MK SPIRIT WEEK--Thursday

Today we are going "CrAzY for Christ" as we dress up as one of our heroes of the faith--a missionary!

At our house everyday this week we have been listening to a portion of the amazing testimony of Darlene Deibler Rose, who served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and was a POW of WWII.

If you have never heard her powerful, inspiring, and convicting story, I strongly urge you to take the time and listen to it...you can find her story from her own lips at nogreaterjoy.org. It is divided into 5 parts for your ease of listening.

 Here is Darlene Deibler Rose as a young missionary wife. Isn't she lovely?!

And now introducing our very own mini "Darlene Deibler Rose"...

Not too shabby, right?! I think she makes a pretty cute "mini" myself. ;)

 

Here's Ethan portraying one of the Boegis bandits that Darlene met up with face to face one night in the hallway of her house...you'll have to listen to her story to find out what she did! 

Here's a quote from Darlene's book--Evidence Not Seen, referring to what happened after that night:

“We heard bandits return several nights after that, but they never again entered the house. It wasn't until after the war that I learned why. I had suspected the Jaffray's gardener; he was Boegis, and he knew the layout of the house. When I asked him why they had never entered the house again, he answered incredulously, "Because of those people you had there - those people in white who stood about the house." The Lord had put His angels around us. He had delivered.” 

 

 

Lookin' fierce!

 

And here's "Darlene" displaying her rat-killin' broom and her miracle bananas...again, you just have to listen to her testimony to find out what this is all about!

 

Although Brenna didn't really get in on the action today, I just couldn't resist this beautiful face! Such a lil' sweetheart! <3 p="">
Thanks for stopping in and I hope that we have piqued your curiosity to find out more about incredible people like Darlene Deibler Rose and other missionaries, some of whom can be spotted over at Baptist Missionary Women!

MK SPIRIT WEEK--Wednesday

Ok, are you ready for this?

Do you have your sunglasses on?
You might need them so that the overwhelming bright colors and wacky patterns don't hurt your eyes.

**WARNING**
What you see next may be shocking and not appropriate for those that are matchy-matchy.

Here goes...

CrAzY ClOtHeS DaY...Gansemer Style!

Here they are in all their glory!

Love the angry face and bent ear!

Brenna is our -stylin' princess, complete with flowers, bows, and beads

Clara is our -well-dressed flag

Ethan is our -tie wearin', ninja fightin', cape flappin', little man!

SILLY SISTERS!

Yes, I was brave and participated, too! As if my kids would've let me off the hook?!

TA DA!!! The Clowns Have Come to Town!

Yep, we've got spirit, all the way down to our TOES!!! :)

 Don't forget to check out the other awesome outfits over at Baptist Missionary Women blog!

And tomorrow, we'll see you back here for more fun!

MK SPIRIT WEEK--Tuesday

Did you survive the suspense of not knowing?!


Drum-roll please.....


 Dum, da, da, dum, dum, dum, dum......



Today is CRAZY HAIR/HAT DAY!!
 

Here's what we came up with...

Here we are, showing off our new "do"s

Clara is sporting a bow/bun-hawk

Ethan is our bucket head

  

Brenna is wearing a pony-hawk for the day

Lots of fun and giggles.

Don't forget to hop over to Baptist Missionary Women to see more of the action...and check back here tomorrow for...

CrAzY ClOtHeS DaY!!!! You won't want to miss it! :)

MK SPIRIT WEEK--Monday

And here you thought that the only exciting thing going on this week was Valentine's Day on Friday! Well, not so for us missionaries!!! This week we are participating in Missionary Kid Spirit Week, a great idea that started over at Baptist Missionary Women blog and will reach around the globe!!! Such a fun idea that I couldn't pass it up and know my kids are going to have a blast with it everyday!

Here's what "Crazy Mustache Monday" looks like at our house...

Brenna, 22 months :)

Ethan, counting down the days til he turns 4! :)

Clara, 6 1/2, my fun 1st grader! :)

Yep, I got in on the "Stashin' Action", too! ;)

So I "MUSTACHE" you, Did these pics bring a smile to your face????!!!! They sure brightened up our Monday!!! My kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED this, even baby Bren! Honestly, I thought that she would be scared of them or at the least rip hers off in about .02 seconds--boy, was I wrong!!!! She did NOT want to take it off! In fact, as I sit here uploading these pics, she just came up to me with it plastered on her face again! She's so funny!

Who said MKs don't know how to have a good time?!  

Stay tuned for more crazy fun coming everyday this week...tomorrow will be Crazy_______ Day!!!! Guess you'll have to come back and find out! :) Happy Monday!

While Daddy's Away...

While Daddy's Away...
The kiddies will play.
And mama will, too.
He won't have a clue
the fun that they've had
while missing their dad.

They will rush through their school,
then do something "cool"
like books and play dough,
table games, tic tac toe.
There will be ice cream and sweets,
tasty treats can't be beat.

All these distractions will work for a while
but then it will turn into a fading smile
Extra hugs and kisses from mama just can't compare,
with having their sweet daddy there.

So at the end of a tiring, fun, and busy day
their thoughts turn to daddy and they wish they could say:
"I love you bunches!" to this wonderful man
a father who is dearly missed by his little clan.

Corny?...oh yes! But all true.
Daddy's away this week doing the work that the Lord has given him. Preaching a week of camp to 12-14 year olds in Buenos Aires. 600 miles away. A long overnight bus trip away.

Things just don't feel quite right when daddy's not home. Everything seems just a bit off-kilter somehow. I guess it's a good reminder of how much we take for granted. Of how often I take him for granted. His calming presence. Makes me feel safe. Makes me feel loved. Makes me feel content and at peace. Someone to share life's burdens and joys. I realize that ultimately all of those things come from my Lord. But they come from my hubby, too. Most definitely. I think that's partly why God has given him to me. To show me how all those things feel in a very real and present way. How I need to cherish the time we have together! How I need to remember that it's the "little things" in our life and marriage that really count. How I need to love and submit to him and show it.

God has given me a precious gift. A Godly and loving husband who is about His Father's business. A wonderful, hardworking man. A kind and caring father to our children.

I am truly blessed to call him mine.

Itchy Fingers

My fingers have that feeling again...my fellow bloggers know the feeling, right?! That itchy, tingly sensation that screams at you to just get a few words out via your fingertips. That need to rest them on the plastic keys and hear the soft and steady clicking as you let the words flow and the story be told. I get that feeling often. Unfortunately, I haven't seemed to quite figure out how to make that more than a feeling and turn it into a reality. You know how it goes, don't you?! Days steadily come and go, another morning to drag myself away from the soft sheets and hit the ground running with all the norms of motherhood. First there are bodies to clothe, mouths to feed, hairs to arrange, laundry to wash, dry, fold, sort, and put away, the overflowing sink full of dirty dishes, soon to be followed up with another meal preparation and, you know what that brings, more dishes and clean up. Crumby floors, scattered toys, books strewn from here to there and back again. Dirty diapers, runny noses, tears and screeches, laughter, tickles, and squeals of delight. Shouts of gladness, yelps of pain. General chaos with a few precious moments of peace sprinkled in, just to help me remember what sanity feels like.

Yep, that crazy mixed up life of a mom of littles. And it's the best thing in the world.

So, until I actually figure out what life looks like from the other side of the eight ball, let me just say that I do think of you as I go along my busy day. I do wonder how you are doing and wish that I had time to sit down with you for a good catchin' up chat. Wonder how you are coping with the mayhem that is your life. How the struggles are piling up. How the victories are won. What life is like on your side of the world.

And I bid you a most belated, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and just so I can be ahead in something, Happy Valentine's Day, too!  I love you, sweet friend, dear family member, wonderful missionary lady, or blog acquaintance. And as I pause in my day, and you pass through my thoughts, I pray for God's blessings to be upon you. That He will supply that need, protect you and your family, give wisdom in the decisions that come your way, guide your path around the unseen bend or the upcoming fork in the road, and most of all show you His love and loan you His strength to help you through each day.