~One of my helpers...and some visitors~

~With helpers like this...anyone could get lots of packing done FAST..right?! =)  WRONG! =D
Mary has learned to climb into her walker and this morning she was just standing there...balancing on the top edge! =} I think she thinks she is "Super Woman" or "Super Mary" or something. =)~

~Mary climbing into the already packed suitcase!~

~Playing in my cabinet while I'm trying to make pumpkin scones and breakfast. 
In spite of my 2 Precious little "helpers" Jesus is helping us to get lots done.  I don't think we have ever had this much done 3 days before we are to fly. =)  I attribute it to Y'ALL'S PRAYERS!!!  THANK YOU!!!~

~Last weekend Kimberly and Sarah invited Nataly and Gaby over to our house to spend some time with them before we leave.  Since I have "just a tad on my plate" Phillip took us to the mall and bought us supper. [What a sweetheart!]  =)  Here's Kimberly and Nataly fixin' to eat!~

~Phillip, my friend Marisol, and I.  (I had somethings I had to give to her and since she lives right behind the mall she met us there.)

~Elijah, Sarah, Gaby, and Noah waiting for their food.~

~Nataly and Kimberly playing a game (There's our little helper again!=).~

~On Saturday morning Sarah knocked on my door and asked me to come downstairs.  She and Gaby had  fixed Breakfast for all of us.  =) (I had been awake for quite awhile, but was taking care of baby Mary.  I knew the girls had stayed up late to talk, so wasn't in a hurry to rush down and make breakfast.)~

~Noah snapped this picture of me in the kitchen making lunch/supper.~

~Sarah drug out  took all of her kitchen toys and her Bitty Baby doll outside and She and Gaby and a 12 year old neighbor girl (whose name is also Sarah) had fun playing together. The neighbor girl brought out this fun blue, red, and yellow sink/dish drain that you see on the table in front of Sarah.=)

How we are going to miss Nataly and Gaby and their precious family!  We are thankful that God has given our girls some good friends like Nataly and Gaby! =) 

( Nataly y Gaby...les queremos mucho!  Vamos a estar orando mucho por ustedes y su familia aqui en Colombia mientras estamos en Argentina!) 

Translation: Nataly and Gaby we love you both a lot! We are going to be praying a lot for y'all and your family here in Colombia while we are in Argentina! =)

~Fun Food Friday...Pumpkin Scones~

We feel your love and prayers and they mean so much!!  Our little bouncy Elijah has been very SICK the last couple of days, but he's getting some better, Praise the Lord!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A few days ago I was wishing I had a new recipe to make with Pumpkin Squash (Since I cannot find pumpkin here =) when my sister mentioned that she had just had a wonderfully yummy Pumpkin scone made by our dear Pastor's wife.  So, I told Laura that if she would post the recipe, I'd try it, and then link to her blog for my Fun Food Friday recipe.  =)  So, yesterday I made these wonderful scones and we loved them.  Since I didn't want to open my brand new bag of pecans that Laura had sent to me (for it's already packed in my suitcase to take to Argentina) we used mini choc. chips.  Delicious! =)  So, why not hop on over to Laura's blog and try her pumpkin scone recipe, I don't think you'll be disappointed!
~What a treat, a hot drink, and a pumpkin scone to eat!~

And as Always...Enjoy!!

~Praise in the Midst of Packing!~

~1. We are VERY GRATEFUL for such an awesome group of family and friends who love us and are praying for us...yes that means YOU! =)    Your prayers...They encourage us so much!

~2.Jesus is helping us. =)
~3. We're getting some things marked off our tiny HUGE to-do-list. =)
~4.  I'm winding down the packing for me.
~5. I'm nearly done packing for Mary, Elijah, and Noah.  The girls are doing their own packing.~
~6. Fun fall touches that cheer my heart. =)~

 ~A touch of orange in my kitchen. =)~

~7. I'm Thanking Jesus that He knows all about my magazines I want to arrive before I leave.  I'm trusting Him to work out what is best! =)
~8. Phillip has been looking on line and finding websites for houses that are for tourist to rent.  (Which means we shouldn't have the headaches of trying to find several people to co-sign, etc.) We are trusting Jesus to guide us to the right house in the area...where He wants us to try to touch lives for Him!
~9. We are grateful for our Dear Colombian Friends!
~10. That Mary is sleeping LOTS better at nights! =)
~11. That we still have 6 more days to try to get things done.
(Please keep praying as we try to fit everything in just one suitcase each (weighing 51 lbs), and some carry-ons (but Mary is only allowed a carry-on that weighs 12 lbs.). There is a charge of $17.00 for EACH POUND OVER!!!
The things we have to take include a keyboard, Kimberly's violin, our children's school books, clothes for 7 people for 3 seasons, etc. When we arrive in Argentina on Oct. 19th it will be Spring.  Christmas time will be summer there.  Before we leave in March it will turn to Fall.  Confused yet?  So am I. =)

~Talking from my heart~

I'm needing to make contact with Valerie Heskett.  There is a problem with email and my emails aren't getting through to her.  If any of you are in her Women of Worth group and could ask her to please write to me as soon as possible, I'd appreciate it tons! =)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just like when we arrived in Colombia we are heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina...not knowing anyone (but a couple that Phillip met when he was there a year ago.) We have no idea where we are going to live, if we'll have internet, if I'll even have an oven or if we'll celebrate Thanksgiving in a hotel room cooking on a one eye burner, how often we'll get to check our email, and update my blog. If I'll even be able to bake any recipes to post on "Fun Food Friday", etc. Phillip had planned to make another trip to Argentina before we all go....but that didn't work out this time.  So, for now we are planning on staying in the hotel where Phillip stayed, and then trying to look for a place to rent.  I'm sort of feelin' like Sarah must have when Abram broke the news to her that they were leaving their city...not knowing where they'd go. =) 

~A picture of Buenos Aires, Argentina...a city of 15 million souls!~

Now, I'm not telling you this to make you get out your hanky and dab at your eyes....I'm just talking from my heart and asking you to Pray with us that God will guide our every step.  =) Please pray that God will guide us as to where to live, what souls to touch for Him, etc. 

Phillip was just reading somewhere from a family that has moved a lot...that "unknown surroundings" can make a child feel insecure.  But, the writer went on to say that his wife does her very best to decorate, take the kids to the park, etc. to make them secure in who they are even in the midst of unknown surroundings! 

All that to say...that is one reason I do my best to decorate with flowers, make fun table settings, decorate for each season, and bake lots...for it really helps my family's hearts...and my heart too! =)

We are moving to Argentina on October 19th, Lord willing, but have tickets to return to Colombia in March to be here for some classes in the churches, and to work on some important Colombian papers.  We plan on still making trips into Colombia and working with the churches here for years to come!
These first steps of faith into a new country are hard...but we know that God is calling us and like He has done in Colombia, He will raise up a work in Argentina in His will and time.

I know that God will go before us/and with us...for He always has.  Our family is looking forward to this adventure!  We'll try to keep you posted as often as we can when we get to Argentina. Thank you for your prayers and your sweet comments...they mean A LOT to me/us!~                                                                        

 

~Our last time to buy Colombian flowers for awhile~

~My friend Marisol and I wanted to go the flower market one more time before I leave for Argentina. It was a beautiful day and I got lots of beautiful FALL-ISH flowers for super cheap. =) We had a special time reminiscing and shedding a tear or two in saying goodbye. =(
[Notice...I put my bag over my shoulder now and not on my stroller where it was when it got stolen. =( ]~

~I got 3 different kinds of mums.  Here are 2 of them together in an arrangement.~

~I Love these kind of flowers...too cute.~

~Some cat tails and some other kind of feathery leafy plant.~

~Marisol bought me the tall yellow flowers...called "Rabbits foot" I believe.  (Last time...She bought me the Billy Buttons which are drying nicely!).~

~A Closer look at the "Rabbits foot" flowers~

~I found fun little pumpkins there too.~

~For $1.50 I bought one more stem of orchids to enjoy in my aqua vase that I love and will miss. =)~

~Some fun sunflowers. ($1.50 for these too.=)~

~The other mums and some green mum-ish looking flowers...not sure if they are or not.  I put these in the kids bathroom since there is orange and lime green in their shower curtain.~

~I picked up this bunch of eucalyptus for 50 cents!  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but it smelled good and reminded me of the US.  (I rarely see this kind...for they normally have a different kind of eucalyptus here.)  When I got home I decided I wanted to make a fall wreath with it.  So I made this wreath...without a form, and without wire...but the Lord helped me and I had fun. =)  This mirror and wreath are on my side of our bed. [You can see Phillip's bedside table and flowers in the mirror behind the wreath.]  Our bedroom looks all fun and fall-ish and will help my heart as I pack for Argentina in the next few days. 

How we are going to miss Colombia.  Our home and our things, the beautiful flowers, but most of all the beautiful Colombian people whom we call our DEAR friends/family!!  Will you please pray  for:
Bro. Jimmy and Sis. Farly, and the church here in Bogota,
Bro. Rigoberto and Sis. Ilce and the church in Cartagena,
and Bro. Alberto and Sis. Alba and the church in Medellin?! Thank you!!!~
   
     

~Fun Food Friday...Buttery Soft Pretzels~

~Some years ago my sister gave me this recipe. I made it again the other night and we all enjoyed these yummy pretzels!~

~Buttery Soft Pretzels~
(Like Auntie Anne's from the mall)
Yields: 12 pretzels or 24 pretzel rods
Combine these ingredients and set aside to "work" for 10 mins.
4 t. yeast (or one pack),1 t. sugar, 1 1/4 cup warm water
 Meanwhile...In a large bowl mix these dry ingredients:
5 cups of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 t. salt.
Stir well and then make a well in the center of dry ingredients. Add 1 Tab. oil to yeast mixture and stir.
Pour into hole and knead dough. If dough is dry add 1-2 Tabs. water.
Knead dough approx. 5-8 mins. Place in lightly oiled bowl and turn once to coat top, cover and let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450.
When dough is ready.. Place a little less than 1/4 cup baking soda in 2 cups of VERY HOT water.
Make pretzels by rolling 12 pieces into 12" long ropes and shaping. (Or make pretzel rods.)
Then dip these into the baking soda water. Place on greased pan and sprinkle with large course salt.
Bake about 8 mins. or until light brown. Dip (or brush) with melted butter.
If you want some sweet ones you may sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the melted butter. If you prefer the salty taste, you may add more salt on top of the melted butter.  I did half sweet and half salty.
And as always...Enjoy!!                                                                                           

~Daddy got home...and a Birthday party for Mary~

Yea! Jesus brought Phillip home safely from Cartagena on Monday, Oct. 3rd! We try not to worry while he is gone....but we are always THRILLED to have him back home with us again! =) So after visiting with him for a little while, we left to go and buy the supplies to have a birthday party for Mary the next evening. We had invited a few Colombian friends over to help us celebrate. We would have loved to have had the whole church, but there was not room.
~ I had planned to decorate with different colors, but when I went shopping for the plates, cups, napkins, etc. the colors I wanted weren't there...but due to halloween, they had a lot of ORANGE! So, I changed my colors and decided to decorate with pink and orange. =) The Lord helped Kimberly and I make Mary's # "1" birthday cake and it turned out so FUN...exactly how I had pictured it. ~

~In case you can't read it...there is an "st" on the orange star...so with the "1" candle it spells "1st".~

~Looking at my scrapbooks while waiting for the last guests to arrive.~

~The kids table with a baby Mary peeking around Noah's chair. Phillip plans to post about these later...but our pastor's wife and husband from Medellin made the jeans skirts that Kimberly, Sarah, and I are wearing (and the shirt that Noah is wearing too)...as gifts to us. =)~

~We had a wonderful evening together.  I just served a simple meal.  My Mother-in-law's taco salad, a yummy punch, cake and ice cream.~

~Sorry, I was too busy dishing up plates to remember to take this picture when the punch bowl was full.  Jesus helped it be yummy...and I had to fill it up twice. =)~

~Mommy, Mary and her cake~

~We sang to Mary and clapped and Mary wasn't quite for sure WHY the celebration...but she grinned shyly and watched us clap.  =)~

~We also made a jello cake for Phillip and Bro. Jimmy's sake. =)~

~Mary enjoying some bites of her cake and ice cream.~

~Kimberly has taught Mary to say "Wow!"  So here she is saying, "Wow" over her nice gifts she received. =) Mary also says, "Gracias" (Thank you in Spanish!)  I hope to video her saying it some time.~

~And at last, she got to open her doll baby from Phillip and I.  We would have never guessed that she would have reacted so much.  She L.O.V.E.S. her doll.  The little bear that the doll is holding plays music.  When Phillip took her doll to take it out of the box for her, Mary began fussing. =)~

~Look at her sweet smile looking at her new dolly.~

~One happy Daddy with his 3 girls...with a cute smiling Elijah in the left hand corner. =)~

~I was happy to find this cute little outfit for Mary's birthday in our mall for a great price.  I love the cute little 1" tall piece of aqua piece sewn in at the neck, and the little orange belt in the skirt. =D It's got a cute little doggie, flowers, a hippo, and a purse on it.  The skirt is a tad long...but the blouse is a smaller size than the skirt (and they didn't have any other sizes), so I knew that she has to wear it now before she outgrows the matching blouse. =)

Thank you, Dear Jesus, for sending us our sweet Baby Mary!

~Mary enjoyed her first birthday!~

~Mary had a very Happy first birthday! On the morning of her birthday I made her/us homemade hashbrowns (or fried potatoes), scrambled eggs, and Ultra Choc. muffins. Elijah helped me put the little happy birthday pics in the muffins. [He's my right hand man now that our older 3 kids are doing schoolwork again. =)]~

~Mary got to sit in Elijah's high chair to eat her breakfast.  (I would move him out of there and let her have it, but when he eats...he E.A.T.S....and there is food everywhere. It's easier to clean up the high chair than the side of the tablecloth, the floor, the chair, etc. =)

~While we were eating breakfast we called and let Mary talked to Daddy (Phillip) since he was visiting our church in Cartagena and couldn't be with us for Mary's birthday. =(

~Kimberly and I made cookies and made a pinky/peachy icing and wrote "M" (for Mary) on some cookies and a "1" (for first birthday) on others and took them to church to pass out after church that night.~

~Baby Mary and her "big brother" Elijah. =)~

~Kimberly is holding a sleeping Baby Mary and Bro. Jimmy is holding her one little hand, and I'm holding her other hand and we are praying for her on her birthday...then afterwards we sang to her.  It was a special time. (Thank you, Bro. Edgar, for taking and sending me this picture.  Gracias, Hermano Edgar, por tomar y mandarme esta foto.)~

 ~Our church people were happy that Mary had had a birthday...for they got cookies.  =)~

Mary with her gifts.  A cute pink coat from Gramp and Gram, A Duckie that quacks from her brothers and sisters, and a toothbrush. (She also got a new casual outfit, her little white dress in her pictures, and she'll unwrap her baby doll from us when Phillip gets home.=)

~Sweet Snackin' Saturday...Apple Peanut Butter cookies~

Sorry that I'm just now posting...I've got a bad cold, so have been in bed most of the day today.  Thank y'all for your sweet comments on Baby Mary's pictures! =)
I know that our Heavenly Father has a lot of needs to meet on this Fall day...but I also know that He's not too busy to handle my little request!  We leave really soon for Argentina and I'm praying that my August, September, and October Better Homes and Gardens magazines come in before I leave.  (They are putting them in yellow envelopes now to help them not be so tempting to steal.)  Will you join me in asking God? ...my heart wants to take these magazines with me.  I know that my God is able! Thank you! =)

~The other day I saw this recipe in my inbox from Taste of Home...and thought they sounded good.  I made them...and we thought they were yummy!  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.  The crunchy peanut butter gives them a nice texture.~

~Apple Peanut Butter Cookies~

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening (I used butter)
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup grated peeled apple (I peeled and grated one large apple)

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in apple.
• Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.

  And as Always...ENJOY!