One Day Women's Retreat

If you are in or near the area, I hope you will be able to come to this "retreat" at our church that I am helping organize! It is well worth your time and effort and $10 to come! I was able to hear the same message from Sandy at the end of last summer in a nearby town. I thought it was so great, that I wanted the women of my church and other ladies in the area to have the same opportunity to hear her! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!! (Remember to click on the images with the hearts if you are not able to read the small print. They will enlarge.) If you would like to promote this at your church, please let me know! I'll send you what you need!

Sandy Day is an exciting speaker with a ministering heart. She draws people to Christ because of her love for God’s Word and for others to be helped by it. Sandy’s enthusiasm for Christ is contagious-her love for Jesus is abounding. Sandy and her husband Craig are the Founders of Caleb Ministries which began in August of 1990. You will not want to miss this time with Sandy Day.

Missing Posts are BACK!

New policies permit me to have them on the blog after all... =0)

Missing Posts?

If you notice some of our posts are missing (ministry ones), I needed to remove them for "security" purposes. If there is something you are looking for, e-mail me or comment here, and I will help you out!

Have a great day!

Blessings,
Melinda & gang =0)

Baby Is Great!

I had my prenatal appt today. I am 32 weeks and 5 days. So that means in 7 or 8 weeks this baby will hopefully be meeting us all!

Everything was great! Baby is growing, & his/her heartbeat remains strong. Yea! I'm doing great, too.

I need to drink more water. That is basically all I drink, but I'm still not drinking enough. Will you pray that I would drink enough? Thank you!

Blessings,
Melinda =0)

If You're a Mom...

read this...
http://homeschoolenrichment.com/community/pub9990289167151.cgi?action=viewad&itemid=9990304296003

It is a good reminder!

Blessings,
Melinda =0)

Our January 2009 Newsletter

This is my first attempt at doing this, so I don't know exactly how it will work. Actually, I have tried before a few months ago and failed, so we'll see how this goes! I think you should be able to click on the picture of our newsletter and see a larger version you can read. Of course, if you are on our snail mail list or e-mail list, you've already gotten this. If not... enjoy! hee hee! =0) The response card mentioned in the newsletter is not posted here and since I only have that in pdf, I can't post it (at least with my limited knowledge, I can't). However, if you want to respond, you can e-mail me, & I will e-mail you the pdf. Or you can go to this site and make a donation if you feel led: https://www.wycliffe.org/Donate/MissionaryMinistries.aspx Just enter as much info as you can, I'm pretty sure it will get to us! =0) If you want to become a prayer partner or receive updates other than here, you can just comment below or send me an e-mail.

Have a great day!!

Blessings,

Melinda =0)

PS If you are reading this on Facebook, you might have to go to our blog to click on the images for them to be large enough to read. The blog link is on my Wall under my picture. Or if you have questions, just post them. =0)

Kodiak - The Future of Mission Aviation

Perhaps you've heard of the Kodiak! It is the Future of Mission Aviation. This aircraft was developed for missions. I should have Dano write this post instead of me, but I'll do my best. I want to hurry up and get this info out so you can track the flight (see below).

Maybe you have heard that overseas there is a shortage of the fuel small, piston engine, airplanes use. Well, this shortage causes the cost to go up as you might have guessed. This cost is passed on to "the church" (you know... all of us who support missions). So, mission organizations have been trying to figure out how to use aircraft with turbo prop engines in the remote locations. The turbo prop engines use a different fuel that is readily available at a much cheaper cost! This saves GOD's money to be used in other areas of missions. Some turbo prop planes have been used successfully, but in a lot of areas, they still needed something a little smaller & a little tougher... enter the Kodiak!

Like I said, the Kodiak was designed for this job. It will also be sold to others who need an aircraft like this. You know, those places in Alaska that can only be reached by plane, etc. But mission organizations are so excited about this new design! Also, the company selling the Kodiak is giving them away to mission organizations after so many are bought. I don't remember the specifics about this, but maybe after 7 are purchased (by others) the 8th is free to a mission organization. (Now, I could be wrong about that, but I remember something very generous like that!) Check out this website to learn more about the Kodiak: http://www.questaircraft.com/index.php

BUT what I wanted to share with you is that JAARS is about to receive their first! "Ours" is pictured above. It is painted to match the other JAARS aircraft. Kodiak #8 has left Sandpoint, Idaho and is on its way here! You can track its flight by going to this website: http://www.flightaware.com/
Type "N498KQ" in the Flight/Tail # box on the left side of the page. The arrival date and time could be as early as Saturday afternoon, January 10 here at JAARS (tomorrow)! Hurry on over so you can see it landing!!

If you miss the landing, you can still pray. You can pray for a safe trip here to the east coast. You can pray for the future service of this aircraft. Later this year, it will be headed to PNG to aid in Bible Translation and other needs the missionaries and nationals have.

Thanks for being interested in our lives and ministry! Thanks for praying for the work of the Lord all around the world! God is at work! Don't miss out on the adventure!

Blessings,
Melinda =0)

URGENT Update

Earlier today, the CPSC issued a clarification that the mandatory testing requirement will NOT apply to resale of children's products manufactured before February 10, 2009. The stricter lead limits will still apply to allchildren's articles though, and the CPSC has suggested to thrift and consignment shops and other resellers of children's products that they should avoid reselling products that are more likely to contain lead (such as metal jewelry or painted toys) unless they have those products tested.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
The handmade clothing and toy industries are still awaiting a ruling on whether they, too, will be exempted from mandatory testing requirements. If you are interested in ensuring that your favorite crafts people on etsy and eBay and your favorite small toy and clothing companies will be able to continue to do business in the US, please do continue to raise your voice,and contact your senators and representatives about your concerns.For those of you wondering what has been going on, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which goes into effect on February 10th, bans the sale of childrens' products (such as clothes and toys) unless they meet certain lead limits. While the CPSC has decided that items manufactured before February 10, 2009 are not required to be tested for lead (though they do still need to meet the new, stricter lead limits), new items sold after that date must be certified to be lead-free. This means that small businesses, such as makers of handmade clothing and toys that cannot afford the costs of the mandatory testing of their finished products, will exit theU.S. market.

URGENT

If in any way you use or buy or sell kids' clothes, read this! Or if you care about the environment, you will want to read this!

A trusted friend checked this out, so I believe it to be true. Unbelievable! I'd say 95% or more of the clothes my kids wear are second hand. Please take the time to read this & sign the petition. Thanks!!

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) as signed into law willmake it illegal for parents to resell or even give away their even gentlyused children's clothing come February 10th, 2009. The broad scope of the complicated law, and it’s interpretation by CPSC haseffectively made it illegal for parents to resell their children’s clothingand gear at a garage sale, on eBay, Craig’s List, through consignment storesor annual children’s consignment sales. If donated to a nonprofit likeGoodwill or Salvation Army,[JAARS boutique?] those organizations can’t legally resell it, asof February 10th. Hand-me-down clothing for kid’s age 12 andunder will be illegal to resell. It will be a banned hazardous product. Thefines of $100,000, potential jail time and label as a felon for violationsare stiff. Please sign the petition and contact your members of congress to keep usedchildren's clothing legal: http://www.rallycongress.com/make-second-hand-kids-clothes-legal-/

Blessings,
Melinda =0)

PS After you fill in your info, click send e-mails for e-mails to be delivered to your "people." If you click e-mails & letters, there will be a charge.

Perspectives in Arlington & Surrounding Areas

If you have not taken this class, Dano & I think YOU SHOULD!! It is incredible. The full name is Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. There are classes all over the country (and maybe the world). But I wanted to let you know about a class happening in the Arlington area (where we used to live) and other areas close by.

You can go to this website to find out more: www.perspectives.org/pbc or this evite: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=RCWQEVYACZBUZUUYQMGJ&li=iq&src=email&trk=aei2

Classes in Arlington are starting on Jan. 14th. There are fees involved, but God will provide! Sometimes it is worth stepping out in faith... obeying... you know like Noah & Abraham. =0) When Dano & I took the class, we didn't have the money to pay for it, but we knew it was what God wanted us to do. We registered... God provided all but $14!! That was amazing... and we were taking it for college credit so our fees were the highest possible!

If you have been wanting to know more about "the big picture," this will help. If you have been wondering what it is all about from Genesis to Revelation, this will help. If you have been wondering what God is calling YOU to do, this will help. This will confirm that everyone is NOT called to go overseas, but EVERYONE is called to do something! If you think missions began in the book of Matthew, you might be surprised.

Okay, this may not be perfect timing for you to take the class, but please pray about it... seriously. If you aren't in Arlington, look for a class in your area. If there isn't one, pray about God sending one to your area! He did it for us when we were in JAX.

Dano & I HIGHLY recommend this class to everyone. It is an amazing class for all Christians to take! It is worth all your effort & time! The "teacher" for the course changes each week usually. They are missionaries from all over or others involved in ministry.

Oh, I think you can take the first two classes for free without any commitments... look into it!

I'll stop going on, but it is well worth your time & investment!

Blessings,
Melinda =0)

PS Dano... the non-student type... thought so much of this course, that when he had the opportunity in OH, he took it again! When you are alumni, you can take it again for free! Hmmm, maybe I'll see if there are any near us starting soon...

December Birthday Boys

Well, December is gone, but while we were in the midst, we celebrated two birthdays in our family... Dano & Wesley. Dano turned... hmmm... closer to 40, but he's not there yet. Maybe in two years he'll have that big one! Maybe, like... I think that's right! ha! Wesley turned the wonderful age of two! Pray for us to be nice & consistant! =0)

Dano's Dad was here that weekend, so he got to celebrate with us. If you'd like to see more pix, you can view them by clicking the link below. I just added these to facebook, and from what I understand, anyone can view them even if they aren't "on" facebook! Hope you enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013443&l=33629&id=1122319311

Blessings,

Melinda =0)

Noah & Abraham; Faith & Obedience

Well, the new year challenge is going well. So far (okay, today is just the 4th) we've been reading our "assigned" reading. Well, today's hasn't been finished, but before the day is up, I'm hoping it will be.

I just wanted to share this observation I made yesterday. And I wanted to know if I was completely off! =0)

When I was reading chapter 11 in Genesis, I realized that it appears that Noah was still alive when Abram (later Abraham) was born! There are quite a few generations between them, but according to the ages given, Noah was alive for 58 years after Abram's birth. (I think that is what I figured. I don't have my journal in front of me.)

Now, I'm not saying you should go to court swearing on this information, but if my math & thinking are right, that is what it says. Have any of you ever heard this before? I don't remember ever hearing it!

Of course, nothing is really said about it in the Bible, so it may be no big deal. But think of the faith of Noah. He obeyed God EXACTLY the way He commanded. You never hear Noah questioning God or anything. Now, think if Abram grew up at his knee... he could have learned a lot about faith and obedience from him.

However, if you are familiar with Abram (Abraham), you know he is remembered in the book of Hebrews as a great man of faith... but he had his moments, didn't he? Remember him telling his wife to lie about their marriage? Remember him not being patient & trying to work things out in his own timing regarding children? There were other instances, too. Finally, when God told him to sacrifice his son, he had learned to obey God without question! Wow, didn't God reward him for that faith and obedience!?

Well, that is all I really have to say. I wonder how much of a personal impact Noah had on Abraham... or maybe he just got to hear the stories passed down by generation after generation and never met his great, great, great, etc. great grandpa.

BUT I wonder how much of an impact WE are having on our own little generation in our home or our family & friends who surround us. How much have we learned about faith and obedience from our family (whether by positive or negative example)? Are we obeying immediately without questioning God? Are we stepping out in faith when it makes no sense at all? Are we teaching our children to obey US without question, immediately (ouch). I know I give way too many chances!

Father, help me to be a better mom, teaching my children to obey me the same way you want me to obey you SO THAT one day (or even today) when you call my children to obey you, they will obey just as Noah did... without question!

Have a great Sunday!

Blessings,
Melinda =0)