Time Adventures: Secure your future with the past

Another Vacation Bible School has come and gone.  It's hard to believe this was my 11th VBS!  This year, I had the privilege of having my older 2 children be in the skit.  I think they both were in for a surprise when they realized how much work goes into it and what I required of my cast.  I also think they enjoyed themselves.

Before we could start, we had to train all of the time leaders and time cadets in order to prepare for the mission.  We learned the routes the teams would be taking, became familiar with each time era, and sung songs.  We also saw the craft, played the games, and taste-tested some food.  All went well and we were ready for time travelers to board the mission.

This year, we centered our theme around time traveling.  Mark Lindsted did chalk talks for the lesson each night.  These along with singing, the skit, and handing out rewards all took place in the time machine.  Mark took our time travelers to different times as he taught them about sin, death, and salvation.

The time travelers first had to register with mission control so we knew who was present for traveling through time that night.  We also made sure each team leader had their necessary information and destination plans.  We had teams of astronauts, cowboys, gladiators, and knights.  We also had the mighty midgets/minions who weren't quite old enough to join the other time travelers.  There was also a new group: time cadets.  They were leaders in training, learning the ropes of the different areas and helping out when needed.

When stepping out of the time machine, the time travelers would then travel through the time warp.  They could end up playing games in the coliseum or making a craft somewhere in the future.  Later, they went to the library of time and learned a Bible verse.  They also got to sit in the Garden of Eden and enjoyed a delicious snack.

1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.

After traveling to each time, the time travelers then traveled back through the time warp to the time machine where they could watch the skit.

The skit was called Your Time, My Time, No Time.  Dr. Horace Perrin and his assistant Dr. Macy Saniya invented a time machine.  However, before they could test it out, their childhood friend, Zaman Early stopped by, pushed a couple buttons, and several people from different times appeared in the lab.

Throughout the week, the scientists and Zaman talked to Adam and Eve, Synclair Brede who was a passenger on the Titanic, Ellema Ham who owns the barn in which the Great Chicago Fire started, Dmitri Fonda who was an astronaut from the future on his way to Mars, Serina Norris who was a nurse at Pearl Harbor, Saul the Pharisee who would later become known as Paul the Apostle, Albert Einstein, Rahab, Samantha Simon who was a missionary from the future, the Roman Soldier at the cross of Jesus, Mary the mother of Jesus, John the writer of 5 books of the Bible, and Deirdre Townsend who was a Christian living during the Tribulation period.  Oh, they also saw younger versions of themselves who they tried to avoid as this was a delicate time paradox.

Due to a family emergency, the astronaut could not be here so we found a quick replacement who learned his lines and fit in his costume!  The Lord provides!  From what I heard, people really enjoyed the skit.  We had at least 70 children in total attend, averaging between 55 and 60 kids each night!  There were also a few parents and other family members who came Friday for family night.  Praise the Lord!!!

Even though I'm incredibly busy during VBS season, I love it.  I get to see how God uses various members of the body of Christ to come together and serve Him and bring His good news to others.  We continue to pray that the many seeds that were planted will grow and souls will be saved.

How can he be 14?

Last week, my son turned 14!  I remember when I couldn't wait to turn 14, and now my son is that age.  Time really does fly!  His birthday landed on a Wednesday.  He chose our meals and activities for the day.  Originally, he just wanted to stay home and play video games all day, but he changed his mind and decided he wanted to go swimming instead.  I called up some friends who own a pool, and they invited a couple other kids we knew, and we enjoyed an afternoon at their pool!

He joined us a couple weeks earlier than we expected, but there were no complaints!  After many many hours of labor, he made his appearance.  And since this was a very small town in which he was born, he was the only baby there.  Although, I think there was another woman in labor at some point.  Only 2 baby beds were in the nursery.  Very. Small. Town.

He is the typical oldest child.  He has always been very well behaved (enter teenage years...haha).  He is a perfectionist and works hard at everything he does.  When little sister came along, he discovered his rebellious side and went along with her schemes on occasion.  Then, other times, he knew not to join her because he is very obedient and hates being in trouble.  He has been an amazing big brother to both of his little sisters.  They might not agree with me on that.  But, I don't think they could ask for a better big brother.

Even though he was obedient and lived to please his parents, he was still a sinner headed to hell.  He realized his need for a Savior at a very young age and decided to follow Christ.  He often prays for the salvation of those who have not yet come to Christ as Savior.  He continues to grow in his faith and be a light in his school.

He has excelled in school, getting almost straight A's for the last 2 years of public schooling.  He was voted to be the JV commander of the JROTC drill team.  He led his team to top places throughout the season.  He also competed on the varsity team which qualified to compete in the National middle school JROTC competition, but they were unable to attend this year.  He also ran cross country and plans to continue next fall.

Seth was able to come home at lunch so we could open presents while he was home.  We had fun swimming, then we ate out at HuHot for supper.  Afterwards, we went to prayer meeting, as we do every Wednesday.  And since it is VBS season, we practiced the skit.  J and K are both in the cast this year!

When we came home, we had cake and ice cream to finish the day of celebrating.  We all enjoyed the day with him.

He is growing into an amazing young man.  He is kind, a hard worker, a bit goofy, and loves Jesus.  I couldn't be more proud of him!  Happy 14th birthday!!!

12 just sounds so big!

My daughter is 12 years old now.  It's hard to wrap my brain around that.  We celebrated her birthday on Saturday, even though her birthday was Sunday.  Sunday, we went to church in the morning, ate at Panda Express per her request, then headed to Kansas Bible Camp.  Both K and J are at junior high camp this week, thus the early celebration.

From a life that started out as a miracle to this beautiful girl.  After we had a miscarriage in 2002, we became pregnant a few months later.  Had we not miscarried, K would not have been conceived.  Then, due to her foot trying to come through the birthing canal first, she was born via c-section.  She was not breathing and needed resuscitation.  This is why she is our miracle.  Conceived only after a miscarriage and  she was not breathing when she was born.

She proved that she is a fighter and became a little fire cracker.  She always had the crazy ideas and pulled her big brother into her schemes....even if they weren't a good idea.  She's very creative.  Spreading lotion on our bed, painting the kitchen with ketchup, and feeding the fish Cheeze-its were among her crazy ideas.  Since she could talk in full sentences around 1 year old, she could easily convince big brother to join in her fun.  lol  But to give some credit to J, he didn't always go along with her.

She gave her life to Christ at about age 3 and was baptized a few years later.  She continues to live on for the Lord.  She enjoys going to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and sharing the love of Jesus with others.

The Lord blessed her with musical talent and we have really seen that grow this year.  She plays the violin at school and has joined a harp class which she plans to continue next fall.  She also loves to sing and had the opportunity to perform in front of her school after auditioning for the spot.

To celebrate her birthday, we went to a park with sprinklers.  We also ate one of her favorite meals: chicken Ranch wrap.  We enjoyed cake and ice cream before calling it a night.

Sunday, we had to say goodbye for a week.  I'm sure she enjoyed her birthday at camp and will have a lot to say when I pick them up.

She is growing into a beautiful, kind, and smart young woman.  I am so proud!  Happy 12th birthday!!!

Sometimes my best is simply getting dressed

I have written this blog numerous times in the past, but have never had the courage to click on that "publish" button.  I have recently felt God leading me to share this part of me, but I don't know how.  Through the messages of 2 different men speaking on Wednesday night at church, God is making it clear that for some reason, I need to open myself up and let you have a deeper look inside the mind of Laura.

I struggle with depression.  I was officially diagnosed a year ago, but I know it's been a battle since my freshman year of high school.  And I know this will be a lifelong battle.

I've had many highs and lows.  And I hide it well.  I can put on that fake smile and present a fake front.  I'm fake a lot of the time.  I'm fake because I don't want you to see the darkness within me; the battle raging on inside my head.  I'm fake because I don't want to bring you down, too.  I don't want to dump my silent war on you.  So I fight....often alone.....to find that joy hidden inside of me so that what I'm faking eventually becomes my reality.

My smile isn't always fake.  My joyous attitude is sometimes genuine.  I try not to lie when people ask how I'm doing...even if I know they're just being polite.  Yes, there are times that I am truly happy.

However, my bad days seem to outnumber the good ones.  Most days, it takes me hours to get dressed.  If I'm in need of a shower, I may not get the energy or will until late afternoon.  There have been times I didn't want to get out of bed and face the day.  If I've done more than the basic necessities of getting dressed and making meals, I'm having an okay day.

Then, there are those moments I feel like I'm drowning in a deep pit of mud inside a dark room without any doors or windows or light at all.  I have even asked God where He is because I feel abandoned.  I have considered taking my own life at times.  I have made plans, written notes, come face to face with the decision of whether to live or die.  I wonder if I will ever feel normal.

God has never abandoned me.  Sometimes I'm too busy dwelling in my own misery that I don't hear Him.  But He's there, whispering His love to me because in Him, I have value.  I all too often listen to Satan's lies.

"You're a failure."
"You can't do anything right."
"Everyone will be better off without you."
"God isn't here.  You are all alone."

And many others.

I finally started seeing a counselor and taking antidepressants last spring.  However, both became too expensive to continue.  But, what I've learned from my counseling sessions has greatly improved my thinking process.

Now, I have accepted that this is a part of who I am.  I don't question why I feel the way I do, I just know something is messed up in my brain.  I'm more aware of when the dark depression is about to consume me.  There is nothing I can do except ask for prayer because only God can keep me from sinking.  I don't stress about what isn't getting done because of my depression.  I do my best everyday, and sometimes my best is simply getting dressed.

God has been showing me Who He is and who I am in Him.  Whenever Satan tries to whisper his lies, I remember what God says.

God found me worthy to die for.  John 3:16  For God so loved the world (me included!), that He gave His only begotten Son.  That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

God pursued me and paid for me.  Matthew 13:45-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,  and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

God chose me and made me His own.  1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Although this is a daily battle for me, I must choose everyday to trust in God's Word.  I must choose everyday to shut down Satan's lies.  I must choose everyday to live my life the best that I can to bring God glory.  He is the reason I have joy.  He is the reason I continue to live on this earth.  He has very obviously placed me here to serve Him in areas that I could never do on my own.  He is my God.

I don't know why God wants me to share this with you.  It is very difficult to open up about this part of my life.  Perhaps there's someone who is struggling with depression and needs someone to talk to who understands.  Perhaps there's someone who doesn't understand depression and wants to know more.  I'm willing to talk about it.  I want to be honest with my struggles as a sinner saved by the grace of God.  Perhaps there are prayer warriors who will now know how to pray for me.  I thank those who have prayed for me, whether or not you knew my inner battles.  There is power in prayer.... power in talking to the Creator of the universe.  Whatever reason or reasons God wants me to open up and be vulnerable before you, I pray that He is gloried in it.  No matter what darkness I face, God is good all the time.

All the time, God is good.

My HTCI Journey: Areas 1-3

It was over a year ago my sister lent me her book The House That Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark.  I began to read it right away and started to understand things that needed to be done to convert my house to the House That Cleans Itself (HTCI) system.  I began my journey way back in September 2014.  You can read my blog My Journey Begins on my cleaning history and why I believe this book was written for people and by people exactly like me.

So, here we are, in February already and I have finally finished the first part of the conversion.  As the book suggested, I diagrammed my house and divided it up into different areas.  35 in total.  I began working on the first area, my entryway, when I realized that some areas need to be done together.  My entryway, which is basically 4 feet squared, opens right into the living room.  There's a closet on the opposite wall which holds our coats.  Every time we leave or enter the house, the closet is used....or should be used.  And that means walking through the living room to do so.  Everything that comes into the house must go somewhere and that would also include walking through the living room.  I decided that I would convert areas 1-3 together because one cannot function without one or both of the others.

Area 1: Entryway

Believe it or not, this isn't even my entryway at its worse.  I came up with the idea for the shoe bin long before I had heard of the book.  It worked, kind of, but not well enough.  We tried to limit how many pairs each person got to put in the bin, but it was just too tempting for all of us to add shoes.  It was easy to take off shoes the moment we came home and put them away, but it overflowed often.  Shoes would sometimes fall into the walkway and block the door from opening or closing.  The end table right next to the door was often the drop spot for whatever came in from outside.  It also held dishes that were never returned to the kitchen.  So, as little as this space is, it had a lot of problems that would need the help of areas 2 and 3 to be solved.

First, everything needed to be cleaned out so I could see the area clearly.  I'm so glad God gave me a creative brain because I needed it to come up with ways to solve problems!  As much as I loved our end tables, they just don't work with our family.  They collect everything and were the cause of much of the mess.  I had to get rid of them completely, not just store them away.  Everything got sorted into boxes that helped to know where things should go.  I eventually got rid of the box idea as it became too overwhelming for me.  The great thing is, I could adapt what I learned in the book to my own personality.  There's no set way to do things.

I realize this is more into my living room, however, the couch has been moved to cutoff the entryway.  There's no room for any drop spot.  Nothing can come in the door and just get left there.  It forces everyone to put their things away.

And finished!!!  It has been this way for a few weeks, and is still clean!

Area 2: Living Room

Not the most embarrassing state, and not the most embarrassing room.  Rambo's dog crate never seemed to have a home.  He uses it often to hide or get away and he goes in there when we leave the house.  Everything that came into the door just landed somewhere, anywhere.  Much of it is MINE.  The TV area is full of video game cases and discs, other DVDs just laying around and empty cases waiting for the disc to be put back in.  Cords strewn everywhere.

My totes and purses never had a place.  I often camped on the far couch and that's where all of my projects sat, eventually overflowing the couch and onto the floor.  Thirty-One stuff, school stuff, church stuff, whatever I was working on was there.  All.  The.  Time.

This small space is what everyone and everything had to squeeze through in order to get to the bathroom and the kids' bedrooms.  The end table collected everything and all my papers I didn't know what to do with (bills, coupons, school papers, etc.).  The trash was intended to be a helpful thing, but was often tripped over and dumped out.  The crates held more school stuff and old school stuff from last year.  The wooden table used to hold a fish tank.  But since it had a drawer and cupboard, we kept it after we got rid of the fish.  Besides, Seth made it.  Like any surface, it collects everything as well.  No flat surface is safe in our house!

The boxes against the wall were part of this HTCI project.  By Christmas, I had to figure out where to put it because that is where our tree goes.  I realized at that point, the box thing was just adding to the problem and not helping to solve.  I do, however, tend to create a mess before making it all clean.

A work in progress, for sure.  Seth even took the kids and left me to the house for an entire day.  It was very helpful.  I switched the couches so the long couch was next to the front door and the love seat on the wall opposite the TV.  I still had to figure out what to do with things as they came in the door.

Finished!!!  I love the new setup.  Seth does, too.  The couches work better.  Since our sound system broke, I had more freedom to move certain things around, like the shelves over there.  The sound system once sat on top and cords were plugged into the TV and speakers hung on walls around the room.  With the sound system gone, I could move the shelves away from the TV, no longer covering a vent.  It also stands next to the closet.  Seth's drop spot is on top of the shelves.  His keys, wallet, and other things go up there and I actually like it next to the closet so everyone who comes in the door puts their things away in the closet and Seth can put his stuff right there, too.  It works great together.

The view from the kitchen towards the front door.  This basically captures the entire living room.  Nothing looks cluttered or out of place!

The entertainment center was a crazy mess of loose discs and cases.  This is one of the those places that we just had to change our habits with.  If you take a disc out of the XBox or Blu-ray, put it in the case and away on the shelves next to the closet.  When you put a disc into one of those places, put the case next to it so the next person can easily find it.  All accessories are nicely wrapped and placed on one of the TV stand.  The boxes hold all of the Skylanders characters and things.

Not totally finished, I guess.  I would like to get a small end table (I know, I know) to hold my projects and things that I tend to spread across the couch and the floor in front of it.  Right now, one of my Thirty-One bags is doing the job.  I'm looking at Craigslist and Goodwill to find just the right one.  One that won't collect things, but will hold my projects in a neat and orderly fashion.

Here, I have 2 bags.  One for school stuff so I can sit down with Alie on the couch to work on school.  It's easily put away and kept out of sight.  The purple bag is my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) bag.  It holds my notes, my binder with my lessons, and my Bible.  I sit on the couch to do my devotions and lessons so I can easily grab it, use it, and put it away.

Ah, the electronic station.  Ipods, cords, XBox controllers, headphones, whatever needs to be plugged in and charged and is used often sits here.  There's no room to collect anything that doesn't belong.  And if something does happen to land here, it can get taken care of easily.

I used to keep my calendar in the kitchen because that's where my mom kept hers.  It turns out, there's no rule that says the calendar has to be in the kitchen!  I spend most of my time in the living room.  I no longer have a land line near the kitchen so when I get a call, it's on my cell phone, and I'm probably on the couch.  I can make appointments and check what's happening in my life right in the room where I spend most of my time.  The hanging pockets, Thirty-One of course, hold the important papers that come in the door but can't be thrown away or filed yet.  Bills, receipts, phone numbers, school papers, etc.  I can see it will get full quickly so I'll probably go through it once a month.  The bottom pocket holds the things for other people.  If it's not for me to deal with, it goes in that pocket.  Right now it has Little A's BSF lesson and not sure what else.  Just below the hanging pockets is a large trash can (got rid of that small one) and the shredder.  If it doesn't belong in the pockets, it probably goes into one of those.  I love this new paper station!

Rambo loves the red box.  He often sits there and watches out the window.  We are looking for a new one, though, since that one is getting kinda filthy.  We originally bought it to hold XBox and Wii games, but it was too difficult for people to put them away, especially after we got Rambo.  Rambo's crate finally has a home!

Area 3: Front Closet

This was just a mess.  It drove me crazy, but I didn't know how to fix it without spending a lot of money.  I wanted hooks to hang coats on, but Seth said it wouldn't work.  So, our coats just got tossed in here and when you wanted your coat,  you had to dig for it.  The Thirty-One bags hold our winter stuff - gloves, hats, scarves, snowpants, etc.  But once they were opened, everything spilled out and nothing was returned.  So, if you wanted a matching pair of gloves, you had to dig through the pile of coats.  And anything random just kinda got thrown in there, too.  I had to decide how to use the closet efficiently.

Hanging coats was never going to happen in our family.  So, I bought a couple bins for coats and shoes.  The shoe bin was too small, as I had expected, which is why I bought a stackable bin.  And the bins for the coats didn't both fit.  One is now the trash in the living room.  The 2 Thirty-One bags on the shelf were a temporary fix.  I knew they weren't going to stay there, but I needed to find something for our small winter things.

I'm so glad I discovered a hook on the wall just inside the closet.  A while back, I purchased a trash holder for the car from a neighbor kid's fundraiser.  It didn't work too well in the car, but when I hung it on the hook in the closet: BOOM!  A purse holder!!!  My purses have a home!!!  I take off my coat, my shoes, and hang up my purse.  Love it.

Cleaning supplies on the second shelf and games on top.  So far, so good.

Finished!!!  I bought small bins for our hats, gloves, etc. and each person has his/her own small bin.  When winter ends, I can put them back into the Thirty-One bags and store them and then put pool toys and summer things in the bins!

I bought the second stackable bin to hold the shoes.  Most go in the top bin, but a few can easily be reached from the bottom.  The vacuum cleaner actually fits in the closet and can easily be taken out and put away.  Coats all go in the large bin.  Still need to dig a little, but the mess at least stays contained.

A few things for the car will be stored in here until I get to the car HTCI portion.

Our individual bins!  I also have a Thirty-One bag with cleaning supplies which I hope to be filled with Norwex products someday.

No more beating up game boxes and losing cards and small pieces.  The games are now nicely organized on the top shelf.

And my purses!!!

A lot of work?  Yes.  Time?  Of course.  Effort?  Quite a bit.  Worth it?  Absolutely!!!  Now that we know where things belong and what to do when we enter the house, things are staying cleaner longer.  A few things still get left out and I do have to remind people to put things away (including myself), but it gets done!  The house is actually cleaning itself because it's set up to match our family's habits.  I love it so much!!!

Next, areas 4 and 5.  See you then!