Finding Good in the Messes of Life

God will take your mess and bring good out of it, but you have to get off your butt and start putting things in order. He won't take action until you do. It's not enough to know the right thing to do. You have to do it. In the Bible knowing and doing go hand in hand.

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Brandon 4.0 GPA Award Again

Brandon has received the President's Award for earning a 4.0 GPA again. He has maintained his 4.0 status on the President's List his entire college career and will graduate with his two year degree in a few weeks! Then, he will work on passing several certification tests. It's going to be a busy and exciting time for him! Clint and I are very proud of him as are his brothers and sisters!

So Thankful for the Opportunity to Experience It!

I wrote this last year, but post dated it by many months to avoid influencing the situation as it unfolded.

I love how God has worked in my heart to give me genuine love for someone who has repeatedly harmed my family. The situation was so deliberate and so long planned, I really thought it was impossible! It's a beautiful place He's brought me to through all of this. That they can't even accept that love or much less reciprocate says more about their heart's condition than they realize. But, their cold and rude response doesn't affect what God has done in my heart. That's awesome! For those who are concerned about this, please remember love does not equal trust.

I didn't get there on my own. I had to be obedient and pray for them. I also asked God to put love in my heart, and then I had to self discipline my thoughts and words. It did not come naturally because I was engaging in a battle between flesh and spirit. I was not perfect in it, but God blessed my imperfect, but consistent efforts. 

Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

"It is a rare and beautiful thing when we choose to offer love in situations when most people would choose to scorn or ignore." 

Lysa TerKeurst

‎"The only people mad at you for speaking the TRUTH are people who are living a lie, keep speaking it." Coombs

Homeschooling with a Toddler

Homeschooling with a Toddler

Here are some tips to try to keep your toddler busy while you work one on one with another child.

1. Wooden blocks

2. Small baskets of toys that are rotated by days and sometimes hours :). This doesn't need to be a large container or large assortment of toys.

3. Duplo building sets

4. Pots, bowls, wide handled spoons

5. Matchbox or Hotwheel cars (my son loves these, but we only allow him to play with certain ones we have checked for loose pieces.)

6. Toys sets like farms, school buses with children, etc.

7. Wooden train set with small pieces removed

8. Tent (We use a $20 two man tent set up in the den. You can also use blankets, small bed tents, appliance boxes, etc.)

9. A mountain of blankets and pillows piled on the floor.

10. Age appropriate electronic toy.

11. Sometimes the older children and I take turns holding him in our laps while reading or watching an educational program.

12. Ride on toys if there is enough room.

13. Shape sorter cubes

14. Dump trucks, shopping carts, boxes or other containers

15. Stackable containers

16. Enlist help of a sibling to play with your toddler while you work with another one. Some days this seems to be the only way we can get anything accomplished.

17. Empty laundry baskets (My son likes to fill these up with toys and push them around on the carpet, climb in and out of them, and sometimes he catches the cat and puts her in there so he can push her around.)

18. If your child shows an interest, include them as much as possible in what you are doing. My son sometimes likes to be in the highchair while I work with the others. I give him a toy or a snack and he feels like he has his work at his table and is on the same level as the "big kids."

19. Keep at least one room within viewing "child safe" so that you can let your toddler explore without fear of harm to him or your valuables.

Above all remember that attention spans are short at this age and don't expect things to go just as you would like every day

He Didn't Eat the Fruit

I could not stay up late to see my husband who had to work a late shift at his part time job, get up at 5 a.m. to see Brandon off with breakfast and a hug, and pull a full day of homeschool, farm, and household duties. This worked to make sure my son knew I was thinking of him and loved him even though I wasn't physically there to see him off. I often leave notes with treats or meals to let someone know I am thinking of them...and love them very much. It's a simple way I have found to minister to my loved ones.

Our Valentine's Day

The camera can't quite capture how stunning the color is, but these roses are gorgeous. Clint gave them to me on Valentine's Day. Because we were surrounded with the deaths of family and friends, we plan a do over for our Valentine's Day at a more appropriate time. Still, our Valentine's Day was quietly special. 

I was once again reminded that I am blessed with a man of godly character who is loving and generous. Even when he is hurting, he still puts his family's and friends' needs first. He will sacrifice time, energy, money, and his own needs for others. I have painfully watched him work in the rain while bleeding, cold, hungry, and sick saying "They need this done. Just a little longer." He is the most godly example I have ever seen in a human being. 

If you heard Clint's complete story, you would expect a hardened, angry, distrustful man. It is because of his willingness to seek the Lord in the midst of the hurt, rejection, abuse, and betrayal of those who use to be closest to him that he became an amazing man with a powerful testimony. He sought the Lord every step of the way, and the Lord gave him the power to not only overcome, but to stand victorious! Clint is a man who is much admired and respected. His friends know if they call upon him, he will be there. I have had men tell me, "Wendy, that man you have is as good as gold. He is the real deal." 

Our Valentine's Day wasn't romantic by the world's standards, but it was romantic in that my love and respect for this amazing man grew deeper. I love my husband more because he is always, always, always there for others night or day. He listens to hearts without judging or condemning. He sees past the pain in the moment to hear a person's real heart. He patiently waits for them to realize what he, through the wisdom of the Lord, already sees. Even when they don't want to hear it, he continually points others to the One Who has all the answers. 

This Valentine's Day, I realized part of what makes him so unique. When I realized it, I fell head over heels in love again...with the Lord and my husband. Clint sees through the many imperfections to find something worthy and beautiful in each person. In that, he reflects an image of God's love for each of His children. God sees past your ugly to your beautiful. God found you worth the sacrifice of His own Son. Aren't you thankful for that? 

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Quotes on Repentance and Regret

"Of all the acts of man, repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults . . is to be conscious of none." Thomas Carlyle

"Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.  The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons." Jim Rohn

"Love is forever. Bitterness only lasts as long as we let it." -Mark Rosen

Found a Fort

While gathering wood for our winter's heat, Clint and I came across a fort our children had built in the woods. There was actually a series of forts, so they were probably playing with water balloons, paintball, water guns, or potato guns.
We also found our lost pitchfork and a tire!
I am so thankful we live where our children can have adventures, explore nature, and practice survival skills. Clint and I are blessed to have many more years with young children who will be having adventures. It will also be fun to rediscover our children's old forts with our future grandchildren.

Why Should You Get a Reward for That?

Matthew 5:43-47 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends.

Caleb in a Tree

Caleb in a tree.

Clint cut this tree down shortly after to use for firewood.

Appreciate Every I Love You

Whether in romance, family, or friendship, appreciate every "I love you." People wise to how very quickly life can change will want to make sure they take every opportunity to let you know they value you. Emotionally mature people let their love win over petty grievances because they know time is something they can't get back. 

When you really look at it, most grievances are petty. 

It's the emotionally immature who let anger and resentment block genuine love for someone else. These are the people who will wail with regret when there is no time left and no second chances be had. 

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Phillipians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost. ~G.K. Chesterton

Video: Steal My Show by TobyMac

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If you enjoy it, please by the album. Our Christian brothers and sisters need our support.

Another of my favorites by TobyMac.

Steal My Show

Another cold night

Another late flight

It's almost show time, and Diverse City's waitin' on me

We got a packed house, the crowd is callin' out

They want the beat to drop, but what we really need is You

[Chorus:]

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go

If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away

Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go

So take it away

So now the crowd is hype, that you showed up tonight

Anticipatin', cravin' somethin' more than smoke and lights

So I'll step out the way, I'll give You center stage

Alight

Spotlight

Give 'em what they came for ...

[Chorus]

When You arrive, we come to life

Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time

You're comin' through, all eyes on You

Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time, beating in the same time

No matter who we are, no matter what we do

Every day we can choose to say ...

[Chorus]

My life

My friends

My heart

It's all Yours, God

Take it away

My dreams

My fears

My family

My career

Take it away

Take it away

It's all Yours, God

Take it away

Take it away

It's You I wanna live for

Article: Are the Home Educated Doing Well, and if So, Why?

This is a copy of the 277 page 2013 Annual Print Book from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine which is a homeschooling publication. When you click this link, you will go directly to the article. From there, you can access other pages with the drop down menu at the top. The table of contents starts on page 4. I share this link to help answer some reader's questions and to introduce them to an invaluable homeschooling resource.

In addition the magazine, you can sign up for their free TOS Newsletter and join in the free monthly homeschool webinars.

For Viewing the Asteroid Today

Press Release
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/feb/HQ_M13-031_Asteroid_Flyby_Coverage.html 

NASA TV
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Views from Samford Valley Observatory, Brisbane, Australia  http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2 

Another Shed Cleanout

We took advantage of the warm weather at the end of January to clean out the shed beside the house.



My cell phone's picts aren't that great, but I didn't know if I'd be able to finish the shed in the time I had set aside for it. I wanted to get right to work. I had not been in this building in a month or so. Someone had piled seven bags of trash inside which blocked the door. A cat had been left inside for a day or two. Things had been spilled all over the floor. We took out 25 loads of Clint's items to his shed and wood storage areas. Someone had tossed Christmas decorations on the pile rather than put them in the loft. Stuff was literally thrown any where and every where. It was a huge mess!

The worst part was moving the Gold's home gym, but the boys and I managed to do it. It took a while just to figure out how to do it, and we had to move several items out of the shed to make room for the journey. Clint said he was impressed we were able to do it because that thing is HEAVY!! It had to be tilted as it was moved to clear the rafters which added a special element of "fun" to the job. (I hope you didn't miss that sarcasm!) We had a time and gouged the floor a little at one point, but once we figured out how to move it, it went quickly. At least we didn't have to ask for Clint's or Brandon's help.

Finally that heavy sucker is in place!! Team Asbell ROCKS!!

We worked from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. When Clint came home at 6, he cut a hole in the side to install the air conditioner/heater. We now have two heavy duty shelves to hold bulk food storage, a sitting area, fold down bed, a writing/work area, shelving for extra storage, a workout area, and seasonal storage (loft).

(You are not drunk. The picture is crooked, and the punching bag was swinging. Time was short so I just snapped a picture quickly.)

I asked Clint to cut an old school lunch table, found at auction for $5, in half long-wise. Caleb attached it to the wall with L-brackets. This gives a small writing/work space that doesn't take up much floor space. Brandon added two shelves over the desk and one over the side window. I found a brand new, small shelving unit with 5 shelves for $10. I had been looking for a place to put it. It fits perfectly behind the home gym.

No, we don't have a graveyard out back. I found the sign for 50 cents at a thrift store after Halloween. I plan on repainting it with the word "THIS WAY FOR FUN!" or something similar and pointing it at the children's play area.

The next shed up for a clean up is the children's shed where they keep their toys, bikes, and sporting goods. Clint also uses it for storage. That shed is not "functioning" well for our needs, so I need to come up with something better.

Math Links: Fractions

http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/fractions/index.html Who Wants Pizza? A Fun Way to Learn about Fractions

http://www.kidsolr.com/math/fractions.html Kids Fraction Turtorial

http://www.funbrain.com/fract/ Fresh Baked Fractions

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/index.html Cool Math for Kids Fraction Page

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/fractions/index.htm games, support materials, activities

http://www.jamit.com.au/worksheets/ fraction worksheets with difficulty selector

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/fraction.htm fraction review

http://www.randomly.net/ how computers generate random numbers using mathematical equations

Update 1/2013 These two links were shared by a reader named Kathleen B. who is a math tutor in the San Jose area:

 http://www.alwaysmath.com/fraction-resources-and-games-for-kids.php fraction resources and games for kids

http://www.naeyc.org/store/files/store/TOC/167.pdf contains the first chapter of The Young Child and Mathematics

Thank you, Kathleen!! I apologize for taking so long to answer you.

Toby Mac Lose Myself

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I so love this song by TobyMac because it echoes my heart's prayer. "Take all that was me and shape it to be reflecting you soully." If you enjoy it, please go buy the album. Our Christian brothers and sisters deserve our support.

Lose Myself

Take all of the good and all of the bad

'Cause all of it's on me

Take all of my ways, the things that I chase

The things that control me

And all that I hide, could you bring me to life?

Could you open my eyes and show me?

Take all that was me and shape it to be

Reflecting you soully

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find you

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find you

I don't care how it sounds

Burn it up to the ground

Your kingdom, my desire

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find

To find you

(I need to find you/I need to find you)

As all of the fates, I'll be on my way

The wreckage behind me

My feet on the ground, Two hands reaching out

The future is blinding

So what is stirring in you? May you stir up in me

All the dreams that you placed inside me

Take all that you see and shape it to be

The story you're writing

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find you

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find you

I don't care how it sounds

Burn it all to the ground

Consume me with your fire

I wanna lose myself, lose myself to find

To find you

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

So do not hide your face from me

Do not hide your face

Do not hide your face from me

Please don't hide

I'm gonna lose myself, lose myself to find

To find you

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

I need to find you...

So do not hide your face from me

Do not hide

So do not hide your face from me

Do not hide

I need to find you..

So do not hide your face from me

Do not hide

So do not hide your face from me

Do not hide

So do not hide your face from me

Please don't hide your face

George Gets to Come Out of the Freezer!!!

The snow didn't want to pack, but Team Asbell managed to make our dapper looking snowman complete with top hat provided by Brandon. He measured around 6'8" tall until we added the hat which put him well over 7'. George is our perpetual snowman. We keep his head in the freezer until the next snowfall. He is approximately 14 years old.

Free Weekly Spelling Lists for Kindergarten through 8th Grade

When the weather was bad in our region, the last thing I wanted to do was go out to the building where I keep our homeschooling materials to get the books to make up the new spelling lists. I searched online and found this nice website: 

Home Spelling Words

Home Spelling Words provides an interesting mix of verbal and visual teaching that will help your child improve his or her spelling test scores. This program is fun and free! There are also separate areas for practicing and testing. When your child is ready to take the spelling test, their scores will be saved for your review.

Every parent wants their child to get good grades. Practicing spelling lists online gives kids a chance to focus and learn to spell quickly and easily. Children are able to hear and see each word on their list and are given instant feedback by our program.

The lists and tools on this website could help homeschooling parents find free spelling curriculum and support materials. It can also be used over the summer break to keep school students skills sharp. 

Article: Want To Tell The State To Stick It? Homeschool Your Kids

Want To Tell The State To Stick It? Homeschool Your Kids

The Department of Education’s Dr. Patricia Lines countered the notion of homeschoolers withdrawing from America’s social fabric, “Like the Antifederalists these homeschoolers are asserting their historic individual rights so that they may form more meaningful bonds with family and community. In doing so, they are not abdicating from the American agreement. To the contrary, they are affirming it.”

Woodrow Wilson, who prior to the White House presided over Princeton, wrote, “The use of a university is to make young gentlemen as unlike their fathers as possible.”

A misperception persists that homeschooled children lack social skills. Dr. Brian Ray, of the National Home Education Research Institute, surveyed seven thousand adult graduates of homeschools. His research reveals they are significantly more likely to participate in community service initiatives, join civic, religious or business organizations and be politically involved. A limited study by J. Gary Knowles found no homeschool graduates who were unemployed or residing on welfare.

Unless socialization means sassing their parents, as confirmed by Dr. Larry Shyers, homeschooled children exhibit significantly less behavioral problems than other students. Public schools nurture self-esteem. Homeschooling cultivates character allowing children to flourish into responsible citizens. Moreover, Dr. Ray concludes adults taught at home retained their parent’s worldviews far more frequently than peers. Students learning at home absorb much less liberal cant.

Homeschooled kids don’t lack socialization . . . but socialism.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

The Play Dough Recipe I Have Used Successfully for 20 Years

Play-Doh is a big hit with most children, but the dough has to be replaced due to drying out or sanitation reasons. When you have many children, the price of replacement dough can be cost prohibitive. The dough shaping tools Play-Doh makes are sturdy and last longer than the dough. So what's a frugal mom to do? Rather than give up and deny her children the fun of dough play, she makes her own!

This is the play dough recipe I have used since Brandon was a tiny tyke. So, I have been using it for approximately 20 years now. This is very similar to the Play-Doh brand play dough. Unlike many recipes available, this has a nice, smooth consistency that allows it to easily be used in the Play-Doh brand toys. I have never had it fail.

Play Dough Recipe

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cup water

1 tbsp oil

2 tsp Cream of Tartar

4-5 drops of Tea Tree or other germ fighting essential oil (optional)

Food coloring (optional)

Instructions: Mix together all ingredients thoroughly. Heat over medium heat. My stove has 10 lines from Low to High. I heat the dough at a 5.5 to a 7. It will clump first and then continue to thicken. It will be very hard to stir right before it is finished. I turn it out into a glass bowl to cool. Once it is warm, but not cold, I knead it a little to check texture. It should not stick to your hands. If it does, add a little heat.

Health Tip: The Tea Tree oil is a fantastic germ killer. Play dough is a warm, moist environment. This makes it a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Some people can be sensitive to Tea Tree oil, so do a skin patch test on everyone who will be using it. If you do not use some kind of germ fighting essential oil, you need to make the play dough more frequently for sanitation reasons.

Helpful Hint: While I make a total of four to six batches of this recipe for my large family each time, I will only double or triple the recipe. It fatigues my wrist and hand very quickly if I do any more than that at one time.

Helpful Hint: This recipe is widely used, and some people complain about how long  they have to stir. Mine takes me just a few minutes due to the higher temperature I cook it at. I stay with it and stir, stir, stir, stir quickly until it is formed, but it does not take a long time.

Frugal Tip: I have found brand new, unopened packages of Play-Doh play sets in thrift stores.  I will buy these when they are at a price I am willing to pay and add them to our play dough toy collection. If the dough has the plastic seal off of the lid, I throw it away due to my concerns over bacteria. 

When I make the big batches of play dough, all of my children sit down to create. Mom and Dad sometimes will too! It is a wonderful, creative activity for those long winter days when they can't be outside exploring and exercising.

There's no need to skip out on Play-Doh brand toys due to the cost of the replacement dough. You can replace the dough with easy homemade recipes. This is a double batch of the above recipe without food coloring.

I Love It When He Brings Me Flowers

Clint brought me home flowers. "I really wanted to get you roses, but they were sold out. This was all they had left, and it had daisies in it which I know you like." It's not the flowers, but the thought behind them that counts.

Have a Small Area You Want to Turn into Useful Space?

Do you have a small area you want to turn into usable space? 

I have a family of nine living in a farm house. I have to be a good steward of the space I have to make it all work well. I am constantly reassessing and trying to make our space work and work well for us with our many interests and activities.

I had this tiny space between a pantry and the back door that I have wanted to make use of for many years. The problem was finding something that would make that space really work. I had tried shelves and baskets, but it didn't look the way I wanted, or it didn't function well. Ideally, I wanted to put my distilled water there, so I had to have something sturdy. 

After purchasing a baker's rack and wine rack for an area close by, I decided to look for a smaller baker's rack to keep the look the same. It was a challenge, but I did not give up. I wasn't worried about it fitting between the molding as much as I was about the doors opening without hindrance. 

Persistence paid off! I finally found it! This is a 18" wide by 10" deep baker's rack. It is very sturdy and has a basic look. Because we have small children that will pull on things, my husband drilled a black screw through the top straight bar into the wall. That "wasted" space now holds 12 gallons of water. 

A Rough Morning on the Farm

I am thankful I own and am properly trained on how to use a firearm because I had to "put down" a pet this morning after it was brutally and gruesomely mauled by another's dog. Traveling to a vet would have been extremely torturous for the poor animal and a wasted effort. To have not done it because it was "hard" or "upsetting" would have been selfish. 

I ended the intense suffering in mere seconds. When the warrior in me had finished doing what was tough, the nurturer in me returned & I cried into the phone to my husband for the life I ended. "That is always a tough circumstance. I am proud of you. I love you." Clint always knows the right thing to say.

This is part of having many animals on a farm. If you can't do what is responsible when they need you the most, please don't keep them. If you are too afraid or too squeamish to end their suffering, you don't deserve the joys they give either. I know some farmers who drag a suffering animal out of sight and let it lay there until it dies. This is a horribly cruel practice of the cowardly.

Taking a life is directly opposite of who I am. I am a nurturer and a healer (If someone/something is ailing, I do all I can to assist them to find better health through my experience and knowledge of herbal medicine.) Even knowing it was necessary, it cost me to end the animal's suffering. 

Seaweed and Sesame Crunch Candy

All of us except Brandon and Hannah liked the Seaweed. It was salty, but good. I learned a lot about the nutritional benefits of seaweed during my herbal studies and have taken it off and on in capsule form. This came bulk packaged as a set of 10 for $2.99. Each individual package's total calorie count was 10, but there were several pieces to munch on. It made a nice, nutritious snack for .29 each package.

The sesame crunch candy was made and packaged in America, but we couldn't pass them up.

The best part about going to the international markets is meeting the people, hearing their languages, and talking to them about their experiences. It is an inexpensive field trip/entertainment idea for homeschool or large families.

Bathroom Floor

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The floor isn't streaked like it appears in the picture. That is due to the reflection of the light. I tried several angles, but there was a reflection in all of them. We are very happy with it and can't wait to finish installing the rest of the bathroom. We finished the floor around the 10th and installed the toilet. We did things a little differently than if we had a choice simply because our family needs a second toilet and bathing area. You have to do what works best for your family and situation. We are waiting to do the rest because Clint has been kept busy with work. For now, we wash our hands in the shower. Once the ceiling and wall are in, the rest will come together very quickly.

Clint has been working on it this week.

Magnesium May Help Migraines

In this study, migraine patients who took it every day saw a 42 percent reduction in migraine frequency. Patients took 600 mg a day for three months. Doesn't it make sense to treat treat the root cause instead of hiding the symptoms?

Online Field Trip Opportunity: Our Nation's Capitol February 13th

"Join student reporters as they uncover the history, art and architecture that define America’s living symbol of democracy and freedom. Enjoy special behind-the-scenes access as students explore the famous Rotunda and its historical paintings; dig into the archives to discover the history of the Capitol building; and learn more about the legislative branch of our federal government housed in this storied building."

February 13th 1:00 p.m.

Click here to sign up. After signing up, click here to make sure your computer is ready.

Children Raised on Farms Develop Better Immune Systems

 Study: Why Dogs and Cats Make Babies Healthier

Ministry Opportunities Are All Around Us

I met a young woman when her car broke down in front of me. She told me her cousin promised to fix her car, but he didn't install the factory part she had purchased for the repair. He used tape, lied and told her it was done, took her money, and left. He wouldn't return her calls afterwards. She was obviously strapped for cash and hurt over how her family had cheated her. She was also very embarrassed. She was shaking and about to cry. I asked Clint if he would help her. He made a better repair with what tools he had, and it worked! I love his ability to fix nearly everything, and especially his heart for helping others with those amazing skills.

Japanese Baked Bean Cake

Our family loves going into the international markets and trying new foods. It is an inexpensive way for us to learn about other cultures and cuisines. Caleb loved his last trip because he was able to watch the men prepare fresh fish for the market. 

This week we sampled a Japanese Baked Bean Cake. It looked like a small, soft cookie and had a red bean paste filling. They were sweet, but not overly sweet. Bethany picked these out on her night out with Mom and Dad for our family to try. She was a hit with the sweet Korean women who called her "baby girl."