Raubs on the Road

We've Switched!

2011-11-23T17:41:00.001-08:00

You will now find all of my current (and past, back to February 2011) blogging at...

www.LisaRaub.com

We (my daughter Sharon and I) started putting all of the posts on LisaRaub.com almost a year ago, but it has had some technical difficulties and the design is still not completed. However, it's much more exciting than this blog, so instead of posting on both we thought it's time to redirect you!

There will be no more posts on Raubs on the Road, so please follow us at LisaRaub.com! See you there!

Money-Saving Recipe: Grandad's Famous Carcass Soup!

2011-11-23T11:28:00.001-08:00

It's good for what ails you!

One of my favorite parts of the Thanksgiving celebration is the leftovers! How wonderful it is that the Lord not only blesses us, but He blesses us abundantly!! Never is that more true than at Thanksgiving.

When I was growing up, all my relatives would get together, and we would have a tremendous amount of food. Naturally, there were leftovers. Since my parents were Depression Babies, nothing ever went to waste. So the next day, Mom and Dad would make the Best Soup Ever, lovingly dubbed “Carcass Soup,” in reverence to the poor turkey carcass that gave itself for our Thanksgiving feast.

This particular soup was eagerly anticipated by us hungry young-uns, and the old-uns alike, so the recipe became one of those passed-down-through-the generations type of recipes. Now, no Thanksgiving celebration could be complete with my own children without a large pot of Grandad’s Famous Carcass Soup simmering on the back burner on Black Friday.

Since becoming an adult, I discovered that many people cook up a juicy twenty-five pound turkey on Thanksgiving Day only to turn around and throw the carcass away, or to feed it to their cats!! Making Carcass Soup is a great, tasty way to be good stewards of what God has given to us!

Here’s the recipe:

1 Carcass of turkey, or deli chicken, or other roasted chicken

1 c chopped onion

1 c chopped celery

1 T salt

1/2 t pepper

4-6 c water

2 T powdered chicken boullion

½ c barley (optional)

Combine above. Bring to boil and simmer until meat is falling off the bones. Remove carcass. Add 2 c egg noodles to broth and continue simmering until tender. Meanwhile, remove chicken from carcass & add back to broth. Serve or cool to skim the fat from the top; then reheat and serve.

Enjoy! If you let me know you tried it and liked it, I’ll tell Grandad! It would make his day.

Rolling on with a full tummy,

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T11:31:00.001-08:00

In this day of hectic schedules and electronic distractions, it becomes more and more important to make the extra effort to put a little – or a lot! – zip to marriage. Whether we’ve been married for twenty eight days or twenty-eight years (as I have!!) these tips can be a help to us as we try to make this Thanksgiving time even more special.

I heard a preacher the other day mention that Thankfulness is really “Thinkfulness,” taking a bit of time to think about the blessings I’ve received, and also to be thankful for who has benefitted my life. If we really think about it, everything we have and everything we are comes from someone else. As Lincoln once said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

So today, let’s take some time to think about the most important relationship we have in this world: our marriage. Here’s an acrostic with five thoughts on giving your marriage a lift this holiday season:

Take time to greet each other with a smile every morning!

This may sound stupid, but I just started to do this recently. Every morning I get up earlier than everyone else, so my mind is already on step 5 by the time they all open their eyes. I often have some big theory, plan, idea, or question working around in my head by the time I first see my husband in the morning. And sometimes, there’s some irritating thing that has happened. To greet him with a smile takes an effort, especially if there are pressing matters, but it has made our mornings and whole days much more smooth!

Hug every day!

Perhaps this goes without saying, but a hug every day is a must! It keeps the embers glowing.

Inquire how the other is doing!

Again, this is a no-brainer, but those of us who are married beyond recongnition often forget the most simple – and most important – of things. Communication is the backbone of marriage, and a simple, “So how did you sleep last night?” can help someone get over the morning grumpies. Perhaps it’s just a question asked sincerely, “How was your day?” Little things that show we care are often the best things.

Nothing replaces physical intimacy!

The hugs, the talks, the questions are all good and have their place, but nothing replaces physical intimacy. God made you one flesh, and it’s important to keep the embers going and let it flare up…often!

Know that God supports our efforts!

God is behind marriage! It was His design for couples to be married – happily. So understand that, with every effort you put into strengthening your marriage, God puts more. It is up to us to do the natural, and He does the supernatural. Many times, however, we are too lazy or selfish to do the natural part, and so nothing gets done. “We are laborers together with God” 1 Corinthians 3:9

It’s been said that “Divine Grace works on the lines of human effort.” It’s not enough just to trust God to work, our own human effort must make an investment.

So let’s put some "Thinkfulness" into our Thanksgiving season this year, and enjoy some of the spice!

Thwarting Your Family's Predator

2011-11-18T14:03:00.001-08:00

Everything I've ever learned about parenting all in one post!

The Predator is on the move. As we go blissfully through our daily lives, Satan is prowling through our homes.

And he is seeking a choice morsel of human soul.

Satan is targeting our children.

Just as the man-eating lions targeted individuals for their meals, Satan has targeted our children. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Whether we are aware of it or not, there is a great battle being fought in the world - and our children are the objective. Satan has deceived an unbelievable number of our second generation, telling them that Christianity is simply not worth it. Many others have been paralyzed for one reason or another, rendering them numb, useless in the service of the Lord. It is a spiritual epidemic sweeping our nation, taking with it our most precious possession: our children. They are streaming out of our church doors by the thousands, their arms tightly linked with the world, walking lock-step (whether they realize it or not) with the Predator.

Here are some tips I have learned from the real experts, those that have raised godly adult children:

Have a joyful attitude! No one wants what you have if what you have is misery.
Be real! If you don’t truly love God and want to serve Him, what makes you think your children will?
Make God your life! Remember that children are individuals, and they will choose different hobbies than you. If the Lord is simply a hobby, the kids will simply select something else to enjoy.
Discipline early! If you discipline early and discipline correctly, you will not have to discipline for long.
Make your children your ministry! God has given them to you as a stewardship to Him. They are not yours, they are His. Teach and train them as He would want you to, and you will not go wrong.
Develop strong relationships with each of your children! The conduit through which your values pass from one to another is relationship. If you do nothing else, strive to foster a deep bond with each or your children.
Have an excellent marriage! Do whatever it takes to make it work; pursue your mate with energy and passion. The effort pays off in your family.
Include your children in ministry! Clean the church, sing together, work a bus route, or visit a nursing home together.
Keep communication lines open! Always be aware of slight nuances in young peoples’ responses to you.
Pray, pray, pray! Work like it all depends on you, and pray like it all depends on God.

Satan is always on the prowl, hungry for human souls. Moving along the fence you have erected, he pushes it, looking for areas of weakness. Check your fence carefully; he WILL be coming along to look for weak links. THINK about your family, your unity, your marriage, your relationships.

Remember that your inside fortifications, your relationships, must be strong. When your relationships are strong, the outside influences will be ineffective.

Keep rolling on for Jesus, dear ones!

Ministry Update - November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T10:24:00.001-08:00

Kevin witnessing to a soldier on Fort Hood!

It’s been a great time here on the west coast! We continue to go to bases here, seeing what’s being done to reach the military. Right now we’re close to Edwards AFB, which is huge land-wise, but has a very small military population. One of our goals here is to see what is going on to reach the base. It’s been our blessing to know that Lancaster Baptist Church is doing a tremendous job helping the airmen and women there.

Most people who are missionaries to the military either seek to start a church near a military base, pastor a church near a military base, or help a church near a base. These folks go to the field and do the work the Lord has for them in their particular sphere of influence.

The Lord has chosen a bit of a different route for us. Our desire is to start churches near military bases that need a church, and to help people in existing churches reach their local bases if there is not outreach. We have started three churches so far, two of them “military” churches – churches by a military base. Seeing the need to help already existing churches develop effective outreaches to their local military bases, we felt the Lord tapping us for Operation Naaman: Navy, Army, Air Force Marines Action Network.

In Operation Naaman, we use our credentials in working with the military for the past 19 years and endorse Biblically sound individuals located by military bases and help them establish ministries on the base. My husband has developed a network of connections with commanders, chaplains, and officers who are willing to help us be a blessing to our nation’s military.

Soon we’ll be heading to Fallbrook, CA, where we will be conducting Operation Naaman by invitation, to help some folks develop an outreach to the Marines. We were there about eight years ago and had four Bible studies on the base. Of course, a lot has changed since then, and now there’s a whole new crop of Marines who need the Lord. Pray that the Lord will open doors for us and our workers to establish a ministry there.

My husband’s health seems to be getting to be more of an issue. Please keep him in prayer as we enter the winter – and illness – season. Thank you all for your prayers!

10 Tips for Saving Money During the Holidays

2011-11-14T10:10:00.001-08:00

"I'll be green for Christmas..."

Well, Hell-oween is over, and as soon as the “holiday” was over, the stores quickly shifted their products and put the helloween stuff on clearance and made room for Christmas items!

I don’t know about you, but when I looked around at the stores this week and noticed all the Christmas decoration, products, and gifts, I thought to myself, This is amazing! There’s hardly a mention of Thanksgiving; these people go right from Halloween to Christmas! That makes the Christmas season two months long!!

Yes, that’s right, folks…two months long! That’s an incredibly long holiday season!

That means that we may be in the stores, see the decorations, hear the music, and want to buy something because, after all, “it’s the Holidays!” Then, as Christmas get closer, we feel that we have to buy something, because it’s Christmas! So, in reality, we may be spending twice as much money as we normally would!

And I think the merchants really like that.

However, most of us don’t have as much money as the sand of the seashore, so we need to be careful about our expenses. Of course, being good stewards of what God has given us requires of to be careful.

So how can you save some money this Holiday season? Well, I’ll tell you some of the things I do.

1. Remember that the Holidays are not about money, but about celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus. His wonderful gift to us is what we appreciate, and we give to others because we have been so freely given to. So, really, it’s ok not to spend yourself into oblivion and put yourself into debt until March; give out of what you have, not what you don’t have. And enjoy the Lord and your family.

2. Keep in mind that moderation is best in all these areas. Just as it’s not good to indulge your taste buds constantly, you don’t need to go hog-wild over décor. Use what you have.

3. Thrift stores are GREAT places for decorations! My daughter Kathryn is a professional thrift store shopper (not really, but it sounds good!), and she is also a tremendous decorator. She tells me that she gets all her décor – I mean ALL – at her local thrift stores. There’s a certain joy when you find something nice for an excellent price.

4. Be moderate with baking. Remember there will be a ton of sweets during this time of year; you don’t need to add to it by making another ton. Enjoy Thanksgiving pies and cookies, and Christmas candy, but do not enjoy them for the next two months, or you will wear them!

5. Plan carefully before you buy your presents. Taking a little bit of time every day to think about what to get for who may save you a LOT of money.

6. Shop around! Once you decide what to get for who, look for a good buy on that item. Stores make the most money on impulse buys; don’t let it be money out of your pocket.

7. Shop online, either on Ebay, Craigslist, or Amazon. You can avoid almost all impulse buys by simply not going into the store!

8. Save money on postage by using drop-shipping. I have learned that many companies will wrap items for you and send them directly to your recipient, keeping you from having to pay postage twice! Postage can be a major killer if you have family you like to send things to, like me! Also, since storage space for presents is an issue, I like to have things sent directly. It has saved me a lot of hassle in my Holidays!

9. Visit some thrifty sites, like Money Saving Mom, or Living on a Dime. These places can save you boodles of money by giving you a heads-up on great sales and posting useful coupons, etc. Even when it’s not a Holiday, these sites are very helpful!

10. Make your own home into a Holiday Haven. A few candles, soft music, and clear counters go a long way to making your place a Happy Holiday House, if not a hint of Holiday Heaven! Not only will you and your family enjoy the holidays more by enjoying your own home more, it can also save you money - you can curb the itch to run around if your home is happy and pleasant.

Enjoy your Holidays, dear ones, and keep the debt monster out of your purse!

Rolling on toward Jesus’ birthday…

The Man I Never Knew...

2011-11-10T22:21:00.001-08:00

“Don’t you worry about me, Mom, I’ll be back,” Eddie smiled at his mother and straightened – actually, tilted – his lieutenant’s cap while his mother and little sister looked on. His mother frowned, knowing that her firstborn son was headed back out to war, even if he did call it “a cushy job.” It was all the same to her – war.

Giving his mother a kiss and his sister a playful squeeze, Eddie strode out the door, letting the screen slam behind him. His mother winced at the ominous sound, and she bit her trembling lip.

Yes, his navigator’s job on the PBY was a cushy job, compared to flying the Burma-India hump. He had many missions over the hump, and had just finished a brief time of leave to visit his family before he headed out to the Pacific. This time, he was navigating a plane to rescue downed pilots.

He arrived in Iwo Jima in July and quickly set up camp. Soon, he wrote a letter home, “The sand here is black, but fine. Our tents are on the top of one of the mountains overlooking the airstrip.” Again, he reassured his mother, “don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine.”

When Eddie and his crew reported for duty the 13^th of August, they received word that a pilot had gone down in the Sea of Japan. Within minutes, their unarmed PBY and their two escort P-51s were in the air, headed for the coordinates they had been given.

What happened next has been the subject of conjecture for the past fifty years. It is a known fact that the PBY found no pilot or wreckage in the area they were told to go to; the escort planes must have gone ahead in search of him, thinking perhaps they had been given incorrect information. Regardless of what happened, by the time they got back to the PBY, it was down, sinking quickly, and surrounded by burning fuel.

Eddie was never coming home.

Word reached his sister and parents not long after the war was over. Usually a very reserved and quiet man, Eddie’s father immediately went down to the basement in hopes that no one would hear his loud sobs. His mother went right to her room, while his sister stood frozen in the kitchen. The wails, sobs, and cries coming from the basement pierced her soul. She would never be the same again, and neither would her parents.

This story was told to me personally by the young girl, who is my mother. Eddie is the uncle I never knew. Her brother, Eddie, was shot down only two days before the war was over, and it affected her – all of us - the rest of our lives.

Eddie never got to finish his engineering degree at Purdue University. He never got to rub noses with his own baby. Once he went overseas, he never again got to enjoy American soil. He gave all so we could be free.

To those who have given so much for our country, I know that “Thank you” could never really be enough, but it is still spoken with a heartfelt gratitude and reverence for your sacrifice.

To all veterans and their families….thank you.

Orange Dreams

2011-11-10T11:23:00.001-08:00

What a cute little place!

The other day, a dear fellow took us out to lunch at this cute little place in the fruit growing region of The Orange Works is a converted orange packing place amidst acres and acres of orange groves. It's a really beautiful restaurant that is only open from 11am to 4pm - just a lunch place - with a very sparse but delicious sandwich menu. Most of us ordered the tri-tip sandwich, a slow-roasted marinated beef on a monster bun! The specialty garlic sauce brought out the flavor of the meat, and the meal came with a bag of chips, a soda, and their daily special flavor ice cream. That day just happened to be orange or lemon ice cream, so I chose the orange. It was just like an orange dreamsicle, with a little bit of pulp! Yum!

Now I'm hungry again!

May your blessings outweigh your burdens, and your burdens be rolled onto Jesus, dear ones!

When You Are Tired...

2011-11-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is the way I feel sometimes!

"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

-Sir Winston Churchill

Rest when you need to, but never lose your vigilance on the home front. Keep rolling on for Jesus, dear ones!

The Human Icicle

2011-11-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

This is nothin' compared to how I felt this morning!!

Just in case you think life on the road is all peaches ‘n cream, allow me to lay that myth to rest. One way in which living in a converted bus is different than living in a home is plainly obvious in the shower.

To start with, all of our plumbing is under the floor of the bus, and that means it is neither heated nor cooled. It is merely outdoor temperature. Our water heater can only heat the shower water so many degrees warmer than the water going into it. So, that makes the shower frustratingly hot in the summer, and cold in the winter.

Today, another dynamic was added: having to greatly conserve water because we’re running on the tank. Now, our onboard tank hold 100 gallons of water, which gets us through a whole day’s worth of showers for 6 people plus one load of laundry. That’s not bad. And that usually works fine until we get to our destination where we can hook up to a water source…unless something happens and we don’t make it to our destination, like last night.

Everything was going fine until my husband, Iron Stomach Raub, got sick…terribly sick. The odd thing is, in all the years I’ve known him (which is about thirty-three!) he’s NEVER gotten sick like that. He’s gotten sick in other ways, but not stomach sick. Unfortunately, he’s the only driver of this mess, and so we didn’t make it to our destination. Instead, we spent the night in a Walmart parking lot.

That means that the water which was slated to last for a day has to last for an undetermined amount of time.

But, back to the shower.

This morning, I had to take a shower that used about 1 to 2 gallons of water.

But to complicate matters, it was cold last night, about 31 degrees. And our shower room has no heat.

I estimate my water temperature to be about 50-60 degrees, and the shower room air temperature to be about the same, but the floor of the shower room was about 40 degrees. Add to that, the fact the condensation builds up inside the rooftop vent (35 degrees) and drips down on my back (no longer 98.6 degrees) because there’s only 2 feet worth of space in the shower room. Yikes!

I think I was an icicle when I got out.

But I succeeded in only using my allotted amount of water!

Hopefully, My Beloved will be better soon…(like, in the next few hours??) and we can roll along.

They may look innocent, but...

2011-11-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

See that cement post on the left? It's not as innocent as it seems!

We got hung up today trying to get the bus into a tight spot to get fuel on our way out of town. We didn't know the cement post was there until we ran into it, but run into it we did! I thought it was funny how about half a dozen men came out of nowhere, swarmed around and offered their opinions about what to do. It was quite a scene; I imagine it probably made some of those guys' day to help us out. (Excitement is hard to come by in Albany!) Thankfully, with prayer and a lot of fancy maneuvering on my husband's part, and we were on our way again. It'll take some buffing to get the blue scrape marks off the side of the bus, but it should come out.

Off we go to Southern California!

Keep rolling on for Jesus, dear ones!

Pumpkin & Spice & Everything Nice!

2011-10-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

If you look really closely, you can see the Emergency Exit sign! If I drink all of this tonight, I'll need that exit! lol

Here in Oregon, the days are getting shorter, the evenings cozier, and the mochas are calling. Sharon gave me a wonderful pumpkin spice candle, which spices up the evenings. Add to that a delicious hot drink, and you have an instant cozy evening.

The lighting is not real good, but the sign behind my husband is a sign of giving thanks to the Lord!

It was quite an opportunity to present our ministry, sing and preach (my husband! lol) at a church near Portland on Wednesday. It is a storefront church, which is near and dear to our heart. Everyone was so gracious to us, and kind. If half the people who say they will pray for us really do, then we're very blessed.

Keep your days full of spice by keeping on serving Jesus, dear ones!

Free E-Book!

2011-10-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Something for your homeschool!

I am a bit new to the Charlotte Mason style of home education, but what I've seen so far I really like. I found a really good web site, Homeschooling Down Under, and it seems to be full of all sorts of really good ideas. I especially think it is great to have someone from New Zealand who has a vision to create a special homeschooling space just for her own people.

You can download their free e-book, which is a geography textbook written by Mason revised in 1925. Elementary Geography, Book 1 was written to introduce young children to the study of Geography in a step by step, reasonable and interesting manner. Even though my youngest is 8, this book has been a great read-aloud!

Keep the homeschool fires going, folks!

Free E-Book!

2011-10-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

Something for your homeschool!

Keep the homeschool fires going, folks!

Watch out for those low sinks!

2011-10-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

We passed a few very strange creatures in a field! I think they're baby llamas!!

It was an uneventful Sunday here in Oregon, where we need to extend our time while my husband has some very important dental work done. On our way to church this morning, we enjoyed the beautiful changing leaves and crisp fall weather. There were also some odd sights that made us smile, like baby llamas!

This buddy keeps those baby llamas in line...

Of course, we know who's REALLY in charge!

We were enthusiastically greeted by church folks as soon as we entered the door! It was quite a blessing and an encouragement to all of us. There was such a positive air in the church, and excitement about the things of God. It was apparent by the signs that were plastered all over the walls:

At church, we were greeted by a sign that has the greatest message about the greatest Pewrson!

It's wonderful to know that we serve a God that can do ANYTHING! Just like the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "For nothing is impossible with God." Mary's response is mine, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy will."

Here's a strange thing we often see on the west coast: unisex bathrooms!

After church, we stopped at a burger joint to feed the hungry masses. While I was there, I noticed the unisex restroom (yikes!). I don't know about those low sinks with the really strong smelling soap!

Keep rolling on for Jesus, dear ones!

Created For a Purpose

2011-10-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

God never made us to fit in, He made us to STAND OUT!

Keep rolling on for Jesus!

2011-10-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

What an exciting day! The Lord worked out the details that we were able to video shoot another part of the ministry presentation of my husband for the ministry! And, to top it off, we were also able to shoot a video for the trailer for my new book!

Without Warning: Overcoming the Sudden Disappearance of Our Second Generation, Based on exclusive interviews with the young people who survived!

is getting closer to being finished. I'm almost done with the manuscript, and will be sending it to the proofreaders within the next few weeks. I'm really excited about the prospect of it being done, and out to many young parents who could use the information the Survivors have.

Please keep praying for wisdom and guidance as we continue to work on this project. Thank you!

Jonathan & Brooke!

2011-10-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

I doubt anyone out there doesn't know by now, but just in case there's someone who's been in a remote corner of the world and hasn't seen a computer in awhile, here are some pictures of my son, Jonathan, and his fiance, Brooke!!

I was going to put up just one picture, but I liked all these so well that I had to put all of them on.

We are thrilled for them, and thankful to the Lord for His working in their lives.

Interestingly enough, I've been praying specifically for (and writing to) Brooke for years, long before they began courting. I look back now and see God's handiwork and am amazed at His wonderful workings.

The wedding date is set for December 10! Lord willing, it will be a tremendous time to have all my family together again for the first time in years!!

Their plan is to settle in Mississippi for awhile, and then Jon will be, Lord Willing, continuing to prepare for ministry as a missionary bush pilot. Please pray for Jon & Brooke as they prepare for their new life together!

Ministry Update

2011-10-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's been three rainy, dismal weeks up here in the northwest. Unfortunately, the humidity is not good for my husband's Lyme disease symptoms; arthritis and pain is his constant companion. Thank you all for praying for him and his health, though we continue to seek God for strength.

The military projects here are stymied by difficulty in securing a chaplain that will work with us. We haven't been given a "no," but we haven't been given a "yes," either. Perhaps it's just the weather, but perhaps there's spiritual opposition.

There are plenty of workers who are willing to minister on base, if only we can gain permission. To this end, my husband has been developing another outreach tool, a seminar on Biblical Resolution of Worry and Stress, which we feel will be very applicable to the military in their current deployment and battle status.

And continue to pray that we will be effective while we go on base and try to talk to folks about the Lord. The vast majority of people have a tremendous need and don't even know it.

Thank you!

What's an Educated Woman to Do?

2011-10-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

What's an educated woman to do?

I've been reading a very interesting book by Charlotte Mason, an educator from the 1800s. Charlotte was actually the original home education proponent, turning the hearts of the parents to the children, and encouraging parents, especially mothers, to use their talents to educate their children at home. Her writings are refreshing, insightful, and encouraging. I've been tremendously challenged and blessed by what I've read so far.

Here's an interesting quote I read earlier:

We are waking up to our duties and in proportion as mothers become more highly educated and efficient, they will doubtless feel the more strongly that the education of their children during the first six years of life is an undertaking hardly to be entrusted to any hands but their own. And they will take it up as their profession - that is, with the diligence, regularity, and punctuality which men bestow on their professional labours.

Looking back now on all that's transpired in the past one hundred and ten years or so, we see that Mason was perhaps a little idealistic, ready to believe in all that is good in people. Really, we can't fault her, but it's sad to see that just the opposite has happened - mothers have become more highly educated and efficient and instead of benefiting their families with their talents, they have taken them and given their best energies for the purse, or the pocketbook, or the self-esteem.

What's an educated woman to do? Give of her best to her Master, and give her very best years, talents, and labors to her family. What better reward can there be for her labors than that her children would rise up and call her blessed?

Invest in her children!

Free E-Book!

2011-09-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Mom, you've got to get this book! You will LOVE it!" my oldest daughter exclaimed over the phone. Her dear husband recently got her a Kindle, and she and I have been swapping great titles, sharing stories of good - and bad - reads.

I wasn't real fond of her previous recommendation, but I think it's just me (I'm a bit odd when it comes to reading material), so I was a little unsure of this one. Once I downloaded How To Live On Twenty-Four Hours a Day, and began to read it, however, I found it to be a really interesting, as well as helpful book.

The setting is in the mid 1800s, so some of the examples are quite far-fetched (and of course it was written for the working man, not for the homeschooling mom), but the principles are timeless. So far, I have had a lot of food for thought from this little gem. In fact, since implementing some of the changes in my life, I've accomplished more with less effort. This I thought to be impossible, since my days are extremely packed, but if it could help me, it can probably help you.

Go ahead and download your own copy, and let us know how you like it!

Life in a Nutshell

2011-09-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Skies are blue, and road is gray,
God is worthy
Every day!

God's Will - Nothing more.

God's Will - Nothing less.

God's Will - Nothing else!

Keep Rolling on, dear ones!

Rolling on...

2011-09-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Looking into the sunshine!

It's been a long and busy week, full of good fellowship and many opportunities. And since I'm standing on the eve of another busy week, I'm going to fill you in on things and move on.

The weekend before last we were at Mountain Home, Idaho, home of the Mountain Home Air Force Base. We were able to make some good contacts, some folks who would like us to come back to help them reach onto the base. We also handed out some Military Editions of John/Romans at a huge fair!

During that weekend, I was also able to get another survey for my upcoming book, for which I am very thankful!

Last week, we stopped by The Dalles, Oregon, and had a meeting at a church there, and I picked up a few more surveys. The Lord has blessed, and I have about 52 in all now.

I also had a wonderful opportunity to speak to a Ladies' Group on Thursday night, as well as to another ladies' group just this past Sunday morning! For both, I spoke on the same topic, one of the patterns I see emerging as a result of my survey. It is a blessing to me to see God working, and I think it was a blessing to the ladies, as well.

Soon the Rolling Raub Ranch will be moving on, headed toward a military project in Canada! Please pray for continued safety, and especially that we will be used of the Lord to accomplish His purpose.

A cute little friend came to visit us!

Stopping for a little break

Ready to Run?

2011-09-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING....(drumroll, please)

The Family Fun and Fitness 5K!

This fall, we've scheduled it for October 15, 2011. Everyone who's anyone is invited to participate, right in your own neighborhood. Our desire is to get families to start doing some sort of exercise together, with the goal of walking/running a 5K together.

Our family did this last year, in May, and I had purchased exercise shirts for all. It was a great way to motivate young people to get out and try to get fit.

This year, we're doing it again! Some will walk, while most will run, and some will do both, but we'll all have some fun.

Why don't you join us?

Googling "how to train for my first 5K" will get you started. Put your comments here to let us know you will be participating, and we'll all moan, groan, and laugh together!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JASON!

2011-09-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sharon baked the cake, and Lydia and Johanna decorated it! Doesn't it look fantastic? They did such a good job.

Our youngest son had his 8^th birthdayyesterday! He got all sorts of goodies,and now he is ready for any adventure!!

Happy Birthday, Jason!!

Yikes!

2011-08-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

We stopped to fuel up on our way out to the west coast. Ouch! But God always provides. We had a church take us on for support on Sunday!!

But God Meant it For Good

2011-08-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

One of the girls had just washed the bus before this picture, hence the puddle and cleaner.

We should have known we were in for it right from thebeginning.

When we tried to pull out of the pastor’s yard with our38,000 pound bus, the huge rear tires dug huge pits into the mud, and the bussank deeper and deeper into the holes.

We were stuck.

No problem, wethought. We’ll get a tractor to pull us out. It wasn’t until 5:30 that the tractor showed up, but thankfully thefella had no trouble at all getting us out, and soon we were on the roadagain.

We drove for several uneventful hours through Nebraska ,finally stopping at a Walmart. Myhusband and I got out and instantly heard a piercing sssssssssss coming from the drive axles. It was a huge air leak in our brakes and suspensionsystem. A quick glance at the bus toldus that the vehicle was listing terribly to the right.

My husband decided that he could see the situation better byday, so we boondocked in the parking lot for the night, running our generatorfor power and relying on the 100 gallon water tank, which was probably only 50gallons by now.

It’s times like these that I go to bed feeling so spoiled,since even a breakdown in the bus, unless it’s the generator, hardly makes adifference in my life processes.

So this morning, my husband declared that the bus could notbe driven to our next destination, that we were going to need to have someonefix it. Now, normally he does his ownmechanic-ing, but the space he needed to get into was too small, and the busneeded to be put up on some sort of lift. That’s not something we carry around with us.

Amazingly, the Lord directed my husband to call someone fromhis database that lives in this city to ask for a mechanic, and we were put intouch with the pastor of a church here. I was doing my usual tasks when, before I knew it, My Beloved told methat the Lord had worked out a solution to our problem, and we were able tolimp the bus over to a shop where it would be fixed. Praise the Lord!

And if that wasn’t enough, the church very kindly put us upin a motel during the repair. And ifTHAT wasn’t enough, the pastor asked us to sing, and gave my husband theopportunity to present our ministry and preach!!

As we entered the church, My Beloved introduced us and toldsomeone, “we’re really not supposed to be here.”

The lady replied, “Oh yes, you are!” God knows why and how to direct Hispeople.

I’m just so glad to be in His service, so that then mytroubles can be put to good use!

The devil meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Praise His Name!

Day 3 At Kathy's!

2011-08-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

This was my third day at Kathy's, Monday. It was a busy day, but I think my most favorite time was the time I "had" to keep an eye on the baby for awhile. I and my camera had a lot of fun!

I started out this morning with a 2 1/2 mile run past thecemetery, then down a new path to the right, rather than to the left. Iwas very disappointed that I didn't hear my favorite bird this time, the onewith the piercing call, but I heard another bird caw-ing very loudly. Canyou guess what it was?

I decided that the path I've been running on is probablyactually a motocross or 4-wheeler path, based on the way it was made. This particular leg of the journey was built with medium sized rocks atthe bottom, smaller rocks poured in between, a generous layer of dirt, and somedrainage pipes. Any rock which was outstanding (get it??) had a coatingof bright orange paint, so no one would kill themselves on it. And insome places, there were markings similar to a paved road: an orange stripe downthe middle and two white stripes on either side.

Anyway, I got a little further back than I intended, so my23 minute run turned into a 33 minute run. Not bad, though, since theweather was nicely cool.

By the time I got to Kathy's after my shower with my wet hair, hot tea, andsausage on a small plate, the kids were eating their breakfast. Would youbelieve I actually found people who eat slower than me?? I know it'sreally hard to believe, but it's true nonetheless. I showed up after theystarted, and they were still stirring their soggy cereal around when I was done.

After breakfast, I hit the dishes again, making a furtherdent in the pile. I also put on some laundry, folded, and put away someclothes, too. If I keep folding and putting away 2 loads for every oneload I put on, and if I put on about 4 loads a day, I can catch up by tomorrowafternoon. *whew*

Today is Kathy's errand day, so we loaded up all the humansand went to McD's, but not before Emmy reached over, got ahold of a tear inMatthew's pants, and widened it way beyond belief. Needless to say, wehad to stop by Goodwill and pick up another pair of pants for him, so hewouldn't be a prince dressed in rags!

Anyway, we went to McD's, ate, and Kathy & I set upCommand Central while the kids played in the play place. We both had ourKindles & computers, and when one program was coming up, we used theKindle; while the Kindle was downloading stuff, we used the computers. Busy, busy! Lots of fun talking about different books, like the oneshe got, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and the one I got, Holy Bible KJV optimizedfor Kindle. I was so thrilled that it actually goes to chapter and verseif I want it to, rather than searching by some obscure location number.

After our electronics session, she dropped me off to get myhair done, while she fed the baby and went to Walmart. At the CostCutters, I had an eyebrow waxing (she did an ok job, but there are strays I'llneed to get when I get home) and a cut. She did a very thoroughjob...perhaps a bit too thorough. At least I know it will grow out. ;)

I walked to Walmart and got some birthday presents for Emmy,came home, did more dishes and laundry, and started preparing dinner. Thekids and I went out to the garden, and I picked beans while they trampled them. It was quite harrowing for some of the plants. I didn't stay long,just long enough to get the beans we needed for dinner, then we went back upand I fried chicken breasts, and cooked green beans while Kathy made somenoodles disguised as rice. It was really good, though.

My evening was spent doing more dishes and more laundry, andI took the kids out to the playground and pushed them on swings (they were jetstaking off from aircraft carriers, etc.). I chased them around forawhile, and ended up in the sandbox with them. Lots of fun!

I was also able to spend some time holding Luke while he wasawake. He has no control over his eyes yet, so when he accidentally findsmy face, he looks at me like I came from some other galaxy and then looks away. Really cute, though.

Then I helped the kids put all the toys away, did morelaundry, and kissed them all good night. All of which brings me to now. *whew* I'm about ready for bed!

Kathy keeps saying over and over how much she appreciatesall the help, and having me here. I can see that having three smallchildren is quite a daunting prospect, and I'm sure it's a relief to have anextra hand around for a few days. It's been my pleasure to help her out. I can't help but think of all the many times she helped me after I had each of my own babies.

Day 2 at Kathy's...Sunday!

2011-08-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

My second day at Kathy's was Sunday. She's the pastor's wife of Northwoods Baptist Church in Escanaba, and her husband, Matt, is the pastor. He is an excellent preacher, and they have a wonderful, growing church! But for my part, I was glad to be with the kids and help out. This is an adaptation of the letter I sent to my family.

I sure did enjoy a wonderful day in the Lord’s House. Matt's an excellent preacher, and I got a lot out of both of hismessages.

This morning I got up, dressed and went to Kathy's house toget my shower and have breakfast. Little Matt, who rides the bus with his dad,the driver, was already dressed and Matt was out the door. For breakfast,I had a sausage, a Fiber One Bar, and a banana. Yum!

I really want to help Kathy by cleaning up a lot, so after Iate, I did up a dishpan of that mound of dishes and put on a load of laundry,then did my hair. Really, I didn't do much with the kids to help Kathy,but I did clean up a bit. I had forgotten that they always have food atSunday school, so I had a second breakfast of half a spicy breakfast burrito(and a cup of coffee! No Stevia...) there. Bro Christianson taughtan excellent lesson on a brief overview of doctrines taught in the first 10chapters of Genesis. Did you know that virtually every Bible doctrine andevery principle for living is laid down in the first ten chapters of Genesis? Amazing! I also thought how amazing it was that Adam was willing toleave fellowship with God for companionship with Eve. It really goes toshow how relationships can affect us - for good, and bad. (Of course, inAdam's case, it was bad.)

Matthew preached on friendship, being a friend of God. It was very good. I got a doubleblessing of being able to watch the little buddy while Kathy played piano. He is so adorable!!

While we waited for the bus to come back, I did another hugestack of dishes (I'm slowly whittling that pile down), and put on another loadof laundry, folding and putting away a bunch, too. Most of the laundry isclean, but needs folded and put away, so I'm working on that pile, too.

Then it was Pizza Hut for lunch, but we didn't get theretill 2, and there was only one waitress, so we didn't get our food till almost3!!! My sausage was looooong gone by that time. I had one piece ofpizza, and took Emmy to the bathroom, so by the time I got back, the pizza wasgone. There were bread sticks, but I didn't want to load up oncarbs.

I came home, took a nap, and called my family (hooray!!!),then went to Kathy's, did another stack of dishes and load of laundry. Emmy contributed to the mess by wetting herself, so I took care of that,too. Busy, busy!!

Two peanut butter sandwiches later, we went to church. We celebrated the Lord's Supper - how precious it is to remember thedeath of our Lord Jesus! What an incredible picture we have in the breadand juice being broken, crushed, and becoming part of our very being throughits sacrifice! I hope I never get over the wonder of it all - and then wewent to preachin'! This time, it was an excellent message on walking inthe Spirit. How essential it is to walk in the Spirit, and how I long tobe right in step with God.

We talked for a long time afterwards, and most of my timewas trying to make sense out of the political smorgasbord one ofthe brothers was laying out. I got lost about 1/12 of the way into histalk, but what I did understand was very interesting.

We went to Culver's for "snack," with most folks(Matt, David, Kathy & the kids) getting ice cream while I got a salad andcheese curds...and a hot tea! Lots of cream! It was really good.

Now I'm ready for bed. There's a cool breeze blowing,so I think it will be great weather for a run tomorrow morning. I'mreally looking forward to it, since I'm all cramped up from sitting for a week. I've got a terrible headache right now, so I took ibuprofen, which I hopetakes effect soon, and I'm going to bed.

My Trip To Kathy's, Day 1

2011-08-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

The Lord allowed me to fly up to Escanaba, Michigan for a few days to help Kathy with her newborn baby, and get to visit for a bit! I had a tremendous time, and while I was gone, I wrote detailed emails to the family about what I did. I will be posting some of those letters for a few days, and some pictures, about my trip.

Right now I'm riding in a shuttle bus, a white stuffy thingloaded with soggy, smelly people, on my way from the Iron Mountain Airport toEscanaba. The sun has just set, and I'm getting tired. I've beensitting in these cramped seats all day, it seems to me, going from one plane toanother, then to the bus. But it's been a really neat trip.

When you all left me at the airport, I took my brightpurple bag and checked in right away, and then went right in to security. It took just a few minutes to get through security, but I must admit,it's hard to look like you know what you're doing when you've never been therebefore, and never traveled by yourself before. It's not difficult,though, since I'm so used to being in unfamiliar places.

I got to my gate and then waited for a while, then boardedwhat I think is a DC-9. Nice, comfy jet. Takeoff wastremendous, and I don't think I will ever get over the wonder of flying. Would you believe that all the houses and all look just like Google Earth? I couldn't believe it!! We flew up above the lower cloudlayer, and then there was a higher cloud layer, which was completely gorgeouswith its anvil tops and puffy cumulus piles. The pilot carefully woundthe plane around these fluffy obstructions, and maneuvered us to Detroit. It seemed like only a few minutes, and we were back on the ground.

At the Detroit terminal, I walked to my next gateand discovered that my flight had been cancelled!! Thankfully, Iwasn't the only one, so I chatted with another passenger who was also headedfor Escanaba, and discovered that I was to go to another gate. Of course,that gate was all the way across the airport, at lease it seemed to be. On the way, I walked on a flat conveyor belt, almost like anescalator, but it stays level, propelling folks along a very long hallway. I estimated that by walking on it, I could go somewhere around 6 or 7 mph- faster than I run! It was a really neat feeling to be going that fast,while only walking.

I got to the gate, just to be sent back tothe original gate! Aargh! So, I got treated to anotherwalk on the moving sidewalk, and arrived at the gate with just enoughtime to grab a sandwich, wolf it down and use the bathroom before boardingtime. Of course, they didn't board right away, so I waited for a bit, butnot long.

My next flight was uneventful as well, although I went toIron Mountain instead. I was completely amazed by the view of the groundfrom the air. I don't think I could ever get tired of it. I was countingpools, when I saw a large field, and what must have been a radio controlledairplane flying around!! It must have been HUGE, because we were at least1000 feet up, and I could still see it plainly. Or is it plane-ly?? :)

That brings us up to now. We should be getting toEscanaba soon. Kathy asked me if I could sing tomorrow, so I'm going todo He Loves Me Like I Was His Only Child....by myself!! Hopefully it willbe a blessing; it’s one of my favorite songs.

I think I see the lights of Escanaba, so I'm going to go!

No More Nightmares!

2011-08-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have a recurring nightmare.

I find myself, in my dream, suddenly asked to come forwardin church and sing with the rest of the family. (That’s not the nightmare part) As I mount the platform, I look down at my feet and notice, to my greatfear and dread, that I HAVE NO SHOES ON!! To my complete horror, I look out on a sea of faces – all of whom arenow looking at my bare feet as well – and I’m frozen with one singularthought. How do I get out of here?!? Mythundering heart jolts my body alert.

Another horrifying dream I have brings back the old marchingband days.

For some odd reason, I find myself suddenly on the fieldwith the rest of the band, standing at attention ready to start the show. Show?!? What show??!!? My mind shrieks. Two seconds later, the drum majorette is clappingand yelling, and I have no idea whatI’m supposed to do. I jerk awake in acold sweat.

I have yet another frequent dream which troubles me.

With no warning whatsoever, I find myself standing in thehall at East Pennsboro High School, students jostling here, there,everywhere. I’m standing stock still inthe middle of the mayhem, with a paper in my hand. It’s my class schedule. I find myself back at high school, and It’stime to go to the next class. I lookdown at the schedule, and it’s too blurry to read. I squint, turn my head from side to side, andeven try holding the little paper farther away, but with no success. I can’t read the dumb thing, and I’m going tobe late for class.

All of these dreams scream one thing: I hate being caughtunprepared. Unfortunately, it hashappened to me time and again, hence the dreams.

I determined that this school year will not catch meunprepared.

Having seven children, it’s easy to go into a school yearcompletely unprepared. There have been afew years when I would look at the calendar and, realizing with horror that itwas mid-August, I would announce, “Oh, no! we’ve got to start school TOMORROW!!” I remember frantically digging through the pile of books, still in thesame place as I left them a few months before, looking for this year’s books,wondering if there was anything I should have ordered but didn’t.

There have even been a few times that one of my childrendidn’t start school with the others, much to my own shame.

Hopefully, this school year will not catch youunprepared. Here are some last-minuteorganization tips for busy homeschoolers:

1. First, you need to take some time out of yourbusy summer schedule to check on each of your childrens’ books for the nextyear. Do you have everything youneed? Should you order something? If so, getting to it right away will reallyreduce the stress load later.

2. Make a list, with each student’s name at thetop, and subjects along the left hand side. Then list the books you have already, and notice what blanks youhave. Put a star next to those, and prayabout how to fill those blanks. Spendsome time looking through catalogs, researching online, or simply talking withyour husband to see what would be best for your student and your family. Then, place your orders!

3. Next, work on a school schedule. First, you need to schedule your time, thenyou may want to make a schedule for your kids’ time. Making a chore schedule will help around thehouse, too. You can schedule your choresand your kids’ chores.

4. Then, pray about and decide on your school startingdate & your target ending date (understand that it probably won’t happenthat way, but it may give you something to shoot for).

5. You will also want to take some time to becomefamiliar with the subject matter your kids are going to be learning this year. Look at each child’s teacher’s manuals, writedown things which you may need to gather, print, or collect. Then, set aside a time to gather, print, orcollect the necessary items.

6. Take just a few minutes to check on yoursupplies. You may need crayons, glue,paper, notebooks, rulers, calculators, etc. etc. etc. etc.

7. Finally, it would be a good idea to organizeeach student’s space, or better yet, allow them to get their own space ready. Make sure each child has an appropriatecontainer for his books, dvds, etc. Ofcourse, this may go without saying, but it’s a good idea to make sure lastyear’s mess is cleaned up first!

Homeschooling does not have to be a nightmare. Even if you’re just starting your preparationnow (you’re in good company – I have some things I need to order tonight, ifpossible), you can still be ready in time, and start your school year relaxed,prepared, and joyful. With prayer,preparation, and a lot of grace, you will be ready to start your next schoolyear!

HE’S FINALLY HERE!!!!!

2011-07-30T20:20:00.001-07:00

We welcome little Luke Gottlieb Siegwart to our happy family!!!! He was born to Matthew and Kathryn today a little after noon, and weighed in at 8lbs, 9oz and is 21 inches long!

Matthew and Emily are thrilled to have a baby brother! (with Grandma Siegwart)

Praise the Lord both mother and son are doing fine!!!! Thank you all for your prayers.

Tired, but happy mommy with her newborn son

Where God’s Presence is Felt

2011-07-30T09:25:00.001-07:00

I could feel it in the air. It was almost visible, but yet unseen. It was the presence of God, and I felt like taking my shoes off.

In a little country church, there was a revival meeting. But it was more than a meeting, it was the drawing of hearts closer to Himself, the sensing of His presence. He was evident in the hearts of His people, their testimonies bearing witness to His kind, gracious, yet mighty working Hand.

I could sense the cohesiveness of the local body, their love for their pastor and his family, and their unflagging devotion to the Lord. It didn't stop when the services were over, either. Each individual I spoke with glowed with the goodness of God, speaking in hushed tones, often with tears, of His kindness to them. I was thankful for every evening spent in fellowship with His people.

It hasn't always been like this, however. When we first began coming to this church a number of years ago, there was a different pastor and family. I've seen it time and again – the church always takes on the flavor of the pastor's family, particularly the pastor's wife. If she is cool and detached, then the whole body will be merely a professional organization. If she enjoys activities, then the whole body will be a social group. But if she truly, deep down loves God and His people, then the whole body will be a loving, caring, living unit…a body, a bride.

Could it be that our relationship with God is strengthened by our relationships with others?

Of course, we begin with God. Everything begins with God, and having a right relationship to Him. But if our interactions amongst the bretheren (or sisters) are purely surfacy and we do not truly build relationships, then we miss out on the tremendous blessings of seeing God work wondrously in the local body as a whole.

The previous pastor's wife of this little country church set the example by coming into church minutes before the service and leaving right after the service. She never took the time to build relationships in the church, hence the people never took the time to build relationships with each other, unless it was a few cliques here or there. Were her relationships outside the church?

We build our relationships somewhere. Either they are amongst God's people, or among the people of the world. Consciously deciding to build relationships in the church creates an iron-sharpening-iron experience, and from that springs a deep, lasting unity.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." Psalm 133

I long to go barefoot through life, looking for and sensing the presence of God. How desperately we need Him in our churches!

…and in our homes…

Lord Willing, after Kathy has her baby (!!!!), we'll take up the subject of building relationships in the home.

High Protein Smoothie Recipe

2011-07-27T08:05:00.001-07:00

While we wait for Kathy to have her baby (poor Kath!), let's make sure we take care of ourselves. One thing I always try to do is to eat right, since I'm the one who is ultimately responsible for my body. I also know that before long, I'll be flying up to help Kathy for a few days, so I need to take care of myself so that I can be a help to her.

Since I'm hypoglycemic, I have to be very careful of what and when I eat, especially in the mornings. My daughter Sharon sees me eating…again…in the morning and exclaims, "Mom! How do you do that and not weigh as much as an elephant!! I am SO jealous!" Seriously, though, I need to be careful to eat before I get hungry, because most mornings I don't even feel hungry, I feel terrible.

One of the best things for me either in the morning or as an afternoon snack, is a protein smoothie. Here is a recipe of a smoothie I often make as we drive down the road, because everybody knows that the driver needs to keep himself alert and going…and caffeine is not the best way. Now, some of the ingredients may seem very strange, but don't laugh…I get rave reviews from my favorite clients…my family.

High-Protein (Low fat) Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie:

1/3 c non-fat yogurt

1/3 c lowfat cottage cheese

1/3 c low fat milk

1 orange, peeled

Stevia to taste (often 2 packets for us)

1 raw egg (I've been using raw eggs in my smoothies for about 30 years, and neither I nor my family have gotten sick once!)

1 tsp vanilla

Blend it all together and test it to make sure it is sweet enough. Then increase the speed of the blender and add about 6 ice cubes, one at a time. The result is a tremendously delicious, healthy snack that really carries you through! My family raves over the taste, all the ingredients are natural, and there is no added sugar. It is about 250-300 calories, and about 20 grams of protein. You can vary it and make it a meal shake by adding oatmeal or some other grain, too. And, strange as it may sound, I also need to add flax oil, for the hypoglycemia. Flax oil is very light and does not alter the taste a bit.

Yum!

If you try it, let me know what you think!

Investing Myself

2011-07-25T08:04:00.001-07:00

I've been visiting with my grandkids over the past two weeks, enjoying my daughter's family. It's been great to be with them again! Unfortunately, we had to leave for some meetings before the baby came, so it was a sad parting…but then again, isn't it always?

The Lord has been so gracious to me yesterday to allow me to hear from all three of my children who are not living at home! Jonathan called in the morning, Stephen in the afternoon, and Kathryn and I texted back and forth in the evening. It is such a blessing to know that each one of them are serving the Lord in their own churches. I do not say that boastfully, because I know they are made out of the same dirt I am…but I'm thankful they are faithful to their churches.

Kathy is expecting baby #3 any day now. She was actually due on the twenty-third, but we are praying that the Lord will allow her to go into labor on her own rather than be induced later this week.

Jonathan has a new job, working outside in the heat in the south. I'm praying that he will stay hydrated and survive; I'm sure his girl is too, since they are planning a wedding!

Stephen works the bus route at his church faithfully, and really enjoys working with kids. Lord willing, we will see him in a week or so, and I'm looking forward to it.

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships; it's the stuff life is made of. Good relationships = good life, bad relationships = bad life. You would think that dedicated Christians would have the very best relationships in the whole universe, but sometimes that simply isn't so. All of us have a sinful nature, and all of us have those fleshly, selfish desires. It is only when we are walking in the Spirit that we are able to truly love like we should.

There is a married couple that I know who were separated, by choice, for about three months. No, the man was not in the military and on a short deployment. It was not even an argument that culminated in a "I'm outta here!" sort of fight. The wife went to spend the summer with her daughter, while the husband, a pastor, had some young pastoral interns stay with him and help him in the ministry. Is there something wrong here? Am I missing something?

These folks are my age, and I can tell you, some couples slow down a little bit, but they don't slow down that much, if you know what I mean! If I was a bettin' Baptist, I'd say something's wrong with the relationship.

I got an email recently from a dear friend whose home is collapsing. The young people are disrespectful, the father works long hours, and the mother is heartbroken. The relationships are non-existent.

Please, people, I beg of you…do something special with those you love today. Don't let your relationships experience neglect, for they are tender plants, and they will wither and die.

I have a houseplant that was given to me by a dear friend years ago. It is the only living thing other than children that will fit in the bus, and I think it's beautiful. Through the years, I've taken care of it, watered it, protected it from heat, and kept it from the cold. After our bus accident, while the bus was being fixed and we were without a place to stay, I took my plant with me everywhere, carrying it at my feet in the van for two months, taking it into the motel, or prophet's rooms, or wherever we happened to land at night. It's dear to me, and I will tell you why.

Long ago, I felt that the plant was representative of my relationship with my dear friend. So every time I water the plant, I pray for her. I take the time to write her letters, and we talk on the phone. The plant is a visible reminder of my friendship with her. As I invest bits of myself into the plant, I invest bits of myself into my friendship.

Let's try to invest ourselves in our loved ones. Don't let your relationships disintegrate.

I will try, Lord Willing, to take some posts and talk about relationship building. I'm definitely open to comments. What do you do to help build your relationships?

A Piece of my Heart

2011-06-28T07:05:00.001-07:00

Our last day in Canada comes with mixed feelings. No matter how much like home a place feels, there really is no country like the United States. We may have our troubles and may be doing some really stupid things, but there is still no more amazing place than the US.

Here in Canada, however, the Independent Baptist churches are in their first generation. To me, it's like going back about twenty or thirty years, to what it was like back in the eighties when I was newly saved. The churches are small, many of them still meeting in storefronts, and the people are devoted to their church, but especially to the Lord. Such a sense of dedication to God as we felt amongst these people!

One dear elderly lady I spoke with told me with tears in her eyes about how good her pastor and family had been to her since the loss of her husband. "They are my salvation," she said simply. "I just don't know what I would have done without them." The pastor and his family pick her up for every service, and make sure her every need is met.

Another pastor and his family, the ones at the church we are staying at right now, is away visiting the pastor's wife's family. They've been gone for almost a week, and of course, we are in the church parking lot. Folks don't realize that we missionaries can see everything going on at a church (and we know the church can see everything that's going on at our motorhome!). It's amazing to see the care of these people for their church and their pastor while they've been away. Yesterday, one lady carefully watered all the flowers on the church's and pastor's property. And then, today, I saw a man walking around with a watering can, checking on all the plants and watering them again!

And then there's the Canadian military. So far as we know, and we've been here several times and talked to hundreds of people, there is no missionary to the Canadian military. As far as Independent missionaries go, there are roughly fifty or sixty missionaries to the American military, but not one to the Canadian military. Thankfully, my husband has been meeting with some pastors near some bases, discussing the need and the possibilities of reaching their bases.

Sunday night after church, my family and I had dinner with a Canadian pastor and his wife. The dear lady spoke tearfully about her son, who spent three years in the Canadian Forces and served alongside troops from the States in Afghanistan. "In a few days, Canada Day will be here, and there are the fireworks. Someone asked my son if he would put them on for them, but he said he couldn't do it. Not yet. He's just not ready yet."

"I never understood," she told me, "how having a loved one in the military affected the entire family. My son came back from Afghanistan a different person. The things he saw, the things he went through, and the things he did…he's different. He will never be the same. And because of what he went through, we're different, too. It has affected us all."

"The first year he was back, on Canada Day, when one of the fireworks exploded, it didn't matter where he was in the house, he would drop to the floor, crying. I would go over to him, rub his back, and say, 'It's ok, honey, it'll pass, it'll pass.' He was so embarrassed, but we understood."

"And then there was the time he had a knee injury and had to stay behind while his unit went to the forward camp. While he was recovering, his unit came under attack, and his battle buddy got killed. My son has never been the same. He knows he should have died, too, and wonders why his friend had to die. It doesn't matter what I say to him, it makes no difference. He still feels that nagging guilt."

"Being a Christian has really helped him a lot, though," she said with a smile. Then her eyes became very serious, she leaned forward and wondered aloud, "What do these folks do who aren't saved? How do they handle such things without a Savior to go to?" Then, just as quickly, she answered her own question. "Well, they don't. The suicide rates and divorce rates among soldiers are the highest ever. They have no help, no support, no one to turn to."

Folks, who will reach these Canadian forces? Who will point them to the Savior who can guide them through all their trials? We can only do so much, but it seems there is always more to do. Pray that the Lord will send forth laborers unto His harvest, for the fields are white!

The wheels of the bus turn faster and faster, taking us back to our homeland. But I think part of our hearts have been left in Canada.

My disciples

2011-06-23T08:02:00.001-07:00

This is a reprint from an article in October of 2006, so you'll notice the kids are much younger! The principle still holds true today, even though they are now 12, 10, and 7. And yes, they are still right with me all the time…and I love it.

I was going about my usual business last week, and I noticed something. It was not an unusual thing I noticed; it was something that happened all the time. It is a normal, everyday occurrence. What I noticed about this thing was something that God was speaking to my heart: I have my very own disciples, my little children.

I went outside to hang out the laundry, and my 7-year old, 5 year-old, and 3 year-old followed me out to play. As soon as I went in, they followed me inside. When I went to the store, they begged to come along. When I go to church, they are following me everywhere, to the point that if I turn around, I often trip on one of them! I must admit, regretfully, that I have often wished they could just "go play by themselves for awhile," so I can get something done. But this past week, as we were at a missions conference and the Lord was working in my heart about the lost around the world, He very gently showed me the little ones in my home.

"These are your disciples," God seemed to say. As I sat in my pew, with the preacher going on and on, I realized what potential I have been ignoring. Here I have with me on a daily basis, a small group of young people completely dedicated to following me in whatever I do. They love me and want to be with me. They want to do what I do, and learn from me. What an opportunity! I can pour good things into their moldable little lives right now that I will never be able to get in later on.

I asked the Lord for forgiveness for taking such a grave responsibility for granted, and asked Him for help to teach and direct them in the right way. I soon had my first test!

Saturday morning, it was time to clean the van. Now, you have to understand a little bit about us to understand the enormity of the task of cleaning the van. We have a large 15 passenger van, and it was extremely dirty on the inside from remnants of our 4 ½ month trip. I had cleaned it a few times during our trip, but it had been awhile, and if you can imagine a family of 8 living out of their van for a few months, you can begin to imagine the disaster which we called home for awhile. It was going to be a big job, and I knew it. This job would only be made bigger and more complicated if I added some small children to it. But I knew that not only did the van need cleaned, but also the children needed to spend some time helping me clean it, so we could work together. They need to learn that work is a daily occurrence.

So, we set out to clean the van. I had four helpers: all the way from the 11 year-old on down. It took all morning, and was lots of work, but in the end, we had a very clean van, and some happy kids! I told them I would give them a few caramels if they worked hard, and they sure did work to get those things! And my, did they enjoy them when they ate them! And what a clean van we have now! I made sure I told everyone how the little ones and I cleaned the van out, and all the big kids, and even Daddy oooo-ed and aaahh-ed over such a clean vehicle! How good that made those little kids feel!

They are learning each and every day. I try to drop little bits of wisdom, and now I am trying to have them work with me as we go about our days. How wonderful it is to serve God by investing of myself in my little ones! They are my disciples.

Being in the way…

2011-06-21T07:51:00.001-07:00

Sitting here in the growing twilight of the late evening in Ontario, I can hardly believe what my heart tells me:

…there's been a new birth, and I got to be the witness of it.

The Canadian military wife had admitted she was not a child of God the other day, and somehow I got the privilege of telling her the Good News of God's merciful forgiveness. As we spoke in the now-empty church nursery, I felt the wrestling of her heart, and I understood her questions. I remembered my own struggles, so many years ago. With overflowing joy, I was able to point her in the direction of God Himself, through Jesus Christ, and help her see Him who loves her so.

Then, after I prayed, she also talked to the Lord. It wasn't dramatic, but it was heartfelt, and she asked the Lord to forgive her of her sins and make her into a new person. What a privilege it is to be present in the birthing room!

But it didn't really hit me until about five minutes after she was gone –

Now I know why the Devil has been fighting this trip into Canada.

There was a Samaritan woman to be reached, and he didn't want her to enter the Kingdom.

My mind reeled. I've been waking up day after day here in Canada, praying, Lord, what do you have for us here? What is it you want to do? There had been many hindrances - adversaries, as Paul called them. Paperwork issues, mechanical issues, and other things were set to prevent us from going into Canada. Why? I wondered. Now I knew.

I, being in the way, the Lord led me…and I'm so thankful He did! Perhaps some of you have been praying about our excursion into Canada. Thank you for praying! Your prayers did not go unheaded! Please continue to pray, because I know that God's not finished with us yet. There is always more to do, more folks to win. I want to be in the way…

Rolling on, and blessed…

2011-06-15T11:44:00.001-07:00

Engine humming, generator running, and water tank filling, we are getting ready to head out. It seems so far away, yet it will only take us a little over an hour to reach another country…Canada. Canada, with its pristine rivers, glacial mountains, and sleek penguins. But also with its nations' military.

They come from every town and province in Canada, join ranks with our own forces, and fight to protect their freedoms. These Canadian Forces are trained, sometimes alongside our own, and learn to push themselves beyond their limits to do the duty that lies nearest. Then, after their tour of duty is done, they head back to their homes. Wouldn't it be wonderful to reach them with the Gospel before their military service is done? They then become missionaries to the outer reaches of the Arctic Circle, or Alberta, or Ontario.

We're ready to go…but wait, as I write there is a problem. My husband has pulled the bus out and parked it to hook up the van, but the bus has a terrible lean to the right! Our suspension, which we just had worked on a few weeks ago in Ohio, must have another leak.

I find it completely amazing the setbacks we had encountered in order to get to Canada. We've had numerous snafus with red tape, an unusual amount of mechanical problems, and a ton of scheduling difficulties. Could it be that God really wants to do something there, and the Devil knows it? Well, whatever God wants to do, I want to be in on it… so we press on.

Two hours later, we are on the road, mechanical problem fixed, mostly. We still have a lean, but now enough to cause any stability issues. The Rolling Raub Ranch rolls on!

As we cross the border to our northern neighbors, please keep us in prayer. There is an open door, but there are many adversaries. I'm a little skittish about meeting them, but I'd rather be in God's will and face the lions than out of it on a comfy couch eating coconut bon-bons while the world goes to Hell.

Our Detroit diesel roars, the generator powers the whole place, the water tank is full, the fuel tanks are topped off…we are so blessed…and we are rolling!

A Three-Mile Mark!

2011-06-13T08:20:00.001-07:00

Did you hear the "Wahoo!" over here in Michigan?? I jogged for THREE MILES today!!

I had done it once before, on my 46^th birthday, but I hadn't run three miles since. I wasn't sure I could do it. But I've been experimenting with long, slow runs, rather than short fast ones, and then increasing my time every week.

Today, as I neared the end of my thirty-five minutes (I know – it's terribly slow, but that's the pace I go), I was at two and three-fourths miles. I simply couldn't let the three-mile mark stay out of reach, so I just kept going! It was only one more lap anyway, but I did it!!

And yes, I am one and a half years older.

It feels sooooo good to be able to do that, especially at my age.

Thank You, Lord, for the strength to jog three miles today! J

A Milestone!!

2011-06-05T20:57:00.001-07:00

You may have heard a huge sigh of relief coming from somewhere in Michigan today. I've been working to get fifty interviews for my current book project….

…and I got number 50 TODAY!!!

I'm going to do a bit further research, and then begin adding up the numbers and document my findings in a book which will be titled, Lord Willing, Without Warning, The Survivors Speak Out. Part of the rough draft is finished, but I have a lot of work to do on the rest of it. However, with the interview portion of the project finished, I am that much closer to being done!!!

For those of you who have been praying for me, I say humbly Thank you. And, please, continue to pray; there is much to do, and it is such an important subject.

Thank the Lord!!

Sacrifice for Liberty

2011-05-30T19:41:00.001-07:00

This is a song written during Desert Storm by the wife of a soldier; it is a difficult song to sing without tears, but it is a good song, nonetheless. This Memorial Day, I send a special Thank You to all who have served, and for all those who love them. Because of you, we are free.

She was standing in his room, tears streaming down her face,

Wondering where the time had gone, what had happened in this place.

She remembered all his toys, scattered on the floor,

Oh, the pain when she realized, he'd never come home anymore.

He had died for the cause of freedom.

He had given all that we might be free.

Oh, let us thank God for the mothers and the sons,

Who sacrificed for liberty.

She was rocking in her chair, the baby at her feet,

Reading his last letter, his words of love so sweet.

He said, "Honey, I can hardly wait, soon, I'll be coming home,"

But he had died for liberty, and now she was alone.

He had died for the cause of freedom.

He had given all that we might be free.

Oh, let us thank God for the husbands and the wives,

Who sacrificed for liberty.

God was looking down from Heav'n, upon the world He made,

His Son cried, "God, forgive them," oh, what a price He paid!

They had never been apart, but now He must forsake,

And for the cause of Liberty, this sacrifice He paid.

Jesus died for our cause of freedom!

He gave all so that we might be free.

Oh, let us thank God, for the giving of His Son,

The sacrifice for liberty….

The sacrifice for you,

And me…

An Unusual Way to Spark Romance

2011-05-27T20:59:00.001-07:00

It was the end of a very busy and stressful day…or was it?

I looked around at the mess I called home, and wished to just crawl under the covers and sleep for about two weeks. School has been especially difficult lately, and it seemed like the bus would never get clean, no matter how many times I went through and picked up stuff. Now all the children were in bed, and there was still a pile of dishes in the sink.

And I mean, a pile. I have no idea why there were so many, but there were. And I needed to do them before I could go to bed and take a coma.

I looked around and sighed, knowing I was in for a late night. And knowing I also had a lot of other work to do, as well.

I turned away from the sink to work on the floor, drudgery dogging my steps. Some days are just bone-wearying, and this was one of them.

After a bit, I heard water running in the sink, and turned to see My Beloved washing the dishes in the soapy water and stacking them in the drainer. Within minutes, he reduced the pile to zero! I rubbed his shoulder and looked into his eyes, smiling gratefully. "Thank you so much for your help! You just saved my life!" I quipped.

He smiled down at me and laid his hand on my shoulder. "How would you like me to see if I can get you a dishwasher?" he suggested.

My eyes grew round with wonder, and my mouth dropped open. A dishwasher…in a motorhome?? Whoever heard of such a thing? But my husband is always thinking outside the box, and he just might do it.

"Oh, honey, if you did that, I would jump into your arms!!" I exclaimed. He smiled broadly and replied, "Well, we'll see if we can do it."

That was a few weeks ago. And tonight, with much sweat, pounding, and grunting, he installed a small apartment-sized dishwasher in our motorhome!!!

And do you know what I did?

I jumped right into his arms!!

After some intense kissing, he said he thought he would like to install another one tomorrow…. ;)

Two Feet From Death

2011-05-19T21:09:00.001-07:00

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

With the tens of thousands of miles we put on our bus, who would have thought My Beloved and I would come face-to-face with death on our weekly date? It is strange to think how commonplace quickly becomes the uncommon, and in an instant, our whole perspective on life is altered.

My husband and I were driving home on the highway the other night from an evening of relaxation, good food, too much shopping, and enjoying each other's undivided attention when I saw the other car.

He was driving right toward us.

As I saw his headlights get bigger, it slowly dawned on me that we were on a four-lane road, NOT a two-lane, and this car was clearly going the wrong way on a one-way street…at about forty miles an hour.

Life can get very messy, very quickly.

Beyond words, I merely pointed and began hollering unintelligible things. My Beloved saw the other car when he was about a hundred feet away and began honking for all he was worth. The other car flew past us at a combined speed of about one hundred miles an hour merely two feet away.

I didn't want to look in the rear view mirror, but I had to. Flashing headlights, brake lights. Finally My Beloved breathed a sigh of relief. "He pulled off the road," he said, looking in the mirror. I was unable to see it, but I was very thankful. I reached over for his hand, letting my fingers feel his strength, his faith, and sighed deeply.

I was still quivery when we arrived home about ten minutes later.

All three of the young children were in bed, sleeping, oblivious to what had happened. I looked at their tousled heads, wondering what the night could have been like…and thanking God that it wasn't.

Why is it that a brush with death gives us a new perspective on life? Why do we wait until we are living on borrowed time before we begin to appreciate life? Eternity becomes vividly into focus, and we see, perhaps for the first time in our lives, what is really important and what doesn't matter at all.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." It is my heart-cry, my desire, my quest. Help me, Lord, to always see life from Your perspective, from the eye of eternity.

Death could easily cross that two-foot gap and strip the life from my hands, and it would be gone. I thank God it didn't that day. I've been given more time with my family, more time to serve the Lord, more time to love, and more time to give. It's a wonderful feeling. It's a sobering feeling.

It's that feeling that happens when you are Two Feet From Death.

I have a huge responsibility, and that's to glorify God, giving myself wholly to Him. To enjoy the gifts He has entrusted me with, and to focus my heart on Him, pointing others to Him.

Giving ourselves wholly to God is a full and free feeling, a "throwing it all to the wind," so to speak. But in this case, the wind is not the instability of a breezy air of empty expanse, but the rock-solid stability of the kind and gentle hands of a tender loving Abba-Father.

It's the same heart-cry that our Lord uttered when He threw back His Head, took His last earthly breath,, and cried, "Father, into Thy Hands I commend my Spirit." It is giving our all to Him, trusting that He will take it and lovingly sift the bad from the good, and fill our lives and hearts with His goodness. I know His Will is best. The outcome may be not quite like I prefer it at first, but it is always best.

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

It's that crucified life – that life of the living dead – that is worthwhile. Those that have realized that we are as good as dead to the material draw of this world are the crucified ones. It is that brush with death that brings eternity into focus. Really, I am already dead. When I gave myself to Christ one day years ago, I died. I died to my dreams, to myself, to my precious vices I held so dear. I died to them all. A vision of death brings a vision of eternal reality. But, oh, that blessed reality!

Always remind me, Lord, of what is real, and focus on that reality every day.

Help me to savor every blessed moment I have – including the trials – because there will come a time when these opportunities will be gone.

Thank You, Lord, that I have been Two Feet From Death….Help me to live for You like there is no tomorrow.

My Cabin Paradise

2011-05-10T20:22:00.001-07:00

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)

This morning I woke up with the sun pushing its way through my cloth blind in my motorhome and the fresh spring breezes playing around my rooftop vents. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stumbled out into the kitchen to begin my morning routine. It takes me a little while to wake up, even if I'm up and moving, so it wasn't until about fifteen minutes later that I realized where we were parked.

Most times we are parked in a church parking lot, hot asphalt baking even in the mild spring sun. And our motorhome bakes right along with it, so the air conditioner hums to keep us sane even in the springtime.

Not long ago, we were parked in a church parking lot also shared by a host of children, a family of eleven, in fact. It is nice to have a place to park, but it seems these children must rarely get visitors, because if one of my kids cracked the door to the motorhome open even a bit, they were mobbed by a swarm of excited children with seemingly nothing to do but wait for their visitors to come out. Most of the time we don't mind, but for some reason it made the stay a difficult one.

Kind as many pastors and churches are, nothing ever feels like home. For us, home has become the inside of our motorhome, and it can get real cramped real fast.

But this morning I almost thought I felt at home. I looked out the window with amazement, remembering that we are parked at a beautiful Christian Camp. I stared, blinking, out the window. Fields, cows, chickens, a log cabin. A grove of trees, and a flowing creek. Gorgeous bright greenness meets clear blue sky. Later in the day, I stepped out to switch laundry (my dryer is in a bay under the motorhome), and I heard the lowing of cows and the tiny peeps of baby hens and geese. It's nature's paradise. God's paradise. A little bit of Heaven here on earth.

And He allowed me to have it as my own, if only for a few days.

"Explore all you want," the folks told me. "Let the kids run, play, and visit the animals. We know it's tough when you travel, but you guys just relax and enjoy yourself."

After school, the kids and I wandered to the creekside, then went to feed some of the hens, goats and horses. We walked past the fields of flowing wheat and the budding corn. A garden of some sort of sprouts was growing as well. Then as we went back toward the bus, two young boys came to show us a six-foot black snake they had killed. It's a boy's paradise, and an animal lover's dream. The girls instantly fell in love with the horses.

Lord, You've been so good to me, allowing me to have freedom to explore a wonderful place such as this. It is not really home, but I feel fairly certain that my mansion is really going to be a log cabin!

{Tickling your Thinker}: Screen Time & Kids?

2011-05-01T20:54:00.001-07:00

This week I read that a new study shows that screen-watching children have narrower blood vessels in their eyes than their outside-playing counterparts. (New York Times, April 2011)

The study goes on to say, "In adults, constricted blood vessels in the eyes have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease." If only for physical health, folks, we need to limit our children's computer and TV time.

Spiritually, however, I have found that limited is the key word when it comes to screens and raising our children to love the Lord. In my upcoming book, Without Warning, I highlight the results of an unprecedented study of second-generation Christians who are living for God even after leaving home, and I discovered how vastly important it is to limit electronic entertainment. An extremely high number of the respondents to my survey told me that their parents limited their TV and video viewing. I personally think that sheltering children from the worldly influences is a very important part of child training.

If childhood TV viewing can be either directly or indirectly linked to an increased risk in cardiovascular disease physically, then it stands to reason that a regular ingestion of videos and TV can be detrimental to spiritual health. A "hardening of the arteries," so to speak.

Just a little something to think about.

The Tidal Wave

2011-04-28T12:49:00.001-07:00

Those times when it appears that the world is completely falling apart are those times when the precious seeds of the Word of God receive life-giving water which tenderizes our hearts.

Once upon a time, there was a young man of seventeen who lived with his mother, father, and brothers and sister. He was a good fellow, but he had very little time, or need, for God. Or so he thought.

It was the most difficult year of his life in school. Not only was he being picked on mercilessly because of a bad acne problem, he was also having trouble with his classes. Although he was highly intelligent, his grades were poor because he could hardly concentrate on his lessons. But all of that paled in comparison to the tidal wave of trouble that came crashing down on him one day after school.

Arriving home one day, he saw his mother sitting at the dining room table. Sitting. She never does that! He thought to himself when he came in the door. He stopped and gaped at her. It seemed to take her forever to turn a weary, care-worn face to him.

"Mom!" he blurted out. "Is something wrong?"

Her face contorted, and she slowly told him. "I was at the doctor's today," she said wearily. "I have cancer. I have about a year to live."

The massive wave struck with all its fury, driving him up to his room.

The next few months went by in a blur. Doctor's visits, reports, surgery, radiation. Why, God, why?? He cried. Why my mother??

The Heavens were brass, and his heart ached. He simply couldn't imagine life without her.

He didn't realize it at the time, but God needed to use a forceful wave to reach his heart. Through the months that followed, the water from that tide continued to soak into his heart, and penetrate like nothing else could. For the first time in his life, he began to realize that he needed God.

Seeds were planted through the monstrous surge that began to take root. Slowly, almost miraculously, his mother began to get better, and within the next few months they were relieved to hear the words, "Cancer-free!" Oh, could any words be more wonderful?? He wondered. Soon he would know.

The Lord showed his love to him in many special ways in the aftermath of the wave, and the young man sought God. He needed God. God was real, and He loved him. Slowly, carefully at first, the young man began to crave after the presence of Lord.

It was through this experience, in combination with the Word of God and a sensitivity to Him, that this young man came to know Christ. His bedroom, which was before a sanctuary from the fury of the tempest, became the place of rest and peace for eternity. He got saved a few months before his eighteenth birthday, and life has never been the same!

I must add that all of us who know him well have benefitted from the effects of that tidal wave. In fact, the ripple effects are felt all over the country as the young man, who has grown up, married and has a family, preaches the wonderful love of our Savior all over the country.

Who is this young man, you're wondering?

He's now my husband, and I'm thankful that my mother-in-law is the perfect picture of health today!

…and they all lived happily ever after!

What Life is All About

2011-04-26T20:35:00.001-07:00

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.

While my husband and I were finishing up our weekly financial meeting at Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant last night, some other folks came in and took the booth in front of us. It was a man of about fifty, a lady which I assume to be his wife, and their daughter. I was unable to determine her age, because she was shriveled up in a large jogging-stroller sort of thing. I would say she was at least in her older teens, possibly in her twenties.

I watched as the man tenderly patted her on the leg and said some affectionate things to her. Her hands were held very stiffly, somewhat like a claw, and her tongue stuck out of her mouth most of the time. Her eyes looked at him and there was a glimmer of appreciation there.

I tried not to stare, but when I saw the lady, I was surprised. Her features were exquisite and her bearing regal. Her beauty was striking, perhaps even irritatingly so. She was beautiful, and she knew it. Still, I was struck by the dichotomy which appeared in the family.

I noticed how the dear girl simply stared at her mother. You could almost see wonder in her eyes.

The family was served the traditional chips and salsa, and mom and dad began to eat. But she simply stared.

Or was she simply staring?

Her mouth began to work, and very slowly she raised her hand to her mouth, all the while staring at her beautiful mother.

Oh, I wish I could do that! She's beautiful. Does she like me? Mom, do you love me?

Mom got up, and walked away for a few minutes, eyes following her all the time.

What would it be like to just be able to get up and walk?

Mom, is there anything I can do to make you pleased with me?

When I left the restaurant, I walked out using my two good legs and went home to my healthy, happy, loving children. But I couldn't forget her longing stare.

What's it like to walk? Mom, can I just talk to you for a minute? I love you!

Tonight, I was too short with my children, impatient to get them to bed. Now as I'm writing, the tears fall. Did they go to bed staring at me, wishing they could please me? Did they feel that they wanted just a little more time with Mom?

Life is not about schedules, it's about people….

I think I'm going to go see if any of them are still awake.

Tickle Your Thinker

2011-04-23T18:32:00.001-07:00

Did you know that happy people are more likely to get married, and married people are more likely to be happy? (Raisinghappiness.com, April, 2011)

And…

Did you know that those who shop daily are more likely to live longer than those who shop only once a week? (msnbc.msn.com, April 2011)

These are some of the recent statistics that have been tickling my thinker this week. Of course, the latter statistic is greeted with great enthusiasm by the thrift store shoppers of my family, and the former statistic I find interesting because I've found it to be true in my own experience.

The lifelong commitment of marriage was intended by God for our benefit, and even for our happiness. God uses such things "for our good always." I know that I have been happier married than I was before I got married.

As for daily shopping, there's nothing in the Bible about it, but it is an amusing statistic. I personally think we could all benefit equally from going out for a daily walk rather than spending money so often. ;)

The Successful Experiment

2011-03-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

We do a lot of really bone-headed things when we are young. Take, for example, the “experiment” my brother and I conducted by the pool when we were seven and nine.

We were taking turns throwing each other into the pool (it didn’t take much to amuse us,) when I came up with the idea. Don’t ask me what made me think of it. Perhaps chlorine has a bewildering effect, or maybe the sun’s rays were making me reckless. Either way, what happened next forever changed the layout of my face.

“What would happen in you threw me into the pool, but didn’t let go?”

Ric looked at me blankly. “Uhhh… I dunno,” he sagely replied. “Let’s try it and see!”

I suppose you could call our experiment a success, if you consider the Emergency Room visit and stitches as proof. But, success or not, I gained a whole whale of experience.

We learn from our mistakes. But we don’t have the opportunity to back up and start over. In parenting, if we make a mistake, it is emblazoned in the memory of several people, including our child. That’s why we must listen to the voice of experience – those that have successfully trained their children to adulthood to be happy, productive, and godly grownups.

What are some insights we gain from listening to successful parents?

Their experience provides solid evidence that the Bible way is the best way.

Of course, the Bible is true, no matter what our experience is, but I submit to you that those who have followed the Bible way have proven God’s Word for themselves, leaving a blazoned path for the rest of us to follow.

Their experience, coupled with the testimony of their adult children who are living for God, provides solid evidence that we can raise godly children in our current culture.

Their experience gives us ideas that we can implement with confidence, knowing that it WORKS!

Not listening to the voice of experience is almost as bone-headed as throwing someone into the pool without letting go!

We all make bone-headed mistakes when we are young, but don’t let parenting be one of them. We can’t fix a life with a few stitches.

It reminds me of the time I “experimented” with going down steps on crutches…................but that’s another story!

A Resource for Parenting

2011-03-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

When we were young-er raising our children, one of the most useful resources I purchased was the book, Proverbs for Parenting. This volume effectively groups the various proverbs into headings that are useful for study, for instruction of the children, and for help in sorting out fights, etc. Now, I know your kids never fight, and neither do mine - well, I guess they do sometimes - but if they did (or when they do!), it’s always helpful to have a ready reference in dealing with the issues in a Scriptural manner.

Parenting from a Biblical perspective is much different than parenting from the seat of your pants. God says, "My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts." (paraphrase) [Isaiah 55:9]

Jesus said that the least is truly the greatest, and the leader is to be the servant of all.

The way up is down…on our knees. And the way down (destruction) is through lifting ourselves up (a haughty spirit).

Worldly philosophies and ideals cannot raise godly children. If we are to change this world for Christ, we must do it through His Word, His Spirit, and His power. It can be no other way.

My hats are off to those of you struggling with little runny noses, soggy Pampers, and endless loads of laundry. I’ve been there. I know how hard it is. You have chosen to sacrifice yourself, your time, your freedom, your energy, and your life to pour out into vessels of moldable clay. As you do your duty as unto the Lord, He will fill your cup, lighten your step, and give that sweet peace of knowing that you are not throwing your energy to the wind – you are sowing foreternity. Inasmuch as you follow God and do things His Way, you can be assured of His blessings.

Taking Time for Tea

2011-03-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

For just a few moments, time stands still. I am no longer the busy mother – I become Lady Elizabeth, and my tea companions are no longer my little girls – they become the loveliest acquaintances to converse with: Lady Pricilla, Princess Mae, and Lady Esther.

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For just a few moments, we have the most elegant tea, surrounded by the finest things to be seen. We exchange news of our travels; one has traveled to Washington and England, another across the Great Sea to a new, strange land, and another to Michigan, to visit a Queen and her friends. We discuss the wonders of this modern era: the new steam engine and the telephone.

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For just a few moments, we use the best of manners, and give each other the most lavish gifts – hand-woven silk handkerchiefs from India, the most exquisite hand-painted miniature tea cups, and the finest Egyptian parchment. We have the grandest of times. We tell stories, laugh at old jokes, and revel in each other’s captivating company.

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For just a few moments, I lay aside my responsibilities, and become my girls’ best friend.

Because I know that childhood is only…for just a few moments.

Surrounded

2011-03-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

Due to a crazy amount of busyness this week (we're in the process of moving our things out of our house in Texas - a huge job!), I'm posting this article which I wrote a few weeks ago. Enjoy!
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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time."

These famous words were spoken by the mighty Marine, “Chesty” Puller, as they were surrounded by the Chinese/Korean army on the frozen Chosen Reservoir during the Korean War. It seemed an impossible task, but they grimly fought their way out of the incredible situation.

That’s sort of the way I feel here in the Pensacola, Florida area. We are helping a new church in a town on the outskirts of Eglin AFB. There are a lot of other military bases around here: Hurlbert Field, Pensecola Naval Air Station, Tyndal AFB and Whiting Field. In other words, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us…they can’t get away this time!

Last week, we were blessed to be able to help a godly man start a Bible study on Moody AFB in Georgia, and tonight My Beloved is leading a Bible study here on Pensacola NAS. We’ve also been given a name for a young Marine to visit while we are here, so we pray that will open up more doors of ministry. A few days ago, the whole family went door-to-door in a military community, and we were able to put a John/Romans at every door. Sometimes we plant, sometimes we water, but we always look to God for the increase.

These steps into enemy territory are not without their difficulty. Please continue to pray for us, as we do what we can to get the gospel to the military.

With God’s help and your prayers, we can do it! After all, they can’t get away this time! J

What Do I Like Better Than My Favorite Cholesterol Burger?

2011-03-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

Sitting at the restaurant recently, while my family and I were enjoying the fellowship of an older preacher and his wife, I was also enjoying the fellowship of a nice, greasy burger.

This particular restaurant makes great heart-attack burgers, rich in fat and cholesterol – a favorite of cardiologists everywhere, and one of my favorites, as well.

Having been a preacher for forty years, Rich knew how to get even the most stoic of our reserved children to giggle. He leaned forward and asked my ten-year-old, "Did you hear about the snake who had eye trouble?"

Her eyes brightened and she wiggled in her seat, eager to hear his story. Even though the restaurant was raucous, all my children began listening intently.

“He went to the eye doctor and got a pair of glasses; but a few days later, his friend found him crying his heart out.

‘What’s the matter?’ his friend asked.

‘I got new glasses!’ wailed the snake.

‘But you look great in your new glasses! What are you crying for?’

‘I just found out that for two years I’ve been married to a garden hose!’”

All of us howled with laughter, and the kids set about to intervals of giggling and whispering amongst themselves.

Though the meal was punctuated with laughter and a general giddiness, there were many serious moments. It was during one of those lulls in the guffaws that I broached my favorite subject: passing on values to the next generation.

When Rich and Jean got married in the early ‘70’s, they would have never guessed that thirty years later, they would enjoy the rich heritage of having four children who love and serve the Lord. Now adults with families of their own, their children are all actively involved in church – one teaches Sunday School, another plays piano for her church, while one of their sons preaches in the prisons and nursing homes, and another child is also raising his own children to live for God. Rich and Jean are successful parents who have raised spiritually-minded children.

They are poster parents for godly parenting. So I asked them, “In your opinion, what do you think has been the most important thing you have done to help you raise your children right?”

Rich drew a breath and replied thoughtfully, “I would say that for us, it was a matter of being REAL. To be the same in church as we are at home is one of the most powerful tools in the parents’ toolbox. I don’t mean just a rigid consistency, but a real, true love for God.

“I would also say that the second thing is very closely related, and that’s JOY. Love joyfully. Be happy. If God is going to meet your needs, just trust Him and be joyful. Think of all the good things He has done! As Christians, we shouldn’t get the ‘mullygrubs’. It’s not a drudgery to serve God, it’s a Joy!”

Jean’s head quietly bobbed in agreement as her husband spoke. Rich continued, “Also, I know I disciplined attitude quicker than action. In other words, if they still did what I told them to do but had a bad attitude, I still disciplined them. Their attitude was way more important to me than just the outward actions.”

Though many people never get the opportunity to talk to successful parents, to ask them some important questions, I am thankful I’ve had that opportunity. And, much as I love a good ol’ heart-stopping grease burger, I much more enjoy gleaning from the wisdom of others and their many years’ experience.

And his final word of wisdom? “When we homeschooled our kids, we would not let them graduate until they could count from one to a hundred forwards and backwards in less than ten minutes!”

And this set the kids back to giggling again.

Oh, Be Careful, Mom and Dad!

2011-02-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

Remember that children’s song, “Oh, Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See?” It’s a lesson even many parents need to learn when it comes to their children.

While doing research for my book, I discovered a page that was very surprising. Apparently children are being exposed to pornography through some of the most insidious means I’ve ever heard of.

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Familymatters.tv says,

Kids looking for hearts and flowers for their MySpace pages are being subjected without warning to images of porn, drugs, and alcohol. Even more disturbing, many of these explicit images are viewed along side of popular cartoon characters and cute pictures of little animals.

The article goes on to state that:

During a routine survey of web traffic trends, FamilyMatters.tv discovered that one of the most popular web searches was looking for backgrounds, layouts, and graphics to decorate MySpace pages. We entered “myspace backgrounds” in Google and were shocked to find that each of the top 10 sites found by the Google search contained or linked to explicit content.

Go to http://www.familymatters.tv/level_4/safety/warningtoparents.htm for the full article. I thought it was excellent. I’m not against all internet use for children, but we parents need to know what dangers await our children.

I also found a very disturbing thread posted on a horse grooming supplies page. The question was posed, “Are you a sheltered child?” (The thread is under the section titled, ‘For kids only, on Horse Forums, discuss horses and other topics’ Hmmm…)

Some young people wrote that they are not sheltered at all, while other wrote that they felt sheltered but are trying to sneak around the fences behind their parents’ backs. The entire atmosphere of the thread is one of irritation, mockery of attempted parental guidance, and smug laughter. (This is one response word-for-word.)

hahaha. I am extremelly(sp.) sheltered...at least that's what they think. I can watch R rated movie, watch tv shows that(in their opinion) aren't approriate and so on and so on. The thing is...I don't let them know how bad the stuff actually is. I'm not allowed to cuss...sure. I usually don't because I don't want to but I do sometimes, they just don't know. It took me forever and all these safety precations and safety talks until mom let me have a myspace page (lol. I already had one). They are really bad about horses (mainly mom) but they let me ride anyways. I'm almost 17 now but when I was younger things were even worse. http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/horse-forums/are-you-a-sheltered-child-80853.html

Now, I must ask, Why is there such a question as, “Are you a sheltered child?” on a horse grooming website?? Questioning authority is expected, to a degree, but to encourage questioning among those who’ve never thought of it is certainly not wise. The innocuous placement of such a question also shows the dangerous nature of the internet, which has many avenues for young people to stumble upon faith-eroding material.

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The many, many interviews I did on second generation Christians who are living for God prove that they were sheltered, and are thankful for it. In fact, they have embraced the lifestyle of “keeping the world out” and are sheltering their own children.

Arianna, one of my very sheltered respondents who is now teaching in a Christian school, put it this way:

One of the things I feel very strongly about is the importance of sheltering children from harmful influences. I simply don’t think many people realize how vital it is to protect young people from the manipulation of the Devil.

(This is an excerpt from my upcoming book.)

Sheltering children is one of the main modes for encouraging the next generation to take up the torch of the Gospel and run with it. A parent who, either by neglect or on purpose, does not shelter their child sabotages their child's future…unless God intervenes.

Oh, be careful, Mom and Dad, with your kids!

The Little Girl Who Shot At Her Sister...

2011-02-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

...and what eventually happened to her...

It is very easy to take greatness for granted if you've had a harrowing morning getting the family ready for church. By the time I arrived at Sunday school that morning and flopped into my seat, I thought greatness was just making sure my son had both shoes on…and that they both matched!

I was surprised to find that there was a missionary at church that day. When she was introduced to the class, she glanced easily about the room and seemed to take us all in.

A young lady standing up in front of the adult Sunday school class in a fundamental Baptist church is very unusual, but she seemed to take it all in stride. Tracy Marks, single missionary to Africa, was telling her story.

“I was raised in a hunter’s home,” she began. I sensed even the male varieties amongst us were eager to hear more. “My Dad was a big hunter, and there were lots of weapons in our house. He took the time to teach each of us the importance of respecting the weapons, so that by the time we were four years old, we were allowed to have our own bow and arrow, as long as we didn’t shoot each other!” A ripple of laughter gently waved through the listeners.

“One day when I was four, I got angry with my sister, and I shot the arrow at her! I didn’t hit her, but I sure did get in trouble. So what happens when you do something wrong in a Christian home? I got a spanking!

“As I was lying in my bed, crying, suddenly everything my parents and Sunday School teacher had been trying to tell me all came together, and I realized I was a sinner. So, on my bed, I stopped crying and prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me of my sins.”

Tracy smiled and continued, “So, parents and grandparents…you keep doing what you know is right! You never know – someday it may lead to your children’s salvation!”

I glanced at my children sitting by me in church and wondered if one of them could be a future missionary. Surely in the midst of tousled hair, madness and mayhem, there was the seed bed for greatness. Why, if arrows can fly and still missionaries can come from it, then I know that God can use us!

40,000 Words and Counting!

2011-02-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

The other day, I passed the 40,000 word mark on my book! That means either I’m terribly verbose, or it’s just loaded with good stuff! I prefer to think the latter, but I suspect I have some whittling to do before this hits the press.

For those of you who don’t know, I am working on a book about Second Generation Christians, interviewing those that are living for God to discover what their parents did right. This is the main reason why I’ve not been blogging much within the past six to eight months.

Sometimes, however, I find some nuggets that simply will not fit in the book. After all, it’s at least 40,000 words long already, and it’s not done yet. So, this blog is going to get some of the spillovers, the things that can’t fit, but are still really good.

Thank you for your patience, and please continue to pray that the Lord will give me wisdom. I feel that the information I’ve been finding is extremely vital for our day, and can help a LOT of young families who want to raise their children to serve the Lord.

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Age Has Its Advantages!

2011-02-12T10:54:00.001-08:00

Ever feel old? I know I’m only forty--not-going-to-tell-you years old, but sometime I feel as if age is catching up with me. Actually, not sometimes…more often than not! Sometimes it's hard to believe that I actually have three adult children and two grandchildren! All of my family are the joy of my heart.

Being older (notice I said oldER) means that I have many years to reflect on. The formative year of my family were highly influenced by many good books, and I thank God for them!

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When I began my family twenty-five years ago, one of the most influential books I ever read – even to this time – is What the Bible Says About Child Training, by J. Richard Fugate. (Of course, when I got a hold of it, it was the older version, and a new edition has since been published. Looking at it online, however, it appears as though the newer version does not have any additions to it.)

The book is full of foundational principles for young families, and also some good advice for parents with older children. The Scriptural principles laid out in this book are indisputable, and are Biblically sound. It was very helpful then, and it is just as helpful today.

One of the principles that has helped me over the years which is explained fully in the book is what I call the Crossover Principle. It is the time in a child’s life when the power of the parent is no longer that of control, but that of influence. When they are young, we need to control them, but as they get older, the need for our control lessens. They are more able to operate on their own. But as they get older, their need for developing a good relationship with us -- and thereby increasing our scope of our influence in their lives -- increases. This principle alone has spurred me to try to develop good relationships with my children. Now, as my children call me from their homes in other states, they seek my approval and advice. What a good feeling to know that they care!

So, I can say that age has its advantages! With many years of memories behind me, I see the importance of foundational truths when we are young. Then when we are grannies, we can enjoy the blessings! And oh, how wonderful those little blessings are!! :)

A Writer's Shocker

2011-02-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

“Children, I hate to have to tell you this,” the old servant began, “but your parents are gone – they died in an awful fire earlier today. And there’s no need to go home. You have no home anymore either. I’m here to take you to your Uncle Olav,” he said sadly.

“Not Uncle Olav!” the children screamed. And with that, the young people were plunged into one disaster after another. All Uncle Olav wanted was their money, and not long after they went to live with their nice cousin Boris, he died in a car accident. Living with Aunt Sylvia became almost like home, until she committed suicide. Each time the kids had a good situation, it seemed that something awful happened.

Now, how would you like to read a story like that? How would you like your children to read a story like that?

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That is the story line of the very popular eight-book series “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” It is what people read nowadays. But I wonder…Why do all the parents in these stories die, anyway? And the ones that survive seem to act like ignorant morons, always getting in the way.

If someone came up to me and slapped me across the face, I don’t think I would have been more shocked than I was the other day. What I read in the current issue of a major writer’s magazine came as a complete surprise.

There is an article in the magazine about writing stories for children. In this article, they give tips and tricks to develop vivid characters, an unforgettable plot, and a riveting climax. It really has some good ideas. But in the article titled, “How to Avoid Parenting Your Characters,” I find several disturbing things. The first bold heading under the title is, “LOSE THE PARENTS TO ADVANCE THE PLOT.” Then it goes on to say,

The No. 1 parenting problem that characters face is adults, usually parents, who stop the fun and solve all of the problems instead of letting the characters get into trouble and then get back out again. The solution is obvious: Get mom and dad out of the way.”

And then a bit further, we read,

From the Boxcar Children to Harry Potter, there is a long tradition of killing off mom and dad to get the story underway….If burying mom and dad doesn’t work for your story, there are other ways to get them out of the way. Adults, both real and imagined, are wonderfully self-absorbed and don’t always notice what is going on under their own noses.”

In other words, keep mom and dad so busy with their own lives that the children are on their own. Does this remind anyone else of a Scripture? “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”

But wait! This gets better…or worse! The next bold heading is, "USE ADULT CHARACTERS AS OBSTACLES." The article continues:

If you simply cannot get the parents out of your story, then make good use of them… adults can be a great device to mix up the lives of young characters. [A juvenile fiction writer says,] “I do sometimes have older characters give misguided advice to younger characters,” she says. “That way rather than solving problems, the adults complicate them.”

How about the attitudes of the young people themselves?

“Allowing my characters to do a little bit of rebellious sneaking around helps me keep parents out of the way,” [the writer is quoted].

Folks, this is from the current issue of a major writer’s magazine. It is how we writers are taught to create compelling fiction for young people in our modern society.

I used to think that it just happened to be that children ran about by themselves all the time in juvenile fiction, but now I see that it’s a purposeful effort on the behalf of publishers (and writers) to literally get adults out of the way or use them as obstacles in the young people’s lives!

Here are just a few of the Scriptures that come to mind:

Ephesians 6:1-2a “Children, obey your parents, for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother…”

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Does this bother anyone else, or am I the only one this raises a red flag with?! Think twice before you allow your child to bring home from the library some juvenile fiction that is written by an unsaved author. They might wish you would jump out the window someday! :/

The Paramedic

2011-02-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

I’ve always wanted to do something to help people.

Sensing I lacked confidence as a young child, my older sister went to great - and quite comical, I might add - lengths to help bolster my self-assurance. I didn’t realize it at the time, but she planned a number of strange “accidents” so that I could rescue her from certain doom.

One time, we were riding our bikes through the neighborhood, when she slowed down, pulled closer to the curb, and then suddenly flung herself off her bike and into the grass! Rolling a few times, she yelled, “Oh! Lis! Help! Help!”

Instantly becoming the paramedic, I swung the bike around, raced to her side and quickly examined her for broken bones. Within a few minutes, I had my patient up and about, and carefully helped her back home, where I got her all comfortable on the couch. Her gratefulness was almost without bounds, and later, she rewarded me with one of the most precious awards I ever got: a foil-covered cardboard trophy! It gave me the confidence I
needed throughout the years ahead.

Throughout the years, the Lord has enabled me to meet many, many people. Lots of the folks I have met are very precious believers who have successfully trained their children to serve the Lord. These people are now grandparents, and today their children are training their own children in the way of the Lord.

Now, I’ve heard it said that the greatest proof of your parenting is not how your children turn out, but how your children are training their own children! In other words, we know we have passed on our godly values only inasmuch as our children have embraced them and are passing them on to the next generation.

My desire is to help young parents have concrete methods based on the evidence of the scriptures and proof of experience. The positive experiences of those that have successfully trained godly young people holds more weight than any opinion in the world. You may have your opinion; I’ll take the proven method.

I’ve always wanted to do something to help people. But instead of being a bike-riding paramedic, the Lord has given me many stories of godly parents to tell.

So, young parents, fear not! The older generation will tell their godly parenting secrets.

Stay tuned.

Coming Soon...

2011-01-20T15:28:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned!!!

God is So Good!

2011-01-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, it has been awhile. Before I get into all my excuses, I want to make an extremely important announcement: I’M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER --- AGAIN!!!!

There you have it, Folks! Our beloved daughter and wonderful son-in-law are going to have their third little dumplin’ sometime next year, Lord willing! We found out on Thanksgiving Day! What a lot to be thankful for!! The Lord has been sooooo good to us!

Since getting back in the bus in November, I’ve been able to develop a good schedule for us here, wherever we happen to be. That’s something that is very hard to do, when your house moves every few days, but the Lord has helped me to do it. It’s been real good for all of us, especially the children.

We’ve been blessed to be able to use the BJU DVD curriculum for the younger children, which I (and they) enjoy immensely. The instruction is extremely thorough, and they are all very well done and interesting. However, it seems to take longer than I’m used to, to do the schoolwork each day. Hence, I have very little free time, especially since I’ve been doing a little work each day on my book.

Right now we are in Tampa, Florida, where my husband is seeing a Lyme Disease specialist. The doctor wants to put him on about six weeks of powerful intravenous and oral antibiotics to completely rid his body of the spirochetes and other co-infections. Of course, that changes our entire schedule – again (remember the bus accident??) – so my husband really wants to try to only go for two weeks. As the Lord leads you, it would be a blessing to me, and the whole family, if you could take some time to pray for him, and for us as we stay here to get his medical care.

Meanwhile, we now have an unplanned ministry to McDill AFB!! Isn’t God good?

Heading Home! Finally....

2010-11-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

We are finally heading to our home, which is parked at a collision shop in Gaylord, Michigan. As of Friday last week, the bus is done and the shop got their check, so all we need to do now is show up and pick up our baby. It's going to be late when we get in tonight, maybe around 11:00pm or so, but I know everyone will want to go see it, even if it's cold, dark, and late! It's been almost two months since the accident, and we are going to be sooooo glad to be home again...even if home is only 320 square feet!

The Lord has kindly blessed us, and many people have put us up, or put up with us, as the case may be. We've also been blessed to be in several meetings and some missions conferences, several of which were unplanned - the folks knew we were around and asked us to come. All of these missions conferences have been a tremendous blessing, I love being with missionaries, and it seems that the Lord speaks to my heart more and more with each conference. For all the Lord Jesus has done for us, could it be considered a sacrifice to serve Him? No, not at all...

We have one more missions conference to go before we can head out to the military bases of the east coast. I have been somewhat chaffing at the thought of being stalled in the breadbasket of the nation, but the Lord has used it to help us in many ways. Still, I can't wait to get close to a base and be amongst the folks God has called us to reach.

Continue to pray for us for safety. When we pick up the bus tomorrow, we will still have a lot of glass to clean up, though we did what we could before we left. There will be other repairs to attend to as well, like the front curtain and rod. That will need replaced as soon as possible (nothing like living in a glass house... literally!!) And I feel fairly certain that after two months of sitting idle, something will need to be fixed! Just pray for us as we settle in.

A thought for today:

"The Lord has made everything beautiful in His time..." Each of us struggle with the voices from our past, those voices that tell us that we are stupid, or ugly, or wierd, or whatever. Sometimes a face comes with the voices, and sometimes those voices are alone, taunting us.

Always remember that those voices are sent by Satan to discourage you and make you ineffective for God. You see, if he can make you feel worthless, you will do nothing for God, and he knows it. He is lying to you, telling you, through those hurtful remarks, something that is not true! If we listen to his lies, we will be coming in line with his desires and wishes. As a born-again, blood-bought child of God, He sees only His Son, not our mistakes or shortfalls. He is "blinded by the Son," so to speak.

Praise be to the wonderful Creator, who loves us, made us beautiful through His Son, and helps us erase the lies Satan has emblazoned into our memories. God is so good!

The Saga Continues

2010-09-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a long and trying two weeks since our incident, and the bus is still in the shop. My husband says they will work on it when they get all the parts together, which should take a few more weeks. Unfortunately, they are unable to speed up their processes. I understand it is a very reputable company, and one that does excellent work, but they work at their own speed and on their own timetable.

I guess maybe they don't realize that it is someone's home they have parked out in their lot, all taped up and just sitting there. Or, if they do, it simply doesn't really matter. I can tell you, it couldn't be soon enough for me.

We've been staying in various places while the bus is in the parking lot. First, we spent a week at a motel, then a church kindly allowed us to use their "prophet's chamber," an accomodation for preachers passing through. Michigan is not like the south, where there are prophet's chambers in abundance; it seems to me to be somewhat like California, with few, if any, places to stay in existence, let alone available.

So, this week, we've accepted an invitation to be back with our daughter and her family. They live in a school building, which is also the church, as well as Matthew's parents' residence. My husband and I have a room on one end, across the hall from Kathy and Matthew, while the kids are in a large room on the far side of the building. I'm not real wild about them being so far away, but they don't seem to mind. Of course, my husband is enjoying our little space, too.

Whether or not the bus is done, we will leave here on Tuesday, and go to a meeting in lower Michigan. Then, we need to be in Maryland not long after that meeting, so it will be a a long drive.

So, as you pray for us, pray that the bus will be done sooner than later, and that the Lord will help us during this difficult period of homelessness. Also, pray that the Lord will give us wisdom on how to pick up the bus when it's done (especially if we're on the east coast), and that the insurance company will not drop us like they say they will.

In case you're wondering, I can say from experience that the aftermath is worse than the incident itself.

A verse for today: "He knoweth the way that I take, and when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." AMEN! Lord, be it unto Thine handmaid according to Thy Will.

More photos...

2010-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sharon was sitting right in front, holding this laptop. This gives you a bit of an idea of how much glass she was showered by! It has to be a miracle that she did not get one cut!

Here's a look from the inside out. The right windshield got caught against that mirror in the middle, and didn't collapse until we were stopped and everyone was out of the way. The right windshield was stopped by the curtain rod (that thin line going across the top of the window).

The outside - sign and all!

This is the part that took the brunt of the hit - the passenger side middle. Simply amazing that no one was seriously hurt.

I told a friend today that it's hard to get a Christian down. When something happens, they just pop back up and say, "It could've been a lot worse!" "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39)

AMEN!

By the way, the shop says it will take 3 weeks to fix it. Pray for proper accomodations and guidance as to what to do about our scheduled meetings during this time. Thank you!

Bus "Accident"

2010-09-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

While driving on a two-lane stretch of lonely road in northeastern Michigan on Tuesday, we had our first "accident." My husband is an excellent driver, and both of us have been driving without any accident whatsoever for the past twenty0six years. So it's no surprise to me that the "accident" we have is one that actually has to have something come and hit US.

My husband was driving, of course, and "all us kids" were doing our normal thing on a school-day: school! Some were already done, of course, namely Sharon and Lydia, who were both sitting right up front. Sharon was actually right beside the driver on the computer, and Lydia was right behind him, reading a book. Jason was done with his schoolwork as well, and was by Sharon, in the "passenger seat," or the window seat, as we call it - the seat with the best view. (It's also the seat that everyone fights over:) )

Only my husband and Lydia saw the tree. Later, Kev said, "I saw a tree leaning out, but then I realized it was actually falling! It was within a split second that I realized there was no way I could avoid the tree."

"Look OUT!" he yelled.

I looked up just in time to see - and hear - something really, really big slam into the windshield. Suddenlyit turned into a shattered gray puzzle, and we couldn't see a thing out of it. Glass pieces flew everywhere, and kids began to scream. For just a brief second, I saw the passenger windshield bow in and a tree branch - leaves and all - came through, paused right in front of Sharon (who had convered her head with her arms), and then slid back out and disappeared along the right side of the bus.

"It's OK, it's OK," my husband hollered. I knew what he meant, and I was releived to know that, though we were still going about 40 mph, he was able to control the bus and bring it to a stop. My job was to try to assess the extent of injuries.

Sharon, who was right in front of the windshield, had been showered with glass, but apparently was otherwise unharmed, because she was right with me, trying to comfort the young ones who were crying, screaming, and trying to run. (Running through glass in bare feet is NOT a good idea, in case you were wondering...)

I carried Jason back toward the back of the bus, trying to avoid glass, but it was impossible, as there was glass EVERYWHERE. Finally I took him into the shower room, and checked him over, looking for the origin of his drops of blood. I gave him a paper towel and went out to check everyone else.

Johanna was oozing blood from a dozen places, but thankfully had no glass lodged in her anywhere. My husband, praise the Lord, only had a few scratches, and Lydia only had a few also. Sharon miraculously escaped with no cuts whatsoever, and only one time got glass in her finger, and that was while she was getting glass out of Johanna's hair!

Not surprisingly, we've been finding glass pieces in strange places for the past few days. Even this morning, I found a small piece of glass in my mouth! The toothbrush? The toothpaste? Who knows?

We did end up taking Jason to the ER, where a doctor pulled a piece of glass out of his toe which was over half an inch long. I didn't think his toe was that big, but the doctor said it went all the way through his toe. He's doing a lot better now, thank the Lord.

Later I will tell about the current condition of the bus and our schedule. For now, we are staying in a motel in Gaylord awaiting insurance to do whatever it is they need to do.

Thank you all so much for praying for us! I know this could have been LOTS worse, and God knew exactly what He was doing.

More later!

He's That Kind of Man

2010-08-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed by being able to visit my daughter and her husband these past few days, and have been able to enjoy the grandkids. How wonderful it is to be here to be with them for a bit! I'm so thankful the Lord has allowed me spend some time with them.

My son-in-law is now the pastor of the church, and he's doing a really great job. He may be young, but he's got a definite idea of what the Lord wants him to do, and he's heading that direction. Saturday, he hosted a youth rally at his church (we got to sing, and my hubby preached!), and two folks trusted Christ as their Saviour. I've really enjoyed hearing him moderate the meetings, and especially I got a blessing out of his preaching.

But the real blessing was not in the pulpit, but on the street. He drives the church bus to pick up kids for church, and of course has a schedule to keep, being the pastor and all! This morning, however, he was driving the church bus picking up children when he saw a car with a flat tire along the side of the road. "It was a mother with two small children," he said later, "so I went ahead and pulled over to help them."

So, with the clock ticking away, Pastor was under a car, helping someone get back on the road again. Unfortunately, the spare tire was rusted onto the frame of the vehicle, so he just took them to their destination - another church! I can only imagine how difficult that must have been, to help someone with only minutes to spare, knowing that there would be no recompense for his service. (Reminds me a bit of a Bible story...)

Now he was running late, covered with dirt, grime and rust. He arrived at the church, dove into the shower, changed, ran out and taught Sunday School! That's the kind of man my daughter married.

People around here know that if they need help, he's that kind of man. If they need someone to pray for them, he's that kind of man. And if they need someone to point them to Jesus, he's that kind of man.

Thank you, Matt, for being sensitive to the Lord - for being that kind of man! We thank God for you!

By the way, we'll be visiting with the grandkids (and their parents!) for the week! You'll hear about it later! ;)

The Ogre of the Rolling Raub Ranch

2010-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Driving through Wisconsin, we're having good driving weather and great safety. Good driving weather, to us, is an overcast day, and maybe some light sprinkles. That means we don't roast in our tin oven on wheels! And then, of course, safety means that the white cloud of smoke we saw coming from the trailer we pull really was nothing, and we didn't run into the eighteen wheeler who honked at us as we pulled out. A few close calls here and there, but, as Ma Ingalls says, "All's well that ends well."

We've not been near any military bases within the past week or so, and I really miss it. But, thankfully, the Lord is opening up opportunities to still impact the military for Jesus. A church in Kentucky has taken our ministry on as a project, and they took it upon themselves to work with Bearing Precious Seed in Milton, Ohio to create a beautiful full-color cover for a John-Romans for our ministry. Then, they also paid for production of about 8,000 of them, and called us to ask where to send them. Well, wouldn't you know that the three bases we've just been at are wanting materials to pass out on their bases!! I think it's amazing how God works on one side of the country to bring about the desired effects on the other side of the country, and how God uses His people, poor and dumb as we are sometimes, to put forth His Word! Praise His Holy Name! So, within a few days, there will be some wonderful John/Romans with "Compliments of Eagles' Wings Military Ministry" on the back going out into three different bases across the United States! God is so good.

Family wise, we finished up our second week of school. It's been easy and rough at the same time. Most children are doing great, and one is having some problems. It makes it very difficult for me, because not only do I need to teach Jason second grade and grade four students' worth of papers, but I also have to keep calling back some people to do their work right, or complete their work, etc. I feel like The Ogre of Rolling Raub Ranch, but I have do keep some semblance of discipline amongst the troops.

I've been working bit by bit on my book, though, and I enjoy that. It is difficult, though, because the subject matter is very pertinent. To those of you who are praying for me about that, I want to thank you and ask you to keep it up! It will be a loooong time before it is finished, but I do not intend to let it go.

A verse for today: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov 3:5-6 How much we can trust Him! How faithful He is! How good to know that He wants us to trust Him! May we give ourselves completely to Him, as a living sacrifice.

I'm Back - and that's a threat! :)

2010-08-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy time, with meetings and now school has started for us. We are currently parked in the Indianapolis area, but we are moving out today to head to another little town that no one has ever heard of.

It sure was great to see the boys, and to sing with them almost every night of the Jubilee. One of the things I love, I mean love, is to sing with my family. It is the greatest joy of my soul to sing the praises of Him who has done so much for me with the dear ones I love more than anyone on earth. Now, the girls and I have been practicing so that we can get used to singing without the boys, and so we can have a few new songs...just for us.

Today I will try to take Jason back to the dentist, because the spacer that was put on on Saturday is hurting him. Maybe he can file down the rough parts a little.

To those who have started school already, never fear! As the Lord has pulled you through each year until now, He will do it again.

Verse for today: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even forever." Psalm 125:2 AMEN!

Opportunities, Interviews, and Overload...

2010-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

...and our great Loadbearer!

We spent a lot of last week driving from Kansas to Indiana, where we picked up a new air conditioner. (Praise the Lord!) Arriving an hour before sunset, my husband immediately set to work installing it. It took him a few hours, but now we have all our a/c's working again! Most likely, unless you've spent much time living in an RV in the summer (with several other warm bodies), it's hard to realize just how wonderful air conditioning is. I'm so thankful to the Lord for His blessing!

Here in Indiana, we were privileged to be at a church that has a burden to reach Camp Atterbury, a reserve base which is going to be increasing in size considerably. The church is only fifteen minutes away from the base, so we are hoping and praying that someone there will be able to work a ministry.

Now we are at a meeting in southern Indiana. Jonathan and Stephen are coming out to be with us for the week, and we are all simply delirious to see them. We haven't been with Jonathan for a month, and haven't seen Stephen for about four months, so we are all looking forward to visiting with them.

It will be a busy week, however, with meetings every morning and every evening. It is also one of the best meetings I've ever been in, and I've been looking forward to it ever since the Jubilee last year!

Also, I am hoping to interview a bunch of people for my book project. Please pray for me about this, because I feel this is very important, and that this is a prime opportunity to get the information I need. Especially pray that the Lord will give me wisdom as I write, that I will be able to adequately express the principles that I am discovering.

This will make for a very busy week, so I will not be posting for at least a week. Thank you all for your patience!

Verse for today: "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings." (Psalm 61:2-4)

Sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed, especially with what I call "sensory overload," lots of auditory stimulation going on in the background (or foreground) all the time. Sometimes the greatness of the load we carry is overwhelming, or the pain we face on a daily basis. I thank the Lord that we have a shelter: His great and loving wings, which protect us from the tempest. Thank God for His care for us!

Another Casualty...

2010-07-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

We had some good meetings at a church near McConnel AFB. It is a blessing that these past three churches we’ve been in by military bases all want us to come back to help them establish ministries to reach the airmen. One of the main purposes for this trip through here has been to help establish a relationship with the churches, and present them with their options for reaching their local bases. Then, once they understand the possibilities and options, they can pray about it, and the Lord can touch the heart of someone in the church to work the base. It seems like a long, drawn out procedure, but it is necessary to establish a ministry that will last.

Meanwhile, there has been another casualty from the power surge we experienced the other week. Our back air conditioner bit the dust, which is very sad, because it for our bedroom. Our room is about eight feet wide, seven feet long, and the distance from floor to ceiling is about six feet, two inches, so it’s easy to feel claustrophobic. I don’t mind when the air is nice and cool, but when it gets stuffy and hot, it is virtually unbearable. This past Sunday, when it was time for the regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon nap, it had to have been at least one hundred degrees in there! I decided to move, and got into Lydia’s little cubbyhole, after setting up a myriad of fans to direct cool air back to the bedroom. Awhile later, after it had cooled down quite a bit, I checked to temperature, and it read, “90 degrees!”

Thankfully, on Monday, My Beloved took the front a/c, which we don’t use much but still works, and switched it with the back a/c. Whew! I was finally able to sleep Monday night!

Today, we are driving across Kansas. With the heat index somewhere around 105 degrees, I am praying that our generator and air conditioners keep up!

Verse for today: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 We will always have hard times, setbacks, and trials, but our God is stronger than them all! It is not whether we can handle it, but can God handle it. I know He can!

Could It Be Sacrifice?

2010-07-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

We had an uneventful drive up to Wichita, Kansas, yesterday. Those are the kinds of trips I like! I'm thankful to the Lord that the engine did not overheat, and the generator, though it still ran hot, didn't overheat either, largely due to my husband's opening of a bay door while we drove. It's not the prettiest setup, but it works!

Here, we're close to McConnell Air Force Base, and Lord willing, we will be able to ascertain what is going on as far as ministry-wise on the base. Please pray that the Lord will continue to open doors, and that whatever He has in mind for us here would be accomplished. Our desire is to find what God has for us in every situation and fit into His puzzle, in His perfect Will.

As I was laying in bed this morning, a privilege reserved for Saturday mornings, I had this thought:

Serving God without a vibrant relationship with Him is basically sheer slavery. It is a constant drudgery, a painful sacrifice, the endless chore of grinding round and round on the big gerbil wheel of life. There is no light, only a mere dull gray.

However, serving God with a vibrant love relationship with Him is like a wonderful marraige. It is a dream come true in which I am loved for who I am, provided for with the utmost care (even spoiled at times!), and secure in my relationship.

I respond with love, working side-by-side with my soul-mate, the desire of my life. I love what He loves, I want what He wants, and I seek His goals, not my own. It is no sacrifice, only a great desire to be what He wants me to be.

Instead of the rock-hard altar, I lay my soul down the softness of the fragrance of His love.

Could there be any better life than that? Could it be called sacrifice, when I receive all my heart desires, all my life's wishes, and a peace which flows over my being as I serve Him? No, it could not be called sacrifice, it could not be called duty; it is pure delight.

Loved with everlasting love,

Led by grace that love to know;

Spirit, breathing from above,

Thou hast taught me it is so.

Oh, this full and perfect peace!

Oh, this transport all divine!

In a love which cannot cease,

I am His, and He is mine.

How wonderful that I am His, and He is mine!

It's not always trials and tribulations

2010-07-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

...driving down the road toward Kansas

Here we are, in the Wild West...

The Lord allowed us to enjoy a Vacation Bible School this week! They had Bible Man and the Deceiver! Pictured here is the Deceiver...uh, oh, look out! The very best part is that one of the young boys got saved. Praise the Lord!

It was a beautiful ending to a great day - sunset on the prairie.

"When I consider Thy Heavens, oh, Lord, the works of Thy fingers...what is man, that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?"

The Parable of the Prodigal Mother

2010-07-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

A certain mother had two daughters and the younger of them said to her mother, "Mother, give me the portion of thy time and thy attention and thy companionship and they counsel and guidance which falleth to me." And she divided unto her her living, in that she sent her off to music lessons, soccer practice, preparatory school and a fine college, and tried to believe she was doing her full duty to her daughter.

And not many days after, the mother gathered all her interests and aspirations and ambitions and took her journey into a far country, into a land of hobbies, books, crafts, computers, facebook, and other things which do not interest a girl, and there she wasted her precious opportunity of being a friend to her daughter. And when she had spent the very best of her life and had gained popularity but had failed to find any satisfaction, there arose a mighty famine in her heart and she began to be in want of sympathy and real friendship.

And she went and joined herself to one of the clubs in that country, and they elected her chairperson of the house committee and president of the club and sent her to the national conferences. And she would fain have satisfied herself with the husks that other women did eat, and no one gave her any real friendship.

But when she came to herself, she said, "How many ladies of my acquaintance have girls whom they understand and who understand them, who talk about their girls and associate with their girls and seem perfectly happy in the friendship of their girls, while I perish here with heart hunger? I will arise and go to my daughter and will say into her, "Daughter, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I have not been a mother to you and I am no more worthy to be called thy mother. Forgive me now, and let me be thy friend."

But the daughter said, "not so, for it is too late. There was a time when I wanted your companionship, but you were too busy. I got the information and the companionship I needed, but I got the wrong kind, and now, alas, I am wretched in soul and body. It is too late - too late - too late!"

- adapted from a story in Streams in the Desert, Volume 2

Driving in the rain...

2010-07-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Lord graciously provided, through the pastor of the church which had the errant wiring, a new printer and a CPAP machine for my hubby. Now the only thing that needs replaced is the battery charger, which we'll take care of in the next few days. We have determined that, praise God, the air conditioner and refrigerator are both OK! Thanks to those who prayed for us!

We arrived safely in OKC (Oklahoma City) last night, but not without blowing a tire on the trailer. The rain from Alex kinda dampened the tire rescue effort, so eventually it was determined that I would just drive the truck the rest of the way in to lighten the load on the trailer, since it still had three more good tires. Today, we will get a tire and a spare, too.

Strangely enough, when we arrived at the campground, we were unable to shut off the bus engine! We had heard of that happening, and it is not good - I guess these engines can take a fit of "running away" if the situation is just right. My Beloved pulled the battery cable, the fuel lines, and shut off every switch he could think of, and finally the engine starved of fuel and died. Whew! I have a saying, "If it's not one thing, it's another!" I guess that goes for our travels, for sure.

After we get these things squared away, we are heading out for Coffeyville, Kansas, where My Beloved is teaching Sunday School tomorrow morning, and preaching in the evening. Thanks for praying!

It's always interesting and encouraging to see how God will work out every situation we come across as we seek to serve Him. One thing's for sure: (Here's today's verse, folks) "...He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!" (Hebrews 11:6) Praise Him in the sunshine, and in the rain as well!

Travel Day!

2010-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Today, we are driving to Oklahoma City, on our way to Coffeyville, Kansas. Next week, we hope to arrive at McConnell AFB, but in the meantime, there are some meetings on the way. Today we have about a 3 hour drive, which I'm sure we will stretch out...thankfully, we have everything we need right on board! (I'm always thankful to have water, food, electricity, and a bathroom with us wherever we go!)

Last night, My Beloved went out soulwinning on Shepherd AFB with two very nervous men. They had apparently never done anything like that before, so they had no idea what to expect. My hubby told me that he found out later that one of the men thought they were going to street preach right there on the base! Naturally, he was nervous! (Of course, that would not be a wise way of working on the base...it's a fast ticket to be kicked off!) The mass of humanity was simply amazing, so, they were able to pass our about a hundred gospel flyers within a short period of time. What a blessing! We are praying that the folks we have worked with here will see the opportunity as it really is - a huge, open door, and that they will do whatever it takes to reach the servicemen here.

As for me, today will find me doing the usual: laundry, cleaning, meals, tickling the kids, and trying to work on my latest book project, which is monstrously huge.

Verse for today: "he that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

A quote from the famous missionary, Milton Martin, "If we don't spend a quiet time with God each day, every decision we make will be in error, so that by the time we are 30 or 40 years old, it will be impossible to serve God!" You young folks, remember that a life is not ruined by one big bad decision, but by many little bad decisions. You don't ruin your life by marrying a jerk, you ruin your life by deciding to even befriend a jerk, because you will never marry someone you barely know. Decide early in life that you will spend time with God daily, and it will set your direction for life!

With Opportunity Comes...

2010-06-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Lord has so kindly blessed us with several open doors at some military bases already. There are folks burdened to reach the military, ready and trained at Dyess AFB in Abilene, as well as some near Shepherd AFB. (Shepherd is a training base, where approximately 1/2 of the Air Force comes through at some point in their career, so it's a very strategic location.) I am very thankful for these open doors!

But, with opportunity always comes adversity. Though our engine and generator did ok during the leg of the journey to Wichita Falls (a special thanks to those who prayed for us - it's not "healed" yet that we know of), we had some trouble when we plugged in to our destination. Apparently the church was wired incorrectly, and we ended up frying some of our appliances! :0 Our printer blew fire (didn't catch, though), and my husband's CPAP machine blew out. Our central air conditioner is not cooling very well, and our refrigerator may not be cooling well, either. Please continue to pray for us as we deal with this new "dilemma!"

Today's verse: "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength..." (Isaiah 30:15) May the Lord give us the strength to do His Will, not our own, and to do it with confidence, knowing we are perfectly in the center of His Will!

A few more pics...

2010-06-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures of the beginning of our trip. We passed a huge oversized load, which was being carried on about 5 trucks. Kids sure did like it! When we finally arrived at our campground and set up camp, the kiddos had to blow off some steam...

A Few Photos...

2010-06-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pics to help you get a feel of what it's like with "Raubs getting on the Road."

Jon is taking pictures of the kids with his new Blackberry before he leaves for work.

Jonathan going to his car...it was really sad to see him drive away, and know that when he came back from work, we would be gone...

I will try to post some more pictures later. At this point, I'm not good at posting pictures, and I don't really have time to do more right now. It's time to make dinner, and the natives are getting restless! :)

"How do you do it?"

2010-06-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

We have safely arrived here by Dyess Air Force Base, setting up camp, getting ready to execute Operation Naaman here. Our drive was relatively uneventful, but the engine and the generator were both running very hot, so we had to go slowly. We successfully stretched a 2 1/2 hour drive to about 4 hours. Pray that we can get this situation resolved before too many more miles.

I am often asked, "How do you do it? How do you go travel like you do, and remain sane?" Well, there are several different ways to answer those questions, ( like...maybe I'm not really sane! Lol!) but Ive been thinking a lot about my two main guiding principles. They may not sound like much, but they have been given me by God and have guided me through my Christian life so far. I know, by God's grace, they will lead me on the rest of the way...

1. My husband and I decided a long time ago, perhaps before we were married, that we would not be so attached to any location that we were not willing to go somewhere else if that's what the Lord wanted.

2. I married my husband, not my house or even my children. I enjoy my home, and I love my children, but where God leads my husband, He leads me (and the children still living at home). I love my grandkids, but it would be better for them to have grandparents that are in God's Will than close by and out of God's Will.

So, really, it's not so hard after all. It's simply following what the Lord has shown me so many years ago, and I'm very thankful for God's guidance.

Today's verse: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord..."

Pulling out Tomorrow!

2010-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we loaded up most of the food, the kitchen stuff, and school supplies. I also did a lot of cleaning in the bus, of things I do not normally get a chance to do, like cleaning out the filters of the air conditioners.

Today we are loading all clothes, except for the clothes we are wearing tomorrow. The hardest part is trying to figure out what we will need for the next six months!

Tomorrow is the day set aside for "last minute items" (which I know can be tons!) and for actually pulling out. I don't know why, but when there's a big trip like this, actually leaving can take awhile.

Everybody is excited to be moving into their own spaces in the bus. Each of the kids can decorate their bed area however they want, so that is fun. Soon we will be ready to roll!

My verse for today is: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." We need to work hard, because today is THE DAY to get it done!

T-Minus 3 days and counting...

2010-06-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Lots to do! Today, we head to the bus to give it a final wipe down, and then back to the house to begin loading containers to take over. I am hoping to get all the school things and office supplies loaded today, as well as winter clothes.

Each of us gets to take a container of our own personal "stuff" to keep in the bus bay, as well. Hopefully we can get those packed and loaded today.

Lord Willing, we will be all working together, so I can spend time with my children while working. I sure do enjoy being with them!

My verse for today: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God..." Ps. 42:1

To be ever mindful and longing for His presence even while we work is a bit of Heaven on earth!

Busy, busy

2010-06-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Having only 5 days 'till blast-off, I am constantly finding more things that need done than I can possibly do! Today I want to stay home and clean the house, wipe down surfaces of the bus, and load schoolbooks, but I think I need to run to town and do some errands. And it doesn't help that "town" is 40 minutes away!

All of this is right on the heels of some important thoughts I've had about busyness. Busyness is the enemy of relationships. As ladies, we have an uncanny ability to develop some very powerful relationships...if we take the time. It is imperative that we develop strong relationships with our children, since that is the key to passing on our values and propelling them into God's Will in their lives. Having a strong, vibrant relationship with God is paramount, and can only be obtained through meditation, confession, and prayer.

Why don't we have such strong relationships? We are simply too busy. I've been asking God to help me examine my schedule and my list of priorities and ruthlessly eliminate busyness from my life. I want to walk with my children, laugh with my husband, and breathe deeply of the fresh air of the great outdoors. I long to have times of quiet where I can hear the still, small voice of God.

I so desperately need Him, and many times I am too busy to notice...

Heels from a different perspective...

2010-06-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

T-minus 9 days and counting! (I think I wrote 9 days a few days ago...I don't know what I was thinking, but I know it was late! Sorry!)

Yesterday we had some friends over for dinner, and today is more cleaning. I'm trying to get the house fairly deep cleaned before I go, so I can come back to a half-decent place some day.

It's a busy week this week, with lots of cleaning, gathering, and visiting. We're trying to visit all the people we wanted to while we were here, but I think there still may be some left out. I hope not, but it's hard to squeeze it all in, especially when the departure date has moved up a bit.

Here's an interesting thought for anyone who cares:

I've been doing a little research on how high heels affect walking, posture, and a person's image, and I came up with some interesting things. Some people are obsessed with appearance, and it is those folks who provided me with my most insightful facts.

Don't read this if you're timid:

(This is from the Transgender Today site, on the impact high heels makes on appearance)

Lets face it, high heel shoes are not the most practical invention ever created. So why do they have such a dedicated following? You could say that if you have to ask, then you just don't get it. There are however, specific reasons for the attraction. It is a well known fact that wearing high heel shoes makes the foot appear smaller, elongates and slims the appearance of a womans legs, and at the same time her altered stance forces her breasts up and makes her rear end protrude 25% more. This position is also forcing the foot into a tiptoe position (the "courtship strut") which is known to be a sign of availability in several animal species. This presents signs of both availability and submissiveness due to the wearers forced attention to balance and required shorter stride. The foot is also put in an arched position that many women find is similar to during sex. The high heel shoe elevates the wearer as if they have been put on a pedestal. This gives the woman an increase in confidence not only because of several inches added to her height, but because high heels will get her significantly more attention, and even the act of putting them on will make them feel more sexy. There is an unusual balance of power and weakness in the wearing of high heels. The high heel shoe is the only object to gain the highest level of popularity in the fetish world. This is partly due to the fact that high heel shoes are like works of art in themselves, like small sleek curvy exotic sexy sculptures. They have always been in style, despite what some trendy fashion magazines may say, changing their minds every few months. Clothing items don't have the visual fetish appeal without the wearers body filling out the curves, but shoes stand on their own as coveted fetish objects. There are countless people who collect exotic high heel shoes worldwide. As a sculptor of giant and miniature high heel shoe sculptures, I find that my shoe sculptures get the most attention from the press and shoe devotees around the world. It also seems that red is by far the most popular fetish shoe color, but thats a whole different story. Bruce Gray http://www.tgtoday.com/makeupandfashion/highheels.html

Well, folks, makes me think a little about what's in the closet. How about you?

A Good Sunday...

2010-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

It is now nine days til our departure, and I have a ton of things to do. Most importantly, I need to send my grandson his birthday present! He will be three on the 17th, and I want to make sure he gets something from Nana and Papa.

We had a good day full of meetings. My Beloved taught Sunday School, preached the morning and evening services, and we were able to sing for both. I am always delighted to sing together as a family. It is one of my favorite things to do.

I have lots of work to prepare for the trip. Most importantly, however, there are folks we need to spend some time with before we leave, so this week is full of work during the day, and visiting in the evenings.