To get you thinking....

So....

I was browsing blogs and sites for service ideas in preparation for our coming Winter Retreat.

Alot of sites have the same thing, just in case you were wondering.

But, I did come across some that sounded crazy and fun, and got me thinking about my neighborhood :)

• A Bicycle Rodeo to help children learn bicycle safety (! I've never seen a bicycle rodeo, but it sure sounds creative!)
• Couduct a clothing repair or sewing workshop
• Read a book to a younger kid or elderly person
• Conduct an Easter Egg hunt (hmmmm....a park across the street....local kids....very workable!)
• Create a poison awareness campaign
• Organize a "get acquainted" lunch with neighbors
• Prepare a whole home cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter
• Bake a batch of cookies to share
• Set up reading hour, where you visit a homeless shelter once a month, read aloud, and then leave the books behind

These ideas were from the 4H club in Lancaster

Sunday Events

This week is quite full of fun events!

Saturday I went with friends on our Bemidji Tour.

Sunday, we had fellowship dinner at church, and then M. and I drove down to Brainerd to attend their 10th anniversary celebration where we had singing, stories, memories, musical specials, and keg rootbeer afterwards.

Sunday night was nice so we went out for ice cream with friends.

Monday night we had to say goodbye to the Johnsons as they head back home. Then we had some co-workers over for supper.....we made Chili Chicken and Fried Rice, and they brought a yummy dessert called Pistachio Bars.

And we have more guests and activities coming up! It's time to make a list so I don't forget to do certain things (like grochery shop! ha ha)

Tonight should be fun

I'm really looking forward to tonight! Our neighbor and friend is coming over, for supper and playing and study. Mathew and Dana study, Mikayla and I play. Our normal activities include doing dishes and then playing dolls. Tonight I have some extra special projects that need to be done, and will fit just perfectly with little hands too!

Some things to look forward too:

• Making homemade parmesan pretzels.
• Make gingerbread cookies for Mathew's work tomorow
• Making an upsidedown tomato planter
• Making some birthday and wedding cards

Visitors

Last Saturday we had some Mormon's stop by our house on their "neighborhood calls." Not being the brave one, I don't usually tend to pursue much of a conversation with them. But, an article I read in an old Discipleship Journal, has really changed and challeneged me to trust God more, and see people as people.


I tried finding the article online so I could link it for you and you could read it for yourselves, but it's not available.


Basically, it's called "I was the MORMON next door." And is about how a mormon was converted by the simple and consistent witness of his neighbor. In fact, Edward (the mormon) was hoping to convert Bob (his neighbor), but God used Bob to reach him instead. In the article, he shares what worked to reach him, and how we need to not be afraid, but pray and reach out to Mormons too.


Here are some of the Key elements he encouraged:


Prayer Points - Edward Kelly Jr.

"Bob regularly prayed Acts 26:18 for me. Here are other scriptural prayers to pray for your Mormon friends.

• That the Holy Spirit would bring conviction and repentance (Jn 6:44, 16:7-8, 2 Cor 7:10)
• That God would open their ears and eyes (Is 42:7, 50:4-5, Mt 13:13-15, 2 Cor 4:4-6)
• That God would prepare their hearts to receive the Word (Mt 13:1-9, Lk 24:45. Acts 16:14)
• That God would shape events in their lives for a divine encounter (Acts 17:26, 27)

Also, pray for God to protect you and your families and those ministering/reaching out....the devil isn't just going to stand by idly and watch!

• Psalm 91
• Ps 27:1,3-5, 46:1-11, 62:5-7
• Eph 6:10-19
• Rev 12:10-11" - Edward Kelly Jr.

Another section that he wrote about was key verses to use with Mormons:

• Scripture is the final authority (Is 8:20, Acts 17:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• There is only one God (Dt 4:35,39, 6:4, 1 Chron 17:20, Is 43:10-12, 44:6-8, 45:5-6,18,21-22, Gal 4:8)
• God is eternal and unchanging (Num 23:19, Dt 33:27, Ps 41:13, 90:2, 106:48, Is 40:28, 44:6,8, 45:18,21, Jer 10:10, Hos 11:9, Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8, Jas 1:17)
• Jesus is God (Is 9:6, Mic 5:2, Jn 1:1-2,14-15,8:58, 17:5, 20:28, Rev 1:8)
• We are saved by grace (Jn 1:12, Ro 3:20-28, 5:1, 10:8-13)

He made sure we realized it was God's doing, God's timing, God's words, God's choice! The important thing is to stay in prayer, be in God's word, and practice gentleness and respect. Let God do His work through you.

Have any of you had experiences with Mormons?

I pray that you keep an open heart and courage for Christ....and please keep us in your prayers too!

Thanks,

Emily

Hospitality

My sister gave me this funny book for my birthday. The sub-title gave me the giggles when I saw it, and I looked forward to reading it.

Well, I have since read it, and I really really liked it. First off, I liked their dictionary definition of Hospitality:

"Being disposed to entertain with generous kindness."

It was a great book of encouragement and little tips to practice having guests in your home, enjoying them, and they enjoying you (by you not being too flustered or busy). Here are some of the points:

• Prepare your menu ahead of time, shop a couple days before or a day before, to leave yourself time for prep.


• Take time to freshen up before the guests come, and greet them at the door


• Don't leave your guests while you finish up last minute serving/details....share the time with those you've invited over, by sharing tasks with the host (you are the hostess), making sure one of you is always present.


• Enjoy your time....plan some games or stories for set-backs/lags in the time. Smile. Laugh.


• Keep your meals simple and delicious

Then, interspersed throughout the book were all sorts of recipes and tips....not all of which I really thought sounded delicious....I mean, I'm not really up for making Olive Creamed Potatoes or Charcoal Grilled Rock Lobster Tails....but some others were manageable.

M. and I love having people over. It definitely has been a crash course for me in cooking sometimes....as I'm learning how to cook Vegetarian, Vegan, Lactose Intolorant, All-American, Indian, Asian, and African. But it's been fun. And I've gained confidence that we can invite any and every one over and have something I can cook to eat. (You'd think with all these recipes I'd know what to cook every night for supper!!)

Another book I've read and enjoyed, is The Hospitality Commands.

And while I was looking for this book on CBD, I found a WHOLE PAGE of books on that subject....look! I'm going to look at the library for a couple of them......

I'm thankful for the example of hospitality set by so many families as I've grown up.... my family, the williams, the cobbs, my sis & bro in law, my in-laws, Ula, my aunt and uncle, and so many more! I've loved watching and learning, and look forward to growing in this area.....because I do have a lot to learn. I still find myself getting flustered when company is coming...which isn't very relaxing to be around....and I get easily upset if the food doesn't turn out right....and I'm not always good at conversation.....but it's nice to have encouragement through others and good books and prayer!

What are some of your favorite Hospitality Tips?

And just for kicks...here is one of my favorite desserts to serve:

Chocolate Chip Blondies

• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter (melted)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c. chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla just until blended. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to brown sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread into a greased 13x9 inch pan.

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut.

Ula's House

Last night we went to visit Ula. We made a yummy soup and potatoe dish for supper, and ate lemon cake for dessert.

We also went out to clean her outhouse, getting ready for this Friday.

While we were cleaning, we heard a cat start meowing and meowing. It took us a while to find it, but when we finally looked up, it was on top the shed!

It was quite a talkative little guy, and by the time we got him down, he was purring and purring.

We both liked him alot, and he seemed to like us too! We fed him a little leftovers, but by the time we were ready to go home, he was gone. Hopefully he's okay.

While we were there, Ula gave me this nice list of things to do with kids:

• Home made paint --- 1 t. water, 1 t. dishwashing soap, 1/2 t. coloring
• Finger Paint - 2 T. salt, 2 1/2 cups cold water. Stir and add to 2 c. boiling water. Beat until smooth and thick...add coloring and stir.
• Dolls from spools - Use amrkers to make faces. Glue on yarn for hair and fabric scraps for clothes.
• Hide a timer and have kids look for it.
• Have them close their eyes - then guess sounds, blow a whistle, drop a spoon, jingle spoons or coins, clap hands.
• Find five things blue, yellow, red etc
• Line up chairs for a "bus ride"
• Mystery bag - guess what is in it
• Table cloth - put on hand prints and scripture verses
• For small children - tear pieces of colored paper to stick on a vase or card board for a picture
• Learn to braid from a door knob
• Wire coat hanger - tie strips of different strips of colored fabrics

What we did Saturday

We have 6 students through the Internationl Family Friends program at BSU. This semester has been pretty busy for us all, so we planned a "fun day."

We invited them all over to our house for a full day, Saturday. They called us once they got up, and we went and picked them up. (Not all 6 could make it that day though, only 4)

We ate potatoe chips and clementines while playing Compatibility.

Then we cooked: Chick Pea Curry and Chicken Rendang and Papadams.

The curry didn't cook fast enough for us, but we ate it any way. (Though I must admit I got a little discouraged that it didn't turn out and so was quiet for a while)

Our neighbors had this very nice apple tree that I saw, so we tried to get a hold of them to ask if we could pick some apples. It took us 4 tries!

While we were waiting, we went to Walmart and had to drop 2 students off for work.

After we came back, we got some apples.

We cut them up and got them ready for applesauce. And we started making Caramel Popcorn.

M. went to the store and got vegetarian pizza and pop. Then we ate popcorn, pizza, and watched a really neat movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Our day ended around 10:00pm. It was actually really fun.

We hope to go to Itasca State Park next.

National Night Out

Today is National Night Out. I meant to publish this a little earlier, but I forgot.

We won't be able to do anything this year but here are some ideas I came up with before I knew that.

7:00pm

• Have an Ice Cream Social Night

I thought we could pass out invitations to our neighbors for a Family Ice Cream Night. Starting around 7pm, families could come, bearing their favorite ice cream topping. We'd provide the ice cream and cones/bowls (for later).

• Name Tags

Make sure to meet and greet everyone (isn't that the point of the get together anyway...to get to know your neighbors?)

• Neighborhood Map

Have a general sketch of our neighborhood so kids and their parents can pick out which house is theirs.

7:15pm

• Safety Talk

I was hoping to get our local police department or fire department to stop by and help out this night. I thought maybe they could do a short saftey talk to kids and parents.

• Fingerprinting
• Picture

It is recommended that you have a current photo of your kid, in case they go missing. Fingerprints also help. While the Police Dept never got back to me (it was County Fair time), I think they could help out with that sort of thing.

7:40pm

• Scavenger Hunt

I was going to make up a scavenger hunt list for our surrounding neighborhood....to help us all get familiar with the alleys, houses, layout, etc. I would've included things to see or pick up like Rock from Old High School, House with Red Door, Yard with Morning Glory Tents, Dog with black spots, Wood chip from playground, Green Leaf from tree at and of street, House number of last two houses on so-and-so block, etc I would have them work in family teams.

8:00

• Ice Cream!
• Take home Safety Kits

I was hoping Target would help out with the items for a safety kit.

8:30pm

• Flashlight Walk

I was hoping to find a local business that would donate flashlights for this.

Other Resources:

• Neighborhood Safety Tips (pdf)
• Child ID Kits (pdf)
• Home Security Checklist (pdf)
• Safety Pledge Award (pdf)
• Lock Crime Out brochure (pdf)
• National Crime Prevention website
• National Night Out homepage
• National Center for Missing Children homepage
• Teaching Stop, Drop, and Roll to young kids (pdf)

Other Games/Ideas:

• Have a family injury relay
• Fire Escape Route obstacle course
• Puppet Show
• Give out Energy Light Bulbs (donation?)
• Give out smoke alarm batteries (donation?)
• Fireman talk
• Ham Radio operator come and demonstrate
• Red Cross do something
• BBQ (for smaller neighborhood)