Update on Kid's Day Out

No matter how many tactics satan tried to use to distract us from our goal, Kid's Day Out was a huge success. First obstacle-J. lost his job. No job means no money to purchase supplies. Obstacle #2-our church outreach was schedule for the same day, so many of our potential volunteers were not able to help after all. Obstacle #3-H1N1. Gabe ended up sick the day before the event. Carmen ended up sick during the event (still praying that she didn't infect anyone) and Logan got sick the morning after the event. All I can say is, God is the ultimate orchestrator and provider. I was not able to attend the event since no one wanted to stay home and watch a sick kid, but God provided just enough volunteers to get everything done. I would have loved to have gone, but God had a role for each of us and apparently my role was to organize the event and to cook and deliver the side dishes. I was remarkably ok with that. Afterall, J. and I had just talked about this being HIS ministry and if a ministry is really God's, it can go on without the people that started it. There were a total of 17 kids and 10 adults from Over the Rhine. They had a blast hiking with a nature scavenger hunt and meeting the farm animals (3 goats, a sheep, then chickens and rabbits). They met the horses and loved Dolly's cool tricks. They even got to help care for the horses and got a short ride. Fishing was fun, too, even with all of the tangled lines. (we probably could have used more volunteers with the fishing. maybe we will switch to cain poles in the future.) Several kids baited their own hook for the first time and two of them even got to hold a fish! These kids don't get to experience life outside of the city very often so this was an experience of a lifetime. I loved seeing the all of the photos of the days events, especially the expressions on the kids' faces. Along with the 27 people from OTR, we also had 7 coordinators at the event along with 3 helpers. We also had 17 people from our church come to hang out. I am really looking forward to our next event. It might even be an overnight. I am so thankful for everyone who helped make this event and this ministry a possibility. I am thankful to all who prayed and encouraged us. Without them, this would still be an impossible dream. I am thankful for those who donated supplies and money. The helped to make this a reality and touch the kids in practical ways. I am thankful to Nancy and her family for all of their hard work and for being there the day of the event to keep things running smoothly and for ministering to these kids from OTR. We definetly could not have done it without you. Your kids are leaders in the making. And I am especially thankful to Derek and Jessy for opening up their property to us and for going above and beyond by even purchasing animals for the kids to meet. They were more excited about this then we were, and that is how we know that God orchestrated this whole thing. This ministry belongs to God. I am so thankful to be a part of it. I can't wait to see what he does with it next!

Elisheva Ministries

Well, it's official (sort of). Our dream of Grace of God Ranch is beginning to become a reality. We have a ministry name and we will have our first ministry event in just a few weeks. We decided to call this ministry, Elisheva Ministries. Elisheva is the Hebrew form of the name Elizabeth, which means dedicated to God.

We want to thank everyone who has been joining us over the last few years in praying for our dream of Grace of God Ranch. Recently, we have really felt God leading us to use what we have instead of waiting for a camp facility. While we were willing to use our own back yard, it didn’t have much to offer for camping or even for a day trip. In talking with some friends about our dream, God provided a location to use. Hence, Elisheva Ministries is born.

We will be having our first official event for Elisheva Ministries in October. Kid’s Day Out will be held on Saturday October 17th 2-6:30pm. Working together with Pastors Johann and Paul from OTR Living Water Ministries, we are planning a day of fishing, hiking, and horseback riding fun for a group of ~15 inner city kids.

The purpose of Kid’s Day Out, and the general vision of Elisheva Ministries, is to provide children in the inner city with the opportunity to experience life outside of the city, to feel the grass between their toes, to see a small part of the glorious natural world that God created, and to feel the love and grace of Jesus through the caring volunteers and fun activities.

We still have much to do with this ministry to get it off the ground. We need to write a mission statement, a vision statement, to select a board of directors, to draft bylaws, to develop a financial plan, and much more in order to establish ourselves as a non profit organization. We are not actually "official" yet. But we are one step closer. I have no idea what I am doing. But we will do whatever it takes to share the love and grace of Jesus with others.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Vacation

The whole gang went to Indiana this year for vacation. I am so glad that Cameron got to join us this year. We loved having him along.


After a brief visit with J.'s family in Salem, we headed to Spring Mill State Park.









This was a vacation reminiscent of J.'s childhood vacations with his family. We even stayed in the same little mom and pop motel.

Next we headed someplace new.... Turkey Run State Park and Shades (of Death) State Park.

Both parks were beautiful....

... even though the camper cabin that we stayed in was... ummm.... unique. We will always remember camping at a gas station...

....slash Jimmy Buffet shrine.

Hiking was fun, even exciting at times, with the ladders, cliffs, ......

...and rugged trails up waterfalls.

However, I was reintroduced to muscles I had forgotten about, showing just how out of shape I am.

A lazy day on the river....

.... and a final look at the park on horseback made this vacation complete.

(even if I did get a large bruise on my stomach from riding BEHIND the saddle)

Sometimes I am completely awestruck at the diverse and beautiful world that God has created. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been able to explore this small part of it with my wonderful family.

Ephesians 6:18

"Pray all the time and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere."

Check out these websites to learn more about Christians who are persecuted, imprisoned, and even tortured and killed for their faith. And remember them in your prayers.

www.persecution.com

www.prisoneralert.com

and for the kids

www.kidsofcourage.com

Great Book

Here is a great book for any Christians out there.


"Deliver us From Evil" by Cindy Jacobs

We have had alot of critism for not allowing our family to participate in games/shows/toys... such as Harry Potter, Pokemon, Halloween, etc.... However, after seeing this book, I am so glad that God led us to avoid those things. Many of my Christian friends have no idea of the power and the spiritual, sometimes even wiccan influences of those things. Satan has gotten ahold of our children through seemingly harmless activities, and the consequences are plenty. I encourage all of you to read it. Satan is a lyer and a deceiver. He has been given an open door in the entertainment industry. He has taken ahold of it and deceived many to believe it is all innocent fun. Do not allow Satan an open door into your home, family, or church. He will use these "innocent fun" things to get ahold of your family and your children. A must read for all Christians.

Getting Old?

Apparently I am terribly old and out of shape. My family spent the day at our local amuzement park yesterday, and today I woke up so stiff and sore that I can barely move. Even my hands and wrists hurt from pushing the stroller all day. UGH. I guess if I get up off my tush and get moving more often I won't be so sore next time.

Moving On...

Cameron moved out today. I had hoped this day would come with J.'s and my full blessing, perhaps as Cameron moved on to college or maybe to an apartment of his own. But that is not the case. I shouldn't be surprised, though. He still has no job or lisence. He is not prepared to move out on his own. But he was ready to go. He has struggled often with our lifestyle, moral standards, and work ethic. He has a lot of wordly ways that he likes to live by that just don't fit in here. He doesn't like our discipline style or high expectations for behavior and attitude. He is also an adult and ready to get out of the house. I can understand that. I remember well the days when I, too, was stretching my wings, ready to get on with my life. In all honesty, he wasn't going to be able to stay here as is, anyway. We require that he be working, and preparing and saving for his future. I don't think he wanted to do that. Obviously if he valued work he would be working.



I wish the situation he is moving into was a little more ideal. He is moving in with a single dad from our church. I have my reservations about this move for several reasons. First of all, it was totally done in secret. That sends up a red flag of warning to me. Why the need for secrecy? We knew that he planned to move on after graduation. We thought he was planning to go to Tennessee to apprentice with my cousin. He talked about it often. But this was a total surprise and we were totally kept in the dark. I was also upset about the secrecy because Cameron involved Logan and Carmen, telling them that he was moving out but also telling them "not to tell mom and dad". That just plain makes me mad! It is wrong to put them in that situation.



I also am not sure it is such a good idea for him to live in this house with two teenage daughters. It just seems inappropriate and can invite problems of its own. My final reservation is that I have heard comments from other teenagers about wanting to move into this same house with this guy from church because of how "cool" he is. I am not sure what that means, but am concerned that it might mean that anything goes. I don't know him that well. I don't want to judge. I just want what is best for Cameron.



I have been reading "Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. One of the first few chapters talks about releasing your children to God. So that is what I am doing with Cameron. He may not be my child, biologically, but he is my child in my heart. He has caused me great pain and frustration over the years but he has been one of my greatest joys. So, Father God, I release Cameron to you, today. I thank you for the opportunity and great privilege that you have given me to help raise him and guide him over the years. Thank you for trusting me to be his parent. I ask forgiveness for wasting so many years before I came to know you. I should have been teaching him about who you are. I ask that you restore those lost years. Use this situation to give Cameron a deeper and more real relationship with you. When J. was praying for Cameron last night he prayed that Cameron make good decisions because he can become a greater man for you if he doesn't have to go through a bunch of junk, but Lord, I know that you often use the junk we go through to make us even greater for your kingdom and closer to you. I just ask, Lord, that you protect Cameron no matter what he goes through, and use it to draw him to you. I ask that you restore and bless our communication and our relationship with Cameron and bless the years ahead as we watch Cameron grow into a man. Be with our family as we go through the sorrow of missing him and the adjustment and growth that comes with not being a part of his daily life. Help us to forgive him and help us to be a blessing to him as he moves on. Help him to develop maturity and pride in his work. Help him to see his worth through who he is in you. Help him to value the things that you value and to hate the things that you hate. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with Cameron. Amen...



I miss him already.....