http://keepingitpersonal.com/2012/02/pray-for-kids/

Scroll down to orange letters at the bottom. Click and Print, it’s that easy I promise!

More coming on the blog soon! Keep coming back for more info about Summer Projects and Fort Collins.

Here’s a sample. The link has a better format for printing.

Erin Smith- My Corner of the World

A Shelter in the Storm

July 29th is a day our family will never forget. It was a day that took us by surprise, the day we found out our pregnancy was in trouble and our son would be born in the next 24 hours. I was only 27 weeks pregnant and Harrison would be born at only 1 lb 8 oz.

As I think back on the emotional past 7 months, I’ve started to think about the day before that day. The day where everything was normal, where we were enjoying time vacationing with Josh’s family and taking in the beauty of Colorado. Except for the beginnings of a headache for me, it was a great, normal day. Josh, his brothers and his dad had gone out to play golf that afternoon but were driven inside by a sudden thunderstorm.

I had forgotten about that storm and really that whole normal “day before” until about a month ago. As I’ve revisited those days, I can’t help but be struck with what an interesting illustration that thunderstorm on July 28th was. Little did we know the storm that was coming our way the next day, and that that storm would continue in many ways through the next 3 months in the NICU. Those stormy days were scary. They were overwhelming at times. They were filled with the joy of holding our sweet child, but the heartbreak of leaving him at the hospital each night. Those days were not what we would’ve wished for, not how we wanted Harrison’s birth story to go. The storm came rolling in and we weren’t expecting it. But we were oh so thankful for our safe shelter.

One of the places in scripture I kept returning to during those Colorado days was Psalm 27. My friend Jeanette mailed me a devotional by Paul Tripp called “A Shelter in the Time of Storm” which walked through this Psalm. As literally everything around us seemed so scary and uncertain, what sweet promises these were to read. In verse 5 of the Psalm David writes, “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” One thing that struck me is how “in the day of trouble” is a given. To be honest, I probably skim over that reality, hoping trouble won’t happen to me. It is not an option of whether or not we will face trouble. David did and we will too, and sometimes, it will hit us out of nowhere. But what a beautiful promise in the midst of that hard reality. When those days happen, he will be our shelter. When things around are scary and uncertain, we are invited to run to him for protection, life and his very presence. As Tripp writes, “You can be sure of this- your day of trouble will come. Yet, in your trouble God hasn’t’ left you alone. What is it that he gives you in your trouble? He gives you himself! He is what will keep you safe.”

It’s been 7 months since that crazy July day, but even this long after, it is still hard many days to trust these promises. Before this pregnancy we had a miscarriage, as many of you know. So to lose that child and have so many days fearing the lost of this child, it has been an emotional roller coaster. Many days I do trust the Lord; some days it seems hard to do so and fear takes over. Some days I can fully rejoice and be in the moment just enjoying Harrison. Some days I still look back with lots of mourning at the path God had us walk. But I am so comforted by the fact that whatever emotion the day holds, God hasn’t left me to walk through it alone. He is with me.

Thank you again for your prayers these past 7 months for our family. We have felt so loved, encouraged and lifted up by you. As for an update on Harrison, he is doing well! He weighs 11 lb 12 oz as of his last check up. His lungs are doing great, developmentally he is where he should be and doctors are giving him good reports! One thing we would love your prayers for is his little digestive track. He is meeting with a GI specialist and nutritionist to try to figure out why he isn’t tolerating the solids we’ve tried to feed him so far. They don’t seem overly concerned but we’d love to see this issue resolved soon so he can keep gaining weight well. Thanks again for your prayers MidSouth family!

Free Letter of the Week Curriculum

It has been such a struggle for me to find good preschool teaching materials that I can afford. There is some free stuff out there, but it is not so good.

I just found this great website that has lots of preschool and homeschool materials and tips. Best of all, the Letter of the Week curriculum is FREE for missionaries. You need to email Erica a recent newsletter to get the entire thing for free. Look for her email link just above the LOTW icon on the right.

www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com

She has also written a “Road Trip” book about the 50 states. I am planning to order this as well.

Another website I like to use for CREATIVE ideas for letters and projects for kids is www.hubbardscupboard.org When we were living overseas I used this website to help have some structured time. There are lots of creative ideas for practicing letter recognition with materials you already have at your house. I mostly used stuff found under “Pre-K- 2’s and 3’s.”

A fun, interactive site for kids to learn letters is www.starfall.com

Brennan also loves to play the games at www.sesamestreet.org

Do you know of other great resources for kids? Please share in the comment section below. Don’t know how to comment, email me and I will help you! erin.mullis@uscm.org

My Corner of the World

We’re starting a new regular series of posts for staff women to share their individual perspectives and experience of life. We hope that you are encouraged to hear from women in different stages of life, different countries, and different experiences. We pray that you are encouraged by how the Lord is working in their lives and we ask you to pray for them as well.

We would love for you to contribute to this series of posts. If you would like to write something then please email your submission to Erin.Mullis@uscm.org.

We’re going to begin this series with a story from Rene Foth who spent the summer on Project in Argentina with her family. Rene is married to Nathan and has two daughters, Anabelle and Elianna.

"He no get one" Anabelle exclaimed, running after an Argentine who had ignored the flyer she was helping Nathan hand out. "Come back, dear" Nathan shouted, running after Anabelle. "Not everyone wants one--we're just inviting them to come". Nathan was feeling under the weather, so Rene brought the girls to the playground across the street from campus. While Nathan watched Anabelle and Elianna play, Rene went sharing on campus. When Anabelle got bored of the playground, Nathan had an idea. "Anabelle, do you want to help daddy hand out flyers?"
"Yes! I help you!" Anabelle said enthusiastically.

So Nathan and Anabelle passed out flyers for an evangelistic event we had on June 10--"Why does God allow suffering?". Our summer project invited students from the six campuses we're focusing on to come and engage on why there is suffering in the world--something to which many Argentines can relate. Most students were glad to take a flyer from a smiling, vivacious little girl in pig-tails (especially when Anabelle ran after them holding it out expectantly--Nathan had to chase her down several times and remind her to stay close to him).

ABC Scripture Memory

When our son was around 2 years old we decided to start teaching him scripture. Since we were studying a letter of the alphabet each week I searched the internet for a ready-made list of scripture verses for each letter of the alphabet. Unfortunately, I could not find one that I really liked. So instead I went through the alphabet myself and tried to find verses that would be suitable for each letter. I wanted them to be simple, clear and easy to remember. I wanted to avoid more complex concepts like propitiation, sanctification, etc. Most importantly I wanted them to be verses that would build a foundation of truth as well as commands that would help my son honor the Lord. I wanted them to be ones that we could reference when he disobeyed but also ones that would encourage him to seek the Lord throughout his life.

As we have taught these verses to our son we realized that going through the alphabet is a GREAT way to memorize scripture. I was amazed at how many verses I could recall when I had a letter to start with.

After spending a significant amount of time on this list I have finally finished it. A few people have asked me to share this list with them so then I thought, why not share it with the whole region. I hope that it helps you and your family build a firm foundation on the word.

*Most of the verses are ESV, NAS, or NIV, but some are also Erin’s Simplified Version. I tried to double check everything, but there is a good probability that there is a mistake or typo. Let me know if you find one. I am also taking additional suggestions for letters K, Q, R, U, V, X, Y, and Z.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

All things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will act. Psalm 37:5

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. James 5:16

Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Encourage one another and build one another up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:10

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. John 3:16

The FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; Galatians 5:22-23

A FRIEND loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

God created man in his own image… Genesis 1:27

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24

God shows his love for us in the while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

God is truthful. John 3:33b

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory! Isaiah 6:3

The HEAVENS declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33b

Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10b

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

I praise God for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. 1 Peter 3:15a

The JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Jesus said, “I am always with you.” Matthew 28:20

Be KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37

The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 145:8

Love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22b

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works Hebrews 10:24

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:15

Live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Psalm 100:1

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to your name be the glory. Psalm 115:1a

No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11b

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1, Psalm 107:1

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. Romans 11:33a

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God Romans 12:1

Overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18a

The PRAYER of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

Preach the Good News about Jesus. Mark 16:15

Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2

Be QUICK to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19b

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7b

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth. Colossians 3:2

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Romans 12:13

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

(Oh) Taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8b

Turn away from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11

Through him all things were made. John 1:3

Unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11b

Make VOWS to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Psalm 76:11

The VOICE of the LORD is powerful; Psalm 29:4

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17

Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Luke 4:8

We love God because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21

We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

EXERCISE self-control in all things 1 Corinthians 9:25

EXCEL in the grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Acts 1:8a

Be ZEALOUS and repent. Revelation 3:19

Women’s Getaway

If you had to choose one highlight of your ministry year, what would it be? Mine would be going to the MidSouth Women’s Getaway. In the earlier years of my life, I lived under a lot of stress – doing ministry while caring for two kids and a disabled husband. I would often dream of the day when I’d be at the women’s conference laughing, crying and going to movies with my staff girl friends! Getting out of my normal routine was refreshing. I was able to take time alone with the Lord without interruption, hear some great talks and to be “off-duty” from my many responsibilities. (I am an introvert, but still love this conference!)

Often women don’t attend because they have ministry obligations they feel they can’t leave. Can I challenge you to take the break this year? Every year I meet women who tell me they didn’t want to come to the conference, but came at the encouragement of a friend or husband and they were so glad they came! It changed their lives~

Perhaps money is tight at your house. Could you start saving now so you can join us? (Like the CSU account - put away a little bit every week and it will add up.)

If you have been to a MidSouth Women’s Conference before, what was your highlight? If you have not been able to join us in past years, please consider coming this year! Come with the attitude of “giving” as well as “getting”. We want to get to know you~ The time is designed for you to meet new friends as well as enjoy your old friends. A shout out to my discussion group from last year! I loved our authentic sharing times together. (We love you, Erin Smith!)

This February we are going to the gorgeous Inn on Biltmore Estate. Staying there is like walking into a fairy tale. J We will enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Biltmore properties, but you are free to explore other favorite places in Asheville if you’d like. After rave reviews from last year, our “speakers” will be our own MidSouth staff sisters as they share the Word of God with us.

Please join me this February 19-22, 2011 for our MidSouth Women’s Getaway. I can assure you it will be an experience you will never forget!

Women in Cru Leadership

As a follow-up to the emcees’ conversation this morning at Staff Conference regarding women in Cru leadership, let’s discuss what that looks like here in our MidSouth Region!

· What value do you feel the female voice is given in our region?

· Where would you like more female representation in our region’s leadership?

· When have you felt your voice has been heard and your ideas honored/implemented?

· When have you felt your voice was not heard and how did that affect you?

· What do you appreciate about your team’s leadership and/or our regional leadership?

Could you envision a time/place when women would be given too much of a leadership role or capacity?

Thank you for your input as we seek to glorify God as women and as significant contributors to MidSouth Cru!

If you prefer to answer privately instead of in this public forum then email your responses to Mary.Wilson@uscm.org.

Fun Activities for Kids in Fort Collins

We have done so many fun things as a family here in Fort Collins the last few weeks. Getting outside has been such a special treat.

Hiking at Poudre Canyon- We have a family tradition of going hiking in Poudre Canyon. We always stop on the way and eat breakfast at Vern’s in Laporte. This year we found the best hiking trail for kids call Hewlett Gulch. It is a rather easy trail with very little elevation increase and it crosses a creek a few times. Brennan really enjoyed splashing around and also looking for the old home sites.

Info on LOTS of Hiking Trails: http://www.coloradohikingtrails.net/wiki/Category:Hiking_Trails

 

Water Fun at Spring Canyon Park- This park has an amazing splash area with fountains that are motion activated. It also has 2 larger playgrounds for kids of all ages. In my opinion it is the coolest park we’ve ever been to!
To get there drive down Taft or Shields and turn right on Horsetooth. It dead-ends and the park is on your right.

Info here: http://www.fcgov.com/parks/finder/spring-canyon

 

Indoor Pool at CSU REC Center on campus- This place is like a mini water park. It has a lazy river, small splash fountains, a climbing wall, lap lanes, and a 30-person hot tub. We went there last week on a rainy afternoon and it was a blast! One tip for you… they do not allow you to use any of your own flotation devices, but they do provide tubes, life jackets, and noodles. Hours are also limited and sometimes they have to limit the number of people in the pool if they do not have enough life-guards.

See pics here: http://campusrec.colostate.edu/Home.cfm

 

Outdoor Activities at the Children’s Garden- Last weekend we were looking for something low key to do Saturday morning. We ended up at this garden off of Spring Creek Trail. The Children’s Garden was designed as an interactive place for kids to learn about plants and nature. There are lots of fun activities to do from pumping water to fill your water pitcher to playing in the Dr. Seuss Playhouse to petting fish in the pond. The garden is divided into a few different sections and each section has a sign with directions for a short activity.

The address is: 2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80526
Info can be found here: http://www.fcgov.com/horticulture/children-garden.php

Have you been to Discovery Science Museum, Cool Beans, a Farm, a Zoo, or other fun places for kids? PLEASE share some ideas here!

Traveling with Kids (International)

Here’s your chance ladies to share some of your experience and wisdom with moms heading overseas this summer!  Hints on packing, travel, living overseas, being involved with staff and students on the project (both you and your children), etc…  It’s wide open for what you’d like to pass on to others following the Lord internationally this summer!

*These responses were taken from our previous discussion over email in May 2011. Please add your suggestions by submitting a comment.


Especially for Rene & Marnie:

I emailed Melissa Synder who took 3 kids under age 4 to Russia a few summers back. Here are her helpful, detailed suggestions:
*Pack really light, especially when it comes to clothes.  Students will help carry a lot, but it is still hard to keep up with lots of pieces of luggage.  I learned this the hard way.  An intern carried my backpack for me but then left it on the subway in London.  If possible, pack only what you all can carry yourself!
*Clothes- For your toddler, pack clothes made of thin materials that dry fast and don’t wrinkle.  (We had to hand wash and line dry all our clothes in Russia).  Consider not taking his best clothes and just leaving clothes behind.  If I did it over again, I would take only one week’s worth of clothes for the kids, wear them out and leave them behind.
*Diapers- You can buy diapers there, but I preferred to take my own.  I packed a whole bag of diapers and then used that empty bag to bring home souvenirs.
*Food- I took a lot of food because one of our sons has a nut allergy.  I took a lot of dry foods (like cereal) out of their original packaging and put them in gallon size freezer bags.  That took up less space and kept the food fresh (at least fresh enough for little ones).  I fixed food for my kids in the hotel room a lot using a chinek.   I made instant oatmeal, mashed potatoes and Lipton noodles and rices.  I took lots of nutrigrain bars, tortillas and refried beans.   In Russia, I bought fresh fruits and vegetables and packaged Dannon yogurt.  I know it’s not the perfect balanced meal, but for 6 weeks it was okay!
*Baby gear- I would highly recommend a sling or my tie.  I would choose that even over a stroller because of the flights and public transportation.  It is helpful for the times that they need to fall asleep on you or be out for long days.  Most restaurants that we went to had high chairs. 
*Sleeping- The time change is pretty difficult, especially the first few days.  We did use Benadryl to help the kids fall asleep the first day or two.  If you do this, I recommend trying out a few doses before you leave.  Some kids have the opposite reaction to Benadryl and actually become more hyper.  I know this option sounds weird, but it was helpful and harmless to our kids.  Just prepare yourself, though, that the first few days with the time difference are really hard.  It doesn’t last forever though, and they soon settle into their normal patterns.  Coming back to the US is not hard, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that.  We took our own pack n play.   It was really a pain to transport but still worth it.  If we had gone straight home from Perm instead of a week layover in London, we would have left it behind for another family.

I just thought I would add some thoughts I got from Marion Dewar:

Car seat - bring it, even if you just use for the flight. It's something familiar they can sleep in and it keeps them in their seat. *This is obviously for those 2 and up or non-lap babies.
Umbrella strollers  - they're great for bumpy sidewalks - the least amount of wheels, the easier it is to navigate
Bring a screwdriver - you never know when you need it (she used it to reverse doorknobs, so the toddler couldn't get out of the room)
Pack-n-play - she also suggests bringing it because the cribs aren't usually what you expect (the one in Argentina was shallow)
Be sure to take a medicine bag for the kids; bring it on the airplane (also w. hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, extra pacis, butt cream, etc)

What we are doing-
We are bringing a kids backpack for the airport so at least one of us has two hands.
We are probably bringing more clothes than we need, but it will be fall/winter in Argentina.
We also have a ton of food packed because there is not a lot of baby food.

I’m short on time so I am gonna be quick with my few tips. We have never been overseas for Summer P, but we did a staff stint in East Asia last year. I have a packing list from that I can email you(of course you don’t need everything since you’re not moving overseas). Hopefully it will give you a few new ideas though.

Brennan was between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 when we were there. My tips on travel are for that age. If your child is newly potty trained or can’t hold it long then I suggest putting them in a pull-up for the flight. Brennan had to go one time when we could not get out of our seats and he ended up peeing all over the seat. Also pack a few extra sets of clothes for all of you so you have a fresh set if something gets spilled or worse.

Also pack lots of snacks and little toys. We tried to have a new toy for each hour of the flight (didn’t need all of them since he slept some).

I carried him on my back in a back pack for the trip to Asia and used a stroller for the return trip since I was 5 months pregnant. Both worked pretty well. The backpack was hard for such a long trip (we traveled a total of 36 hours at once), but once in Asia it kept him close from strangers who wanted to touch him. It also kept him from chasing him around the airport.

OK that’s all I can think of for now. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.

I took Anabelle last CO summer. She was a little younger than Katelynn (11-13 months). They did not require identification. We packed all of those things listed. Depending on your carrier, some "baby" things do not count against you as baggage - they include it for free. I believe US Airways does. We didn't bring many toys - we shopped yard sales after we got there.

This site has been super helpful - just skim it to find what you need to know. It's pretty long! http://www.flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/

Rene' Foth

Traveling with Kids (U.S.)

Here’s your chance ladies to share some of your experience and wisdom with moms traveling across the U.S. this summer!

*These responses were taken from our previous discussion over email in May 2011.

Load up on sleepy juice (Benadryl) but test it first to make sure it doesn't have the opposite effect! One summer, just after potty training, we ACTUALLY set up a portable potty in between the two boys. When they had to go, we would unhook, let them go and rehook--without stopping! and hopefully w/o spilling!! ...don't do that.... Another time, maybe the same time...we drove through the night...and hit two deer in the middle of a city in Kansas (not even in podunk Kansas). Guess what?! We kept on driving! (Go Suburbans! Would have been a different story in a van the way we hit them).  Then, we got so crazy we let them unhook to sleep b/c we were all so stir trip-dizzy. About that time, we passed a huge billboard in Kansas that said something like "if your kids are unhooked and you have an accident they will fly out the window like a speeding bullet". Who knows, that was probably God's sign put up just for us. It probably doesn't exist today ;)  It seemed when we stop, it always takes 20 minutes even if it's just a quick trip to the potty. 

Ok, here’s our potty plan…

Take the potty and cover the “cup part with a plastic grocery bag turned inside out.  Then turn a leftover whatever diaper inside out and put it inside the potty.  Whenever there is a “peepee event,” just take the plastic bag and fold it up over the diaper (the diaper absorbs all the liquid), tie it up and drop it at the next rest stop.  No splish splash LOL!

We are driving out with the whole kit n caboodle this summer too.  In 20090 we did it with Grace and Faith (almost 5 and almost 2) and this year we are headed out with a 6 month old.  Planning to drive 3, rest 1 hour to nurse and stretch.

Thanks for the potty advice!  We’re driving out with a 4 and 2 yr old!  I’ve got some good ideas from Brooke (Sherard) Miller who used to drive out with her family when she was little (thanks Jan!)…

1.       Give a little present for them to open each day to play with in the car

2.      Leave from the hotel super early in the morning so the kids can still get a couple hours of sleep in on the way

3.      Find hotels with pools.  End your driving for the day around 4 and let the kids get some energy out in the pool!

I remember wondering why all the East Coast folks complained about the drive to Colorado. Then we moved here. 1801 miles. Yikes.

We did the little present to unwrap idea. It's amazingly effective. Also, that was back in the bronze age before all the cars had video capabilities but we rigged our little tv/vcr combo. I always limited the movies to one a day so it would be "special." Usually we would stop for lunch, then do the movie, and hopefully at least two of the three would nod off to sleep. Sometimes we would do another after dinner too.

Blizzards at Dairy Queen were a major motivator to hang in there too.

The up side is that when you strap them in there young and drive more than half way across the country they grow up used to travelling and they get accustomed to that car seat.

For older kids the license plate game is fun. One year we found both Alaska and Hawaii. 

We didn't go by an exact schedule in terms of driving and breaks but we went hard and then when it was time to stop we ran them around as much as possible at a rest stop. If it was raining we looked for a mall or an indoor play place to burn some energy. We often drove later into the night because they would typically go to sleep pretty well and we could burn up the road. But at least one night we would stop earlier at a place with a pool.

Sonya

Sonya Hove

There have been lots of good suggestions for traveling to Colorado.  We’ve spent 17 summers out there and have driven for most of them.  We’ve done one kid under one, to 4 kids under seven and everything in between.  Mostly we all look back on these trips with fond memories.  Some years we went hard and fast and didn’t do a lot of stopping. Some years we bought a year museum pass at our local science or children’s museum and that gave us free access to museums across the country.  I usually researched which museums worked best and it was great that it usually worked in the Ft. Collins museum. Other years we meandered taking an extra week or more to get there, seeing some big sights like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and places in between.

As Alyssa said, if you are thinking of Benadryl to help them sleep, test that theory before you go.  Don’s dad (a pediatrician) suggested that with Jenny.  We didn’t realize that it causes some children to become wired until way too late.  Jenny was under one and didn’t sleep at all that first day.  We never tried it again with any of the others, we just called it a lesson well learned 

Some things didn’t vary though – early on we started giving each child a small item to open, one at the start and one after lunch – nothing big, but I did go for variety.  From around 2 on every kid had a tray that would set over their car seat, so they would work the puzzle or play with whatever they opened.   We also had a snack shoe box for every child – it really helped corral the trash and crumbs.  I would refill them each morning, but the kids decided when and what they had for snacks – I figured that if they ruined their lunch or dinner it wasn’t too bad, since it was only fast food anyway.

As often as we could we caravanned with another family.  It gave the kids someone to play with at stops and let us have some adult conversation at dinner.  Here it is important for the families to be on the same schedule, so you don’t have a million bathroom stops – we all developed large bladders on these trips.  One year, the family with us, called to tell us one of our bikes had fallen off into the road, thankfully no one was following too closely, but we did have to buy a new bike at a yard sale once we got to Fort Collins.

We also learned every car game you could come up with.  One of our favorites is a little box game called Are we there yet?  It had little cards that named items along the way you needed to find.  This is for older ones, since you needed to be able to read.  All our kids became great travelers as a result of these trips.  Today, traveling by any means isn’t a big deal for them.