My favorite things to watch when I am feeling homesick or just need to wind down

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Sometimes I just like to write this one slowly in my best cursive and it takes me home to my woods behind our house when everything is deathly still and so silent that time also stands still. It is there in the semi-darkness that I can hear Jesus' voice best and see his white masterpiece of beauty painted on everything.

Those woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The Road Not Taken

This one I like because of the Fall leaves and because Jesus' straight and narrow path is the road not generally taken yet it is the one I chose. And that has made all the difference.

Helpful Cebuano Resources

To learn Cebuano, you really need a teacher because grammar is just not found online or in books. Plus, it is not primarily a written language it is a spoken language. It is evolving and every place that speaks it speaks differently. However, there are some resources online that can help with homework etc. These are the ones I have found helpful.

a youtube vocabulary builder

affixes document

English/Cebuano dictionary online

This site is awesome for drilling yourself in anything. You can type in your own questions or vocab or anything. I highly recommend it. You can also search 'Cebuano' and copy other people's lists;

quizlet.com

This blog I have not looked at much but it could be helpful;

http://learncebuano.com/category/vocab/

Hope it helps!

My Favorite Recipe for Carob Powder

I do not like carob.

It tastes bad.

It tries to mimic chocolate. (big offence)

In Medieval times, it was used for animal feed. I can see why.

So how can a recipe for carob be good? By using it up without having to eat it. This is a homemade dry shampoo. It has one part corn starch, which is what soaks up the hair oil and works really well. Just that would probably turn my hair whitish so I add about the same amount of carob powder. A makeup brush is nice to help apply it. I got the idea from this lady's blog. She also has a spray version that I have not tried yet:

DIY Wet/Dry Spray Shampoo for Light or Dark Hair

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch
1/4 cup vodka, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume to scent
What to do: Mix all ingredients in a small spray bottle and shake well. Shake before each use and spray on roots or oily parts of hair. Let dry and style as usual.

I'm at the age where my hair gets oily really fast. Since it's also really strait hair, the oil shows up pretty fast and it's not pretty. I've learned to wash my hair flipped over in the sink so I don't have to take a whole shower every time. A washing will last about 24 hours but sometimes I'm too busy or tired for that so this dry shampoo is nice to have. It's surprising how well it works.

What will this year be like?

I wonder...

What will my future be?

I wonder...

It could be so exciting

To be out in the world

To be free

My heart should be wildly rejoicing

Oh whats the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure

To do the things I've never dared

Now here I'm facing adventure

Then why am I so scared?

I Have Confidence, from The Sound of Music

It's a good thing God is going with me.

Engagement Rings

Wow that caught your eye didn't it? :) No I am not engaged nor do I have a boyfriend. But just like every other girl I like to dream and who knows? Maybe my future husband will someday read my blog!

Papa says that it is silly how guys are expected to spend so much money on rings when they are trying to get a house set up. I agree but I have also looked forward to a ring as something I can wear proudly to let people know 'I am engaged' or as a symbol of my covenant. Today I found a lady who makes jewelry that I like and is cheap. Connie Pardini at Wirestorm Creations Most of the jewelry she has online right now I DO NOT like but many of the things she had at the farmer's market in Oakland were original and lovely. I'd be ok with a conventional engagement ring but it would be fun to have something different. Here is one of her rings that I bought today as a special treat.

The flowers are too tall to be practical to wear all the time so I would want a smaller one for engagement/wedding. Her jewelry or pretty hair sticks and barretts would be good for birthday, christmas, anniversary or anything like that.

If I had to have a stone in my ring I might choose opal. It is not really my style but it is my birthstone which is cool and I like the symbolism of it. The colors of opal do not show unless there is light shining on them and then they dance and sparkle just like a butterfly or hhummingbird In the same way when God's light shines on me I am so much more beautiful than otherwise. Also, I want to be a multi-colored girl like the fire opal which has many colors.

I've got to say before I leave, I had planned a fall post complete with pumpkin pie and sweaters but it is just not coming together. I guess I will have to enjoy it by myself this year. :)

My Favorite French Toast

On the way up from the barn this morning La asked what I wanted for breakfast since it is my birthday. I decided french toast.

French toast with maple syrup is pretty good but when we have fresh tomatoes I have to make at least one french toast with parmesan cheese and Italian spices.

I just mix it into the egg and fry like normal.

Put 'em on the side put 'em in the middle,

Put a home grown tomato on a hot cake griddle.

 Yum!

 Homegrown Tomatoes

Ain't nothin' in the world that I like better
Than bacon & lettuce & homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin' out in the garden

Get you a ripe one don't get a hard one
Plant `em in the spring eat `em in the summer
All winter with out `em's a culinary bummer
I forget all about the sweatin' & diggin'
Everytime I go out & pick me a big one

Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes
What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love & homegrown tomatoes

You can go out to eat & that's for sure
But it's nothin' a homegrown tomato won't cure
Put `em in a salad, put `em in a stew
You can make your very own tomato juice
Eat `em with eggs, eat `em with gravy
Eat `em with beans, pinto or navy
Put `em on the side put `em in the middle
Put a homegrown tomato on a hotcake griddle

If I's to change this life I lead
I'd be Johnny Tomato Seed
`Cause I know what this country needs
Homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see
When I die don't bury me
In a box in a cemetary
Out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes

Now someone should write a song about cheese. :)

To try to bring you up to date

In other words a selection of Ann's pictures from the last month.




That's how my post was going to start. Unfortunately, our computer gave out just after I wrote that much. I can still post on the chromebook but no pics. Sorry. I do have a how-to post scheduled for tomorrow with some pictures.

Recently we went to the last No Greater Joy Shindig wich was lots of fun. You can read Annie's post about it here. We got to stay in a hotel on the way down, met new people while we were there, played lots of games, danced and were encouraged in our walk with the lord. One of the themes was missions.

Speaking of... guess what! I heard back from the midwifery school this morning. They said I was a likely candidate for the school but they were concerned with how little exposure I have had to foreign missions and midwifery. They suggested I get some more experience and re-apply for the August 2015 semester. So now I am looking around and trying to decide what would be a good place to "get my feet wet" so I won't be as overwhelmed when I get there.

Whoo Hoo! So exciting!

Midwife in the Philippines

This is what I am excited about. I got my application sent in and then found out the deadline wasn't until December first so I probably won't hear from them until then. Oh well. I just have to "learn to labor and to wait." :)

Midwife in the Philippines

Midwifery facts and a link

Today I feel like a midwifery post because I got to feel a mommy's belly. I felt baby's little foot and head and back. I took mom's blood pressure and heard baby's heartbeat. So much fun! I only met the mommy today but she was so sweet and such a good sport about it. Maybe I will get to see her birth.

Now some facts.

• Podalic Version is when the midwife turns the baby into breach position. This is attempted when the baby is transverse (laying sideways) and can not be turned to head first (Cephalic Version.)
• Phenylketonurya is the inability to break down phenylalanine which is an amino acid. It is a recessive genetic disease and if a baby is born with it they have to have a special formula and eat foods low in phenylalanine all their life. (Look up the words on howjsay and then you can say them when you want to feel smart)
• Pitocin is just synthetic Oxytocin which is a hormone that a lady makes naturally when in labor or breast feeding.
• Do you know why pregnant women should not clean out the litter box? Toxoplasma gondii. It is a parasite that reproduces sexually only in cats. Normally it only causes flu-like symptoms but if a mother gets it, she could miscarry or have a still birth. If a baby lives there could be lots of problems for him.
• Baby contributes to birth too. He has to rotate the right way for the best fit. First he lays on his side. As his head comes down the birth canal he turns face down and tucks his chin in. Then for his shoulders to be born he turns back on his side. My link has really cool information on this.

http://spinningbabies.com/

P.S. I started this post a week or so ago on the day I actually got to palpate a belly. :)

My favorite 12 days of christmas song

On the First Day of Christmas a Stranger Said to Me...

So funny! I like "no not Mormon either." We usually get asked if we are Amish and not so much Catholic or Mormon but I bet we have heard all of them and we answer pretty much the same way this family does.

Ok everybody, time for the big announcement!

I am hoping to go to the Philippines in February 2015. I will be there for two and a half years while studying to be a midwife. Here is the link to the school's website: Newlife International School of Midwifery.

When I graduated I had no idea what I wanted to do next or what God wanted me to do. You know how everybody asks. I did not know how to answer. So I searched and explored different options. I do think I should have gotten some kind of job just to make some money for whatever I chose but I did minister to my Aunt Margie which made a little money. I wanted to make the right decision. You always hear about christians or missionaries that just know how their life should be used. Looking back now I think that there were quite a few ways I could have decided to serve God that he would have been perfectly fine with.

When I settled on the path of mothers and babies he put other things in place.

• He helped my family be supportive
• gave my Aunt Becky the words to help me consider midwifery and not just lactation consulting
• showed me that there are many mothers in third world countries that need help (It is a real door opener for Jesus)
• and made sure I saw the ad for Newlife school.

I never felt "the call" but I have peace about it. I enjoy helping people in this way and find the birth process amazing.

So now that I have somewhat of a plan, I am ready to answer questions and ask for help. I still might say 'I don't know' but you can ask anyway.

Students combine bookwork with volunteer clinical work. All students are duly enrolled in the Newlife school and the National College of Midwifery so I will graduate with an associate's degree in midwifery and be eligible to take the NARM exam. If I pass the NARM exam I will be a Certified Professional Midwife as opposed to a Nurse Midwife. It is cool that Mom went to the Philippines when she was younger and now I am going but I will be in the south while she was in the north. Most of the ladies that come to the clinic have at least a basic understanding of English but I will be studying Visayan while I am there.

Some ways you can help?

• # 1 is pray for me. I know there will be many hard things to get through, homesickness, culture shock, getting used to blood and guts, etc. I went to a birthing assistant class in Circleville on Friday and met another girl who might be going to Newlife as well so maybe I will know someone.
• I need to "observe" 5 home births and 2 hospital births before I go. If you know anyone having a baby you can give them my phone number. I can arrange a meeting and let her decide if she wants me at her birth. Of course it would not be set in stone. If she says I can come and then is uncomfortable I do not mind sitting in the next room the whole time.
• Ask me to take your pulse and bp when I get a blood pressure cuff. :) I could use some practice.
• I have applied for several jobs and have not gotten any. I will keep trying but if your children need babysat or you know a place that is hiring please tell me. I need somewhat of a flexible schedule because of the births as an observer.
• Pray that God will give the people at Newlife wisdom weather to accept me or not. They have about a 3 to 1 ratio of applicants and accepted students. Obviously I am hoping to get in but I also do not want to go if it is not what God wants or if there are others who should go instead.

Thank you to all my family and friends (Beka you are family.) I am not naturally a go to it person. More of a servant which is good for midwifery but I would not even consider this without your prayers and support.

Really Cool Fact

So last year we went to the No Greater Joy Shindig and enjoyed it. This year Papa said we could go again and I volunteered to register our family and make the reservations. When I was figuring out the food, I saw that children 5 years old and under can eat for free. Here's the really cool fact I just realized:

September of this year will be the first month that our

family does not have anyone under 5 in 18 years!

Unfortunately that is also the month the shindig is :).

My favorite sites for CLEP biology

So right now I am studying to take the CLEP biology test towards becoming a Lactation Consultant. Here is my list of links:

Speedy Prep-this site does cost some to set up an account but it is definitely worth it. I have not been on the new site. The old one just has 400-600 questions per subject. You answer the question and then it tells you the answer right away with an explanation. It will save the questions you missed so you can go back and try again.

Free University Project-this site has a list of links that cover all the areas that the CLEP test does. Some of them are online biology books, some are study guides, etc.

howjsay-this is a talking dictionary that has hundreds of words, even the strange science ones. It's good to hear how to say a word. I can remember it better.

http://www.johnkyrk.com/DNAanatomy.html -this site has 3d animations of several different things, not as many as I would like but the ones it has are helpful

The way I've been doing it is first I read through the Free University part corresponding to the first speedy prep part. I look up anything strange in howjsay, Wikipedia, YouTube, or the 3d animations. Then I answer the questions on speedy prep. I keep going this way till I have done the first hundred questions. Then I go back and retry the ones I missed.
This is the best way I have found.

The Coldest Day of the Year

Yesterday. At least 10 degrees below zero. It was calling for 20 below and at one place not too far away, we know it was -15. Both woodstoves were roaring.

 This thermometer is set inside against the glass.

The girls' room is the coldest in the house so we were allowed to camp out in the living room.

 

 We tried a new hot chocolate recipe from Bulk Herb Store's weekly news letter that got a thumbs up.

 

 

Happy winter!

Hay un Dios (There is a God)

enlace de vídeo (video link)


enlace de El Bien y El Mal Comic Biblia

Two Videos

My siblings have been busy. They made this when Papa and Mom were out. I wasn't home either so we all had to sit and watch it and the mess ups as soon as I finished milking. They really did do a good job. Mom has done this as a one person skit for us several times with the paper bow.

 

The second video is a link. It happens to be my favorite music video on youtube, at least for now, mostly because the girl who sings it is named Amy Joy just like me.

 

What Happy Is

My Favorite Christmas Song This Year

I just found this song the other day and it's been on a good bit since.

"Two Step Round the Christmas Tree" by Suzy Bogguss

Go ahead, click on it.

Of Cinnamon Rolls and Woodstoves

So a couple weeks ago our family went to the community center to help pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. It was the first time we had heard about it and we really liked it. Basically you pack a shoebox with toys, soap, toothpaste and brush, paper, pencils, crayons, candy, and anything else a child might like or need. Then you can add a note to your box and pray for the child it will go to. The Samaritan's Purse Organization sends your box to some place where children don't normally get Christmas presents.

What does this have to do with cinnamon rolls and woodstoves? Well actually it doesn't have to do with woodstoves but I'll tell you about the cinnamon rolls. We decided to pack our own shoeboxes at home. Of course it takes some money to fill and ship 9 shoeboxes so we are selling cinnamon rolls to pay for it. We made around 20 plates of rolls on Saturday and 15 so far today.

caught liking finger!

Don't worry though, since we are selling them we are being extra careful to keep everything clean. I can assure you that Laura washed her hands before touching anything else.

Now for the woodstoves:

In the summer the woodstoves are ignored. Completely abandoned. In fact, stuff gets piled on and around them so that you hardly know they're there. But in the winter it's all different. The fireplace is the middle of the house. Everyone gathers around so that some times you can be five feet from it and still be cold! You can't walk past the stove. It's true. It's impossible. There is like a magnetic force pulling you towards it. Then once you are there you are stuck, sometimes for hours!

 

Edit: This post was supposed to be done yesterday but I really wanted pictures of the woodstove and couldn't find any. I may still add some if they pop up.

My favorite way to put up my hair

I must admit my hair was something I fought with for a long time. It seamed to take me forever just to learn to take care of it let alone put it up.

 I did eventually figure out how to wash and brush my hair but still I needed Mom to twist it into a bun when I felt too old to need that. I was in despair, envisioning myself having to live with it down the rest of my life and anyone with long hair knows that is impossible.

There are so many things you just must keep your hair out of or away from. Then one day I was looking for long hair up-dos on you tube and I found this lovely lady's bun.

Long Hair Bun-Indian Rapunzels

I got a pencil and tried it. It worked! Of course I had to practice some to get it to stay more than an hour but I now have a bun that works in my hair and is fast to put up wherever I want with just one stick.

My sister tells me I always make this face when putting up my hair. :)