Nature at Work

Some my find these pictures disturbingly gross, I however find them extremely interesting. I'm just sayin....

So we get DSTV here in Uganda.  And it is really kinda fun.  It gives Kent and I an way to keep up with world news, the kids have the occasional treat of cartoons, (many of the cartoons are from when I was a kid, too), plus our favorite is the National Geographic Chanel.  The day after we watched an episode on Extreme Insects and learned all about ants and how they help in the decomposition process (I said they were gross)..... we found this in our yard.

This is one of those GI-MORMUS rats that comes in our yard sometimes. That Lady must have killed during the middle of the night. Only it is COMPLETELY covered in ants.  i couldn't even tell what it was at first.  It was only after poking and prodding that I was able to discover what lied beneath the dark, wiggling mass.

Cool...... and gross all at the same time.  Science lesson!  Aren't you glad you don't have these guys in your yard?  (both the rat and the demolition ants.)

Whoop

Where to begin...... So last year, if you remember, we were so totally blessed by a young lady named Ashley.  She was here for six months and was a great help in getting to have a few date nights while we adjusted to living in a new country.  Well her sister, Laura, came to visit her here in Uganda, and Laura is and Aggie. 

Both young ladies kept our young girls one weekend while we went to Kampala for supplies.  When we got home, not only was our home booby-trapped, but Laura had taught the girls all the A&M cheers.  As you all know Kent is a HUGE Texas Tech fan.......

So this summer when we had a team from College Station come, Laura and Ashley sent us a care package. In it was this t-shirt for Kent.  It was a hoot watching Kent get his new shirt, and at first he refused to wear it, but now he wears it all the time.  So thanks Laura and Ashley for broadening Kent's horizon.

WHOOP!!!

Now you see it..... now you don't

THIS is why I love having that nifty new camera that fits in my bag and go with me anywhere!

 This little birdy fell from it's nest one Sunday at Church. The girls got so excited and everyone wanted to hold it. So most of them did.

At least while they could. The bird flew off while I was trying to snap this picture.

The local Children wanted to tourcher it or something.... the local women were discusted by it...... my young ladies wanted to take it home and try and raise it.

 Ummmmm....... so I was supposed to upload a picture of Snuggle Bug with a pouty look saying "why can't we keep it mom?" But for what ever strange reason it is not working like I want it to. Bummer.

Alice

This is Alice.  She is a WONDERFUL addition to our little Church. She started coming last summer and was one of the major testimonies of healing and deliverance, and she has been coming ever since.  For MONTHS Alice came to church wearing only a dark yellow skirt and a white blouse.

Every.

Sunday.

We would secretly have someone ask about her clothes thinking we might have them take her to the market, but she never seemed really interested. She just kept coming faithfully.  After a while she started wearing some new clothes, but I think they were items that she was borrowing from some one, cause they were always too small, and looked to "young".

 A few weeks ago, during worship, one of our young men felt that we should take up and offering for Alice so that she should get new shoes.  The out pouring of this Church was AMAZING! We didn't ever count it, but I know her socks were blessed off..... um on..... anyway she got hooked UP!

The next Sunday she came to Church so proud of her new dress and shoes.  It was sweet.  She is really growing in her walk with Jesus.  A week or so after the shoe blessing she started sharing with me how she had gone to the hospital and was preaching and praying for people to be healed. Now you have to understand that Alice is a VERY quite woman, and while she was re-telling me this story her voice got louder and her arms started waving all over.  She is passionate about telling others about Jesus.

Another neat Alice story.... While preaching at the hospital she gave away her Bible.  So later in the week Kent went to her hut to find her and give her a new Bible. She wasn't there.  So they thought they would try her sister's charcoal shop.  She wasn't there either, but before Kent left he saw her come running around the corner.

As soon as she saw Kent she started giggling and laughing and was extremely excited. Once she got her breath back she explained that she was just about to go into the market and do some shopping when the Holy Spirit told her "rush home, pastor is waiting". She stopped her shopping and started running back toward the house.  That is when she saw Kent at her sisters shop!  Cool huh!?!

The Birthday Party

Sunday was Daddy & Snuggle Bug day after Church.  Daddy took the birthday girl to lunch at the Coffee Hut while the rest of the Clan wrapped, iced, cleaned and planned for a PARTY!  SB was so surprised to walk in after her date to find her sisters and a few of her friends waiting for her with bubbles!

  The Surprise party welcoming committee!

 Some of the fun activities included.... "pin the tail on the lion", the ring toss and a water balloon toss game. Everyone received a prize. I think that this was SB's first honest to goodness party with friends and everything..... I remember when she turned 1.... and when she turned 4 and now 5, but I forget 2&3???  Is that bad???  Can anyone help me remember????

 The cake.... I find it harder and harder to be creative with the cupcakes and one cake pan. In the states we would go to Michael's each birtday and let the girls pick out a new Wilton cake pan. I would bake the cake and decorate it the way they wanted....... oh well.

 For ever it seemed that SB was asking for new sunglasses. She told me, "I used my sun glasses to make a home for the ants, and the Lady chewed them up."  She was SUPER PUMPED when she opened these from her sister.

SB also got another primate..... named Sleepy (cause he came with a blanket). Another big hit for the birthday girl.

 One of her last gifts was a new backpack...... it was another item that she had been asking for, for a very long time..... her ladybug bag was "spoiled" she said.  Every time we would drive through town and she would see a pink backpack, she would let me know that she still needed a new one.

She is a HAM!!!  I wish I could truly capture her personality in writing so that I could share it with you!

Thank you Lord for my SB!  She is a joy and the life of our Family!  We are so blessed to have her as one of us. May you use her passion for your service ans glory one day. I pray that she will be an influencer and a world changer.

Happy Birthday Snuggle bug

Who ever said that the youngest never have their picture taken didn't have a snuggle bug to take pictures of.
These are just some random, too cute to not share picture of the birthday girl that I have taken over the last few months.

 Sportin' zenias from the flower garden...... one behind each ear!

 Enjoying yummy watermelon while on a brief getaway in July.  I took this cause I have a cute picture of her eating watermelon before she was one..... my how she has grown.

 Play date at a friend's house last week..... playing dress up.

Look at my baby...... 5 years old, starting Kindergarten.  WOW!  If my kids went to school some where else, I might actually get teary eyed at that thought, but since I get to keep her at home for a while, I will just enjoy my little bundle of imaginative energy!

Sunday Mornings

So.... I got a new camera for my birthday.... a small one I can throw in my bag and tote around with me to snap pictures anytime, anywhere, and I LOVE IT!  Plus it is small enough I don't look like a tourist wandering around town.  So these are some of the pictures I snapped at church a few weeks ago.

Our format for Church hasn't changed.... We all meet in the construction zone for praise and worship.

Then afterwards the children stay inside the "zone" and the adults move outside under the trees.

 One outside they break up into groups.  Kent usually gives each group a verse or two to look up and discuss.  Sometimes each group's verse is the same, sometimes it is different. Then after they have had time to read and talk about the verse, each group takes a few minutes to share with the rest of the groups what they have learned or what they think. Then Kent or who ever is teaching will explain a little more and give more clarity. 

 Random artistic picture I took while playing with my camera on that particular Sunday.

 Mean while.... in the "zone" the kids are learning their own lessons.  We just finished a series on the Fruits of the Spirit, looking at them in the life of King David.

 After the story/lesson the kids get to "shade" or color a picture based on the story, then they get a "bisquit" or a cookie for snack.

 There are still anywhere from 85 to 100+ kids that come every week!  We are so blessed to be part of their lives, even if only a small part.

 A Group shot.

Fransis - "Fran-swah"

This is Fransis. He is AMAZING!  He joined our "circle" last summer during the team rush, and has been a valuable player ever since.

 For months he helped me with the children on Sunday mornings.  A few months ago we got him an inexpensive guitar and he has become our Praise and Worship leader.  He is ROCKIN'!

Kent started calling him "Franswah".... .like he is French, and it stuck.  I totally love working with every week as the P&W leader.  This picture was taken on a special day for school... when he was given his "position", and took over the roll for someone else.  We are SO proud of this young man.

Mommy Daughter dates.

So a few months back I started taking the girls out on lunch dates. Then we started hosting teams..... the past few Fridays we have been out of town, but some where in there Sweat Pea and I managed to get in an afternoon out, squeezed into our schedule.

The idea was inspired by my friend who is a missionary in the middle east. She had read the book "8 great dates for mom's and daughters", and loved the concept.  We started a Friday lunch rotation and as soon as I got my kindle, I read the book too!

The book has some GREAT ideas, some of which are hard to accomplish in a third world country, but we are going to try to adapt the concepts to what we DO have available.

A "snap" of the menu.  Contrary to popular belief we can get some yummy food in Gulu!

My beautiful princess!!!  So like me in so many ways.... yet so different too.

Her picture of me with the bus park out the window. 

 

After lunch we went shopping and stopped by our favorite seamstress Florence.  This is her baby girl.  I love all the bright color fabrics.... the are great for fun skirts and projects, no so great for quilting.

Spending "one on one" time with each of my girls is a joy and privilege that I look for to re-starting once our crazy summer has come to an end.

OUR MOVIE LIST

This is not a normal post.   It is a CRAZY long list of all our movies.  Movies are one of the few ways to have family time here.  Movies and Games.  However, we have started receiving doubles, so I thought I would post a list of all our movies, so people can see what we have or don't have.

Movie Title

A River Runs Through It

Band of Brothers

Big Mamma's House 2
Braveheart

City Slickers

Dances with Wolves
Forest Gump D -1

Lord of the Rings
Mrs. Doubtfire

Rocky
Saving Private Ryan
Second Hand Lions
The Book of Eli ***
The Karate Kid
The Last Samurai
The Passion of the Christ
The Patriot
The Scorpion King
The Shawshank Redemption
Water
Chicken Run
A Good Year
A Walk in The Clouds
Tristan & Isolde
A Fashion Fairytale
Fairytopia
Fairytopia - Magic of the Rainbow
Fairytopia - Mermaidia
Mariposa
Rapunzel
Swan Lake
The 12 Dancing Princesses
The Diamond Castle
The Island Princess
The Magic of Pegasus
The Nutcracker
The Princess and the Pauper
The Three Musketeers
Thumbelina
Narnia - Lion, Witch and Wardrobe
Narnia - Prince Caspian and Voyage
Narnia - The Silver Chair
Any Given Sunday D - 1
Any Given Sunday D - 2
Talent for the Game
The Boys of Fall
The Green Berets
The NFL Greatest Coaches
The Pacific
Chonda Pierce
Veggie tales Double Feature
A Christmas Carol
Christmas Vacation
Santa Buddies
Santa Clause 2
The Nativity

Bonanza

Red Skelton
The 10 Commandments (1923 Silent)

The Great Escape

The Thomas Crown Affair

Alice in Wonderland
Beauty and the Beast

Cinderella

Cinderella III

G Force

Little Mermaid

Little Mermaid - Ariel's Beginning
Narnia - Prince Caspian
Narnia - The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe
Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Peter Pan - Animated
Peter Pan - Return to Neverland
Sleeping Beauty
Tangled
The Aristocats
The Emperor's New Groove
The Fox and the Hound
the Goofy movie
The Lion King
The Sword and the Stone
Tinker Bell - Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Air Bud - Strikes Back

Air Bud - 7th inning Fetch
Air Buddies - Air Buddies
Benji D
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Buddies - Snow Buddies
Buddies - Space Buddies
Fire House Dog
Lassie - Lassie's Gift of Love
Lassie - The Best of Lassie
Soccer Dog
The Retrievers
Underdog
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows - 2
White Fang - 9 episodes
Winn- Dixie
Joseph - King of Dreams
Kung Fu Panda
Madagascar
Madagascar 2
Over the Hedge
Prince of Egypt
Spirit
Bible - Apocalypse
Bible - Esther
Bible - Genisis
Bible - Jeremiah
Bible - Jesus
Bible - Paul
Bible - Solomon

Planet Earth

A Little Princess/ The Secret Garden

Anne of Green Gables

Dennis the Menace

Furry Vengance ***
Gifted Hands ***
Marmaduke ***
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
My Side of the Mountian
Nim's Island
Peter Pan - live Action
Ramona and Beezus
Stuart Little
Temple Grandin
The 10 Commandments D - 1 (1956)
The 10 Commandments D - 2 (1956)
The Sign of the Beaver
The Spy Next Door ***
Best of the Cosby Show
Coal Miner's Daughter
Little Rascals (1938 classic)

The Andy Griffith Show

The Best of Bonanza
Breakfast at Tiffany's

Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride - 2
Julie and Julia
Little Women
My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Pride & Prejudice A&E

Pride and Prejudice

Sense & Sensibility
The Phanton of the Opera
Seabiscuit
Flicka
Second Chances
The Secretariat
Charlotte's Web 2
Despicable Me
Donkey X
Dora saves the Mermaids
Dora saves the Snow Princess
Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat
Gnomeo and Juliet
Happy Feet
Ice Age
Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Ice Age - The Meltdown
Open Season
Princess Collection
Quest for Camalot
Redwall
Robots
Tale of Despaurx
The Hobbit
The Reef
The Secret of Nimh
The Secret of Nimh 2
Sound of Music
The West Side Story

200 Classic Cartoons

Cars
Finding Nemo

Monsters Inc

Ratouille

The Incredibles

Toy Story 1

Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
UP
Baby Take a Bow

Bright Eyes

Curly Top
Heidi
Little Miss Broadway
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
the Little Princess

John Bevere - Drawing Near

John Bevere - Intimacy

Louie Giglio - Fruit Cake and Ice Cream

Louie Giglio - Hope: When Life Hurts Most

Louie Giglio - How Great is our God
Louie Giglio - Indescribable

How to Build a Hut in three weeks

Small disclaimer....... this was SUPPOSED to post on the 5th..... WHY it didn't, I haven't a clue, but I wanted to just let everyone know that I do know when my dad's birthday is! 

This post is dedicated to my dad, who loves to build.  Who works steadily and had built many buildings during my life time!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

 Step 1.  dig out the hill, and build up & level the foundation. 

 Step 2. Spread rock all over the foundation.

 Step 3. Pour concrete over the rock and smooth it out.

 Step 4. Start building up the walls.

 Step 5. Continue building wall, until you have gone all the way around the foundation.

Step 6. Add doors and windows.  then put the finishing over the rough bricks.

 Step 7. Put on the roof beams and start "sewing" the grass bundles on the the wood beams.

Step 8. pour the finishing floor and let it cure for a week.

Some where in there you add some wire for lights and an outlet. In a few weeks, when our current company leaves, we will paint it and really finish it off nicely, so that we always have a place to let people stay when they are in town visiting. All we lack is paint! I'll post the pictures when it is finished!

Running....

I am reading "The Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge and so far there have been several that have really challenged my thinking.

 Most people could probably tell you that I am NOT a deep thinker.  I like to keep things simple.  I don't like talking politics or theology. But one of the secrets that really kicked my brain in to gear was "The Secret of Running".

 The point being that when life starts to get out of control, when storms start blowing, we don't just stand there.... we RUN to God who is our shelter and our protector.  So often I find myself just tolerating the "rain", putting up with the stresses of life, waiting for it all to "blow over".  Instead I want to learn to run to him. He is there, he is waiting, he will cover us and shelter us, but we have to run to him.

(Once again, random pictures of the zenias my honey planted for me in the yard. Thought they would make a good "filler" for this post.)