Well, let me start off by saying that I know it's been forever since I posted...we've been busy! ;)
Spring in Savannah is usually really short, but this year, God has graced us with some respite days before the HEAT descends. Don't get me wrong, we've had some 90 degree days, but we've also had some unseasonable 70 degree days...it's nice!
We started the Spring with a little trip I like to call our Northern Journey! Who goes North for Spring Break? Apparently the Gibsons do! We spent two weeks touring the East Coast, visiting friends and family. We started by driving up to VA to visit with my cousin David and his wife Julie. Their three kids were such awesome companions to ours, that we momentarily considered moving to Hawaii with them!! ;) We did come to the realization that eventually they would start acting like siblings and bicker bicker bicker! But it was a glorious 4 days of sweet sweet time with family!
We then took the scenic Cheasapeake Bay route up to CT to surprise my mother for her birthday! We really did surprise her, which was so fun. I really thought that we (and not just those under the age of 13) would give it away, but we didn't. The trip was planned months ahead, so it was a bit tricky to keep the secret. It was so nice to see family and friends we hadn't seen in a long time. The weather, I might add, was less than spring-like, that's for sure! We were in winter clothes the whole time in VA and CT! In fact, we even had snow one morning, which the kids totally enjoyed playing in! It was just enough to make snowballs and snowangels, but not too much for our Southern wardrobes!!
We left CT and travelled down to NJ to visit Andrew's cousin, Cynthia, her husband Brian, and their three kids. The kids had never met, but got along famously from the get-go. It was so fun to see them all play together. We also got to see the house Andrew grew up in, and visit a great twin light house. (The name of which is escaping me at this moment...) There was a great view from the lighthouse, of New York City, a bit foggy, but we could see the skyline at least.
We headed home, with a short stop in SC to visit some "old" friends from Charleston. It was such a sweet time of fellowship. It's amazing to me how some friendships remain so strong and precious though we are separated by so much time and distance. Oh yes, and it was a beautiful, sunny 80 degrees in SC!! Thank goodness, we were finally able to warm up! The night before we left for Savannah, there was a thunderstorm with large hail stones. So we really got a wide range of weather patterns on this journey.
Travelling is always fun, nice to get away and relax a little, but we really did miss home. It's so great to be back...gnats, pollen, and all!
In Christ,
Danielle <><
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Haiti 2011
Well, let me start by apologizing for taking so long to write this. I don't have a good excuse. It took me a good week to get back on track, and then life got rolling again. Anyway, it's not because it wasn't a good trip, nor because it didn't affect me!
All things considered, it was an uneventful trip! I can say that because my last trip to Haiti involved a 7.0 earthquake. So, anything compared would be uneventful, right? Haiti is quite a place. As Dr. Kornblatt, one of my traveling companions keeps saying, it's not a trip for the faint of heart. He also says that Haiti is a place that attacks all of your 5 senses the moment you step off the plane. He is right. It's a tough place to look at, to listen to, to smell, to hear and to touch. It is mostly a place of stark contrasts. And I think we almost might not see the beauty if it weren't for the hard things. God's creation is so good, and Haiti is no exception. However, it is very apparent what sin and corruption can do to God's beautiful creation.
All things considered, it was an uneventful trip! I can say that because my last trip to Haiti involved a 7.0 earthquake. So, anything compared would be uneventful, right? Haiti is quite a place. As Dr. Kornblatt, one of my traveling companions keeps saying, it's not a trip for the faint of heart. He also says that Haiti is a place that attacks all of your 5 senses the moment you step off the plane. He is right. It's a tough place to look at, to listen to, to smell, to hear and to touch. It is mostly a place of stark contrasts. And I think we almost might not see the beauty if it weren't for the hard things. God's creation is so good, and Haiti is no exception. However, it is very apparent what sin and corruption can do to God's beautiful creation.
Here I am on the beach our first morning in Haiti. We arrived in Port Au Prince in the late afternoon on Friday. After the usual chaos that is baggage claim (it's actually improved a bit since last time) we rode with Chad, a missionary friend, to his family's guest house, about 30 miles up the coast. From the moment you get into a vehicle in Haiti, you can feel the Lord's hands on you. We take for granted in our country, the fact that people will generally stay on their side of the road. There are so many rules that we obey here, and we can trust that most everyone else will do the same. Not in Haiti!! And I think that the Lord gives missionaries called to Haiti a special element of danger and risk-taking, so they won't be afraid to drive there! From what I can tell, there aren't any road rules in Haiti, just honk loudly! The Haitians say, you don't need brakes in Haiti, just a horn! Anyway, we arrived safely at the Guest House, a beautiful, quiet place very close to the beach, beautiful views. The Guest House was a great place for us to rest up for our adventure on the island of LaGonave.
We boarded a ferry after breakfast that would take us and all our medical supplies over to the island of LaGonave. (I can't post all the pictures here, but if you'd like to see them all, you can check out my facebook page.) The above pic is of the mainland just after we pulled away from the wharf. Funny story about the wharf, we waited about 3-4 hours for the ferry to leave, waiting for them to fill up enough, I guess. In Haiti, there really aren't any schedules.
While on LaGonave, we stayed in a guest house run by a Haitian lady named Mme. Fifi. This was an adventure! Let's just say there were "facilities" but I use that term loosely! Anyway, it was our base for the next three days. On Sunday we rode up the mountain for about 2 hours to our first clinic. It was held after the church service, in the church/school. After church, Pastor Ben took us on a 4x4 Mule ride around the island of LaGonave. What a beautiful place, like a paradise, until you see all the trash on the beach. So sad. It's fun to drive around there, like a roller coast that last a lot longer than usual! And without safety harnesses, etc. :) What a wild ride! The houses along the water are much the same as anywhere else in Haiti. One room shacks, with lots of people living in them. All the little children come running out when they hear a vehicle, and start shouting, "Blan, Blan!!" which means white, when we drive by.
We spent the next two days doing much the same thing, without the fun ride around the island. On Monday, we saw two groups at one school, because the other school was too difficult to reach by truck. This is definitely a relative thing...since the roads we DID go on were too difficult to ride on by our standards! But thankfully, God's standards are not ours, and He guided our truck up those mountains with ease!
We handed out bags to all the children and adults that we saw. Bags with hygiene items in them, toothbrushes, toothpaste, skin cream, tylenol, tums, vitamins, and small toys for the children. Everyone we saw also got worm medicine. Intestinal worms is so rampant there because the lack of clean water. We also saw a few people with colds, bronchitis, ear infections, high blood pressure, and some other ailments. It's amazing how much we can take for granted the fact that we can just go to the doctor when we are sick. That is just not an option in Haiti. Some of these children had had fever and earache for a week. Imagine your child being so uncomfortable, and not even having tylenol to give them?
The school we went to on Monday is the school where our family's sponsor child attends. I was able to meet him, and hug him and tell him that we are praying for him and his family. He was very sweet, shy, and a little overwhelmed I think. It would be a neat blessing to be able to go back and see him again, to see him grow. It makes it so real for us now, when we think of him and pray for him, that we can put a face and a place with a name.
On Wednesday, we headed back to the mainland on the ferry again. This time, it left pretty much on time, and we were able to watch the sunrise over the mainland, beautiful. It's such a gift to be able to still see God's beautiful creation amidst all the suffering and hardship in Haiti. It reminded me that God's mercies are like the sunrise, new every morning. We spend the rest of Wednesday, with Pastor Ben and his family, at a beachside resort. It was breath-taking. For a few minutes, I almost forgot where we were.
Our trip home on Friday was smooth. It was soooo good to be home. First on the agenda for me was a nice tall glass of water...with ICE! (Ice in Haiti is hard to come by.)
Overall, this was a great trip! As my friend, Brian says, not a trip for the faint of heart! Haiti is a rough place. Why did I go? Because God called me to. :)
Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Keep praying for the country of Haiti, for the people of Haiti, that Christ's love will abound!
In Christ's Service,
Danielle <><
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Who's up for an Adventure?!
I am! I think...I'm really finding that Satan is trying to dampen my spirits! I leave in 6 days for Haiti. This trip is going to be quite different than the last. (Earthquake excluded this time, I hope :) ) It is a medical trip again, but that's where the similarities end. We are going to a different place this time. We are joining up with some folks for the Hope for LaGonave mission. We will fly into Port Au Prince, then take a ferry over to an island in the bay. That island is called LaGonave. On the island, which is very mountainous, there are 4 churches scattered around. Each church also has a school. One of the main points of this mission is to educate the children. They also receive food and medical care while at the school.
Our team will go around to the different church/schools and give medical care to the children. We will hand out vitamins and other medicines as needed. These children are sponsored through families and individuals who donate $30 a month. Think about how much you spend each day, gas, food, heat, water, electricity, comfort! For $30 a month, these kids receive a Christian education, nutrition, medical care. That difference between them and us, staggers my mind.
Our family has taken on a child to sponsor. We picked Climando because he belongs to a family a lot like ours. He has a mom and a dad, two brothers, and a sister. So their family makeup is the same as ours...only that's where the similarities end. They live in a one room house with dirt on the floor. His parents work in the fields. They have to walk to fresh water. I am so excited to hopefully meet Climando and his family while I'm there. It will be amazing to put a real person with the name and picture we have. I will be sure to take pictures, as well. I understand he loves soccer, we can relate to that! I pray we can also share our love of Christ!
Well, I'm working on packing, I have my battery-operated fan packed! Please pray that all the details will continue to fall into place. Please pray for Andrew and the kids while I am away. I am so grateful for our friends, family, and church family who have donated $, time, and prayers to make this possible!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Danielle <><
Our team will go around to the different church/schools and give medical care to the children. We will hand out vitamins and other medicines as needed. These children are sponsored through families and individuals who donate $30 a month. Think about how much you spend each day, gas, food, heat, water, electricity, comfort! For $30 a month, these kids receive a Christian education, nutrition, medical care. That difference between them and us, staggers my mind.
Our family has taken on a child to sponsor. We picked Climando because he belongs to a family a lot like ours. He has a mom and a dad, two brothers, and a sister. So their family makeup is the same as ours...only that's where the similarities end. They live in a one room house with dirt on the floor. His parents work in the fields. They have to walk to fresh water. I am so excited to hopefully meet Climando and his family while I'm there. It will be amazing to put a real person with the name and picture we have. I will be sure to take pictures, as well. I understand he loves soccer, we can relate to that! I pray we can also share our love of Christ!
Well, I'm working on packing, I have my battery-operated fan packed! Please pray that all the details will continue to fall into place. Please pray for Andrew and the kids while I am away. I am so grateful for our friends, family, and church family who have donated $, time, and prayers to make this possible!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Danielle <><
Sunday, January 30, 2011
My baby is 7!!
Where does the time go? I know everyone asks this question, but it doesn't make time slow down. It seems like time goes faster and faster as I get older. Maybe it's because I feel so blessed in the here and now, that I often don't want things to change. And because things naturally change, I resist it.
Anyway, Anne is 7 today! I really can't believe it! Seems like yesterday that we were so excited to finally have some pink in the house! She has been a joy since day one. The boys treat her like a princess, which has been such a great lesson for them. I've been learning about the glorious difference between girls and boys, and I praise God for it! We've always called her Princess. Not in the spoiled, "it's all about you" sense, but in the "you belong to the kingdom of God" sense. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. And God intends us to be princesses and princes in His kingdom. I pray that Anne will always know her Lord, Jesus. I pray that she will always feel the love of her earthly father and mother. As I pray this for all my children, and for you today as well!
Happy Sunday, everyone!
In Christ,
Anne's Mommy <><
Anyway, Anne is 7 today! I really can't believe it! Seems like yesterday that we were so excited to finally have some pink in the house! She has been a joy since day one. The boys treat her like a princess, which has been such a great lesson for them. I've been learning about the glorious difference between girls and boys, and I praise God for it! We've always called her Princess. Not in the spoiled, "it's all about you" sense, but in the "you belong to the kingdom of God" sense. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. And God intends us to be princesses and princes in His kingdom. I pray that Anne will always know her Lord, Jesus. I pray that she will always feel the love of her earthly father and mother. As I pray this for all my children, and for you today as well!
Happy Sunday, everyone!
In Christ,
Anne's Mommy <><
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friends by Grace
This week I was really feeling the grumps. I went to the chiropractor on Monday and he asked me how I felt. I said, "I'm grumpy, I'm fat, and I hurt!" He said, "It's the weather!" No, this wasn't just a blow-off. He was right. It's been grey and unseasonably cold here for a few weeks now. The sun seems to come out for a few hours, just to tease us, then it's back to grey and cold. (Now, if you live North of Savannah, don't get mad at me, I know it's colder and greyer up there!) Anyway, I think I'm a person who really doesn't do well in this kind of weather. It really seems to affect my mood. I also tend to get more headaches when there is stormy weather, something about barometric pressure, I think.
Anyway, this post isn't about complaining. It's about how God sends us friends to perk us up. I was praying early in the week about my mood, I hate to be grumpy and down all the time. Well, God answered me in the form of friends this week. On Wednesday, we had plans to meet some friends at a park to play football and have lunch. My friend called in the morning to tell me that the park was wet and muddy, and the forecasted sun seemed to be covered by clouds. So we decided to move the party to the Gibson house. What a blessing! It was just so nice to talk, about important stuff, and unimportant stuff. It's not like we solved any problems or anything, but it sure felt nice to just talk and laugh. I don't know, I guess other people can just give you a different perspective. Make us feel like we're not alone in this thing called life.
On Thursday, another friend came over, bringing lunch for me and the kids! What a sweet time of fellowship we had. I just really felt God's arms around me through my friends this week. He knew just what I needed, right when I needed it!
My prayer is that I can be those arms of Christ to my friends!
Have you hugged your friend today? :)
Danielle <><
Anyway, this post isn't about complaining. It's about how God sends us friends to perk us up. I was praying early in the week about my mood, I hate to be grumpy and down all the time. Well, God answered me in the form of friends this week. On Wednesday, we had plans to meet some friends at a park to play football and have lunch. My friend called in the morning to tell me that the park was wet and muddy, and the forecasted sun seemed to be covered by clouds. So we decided to move the party to the Gibson house. What a blessing! It was just so nice to talk, about important stuff, and unimportant stuff. It's not like we solved any problems or anything, but it sure felt nice to just talk and laugh. I don't know, I guess other people can just give you a different perspective. Make us feel like we're not alone in this thing called life.
On Thursday, another friend came over, bringing lunch for me and the kids! What a sweet time of fellowship we had. I just really felt God's arms around me through my friends this week. He knew just what I needed, right when I needed it!
My prayer is that I can be those arms of Christ to my friends!
Have you hugged your friend today? :)
Danielle <><
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Dinner for 6, without the stress!!
Happy Thursday! So my sister, Pierrette, helped me refocus my thoughts, and I thought I would let you know how the Once-a-Month cooking has panned out. (Pun intended! :))
It has been two weeks and I haven't had to worry about, shop for, or slave in the kitchen for dinner at all! And the food has been great! We've had Mexican Chicken Lasagna, Poppy Turkey, Playoff Burgers, Sopa de Maiz, French Stuffed Potatoes, and for tonight, Farmer's Casserole. The reason we have made 6 meals last 2 weeks is because of leftovers, and church dinners. We typically have dinner at church on Wednesdays and Sundays. You can't beat great fellowship and $8 for the whole family to eat! I also heated Denise's Black Beans last night and brought it to movie night with the youth group. Now I have a lot of leftover beans and rice, and this family isn't going to eat it...guess what I'm having for lunch for awhile? So I guess that means we have actually used 7 of the 15 meals in 2 weeks. (I'm still pretty excited about that!) All these are recipes from a cookbook a friend gave me called Once A Month cooking. There is a lot of variety, while using similar ingredients, to keep shopping easy and costs low.
I've loved all of the recipes so far, family has liked them too, maybe one or two customers giving a thumbs down here and there. But in a family of 6, that is inevitable! Sopa de Maiz has probably been my favorite so far. It was even better than I thought it would be. Very easy, fresh and light. It has a mexican flavor, but not too spicy at all, just flavorful. It almost tastes like chicken taco salad without the lettuce. If you would like any of the recipes, let me know. I highly recommend buying the book, it is way worth the investment if this is something you think you'd like to try at your house.
Tonight we had Farmer's Casserole with fruit salad (cut clementines, apples and grapes, with honey and cinnamon). I just love breakfast for dinner! This dish was liked by ALL of us, even the pickiest! It would also be great for a brunch. Just a side note...I found a cool recipe for candied orange peels in a Colonial Kids book we have. So we kept the clementine peels and they are soaking in water as we speak. Tomorrow, we will make a new treat!
Tomorrow I have to work at 5, so the cooking will be up to Andrew. Though he loves to cook, after a long day at work, coming home and cooking for hungry kids is not the ideal situation. So it is great that I can just take a dish out of the freezer, and it will just need to be heated up!
Win-Win!
Well, I will bid you good evening!
God bless,
Danielle <><
It has been two weeks and I haven't had to worry about, shop for, or slave in the kitchen for dinner at all! And the food has been great! We've had Mexican Chicken Lasagna, Poppy Turkey, Playoff Burgers, Sopa de Maiz, French Stuffed Potatoes, and for tonight, Farmer's Casserole. The reason we have made 6 meals last 2 weeks is because of leftovers, and church dinners. We typically have dinner at church on Wednesdays and Sundays. You can't beat great fellowship and $8 for the whole family to eat! I also heated Denise's Black Beans last night and brought it to movie night with the youth group. Now I have a lot of leftover beans and rice, and this family isn't going to eat it...guess what I'm having for lunch for awhile? So I guess that means we have actually used 7 of the 15 meals in 2 weeks. (I'm still pretty excited about that!) All these are recipes from a cookbook a friend gave me called Once A Month cooking. There is a lot of variety, while using similar ingredients, to keep shopping easy and costs low.
I've loved all of the recipes so far, family has liked them too, maybe one or two customers giving a thumbs down here and there. But in a family of 6, that is inevitable! Sopa de Maiz has probably been my favorite so far. It was even better than I thought it would be. Very easy, fresh and light. It has a mexican flavor, but not too spicy at all, just flavorful. It almost tastes like chicken taco salad without the lettuce. If you would like any of the recipes, let me know. I highly recommend buying the book, it is way worth the investment if this is something you think you'd like to try at your house.
Tonight we had Farmer's Casserole with fruit salad (cut clementines, apples and grapes, with honey and cinnamon). I just love breakfast for dinner! This dish was liked by ALL of us, even the pickiest! It would also be great for a brunch. Just a side note...I found a cool recipe for candied orange peels in a Colonial Kids book we have. So we kept the clementine peels and they are soaking in water as we speak. Tomorrow, we will make a new treat!
Tomorrow I have to work at 5, so the cooking will be up to Andrew. Though he loves to cook, after a long day at work, coming home and cooking for hungry kids is not the ideal situation. So it is great that I can just take a dish out of the freezer, and it will just need to be heated up!
Win-Win!
Well, I will bid you good evening!
God bless,
Danielle <><
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Blogging
It's confession time. I really like this idea of blogging. I thought it would be a great way of channeling my joy of talking! ;) But alas, I am now a little overwhelmed. I have so much to say, but I can't narrow down a topic. I think that means I'm a little scatter-brained...go ahead and laugh, shake your head, I can't see you.
So, being the tech-savvy gal that I am (insert laugh here), I decided to google "blog topic ideas". Can you believe there are dozens of blog topic generators? I really do lead a sheltered life, don't I? Well, those all sounded way too committed, I had to sign up or something, no thanks.
I'm watching the movie, Julie and Julia, with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. If you haven't seen it, rent it!!! It's a wonderful movie! It actually inspired me to write this! (Ok that could be considered either a blessing or a curse...you decide) In the movie, Julie starts a blog, as she cooks her way through Julia Child's cookbook. Great story! This might even inspire me to read some biographies...in my spare time.
Ok, thanks for listening to my ramblings....if anyone is reading this, I thought I would ask you what you would like to read about. So, I'm ready, tell me what you'd like to read about. If I think it will be worth reading, I'll write about it. :)
Well, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Your scatter-brained friend,
Danielle <><
So, being the tech-savvy gal that I am (insert laugh here), I decided to google "blog topic ideas". Can you believe there are dozens of blog topic generators? I really do lead a sheltered life, don't I? Well, those all sounded way too committed, I had to sign up or something, no thanks.
I'm watching the movie, Julie and Julia, with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. If you haven't seen it, rent it!!! It's a wonderful movie! It actually inspired me to write this! (Ok that could be considered either a blessing or a curse...you decide) In the movie, Julie starts a blog, as she cooks her way through Julia Child's cookbook. Great story! This might even inspire me to read some biographies...in my spare time.
Ok, thanks for listening to my ramblings....if anyone is reading this, I thought I would ask you what you would like to read about. So, I'm ready, tell me what you'd like to read about. If I think it will be worth reading, I'll write about it. :)
Well, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Your scatter-brained friend,
Danielle <><
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Haiti Earthquake: One year later
Haiti Earthquake: One year later
Yes, it's been a year already. In a way, I can't believe it, in a way, it feels longer. If you click on the above link, you can see an interview we did yesterday with a local news station.
It's been quite a year. To put it in pun form, this earthquake really shook up my life. I don't know that I can say I had some life-changing epiphany. But I can say that my eyes were opened to a lot. The sermon on Sunday in Haiti, two days bofore the earthquake, was titled, God is at the Center. That turned into our title for the week, God is at the Epicenter!
What do we mean by that? God is at the center of our lives. He has a plan for each of us, and nothing surprises Him. It was no surprise to Him that 14 missionaries were present in that little village that day. It was no surprise that the team consisted of 2 ER doctors and 2 nurses, along with an amazing team of talented folks who could work together to help those victims. This doesn't just apply to catastrophic events. God has a plan for every aspect of our lives. I've learned this year that He DOES care about every detail. He wants us to come to Him with even the little requests. God cares so much about us, why wouldn't He want to know every detail?
I've learned something else. I think I had heard this one before, but I guess I was still being stubborn. :) If we spend time with God, every day, He hears, He listens, and we can hear and listen to Him. I learned if I bring my concerns to God, I really do hear His answers. And if I can just trust in Him, in each moment and event in my life, I will feel His presence. How do I spend time with God? Simply by reading His Word, the Bible. I have a great 365 day bible that breaks up the bible into daily readings. Some days, I don't make it, some days, it's a quick read before bed, but it's well worth it!
I'm going back to Haiti!! In just 5 short weeks! We are going to a different area this time. We will be going out to 4 different remote villages on an island called La Gonave. We will see the children at the schools out there and basically give them checkups! We will distribute vitamins and medicine. Some of these folks have to walk very far just for clean water. Can you believe they live this way, and are only 1 1/2 hours away from the US?
Please keep our upcoming trip in your prayers. If you would like to help, you can donate to our trip by sending a check either to myself or to Grace Chuch of the Islands. If you would like to know more about the place we are going, you can check out http://www.hopeforlagonave.com/.
Thanks so much for reading!
Danielle <><
Yes, it's been a year already. In a way, I can't believe it, in a way, it feels longer. If you click on the above link, you can see an interview we did yesterday with a local news station.
It's been quite a year. To put it in pun form, this earthquake really shook up my life. I don't know that I can say I had some life-changing epiphany. But I can say that my eyes were opened to a lot. The sermon on Sunday in Haiti, two days bofore the earthquake, was titled, God is at the Center. That turned into our title for the week, God is at the Epicenter!
What do we mean by that? God is at the center of our lives. He has a plan for each of us, and nothing surprises Him. It was no surprise to Him that 14 missionaries were present in that little village that day. It was no surprise that the team consisted of 2 ER doctors and 2 nurses, along with an amazing team of talented folks who could work together to help those victims. This doesn't just apply to catastrophic events. God has a plan for every aspect of our lives. I've learned this year that He DOES care about every detail. He wants us to come to Him with even the little requests. God cares so much about us, why wouldn't He want to know every detail?
I've learned something else. I think I had heard this one before, but I guess I was still being stubborn. :) If we spend time with God, every day, He hears, He listens, and we can hear and listen to Him. I learned if I bring my concerns to God, I really do hear His answers. And if I can just trust in Him, in each moment and event in my life, I will feel His presence. How do I spend time with God? Simply by reading His Word, the Bible. I have a great 365 day bible that breaks up the bible into daily readings. Some days, I don't make it, some days, it's a quick read before bed, but it's well worth it!
I'm going back to Haiti!! In just 5 short weeks! We are going to a different area this time. We will be going out to 4 different remote villages on an island called La Gonave. We will see the children at the schools out there and basically give them checkups! We will distribute vitamins and medicine. Some of these folks have to walk very far just for clean water. Can you believe they live this way, and are only 1 1/2 hours away from the US?
Please keep our upcoming trip in your prayers. If you would like to help, you can donate to our trip by sending a check either to myself or to Grace Chuch of the Islands. If you would like to know more about the place we are going, you can check out http://www.hopeforlagonave.com/.
Thanks so much for reading!
Danielle <><
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Dinner #1
Monday, Jan. 10-Well, only two more meals to make, and we will be set for dinners for the month! It's only taken me 4 days so far! The cooking is really supposed to be done all in one day, but that's now how I roll. :)
Tonight's dinner is Playoff Burgers. We are hoping to grill them outside...but that will be up to the grillmaster. It is currently 37 degrees and raining in beautiful Savannah, GA. So I will let him decide if it will be outside grill, or broiled in the oven. (Listen, you have to be nice to the help!)
A couple of the recipes I have made have some ingredients that some of my clients (i.e. the hubby and kids) do not particularly like. But I have had an epiphany of sorts over the last two days. I have decided that we were not created to eat only the things we like. God gave us food to nourish us, to give us energy for serving Him. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I think cooking yummy dishes and eating things we like are wrong. I have just come to the conclusion that I, most of all, seem to think that food is there to please me, and only to please me.
Tuesday, Jan. 11-Ok, I started this post yesterday...signs of my crazy life that I am just now getting to finish it. We did have our playoff burgers last night, and my hubby braved the nasty weather to grill them! There were fabulous, and with some raw veggies and dip, we pretended it was summer!
Tonight's dish is Mexican Chicken Lasagna. Not sure how the reviews will be, as I don't have big mexican fans. But they do like tacos, and this seems a lot like tacos. I left out the green chiles and black beans, so we may have a fighting chance. I'm still in my drill sargeant mode..."I don't care if you like it, it's what's for dinner!"
I finished all the meals for the month, so I am quite excited about that. Now on to simplifying the rest of my life. (Stop laughing! All things are possible!)
Thankful for my daily bread,
Danielle <><
Tonight's dinner is Playoff Burgers. We are hoping to grill them outside...but that will be up to the grillmaster. It is currently 37 degrees and raining in beautiful Savannah, GA. So I will let him decide if it will be outside grill, or broiled in the oven. (Listen, you have to be nice to the help!)
A couple of the recipes I have made have some ingredients that some of my clients (i.e. the hubby and kids) do not particularly like. But I have had an epiphany of sorts over the last two days. I have decided that we were not created to eat only the things we like. God gave us food to nourish us, to give us energy for serving Him. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I think cooking yummy dishes and eating things we like are wrong. I have just come to the conclusion that I, most of all, seem to think that food is there to please me, and only to please me.
Tuesday, Jan. 11-Ok, I started this post yesterday...signs of my crazy life that I am just now getting to finish it. We did have our playoff burgers last night, and my hubby braved the nasty weather to grill them! There were fabulous, and with some raw veggies and dip, we pretended it was summer!
Tonight's dish is Mexican Chicken Lasagna. Not sure how the reviews will be, as I don't have big mexican fans. But they do like tacos, and this seems a lot like tacos. I left out the green chiles and black beans, so we may have a fighting chance. I'm still in my drill sargeant mode..."I don't care if you like it, it's what's for dinner!"
I finished all the meals for the month, so I am quite excited about that. Now on to simplifying the rest of my life. (Stop laughing! All things are possible!)
Thankful for my daily bread,
Danielle <><
Monday, January 10, 2011
Surviving this Crazy Life!
Well, it's been a very hectic weekend at the Gibsons! Well, for me mostly, I had a lot on my to-do list...family had a relaxing weekend, I think! I might talk more about the weekend later in the week, but I just wanted to give you a little taste of what's to come!
A few years ago, I heard about Once-a-Month cooking. At first, I though there was no way I could ever set aside an entire day to make a month's worth of meals. However, the idea of having all our dinners already cooked and planned out sounded like heaven on earth to me! So I have done it maybe a total of 3 times over the last few years. It is a glorious thing to have it all done, know your freezer is full, and not have to think, "what am I going to make for dinner?" The catch is, it takes a good bit of planning ahead, and a great deal of labor in the kitchen all at once.
(So, in the above paragraph, I see at least 3 possible topics for future posts...stay tuned!)
It is now 1am and I have to get up in 6 hours to go running/walking...so, I will tell you that over the last 3 days, I have put away 9 dinners for the next few weeks! I am so excited! I am feeling a little bit like the Proverbs 31 woman right now!!
Off to hit the sack I go, I'll tell you about tonight's dinner later, and maybe let you know what I did this weekend!
Nighty night!
Danielle <><
A few years ago, I heard about Once-a-Month cooking. At first, I though there was no way I could ever set aside an entire day to make a month's worth of meals. However, the idea of having all our dinners already cooked and planned out sounded like heaven on earth to me! So I have done it maybe a total of 3 times over the last few years. It is a glorious thing to have it all done, know your freezer is full, and not have to think, "what am I going to make for dinner?" The catch is, it takes a good bit of planning ahead, and a great deal of labor in the kitchen all at once.
(So, in the above paragraph, I see at least 3 possible topics for future posts...stay tuned!)
It is now 1am and I have to get up in 6 hours to go running/walking...so, I will tell you that over the last 3 days, I have put away 9 dinners for the next few weeks! I am so excited! I am feeling a little bit like the Proverbs 31 woman right now!!
Off to hit the sack I go, I'll tell you about tonight's dinner later, and maybe let you know what I did this weekend!
Nighty night!
Danielle <><
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Epiphany
Happy Feast of the Epiphany!
For some, this means a lot. For others, nothing. Well, I thought I would do a little reasearch and see what this day is all about, or at least where the observance of it originated. (These are the kinds of things I spend my time thinking about...)
So I found the following description on a website called, ShareFaith:
Epiphany: Observed on January 6th, the Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The name "Epiphany" comes from the Greek word Epiphania, and means "to show, make known, or reveal." The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added - the visit of the three Magi, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences.
As a child, we always left all our Christmas decorations up until the day that Epiphany was celebrated. As an adult, I have kept this tradition. (Honesty time: this is not for some admirable attempt to honor a tradition, I just really dislike un-decorating.)
Wikipedia describes an epiphany as " the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has 'found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture.'"
So I thought about this for a little while, and you really can connect the two. God revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus. An epiphany is a realization of the larger meaning of something. I also read that the Magi (who are described in the bible as wise men of the time, and there isn't a specific number mentioned in scripture) were the first to publically recognize Jesus as King, by bringing gifts that would be fit for royalty at the time. And those Magi were the most learned of their time. So the Epiphany celebrates the realization of God's gift of his Son to His children.
So, I have decided to look at this day in a new way. No longer will I look at it as the day that I have to un-decorate. I will choose to focus on the realization of God to us through the gift of salvation, His son Jesus, the last piece of the puzzle!
Thanks for hanging with me through my musings!
Happy Epiphany!
Danielle <><
For some, this means a lot. For others, nothing. Well, I thought I would do a little reasearch and see what this day is all about, or at least where the observance of it originated. (These are the kinds of things I spend my time thinking about...)
So I found the following description on a website called, ShareFaith:
Epiphany: Observed on January 6th, the Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The name "Epiphany" comes from the Greek word Epiphania, and means "to show, make known, or reveal." The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added - the visit of the three Magi, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences.
As a child, we always left all our Christmas decorations up until the day that Epiphany was celebrated. As an adult, I have kept this tradition. (Honesty time: this is not for some admirable attempt to honor a tradition, I just really dislike un-decorating.)
Wikipedia describes an epiphany as " the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has 'found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture.'"
So I thought about this for a little while, and you really can connect the two. God revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus. An epiphany is a realization of the larger meaning of something. I also read that the Magi (who are described in the bible as wise men of the time, and there isn't a specific number mentioned in scripture) were the first to publically recognize Jesus as King, by bringing gifts that would be fit for royalty at the time. And those Magi were the most learned of their time. So the Epiphany celebrates the realization of God's gift of his Son to His children.
So, I have decided to look at this day in a new way. No longer will I look at it as the day that I have to un-decorate. I will choose to focus on the realization of God to us through the gift of salvation, His son Jesus, the last piece of the puzzle!
Thanks for hanging with me through my musings!
Happy Epiphany!
Danielle <><
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Stuff!
I love this word, stuff! Webster's defines "stuff" as, " a group or scattering of miscellaneous objects or articles". I just like the way that sounds. "Hey kids! Come get your scattering of miscellaneous objects off the floor!" Stuff. :) It seems like we start accumulating it from day one. Honestly, the first child in a family manages to fill the house with stuff, even before they make their entrance into the world!
Matthew, our 8 yr old, has been particularly fond of stuff from a very early age. When he would get up from a nap or in the morning, he had to carry his bed "stuff" with him. Started with a silky blanket, then he added a stuffed Barney, and various Webkinz over the years. All of our kids have had to have certain "stuff" with them over the years. Whether going to bed, going to the kitchen, or going somewhere in the car, there is always the accompanying stuff. Once, when Nick was 3, we pulled out of Walmart, and he said, "Mommy, we got some STUFF!" That's exactly right! In the trunk was a scattering of miscellaneous objects! Did we need them all? I probably would have told you at the time that we did. But all things considered, how much do we really NEED?
I'm going to be trying this year to filter out the stuff in our lives. Physical and emotional stuff, because it gets in the way of our purpose, doesn't it? Our pursuit of stuff gets in the way of our pursuit of God. "I don't have time to read God's Word, no time for prayer today, I have to work, I need the money..."
In Haiti, they don't have much stuff...in fact, I would venture to say, they don't have any stuff at all. At least about 90% of the population doesn't have anything beyond necessities, and they lack many of those. When I was there I was struck by some of the Haitians that we met that are able to attend college in the US. They plan to go back to Haiti when they graduate, to help their country. I have such difficulty comprehending the choice to go back to live in such a place, when you can be here in the US. That is how much I have come to worship my stuff, it gives me comfort.
Heavenly Father, help me this year, to lift up mine eyes to the hills, to focus on You, from whom all blessings flow. Oh, for the grace, to throw away the stuff the hinders my relationship with You.
In Christ's Name, Amen.
Danielle <><
Matthew, our 8 yr old, has been particularly fond of stuff from a very early age. When he would get up from a nap or in the morning, he had to carry his bed "stuff" with him. Started with a silky blanket, then he added a stuffed Barney, and various Webkinz over the years. All of our kids have had to have certain "stuff" with them over the years. Whether going to bed, going to the kitchen, or going somewhere in the car, there is always the accompanying stuff. Once, when Nick was 3, we pulled out of Walmart, and he said, "Mommy, we got some STUFF!" That's exactly right! In the trunk was a scattering of miscellaneous objects! Did we need them all? I probably would have told you at the time that we did. But all things considered, how much do we really NEED?
I'm going to be trying this year to filter out the stuff in our lives. Physical and emotional stuff, because it gets in the way of our purpose, doesn't it? Our pursuit of stuff gets in the way of our pursuit of God. "I don't have time to read God's Word, no time for prayer today, I have to work, I need the money..."
In Haiti, they don't have much stuff...in fact, I would venture to say, they don't have any stuff at all. At least about 90% of the population doesn't have anything beyond necessities, and they lack many of those. When I was there I was struck by some of the Haitians that we met that are able to attend college in the US. They plan to go back to Haiti when they graduate, to help their country. I have such difficulty comprehending the choice to go back to live in such a place, when you can be here in the US. That is how much I have come to worship my stuff, it gives me comfort.
Heavenly Father, help me this year, to lift up mine eyes to the hills, to focus on You, from whom all blessings flow. Oh, for the grace, to throw away the stuff the hinders my relationship with You.
In Christ's Name, Amen.
Danielle <><
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Welcome to my blog!
Hi there! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I don't really know what I'm getting into, technology puzzles me continually. In fact, I have yet to set up my webcam...stay tuned for that!
I wasn't sure about starting a blog. It just seemed like something no one would really want to read. But that is of course, your choice. To read, or not to read..your choice! I had one crazy year, 2010! And as I get older (I'll turn 40 this year!) I am changing in a lot of ways! One thing I have been working on is not being concerned about others' judgements of me. God has really shown me His grace this year. We are ALL sinners, and God gives us His grace, so we can pass it on to others.
Andrew (my wonderful, loving, forgiving, patient, husband) and I are in a season of life that is full of adventure! Well, adventure is probably stretching it! Our kids, Nick-13, Daniel-11, Matthew-8, and Anne-6, keep us pretty busy! (First understatement of the year!) We homeschool, so they are always around :) Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way. Andrew works full time at a hospital, in the IS department. (He works with computers...that's the jist of it!) I work part time, from home mostly, for a telephone triage service, as a nurse. We are actively involved in our church, scouts, ballet, soccer, and anything else that might come up! (Poor un-socialized homeschoolers! But that's a topic for another day!) For the last 4 months, we have had about 2 evenings a month that were not busy with something, work, meetings, scouts, practice, play, ballet, Bible Study Fellowship, etc etc etc. But in spite of all this, I think it's the best season of our lives. Somehow, when there isn't much time for yourself, you start to see that it's not all about yourself. And I have found that as I seek God's will and daily direction for my life, things fall into place. Suddenly, by looking up, I stopped looking at my own belly button (figuratively speaking :) )
Anyway, when people ask me, "How do you do IT?" (IT being life, I guess, 4 kids, work, church, homeschooling...) my only truthful response can be, "By the grace of God!" There is nothing in me, without Him, that can do this. Praise God for his faithfulness!
So, I thought I'd start a blog! (Because I had a lot of free time :D) What's it going to be about? Whatever! Random stuff! Random thoughts! Stay tuned!!
Thanks for joining me!
Living by God's grace,
Danielle <><
I wasn't sure about starting a blog. It just seemed like something no one would really want to read. But that is of course, your choice. To read, or not to read..your choice! I had one crazy year, 2010! And as I get older (I'll turn 40 this year!) I am changing in a lot of ways! One thing I have been working on is not being concerned about others' judgements of me. God has really shown me His grace this year. We are ALL sinners, and God gives us His grace, so we can pass it on to others.
Andrew (my wonderful, loving, forgiving, patient, husband) and I are in a season of life that is full of adventure! Well, adventure is probably stretching it! Our kids, Nick-13, Daniel-11, Matthew-8, and Anne-6, keep us pretty busy! (First understatement of the year!) We homeschool, so they are always around :) Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way. Andrew works full time at a hospital, in the IS department. (He works with computers...that's the jist of it!) I work part time, from home mostly, for a telephone triage service, as a nurse. We are actively involved in our church, scouts, ballet, soccer, and anything else that might come up! (Poor un-socialized homeschoolers! But that's a topic for another day!) For the last 4 months, we have had about 2 evenings a month that were not busy with something, work, meetings, scouts, practice, play, ballet, Bible Study Fellowship, etc etc etc. But in spite of all this, I think it's the best season of our lives. Somehow, when there isn't much time for yourself, you start to see that it's not all about yourself. And I have found that as I seek God's will and daily direction for my life, things fall into place. Suddenly, by looking up, I stopped looking at my own belly button (figuratively speaking :) )
Anyway, when people ask me, "How do you do IT?" (IT being life, I guess, 4 kids, work, church, homeschooling...) my only truthful response can be, "By the grace of God!" There is nothing in me, without Him, that can do this. Praise God for his faithfulness!
So, I thought I'd start a blog! (Because I had a lot of free time :D) What's it going to be about? Whatever! Random stuff! Random thoughts! Stay tuned!!
Thanks for joining me!
Living by God's grace,
Danielle <><
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