6 weeks until Africa

My mission trip to Botswana, Africa is ONLY six weeks away! I can hardly believe it! This time in six weeks we will be getting ready to leave.

So, what am I looking forward to on this trip you may ask? I have been giving this some thought lately and here is what I have come up with.

I know that this trip to Old Naledi in Botswana was prepared by the Lord. HE set this all up and HE made all the arrangements possible for me to be able to go. I just said, “Yes, Lord I will go.” He did all the rest. So, for the most part I am just looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me. I know that He will use me in whatever manner that He sees fit, but I have a feeling that I will be the one coming home on September 7 much more blessed than when I left.

I am really looking forward to working with these beautiful children half a world away. God has really given me a heart for children, and I know that my heart will melt when I finally am able to meet these children that I have been dreaming about. I can not wait! I am looking forward to playing games with them, telling them Bible stories and just sitting around with them and talking to them.

I have to say that I am also looking forward to going on the safari. I love, love, love animals and to be able to see these awesome African animals in the wild, will be the icing on the cake!

I would encourage all of you who may read this to please pray for our team of eleven. We leave out on Thursday, August 28th. Please pray that the Lord will make each of us ready for this awesome adventure of a lifetime.

Thank you in advance for your prayers!

Blessings,

Kim

 

Kim\’s music

A Great 4th of July

Our 4^thof July was a nice one. We went to my parent’s house on Lake Moultrie.

  My children were really looking forward to going out on the boat and going swimming. My husband and I got to bed very late the night before, so we got a late start leaving the house. We stopped at Wally world to pick up some Boca burgers for me since I can’t eat fried foods. We were having hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers; all of which I can’t eat because of my really bad IBS stomach problems.

We finally got to my parents house and the kids were disappointed to learn that they wouldn’t be able to go out on the boat that day. The water level in the lake had gone down so much that the water in the canal behind my parent’s house was too low to get the pontoon boat out. They have not gotten enough rain to keep up with the high temperatures. It was a really hot day and my kids were disappointed because they couldn’t go swimming. My brother drove down from Charlotte to spend the night with my parents and celebrate the 4^th with us.

I have been making stepping stones for years now, and before now I have never used a band saw to cut out my stained glass for my stones. My mom has a band saw and a grinder (made especially for cutting stained glass). She is the one that got me started in making the stepping stones. That afternoon she let me use her band saw and her grinder to cut some blue stained glass pieces for a stepping stones I was making for my first paying customer.

It was an experience learning to use the band saw, but it didn’t take me long to get the hang of it. It was a little tricky learning to do curve pieces on it though. The grinder has got to be my favorite because I can make the edges of the glass smooth. Those two pieces of equipment knocked off so much of the prep time it takes to make a stepping stone. I got very spoiled using them.

I took a break for an early dinner and my all soy Boca burger was very, very good. I was very surprised. I had never had one before. I was very excited by the fact that my stomach was not upset that afternoon after eating.

Later in the evening my husband and the kids drove down the street and picked out some fireworks. They came back to my parent’s house and we all sat out front and watched him light them. They were very cool. My son and I lit a bunch of sparklers. My youngest daughter sat in the back of my brother’s Expedition with her ears covered because of the noise. She had company with my parents black lab Bucky. He does not like loud noises like thunder, and fireworks. We had a great time with the fireworks.

After the fireworks we all went back inside for a snack. We finally left my parent’s house headed home a little after 11 o’clock. We had not gotten far down the road when both of my youngest two children fell asleep in the back seat. I had put a pillow and two blankets back there before we left home for the ride back. I figured that they would fall asleep on the way home.

Needless to say that my three dogs, which had been locked up in ‘their’ room (our laundry room) were very excited to see us when we got home. They were also very happy to go outside. I am sure they had been doing the potty dance in ‘their’ room for awhile before we got home. They don’t ‘go’ in there, so that is a good thing to come home to. 99.9% of the time they hold it until we let them out. Even if we have been gone all day like we were that day.

Our 4^th was a very nice day. I am glad that we are living so close to family again that we can spend time like this with them.

I hope that your 4^th was a special one. Have a terrific week this week.

 

Blessings,

Kim

 

Aaron Robert Eilerts, One Outstanding Boy Scout

 

Aaron Robert Eilerts, age 14, was one of the four Boy Scouts killed when a tornado swept through the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Humbolt, Iowa last Wednesday evening, June 11th, 2008.

Aaron, the only son of Bob and Carol Eilerts, joined the Humbolt-based Boy Scout Troop 108 three years ago when his family moved to the area from West Point, Nebraska.  According to the article on The Messenger’s web site:  Eilerts founded a project called Pillowcases for Patients, sewing individual pillowcases for children admitted to Wright Medical Center, as well as other hospitals and clinics in central Iowa. He also reportedly dropped some pillowcases off at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., while on vacation.

The article goes on to say,  Aaron made wind chimes for people, helped at the Senior Center and assisted with bingo at the Rotary Ann Retirement Community. Active in school, Eilerts participated in football, track, band, track, choir and art. In addition, he sang in musical productions at his church and assisted with Bible school classes.
“He really gets his hands in a lot of things,” said the Rev. Paul Lippstock of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eagle Grove where Eilerts worshipped. “One of the words to use to capture Aaron, if you wanted to do it in one word — happy.”

Brave is another word. Carla Kem, pastoral associate at Sacred Heart, told those assembled that, from what she heard, Eilerts was covering and protecting those in his charge when the tornado swept through.

“We’ve been blessed to have Aaron in our lives,” she said, “and his memory will live on.”

Eilerts’ death has impacted everyone he knew.

“All we can do now is support the family and the troop,” said Cari Feldmann, Twin Lakes District executive. “The boys in Humboldt are tight-knit. Scouts are always tight-knit, but 108 is as tight as you come. Many of them have been together since they were 6 years old.”

Aaron was one of three Humbolt Scouts attending the Pahuk Pride Junior Leadership Training camp. He attended the camp last year and was serving as a staff member this year. Officials said Scouts who attend Pahuk Pride learn leadership skills and team building techniques. They also learn to become mentors for younger Cub Scouts and other members in their own troop. Participants must be recommended by their Scoutmaster.

‘‘These boys are the cream of the crop,’’ Feldmann said.

Aaron Robert Eilerts was one OUTSTANDING Boy Scout. He will not be forgotten. I will be praying for his family. Please join me.

Blessings,

Kim

The Rev. Paul Lippstock leads Humboldt’s Troop 108 in the Lord’s Prayer Thursday for troop member Eilerts, who was killed Wednesday evening when a tornado struck the Little Sioux Scout Ranch.

Happy Father’s Day

Today is Father’s Day and I wanted to take a minute to remember some really important men in my life. First I have my father. He lives in Florida. Unfortunately growing up he was not a part of my life, even though he lived in the same town. My parents divorced when I was 8, in the third grade. When my parents divorced I only saw my father a few times after they divorced, not consistently. I grew up angry and bitter at my father. I wrote him really nasty, and mean letters. All of which went unanswered.  When I was 19 and gave birth to my daughter I went to go see him to show him his gran-daughter. I tried to be a part of his life again. The last time I saw him was when my oldest daughter was four years old, and that was 16 and a half years ago. I have since been back in touch with him, via letters, e-mail and the phone. I have through God’s grace and His forgiveness, been able to forgive my father and have a relationship with him. So, I would like to say to my father, Happy Father’s Dad.

Now I want to talk about my step-father Ralph. This is a funny, but very cool story. (ALL true) When I was going into the fifth grade my brother, my mom and I moved into our home in Goose Creek, South Carolina. I loved next door to my step-father and his four sons. He was a single father raising all these boys. There was Jody, now age 39; Jamie, now aged 38; Daniel, now aged 36 or 37 I am not sure; and David, now aged 35-36 again I am not sure.  Anyhow, we kids were all about the same age. My brother and I grew up with Ralph’s sons. When I was 18, and a senior in high school we moved to North Charleston, but I continued to go to my high school with Ralph’s boys through my senior year.  It was about two months before my oldest daughter was born when my mom “re-met” Ralph (my step-father). They started dating and married in April of 1989. So, when they married I gained another 4 brothers, all of whom I already knew well.

My step-father has always been there for me and my family. He has loved us unconditionaly and did anything he could to help us. He has went out of his way, numerous times to help us and show us how much he loves and accepts us, just for us. He has never treated me or my children, unkind, or anything but like family. He loves my children like his own grandchildren. He is their Papa, and they know no difference. I am so thankful that the Lord brought Ralph into all of our lives, mainly for my mother. She has worked her whole adult life to support her two children, sometimes having to work more than one job. I have seen her dog dead tired yet she would go on to her second job to provide for us. Now, she is blessed to be able to stay at home. Ralph treats my mother like a queen. He treats her with so much love and loyalty, its awesome to see. I am blessed when I get to spend time with them.

I went yesterday with my youngest daughter to my mom and Ralph’s house. We went for the day. They live about an hour and a half away from me on the lake. We had a great time just hanging out. I got to see my step-brother Jamie, his girlfriend Rita and a friend from our old neighborhood, who I graduated high school with. I saw Steve and his two daughters. I had not seen Steve in ten years. It was good to see everyone and just hang out.

I am so blessed to have a loving and wonderful father and a terrific and loving Dad in Ralph. He has always treated me like his daughter.

I have one other Father I want to talk about. My Heavenly Father. Without Him, I would not be able to go on each day. My Heavenly Father is ALWAYS there for me, no matter what. He is always listening, ALWAYS with me, and knows my past and loves me despite my mistakes. My Heavenly Father KNOWS my future and how I am going to mess up and loves me despite the mistakes I will make. He knows my heart and He knows my desires. I am so blessed that God gives me grace each and every day. I am so blessed that my joy and hope comes from HIM, who gives me life.

Psalm 139:1-19 Are my favorite verses about how God, MY HEAVENLY FATHER knows me!

   ¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

    ² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

    ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

    ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

    ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

    ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

    ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

    ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

    ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

    ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

    ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,”

    ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

    ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

    ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

    ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

    ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

    ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

    ¹⁸ Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

Thank you God for blessing me with two humanly fathers. Thank you for their love in my life. I praise you God because you loved me, even when I was unworthy of being loved.

Have a blessed Father’s Day!

Blessings,

Kim

 

Brave Boy Scouts In Iowa

There are some very brave Boy Scouts in Iowa. I would like to publicly tell them how proud I am of them in how they reacted after this horrible tornado hit their camp. Can you imagine what they heard, and saw? They must have been really scared, but after the tornado left, they jumped into action and started helping out. How awesome is that?

All 93 Boy Scouts who were at an Iowa Boy Scout camp in Iowa on Wednesday when a killer tornado hit, were attending a week long leadership training session, and had taken part in a mock emergency drill with 25 staff members just a day before the twister hit, according to the article I read this morning on MSNBC news on-line.  The 1,800-acre camp is in the Loess Hills in westernmost Iowa, close to the Nebraska line, about 40 miles north of Omaha

According to the article, “They knew what to do, they knew where to go, and they prepared well,” Roitstein said. Dozens of the Scouts, ages 13 to 18, were hailed for their bravery and resourcefulness in the moments after a twister flattened their camp.

“There were some real heroes at this Scout camp,” Gov. Chet Culver said, adding that he believes the Scouts saved lives while they waited for paramedics to cut through the trees and reach the camp a mile into the woods.

I was so blessed to learn about these brave Boy Scouts in the article I read this morning. May we as parents and Scout Masters, continue to teach our Boy Scouts the essentials so they can continue to help others.

Have a blessed weekend.

Blessings,

Kim

 

Eight-year-old Cub Scout Baileigh Rohde holds a candle

during a candlelight vigil in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday,

for the four Boy Scouts killed after a twister flattened

their camp in Iowa Wednesday night.

 

 

 

 

Killer Tornado in Iowa

 

I read in horror this morning about four people killed last night at Little Sioux Scout Ranch, in the Loess Hills in BLENCOE, Iowa during a horrible tornado. My heart sank as I learned that the four that died were all Boy Scouts. 

 The article I read on the MSNBC News web site, said the twister Wednesday night set off a frantic search to reach others in the piles of debris and downed trees in the hills of western Iowa. Forty-eight children and adults were injured. Gov. Chet Culver described the devastation as “horrific.”

My heart goes out to the families of the Boy Scouts who perished in this tornado. Three of the victims — Josh Fennen, 13; Sam Thomsen, 13; and Ben Petrzilka, 14 — were from Omaha. Officials said the fourth victim was Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

14 year old Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa

• THIS PART UPDATED ON 6-16-08:
•  Friends of the Boy Scouts killed were interviewed on Larry King Live the other night. This is what the friends were interviewed about:

 Each told of what they liked to to do, and Larry asked about the family members they had left.  Each friend gave details of brothers and or sisters left.  When he got to Aaron, he got the details of what Aaron did, and when he asked the question as to his family, Larry had to turn his head away from the camera to keep from breaking up on camera as the boy replied respectfully, Sir, he was an only child.

Here is a link to the local paper detailing all what Aaron has done. Please keep Aaron’s mother and father in your prayers, they, along with the other parents of boys killed they must be feeling horrible.  

http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/506520.html?nav=5010&showlayout=0

• Thank you to John Speck who passed along this message about the interview with Larry King live.

I think that I am especially touched by this story because my eleven year old son is a Boy Scout and will be going to Boy Scout camp for the first time in a month. I know that the chance of this happening is rare. That’s not what bothers me. I am moved by this story because these young men were Boy Scouts, and about like my son’s age.

 It just really hits home, that this type of tragedy can hit anywhere, at anytime. God does NOT promise us tomorrow.

The article I read said that the governor had this to say about other scouts who were there helping.

Culver paid tribute to the Scouts who came to the aid of their injured colleagues, describing them as “the real heroes of this story.”

Boy Scout clothing lays in the rubble.

“I’m very proud of the young men who were up there who were able to help the Scouts in need,” he told TODAY. “I think lives were saved.”

Please be praying for the families of the four young men that died and for all the families with injured loved ones.

Have a blessed weekend.

Blessings,

Kim

 

Just Plain Hot!

I live in South Carolina, and even though it is not ‘officially’ summer yet, it sure does feel like it. Temperatures last week have already hit 100 degrees, with more high temperatures in the high 90’s expected for this week. It is suppose to be 99 tomorrow and later this week.  If you add in the HIGH humidity, then it feels a LOT hotter than 99!

This is so crazy! I know that if the heat is already this bad now, at the beginning of June, then it is going to be a LONG, hot summer!

I do NOT like the heat. I so dislike being hot! I don’t mean to complain, but I just get cranky when I am hot and sweaty. I do not like to sweat, it makes me feel so unladylike.

I have had to limit my youngest two children’s time playing outside already. When they do go outside to play, I make sure that they have a big water bottle with ice water. I make them take frequent breaks inside too.

I have three dogs that are inside dogs and I have also been limiting their time outside because of this heat. When they come inside, it seems like it takes them a long time to cool off.

So, what do you do to stay cool during the summer? What kinds of plans do you have this summer with this heat so high and the prices of gas and just about everything else going up?

We have no plans for summer. With one income, two car payments and homeschooling our children, we don’t have the extra money to take vacations, especially with the high price of gas. Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed to be ABLE to stay home to teach my children. I am grateful to stay home, I am not complaining. We chose for me to stay home, but in doing so, we make sacrifices that sometimes are not fun.

My son is going to church camp and Boy Scout camp, but that is about it. I am going at the end of August on my mission trip to Africa. Other than that, we have no plans. We try not to drive anywhere we don’t need to save gas, and I don’t drive my truck anywhere off base because of its low gas mileage. It doesn’t get very good gas mileage. I drive my Ford Fusion instead because it gets great gas mileage.

Well, I just wanted to vent a little about this crazy heat and again on the high price of gas. I pray that you have a blessed week.

Blessings,

Kim

 

High Gas Prices?

 

We think the gas prices here in the United States are bad? Click here to read the article I read on MSNBC news on-line.

Gas prices are affecting just about everyone across the world. I guess I had not stopped long enough to think about how it is affecting those in other countries. This is a world wide problem people, and I have no idea how this is going to play out.

Yesterday, the price of a barrel of oil jumped $11 in ONE day,  clearing $139, dragging the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 400 points and raising the once-unthinkable prospect of $150 oil and even higher gas prices by the Fourth of July .That is an all time high. The day before it rose $5.50 a barrel.

We thought that the prospect of $4 a gallon is just extreme? In France gas is $10 a gallon and in Turkey $11 a gallon. Drivers world wide are now hitting back by staging protest and finding other ways means of transportation. Click here to see a slide show of world wide protests fromMSNBC’s on-line news page.

This has really opened my eyes to this growing problem, and I now fully realize how BIG of a problem this is. I will be praying for some changes.

Have a blessed weekend.

Blessings,

Kim

 

‘Dry Drowning’ Death in South Carolina

A ten year old boy died on Sunday evening after having gone swimming that afternoon with his family. This young boy had never been swimming before. Sometime during his time in the pool he got water in his lungs.  He didn’t show any immediate signs of respiratory distress, but the boy had an accident in the pool and soiled himself. A few hours later he died in his bed.  Click here to read the entire article.

Have you every heard of a child dying of something called, ‘dry drowning?’ I have never heard of this type of drowning, so I thought I would read up on it and share with you what I found out. This is what I found out about ‘dry drowning’ on Web MD.

• What is dry drowning?

Dry drowning is basically drowning without water. With dry drowning, you are not drowning from an immediate immersion in water; it is more of a delayed effect of a small amount of water in the lungs. This can cause result in laryngospasms, which minimize the amount of water aspirated into the lungs. Respiratory arrest may follow, leading to an inadequate supply of oxygen in the blood, cardiac arrest, and eventually brain death.

Several other mechanisms can cause dry drowning, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is an acute, severe injury to most or all of both lungs or electrolyte abnormalities resulting from a dilution of the blood after aspirated water is absorbed into the blood, leading to heart rhythm abnormalities.

• How long after an incident is there a risk for dry drowning?

Dry drowning usually occurs between one hour and 24 hours after an incident. A person can have a drowning incident, be pulled out of the water, be OK, and then sometime within the next 24 hours, they can dry drown.

• Are there any risk factors for dry drowning?

Yes, there are risk factors and situations in which dry drowning may be more likely, such as if the child is not a good swimmer or a first-time swimmer. Children and adults with underlying lung problems such as asthma may also be at increased risk for dry drowning. To prevent an incident, use common sense and never let inexperienced swimmers in the pool without a lot of supervision.

• Is dry drowning rare?

Drowning is a huge problem. About 4,000 people drown each year and 1,400 of these are children. Some 10% to 15% of all drowning deaths are classified as dry drowning by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

• Are there any red flags that suggest a person is at risk for dry drowning?

Yes, there are some signs that a person may have a dry-drowning episode. They include persistent coughing, shortness of breath, or pain in chest. All of those things are signals that something could be wrong. If someone comes out of the water and coughs for a minute, then calms down — that is much different than if the child keeps coughing or complaining of pain. Like the child involved in the incident in South Carolina, a change in mental status and/or lethargy may also indicate that something is wrong.

• What should you do if you think a child is at risk?

This is not something that can be handled by a parent. Call a doctor or bring the child to an emergency room if there are signs of dry drowning following a near-drowning incident.

• Can dry drowning be treated?

Yes. If it is caught early, dry drowning can be treated. The treatment involves supplying oxygen to the lungs and getting the breathing process restarted.

 

As parents it is important that we teach our children to be safe around water, and this includes swimming lessons. I hope you learned something by reading this post.

Have a blessed weekend.

Blessings,

Kim

 

Girlie Wisdom…. Very Funny

Women over 50 don’t have babies because they would put them down and forget where they left them.

A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills… she has 14 kids but doesn’t really care.  

One of life’s mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

 

 My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

 

The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you are doing, someone else does.

 

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my shorts.

Amazing!  You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

Skinny people irritate me!  Especially when they say things like… ‘You know sometimes I forget to eat!’ ……

Now I’ve forgotten where I parked my car, my mother’s maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat.  You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

I read an article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding?  That’s my idea of a beautiful day!

LIVE SIMPLY…..LAUGH OFTEN….LOVE DEEPLY